Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-29
2001-05-29
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728200, C280S728300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237936
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to inflatable occupant restraints for automotive vehicles in general, and more specifically to an inflatable restraint with an adjustable deployment chute.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A particular type of inflatable restraint for an occupant in a motor vehicle is commonly referred to as an airbag. The airbag is stored in a motor vehicle in an uninflated condition. When the vehicle experiences a collision/indicating condition of a predetermined threshold level, gas is directed to flow into the airbag from a gas producing source. The gas inflates the airbag to an extended condition in which the airbag expands into the occupant compartment of the motor vehicle. When the airbag is inflated, it restrains occupant movement toward interior portions of the motor vehicle.
The airbag is typically mounted in the vehicle as part of an airbag module. In addition to the airbag, the airbag module includes an inflator and a canister. The inflator is the source of gas for inflating the airbag. The canister contains the airbag and the inflator, and typically has a deployment opening through which the air bag emerges from the canister when inflated.
A deployment door normally extends over the deployment opening in the canister to conceal the airbag and other parts of the air bag module from the occupant compartment. The deployment door may be a trim piece on an instrument panel of the motor vehicle.
When the inflator is actuated, gas is directed into the air bag moving it outward from the canister through the deployment opening and forcefully against the deployment door. A closure portion of the deployment door is ruptured by the pressure in the expanding air bag. As the air bag continues to move outward against the deployment door, it pivotally moves the deployment door away from the deployment opening. The deployment door thus opened allows the air bag to enter the occupant compartment through the deployment opening.
To accommodate inflatable restraints into a vehicle seat for side protection of vehicle occupants, a seamless side inflatable restraint deployment system for an occupant seated in a seat is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,363 (Brown et al) assigned to the assignee of the present invention and incorporated herein by reference. That system included a side inflatable restraint module attached to a frame of a seat and a pad disposed adjacent the module having a deployment opening therein. A tear initiator envelope encloses the module and extends through the deployment opening to concentrate deployment forces of the inflatable restraint to form a desired exit location in a seat trim of the seat for the inflatable restraint to deploy therethrough. Packaging of this system as well as other seat mounted side airbag systems, however, may present a comfort issue to an occupant. Such an issue arises due to space limitations, and some seat designs cannot prevent the occupant from feeling the side air bag packaged in the seat. In addition, it may be desirable to adjust the deployment direction of a side air bag to accommodate various seat designs, seat locations, and vehicle designs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention provides an inflatable restraint system adapted for attachment to an occupant seat of an automotive vehicle comprising a canister having an inflatable restraint deployable therefrom, a chute member engaged with the canister for directing deployment of the inflatable restraint, and an adjustable retention system attached between the canister and the chute member to retain the chute member in a predetermined position with respect to the canister so as to direct deployment of the inflatable restraint in a predetermined direction from the occupant seat. The chute member encapsulates the inflatable restraint in the canister and is attached to the canister by a plurality of retention tabs. The tabs can be snapped into place through slots or holes in the canister. The chute member is also attached to the canister by a plurality of tethers. The tethers are initially folded when the module is in a predeployed condition and unfold when deployed to retain the chute in a desired position. Tether length can be longer or shorter on a side of the canister as opposed to the opposite side, or on the top versus the bottom. Such an arrangement provides a directional change to the air bag trajectory with respect to the canister opening as dictated by the module mounting angle. Tethers can be added from the module periphery and be of any width or length to provide directional control and strength, as needed, and to accommodate various package locations and conditions. The module is preferable mounted in a rear portion of the seat and the seat cushion material is pre-slit or molded with the slit to allow release of the air bag therethrough so as to reduce fragmentation. Preferably, the slit aligns with a sew seam of an external fabric covering the seat.
Deployment of the system is initiated by the inflator gas entering the air bag. The air bag pushes the chute member away from the canister, dislodging the retention tabs and displacing the seat cushion material. This forces the seat cover sew seam to begin to separate. When the chute travels the length of the tethers, the chute stops, causing a tear seam at the end of the chute to open allowing the air bag to be deployed in a desired direction. The chute member thus protects the seat cushion materials from abrasion and fragmentation.
An advantage of the present invention is an inflatable restraint system which provides a predictable tear location through an occupant seat.
Another advantage of the present invention is an inflatable restraint system which provides an adjustable and controlled air bag deployment trajectory.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is an inflatable restraint system which minimizes seat material fragmentation.
Still yet another advantage of the present invention is an inflatable restraint system which maintains occupant comfort when mounted in a vehicle seat.
A feature of the present invention is a chute member directed by an inflating air bag through a slit in the seat cushion material.
Another feature of the present invention is a chute member attached to a canister by a adjustable sized tethers for directing the air bag in a desired direction.
Still yet another feature of the present invention is a vehicle seat having an air bag module mounted to a rear portion thereof and deployable through a slit in the seat cushion material by a chute directing it in a predetermined direction upon exit from the seat.
Yet still another feature of the present invention is a chute member having tear seam on an end thereof which splits into air bag directing members upon exit from the seat material
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Brown Joseph Robert
Clark David Webster
Quade Marshall Lawrence
Ford Global Technologies Inc.
Kelley David B.
Shriver J. Allen
Swann J. J.
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