Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-10
2001-04-24
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S730200, C280S732000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220624
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a seat mounted air bag module for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle. In particular, the present invention is directed to a bracket that mounts an air bag module on a vehicle seat in a manner to modify the direction of deployment of the air bag.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Some vehicles have side impact air bags that can be inflated to help protect an occupant of the vehicle in the event of a side impact to the vehicle or a rollover condition of the vehicle. In some vehicles, the side impact air bag is mounted in a vehicle seat, specifically, in the side bolster of the seatback. The air bag inflates generally forward from the seatback, between the occupant and the side structure of the vehicle, to help protect the vehicle occupant.
The air bag is designed to inflate at an angle relative to a forward direction in the vehicle to provide suitable protection. The position and orientation in which the air bag module is mounted in the seatback determine the direction in which the air bag inflates. Some vehicle seats have limited space in the side bolster of the seatback, which makes it difficult to mount an air bag module there in a manner such that the air bag will inflate in the desired direction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a seat for the occupant and a vehicle side structure. The apparatus comprises an air bag module including an air bag inflatable into a position between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus also comprises a bracket for supporting the air bag module on the vehicle seat. The bracket comprises a first bracket portion connectable to the seat frame, and a second bracket portion for mounting the module. The bracket includes a hinge disposed intermediate the first and second bracket portions and interconnecting the first and second bracket portions. The hinge enables the second bracket portion to pivot relative to the first bracket portion during inflation of the air bag to affect the direction in which the air bag deploys from the vehicle seat.
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Abraham Michelle M.
Burgi Anthony C.
Haig Andrew M.
Culbreth Eric
Lum L.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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