Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-15
2001-01-30
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S732000, C280S738000, C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179322
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, and particularly relates to an apparatus including an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag, is stored in a vehicle in a folded condition at a location adjacent to the vehicle occupant compartment. The air bag is part of an apparatus which further includes a crash sensor and an inflator. The crash sensor senses vehicle conditions that indicate the occurrence of a crash. When the crash sensor senses a crash-indicating condition of at least a specified level, the inflator is actuated. The inflator then emits inflation fluid which unfolds and inflates the air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment to help restrain movement of an occupant of the vehicle.
In addition to the air bag and the inflator, the apparatus typically includes a reaction structure and a retainer ring. The reaction structure supports the inflator and the air bag on a part of the vehicle from which the air bag is to be deployed into the vehicle occupant compartment. That part of the vehicle could be the steering wheel, the instrument panel, a door, the roof, a seat, or any other suitable vehicle part.
The retainer ring surrounds the inflator. An edge portion of the air bag also surrounds the inflator. A plurality of fasteners clamp the edge portion of the air bag between the retainer ring and the reaction structure. When the inflation fluid emitted from the inflator flows into the air bag to unfold and inflate the air bag, the retainer ring and the fasteners hold the edge portion of the air bag from being pulled away from the reaction structure by the force of the inflation fluid pressure in the air bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device and an inflator. The protection device is folded so as to be deployed from a reaction structure in a first direction to restrain movement of a vehicle occupant in a second, opposite direction. The folded protection device has a cross-section with a configuration defined by pleats. Each pleat has an open end and a closed end which is spaced from the open end in a direction substantially parallel to the first and second directions.
The inflator is received within one of the pleats in the folded protection device. Inflation fluid outlet openings in the inflator are located adjacent to the closed end of the pleat in which the inflator is received.
The apparatus further includes a retainer ring. The retainer ring engages and supports a peripheral edge portion of the folded protection device in an open configuration. The retainer ring and the edge portion of the folded protection device are spaced from the inflator on opposite sides of the pleated cross-section of the protection device.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, the folded protection device and the retainer ring have rectangular peripheral shapes. The pleated cross-section of the folded protection device extends across the width of the retainer ring and is uniform along the entire length of the retainer ring. In a second embodiment, the folded protection device and the retainer ring have circular peripheral shapes. The pleated cross-section of the folded protection device extends diametrically across the folded protection device and is uniform entirely around the folded protection device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4101146 (1978-07-01), Oehm
patent: 5340151 (1994-08-01), Sato
patent: 5427410 (1995-06-01), Shiota et al.
patent: 5431432 (1995-07-01), Webber et al.
patent: 5518266 (1996-05-01), O'Docherty et al.
patent: 5520415 (1996-05-01), Lewis et al.
patent: 5527063 (1996-06-01), Garner et al.
patent: 5531476 (1996-07-01), Kerner
patent: 5564730 (1996-10-01), Chizenko et al.
patent: 5636860 (1997-06-01), Fischer et al.
patent: 5673930 (1997-10-01), Coleman
patent: 5681052 (1997-10-01), Ricks et al.
patent: 5762364 (1998-06-01), Cuevas
patent: 5836611 (1998-11-01), Palm
patent: 5857696 (1999-01-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 5899495 (1999-05-01), Yamamoto et al.
patent: 5901979 (1999-05-01), Schneider et al.
patent: 5931491 (1999-08-01), Bosgeiter et al.
patent: 5941559 (1999-08-01), Rudolf et al.
patent: 5979937 (1999-11-01), Yoshida et al.
patent: 5997034 (1999-12-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 19516494 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 2279046A (1994-12-01), None
patent: 406087393 (1994-03-01), None
Faigle Ernst M.
Ford Diane D.
Steffens, Jr. Charles E.
Mai Lanna
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
To Toan
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-2549016