Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-10
2001-04-10
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213498
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an air bag deployment system for side impacts, and more particularly, for a deployment system which is mounted in a seat back.
II. Description of the Related Art
In order to provide passengers of vehicles with protection from side impact, it is known to utilize air bags which are deployed from the vehicle seat backs to extend between a passenger and the vehicle side wall or door. The air bag module is mounted to the frame of the seat within a foam cushion. Upon activation, the air bag ruptures the cushion and a frangible seam line in the trim cover to extend outwardly from the seat back. Various methods have been used to ensure that the bag deploys properly. These include storing the bag within a box which has a frangible end to direct the direction of deployment, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,028. However, such an arrangement may alter the ergonomics and comfort of the seat back.
It is also known, as disclosed in Japanese laid-open Publication No. HE18-258660, to direct the deployment of the air bag to a seam in the trim cover between a pair of spaced apart flexible straps. One end of each strap is fixed to the frame and the other end is sewn to one side of the seam line. The straps follow the inside contour of the foam cushions. When the inflator is activated the air bag is inflated and deployed between two straps which direct the bag at the seam. However, the straps follow the contour of the foam so that deployment of the bag pushes outwardly against the foam, thereby producing slack in the straps with a resultant loss of energy.
It is also known to affix a single strap to the frame to extend around the foam cushion and inside of the trim cover to the seam line. The strap encircles a rear portion of the cushion as it travels from the frame to the seam line. When the air bag is deployed, the strap compresses the rear portion of the cushion. A substantial loss of energy arises because of the slack in the strap occurring during the compression of the foam cushion.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to produce a side impact energy management system having a relatively low gas pressure for deployment and is simply and inexpensively installed.
It is an additional object of the invention to present a side impact energy management system which has high repeatability of deployment and maintains the ergonomics of the seat.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
These and other objects are achieved by a side impact energy management system which includes an air bag module and support bracket which has an arm forming a reaction surface for providing a restraining strap. The reaction surface is positioned to extend behind the air bag module. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the strap is guided laterally behind the air bag module to a uniform support for an aperture in the foam cushion by the reaction surface. The strap passes through the aperture and extends along an inside surface of the trim cover to a frangible seam line. The reaction surface and aperture in the cushion permit routing the strap in such a manner as to eliminate compression of the foam cushion by the strap during deployment of the bag. This results in a system which utilizes a relatively low gas pressure for deployment of the air bag.
A first alternative preferred embodiment of the invention includes a strap which loops around the cushion and a support bracket with a u-shaped arm. The strap is positioned to extend from the frame rearwardly and around the foam cushion. The arm has a reaction surface which is formed to parallel the alignment of the strap as it passes around the cushion. The strap extends rearwardly towards the back of the seat, laterally toward the side of the seat and then forwardly towards the front of the seat. The reaction surface is aligned to extend in a generally co-planar alignment with the strap. A small amount of the foam cushion is positioned between the reaction surface and the strap on the inside of the trim cover so that upon deployment there is minimal slack arising from the compression of the foam between the strap and reaction surface. Alignment of the reaction surface with the strap and the trim cover provides uniform support for the strap on deployment of the bag.
A second alternative preferred embodiment includes a strap that extends through an aperture in the foam cushion and support bracket with a reaction surface formed to extend co-planar with the alignment of the strap. The arm is formed like the arm of the first alternative preferred embodiment to extend co-planar with the strap as it travels from the seat frame to the inside of the seat cover.
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patent: 5639111 (1997-06-01), Spencer et al.
patent: 5700028 (1997-12-01), Logan et al.
patent: 5860673 (1999-01-01), Hasegawa et al.
patent: 5906390 (1999-05-01), Phillion et al.
patent: 5938232 (1999-08-01), Kalandek et al.
patent: 6045151 (2000-04-01), Wu
patent: 6074003 (2000-06-01), Umezawa et al.
patent: 8-225052 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 9-123860 (1995-10-01), None
patent: 9-254735 (1997-01-01), None
Ghalambor Haleh
Kato Takeaki
Mikutsu Satoshi
Suzuki Koichi
Gifford, Krass, Groh Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
Johnson Brian L.
Luby Matthew
Toyota Technical Center USA, Inc.
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