Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Patent
1997-05-01
2000-02-15
Mai, Lanna
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
280741, B60R 2126
Patent
active
060243791
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus for deploying an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) includes a pressure vessel (16) containing inflation fluid, and a source of thermal energy which heats the inflation fluid. An initiator assembly (17), when actuated, initiates an outlet flow of the inflation fluid from the pressure vessel (16). The initiator assembly (17) includes a first actuatable device (18) which varies the degree to which the thermal energy can heat the inflation fluid, and further includes a second actuatable device (20) which causes the source to release the thermal energy to heat the inflation fluid. The initiator assembly (17) is actuated in a selected one of a plurality of differing stages. The differing stages correspond to a plurality of differing deployment conditions, and include a "softest" stage in which only the first actuatable device (18) is actuated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3655217 (1972-04-01), Johnson
patent: 3689105 (1972-09-01), Matsui et al.
patent: 3966226 (1976-06-01), Roth
patent: 5022674 (1991-06-01), Frantom et al.
patent: 5348344 (1994-09-01), Blumenthal et al.
patent: 5351989 (1994-10-01), Popek et al.
patent: 5411289 (1995-05-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5413378 (1995-05-01), Steffens, Jr. et al.
patent: 5470104 (1995-11-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5494312 (1996-02-01), Rink
patent: 5527066 (1996-06-01), Svensson
patent: 5531473 (1996-07-01), Rink et al.
patent: 5558367 (1996-09-01), Cuevas
patent: 5566976 (1996-10-01), Cuevas
patent: 5582428 (1996-12-01), Buchanan et al.
patent: 5613702 (1997-03-01), Goetz
patent: 5660803 (1997-08-01), Brede et al.
patent: 5690357 (1997-11-01), Cuevas
patent: 5779266 (1998-07-01), Moore et al.
patent: 5836610 (1998-11-01), Rink et al.
patent: 5863067 (1999-01-01), Blumenthal et al.
Japanese Patent Publication SHO 50(1975)-112939 (with English language translation).
Copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/606,067, filed Feb. 23, 1996, entitled Apparatus for Inflating an Inflatable Vehicle Occupant Restraint.
Copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/637,856, filed Apr. 25, 1996, entitled Dual Stage Air Bag Inflator.
Copending U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 08/760,837, filed Dec. 5, 1996, entitled Vehicle Occupant Protection Apparatus.
Blumenthal Jack L.
O'Loughlin John P.
Streif Eric N.
Fleming Faye M.
Mai Lanna
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
LandOfFree
Vehicle occupant protection apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle occupant protection apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle occupant protection apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1899711