Flow Control Means Patents (Class 280/742)
  • Patent number: 8328232
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes an airbag. The airbag includes a gas releasing valve having first and second valve body portions each have a flexible portion. The flexible portions are flexible toward a released gas downstream side of inflation gas. An auxiliary joint portion joins the first and second valve body portions to each other and extending, from a position in the vicinity of and on a released gas upstream side of the flexible portion, further toward the released gas upstream side. A flex-resistant portion that extends in the gas releasing direction and is less flexible than the flexible portion is arranged on the auxiliary joint portion of the gas releasing valve or in the vicinity of the auxiliary joint portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensaku Honda, Yuji Sato, Koji Shibayama, Atsushi Nagata
  • Patent number: 8297653
    Abstract: A pyrotechnic inflator assembly including a shell member and an end cap joinable with the shell member to form a subassembly. The subassembly containing a quantity of pyrotechnic material and at least in part defining a combustion chamber wherein at least a portion of the quantity of pyrotechnic material is reactable to form product gas for inflation of an associated airbag cushion and to generate pressure within the combustion chamber. The inflator assembly further including an overwrap about at least a portion of the subassembly to form a pyrotechnic inflator assembly that withstands the pressure generated within the combustion chamber upon reaction of the pyrotechnic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley W. Smith
  • Patent number: 8282127
    Abstract: A gas generating system including a housing and a divider dividing an interior of the housing into a first chamber and a second chamber. First and second tubes extend into the second chamber and end at the divider. At least one opening is formed in the divider to enable fluid communication of the first chamber with an interior of only the first tube after activation of the gas generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Morgan, Eduardo L. Quioc
  • Publication number: 20120235393
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable between a vehicle surface (36) and the vehicle occupant. A vent (160) releases inflation fluid from the protection device (14). The vent (160) includes a vent opening with a flow area that can be adjusted to throttle inflation fluid flow through the vent. A tether (150) has a first connection with the vent (160) and a second connection with the protection device (14). Tension on the tether (150) throttles the vent (160). The second connection of the tether is positioned on the protection device (14) such that deployment of the protection device throttles the vent (160) toward an actuated condition, and occupant (20) penetration into the protection device throttles the vent toward a non-actuated condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt F. FISHER, Douglas M. GOULD, Daniele ARANZULLA, Martin BURKHARDTSMAIER
  • Patent number: 8267426
    Abstract: An airbag for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag includes two covering sections of an airbag covering facing each other, a discharge opening formed in one of the two covering sections for discharging gas, a connecting means for forming a releasable connection between the two covering sections, wherein upon inflation of the airbag the connection counters an escape of gas, and wherein upon inflation of the airbag the connecting means interacts with the airbag covering so that the connection is released and gas can escape out of the discharge opening. The two covering sections each form an airbag layer which are connected to each other for forming the airbag covering and which upon inflation of the airbag move away from each other. The airbag layers moving away from each other introduce a force into the connecting means so that the connections between the two covering sections are released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Uwe Klaiber, Michael Knoblauch
  • Patent number: 8240709
    Abstract: A gas generating system includes an outer housing portion defining a chamber therein, an end closure coupled to the housing portion to close the chamber, and a resilient seal positioned between the housing portion and the end closure to seal the chamber. The system is configured to permit a flow of pressurized gas from the chamber to an exterior of the outer housing portion along at least a portion of the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Eduardo L. Quioc
  • Patent number: 8235415
    Abstract: Textile gas guides adapted for use with inflatable cushions and airbag systems are configured to be formed in a manner that reduces or eliminates the need for specialized equipment during manufacturing, and to be sufficiently reinforced to withstand damage during use. Such textile gas guides may comprise a second edge of a first fabric member overlapping and coupled with a shear seam to a portion of a third edge of a second fabric member. The third edge and a fourth edge of the second fabric member may be coupled together with a second seam sewed through the two edges of the second fabric member. The second fabric member at least substantially encompasses the first fabric member. Airbag systems employing such textile gas guides may include at least one inflatable cushion, a portion of which is coupled to the textile gas guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt L. Gamill, Bryan Walston
  • Patent number: 8225719
    Abstract: The present invention provides a gas generator for a restraining device of a vehicle, including: a housing being made of a resin, forming an outer shell container, having a plurality of gas discharge ports, an ignition device disposed inside the housing, a gas generating agent that is ignited and burned by activation of the ignition device, each of the gas discharge ports being formed in combination with each of a plurality of through holes of an annular plate member that is embedded in a circumferential wall surface of the housing and formed of a material selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, and carbon fiber, and the annular plate member being formed of an annular base plate including the plurality of through holes formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Katsuda, Mikio Yabuta
  • Patent number: 8215663
    Abstract: The operation efficiency is improved by enabling a gas rectifying member of an airbag device to be easily disposed in a folded airbag. An airbag in a folded state is accommodated around an inflator of an airbag device, and a gas rectifying member (12) for guiding gas is disposed between the airbag and the inflator surrounded by the airbag. The gas rectifying member (12) includes a retained portion (12A) retained, together with the airbag, around the inflator and a free-standing tubular gas-flow guide portion (12B) standing upright from the retained portion (12A), which are formed as a single part from a base fabric. The airbag is folded in a state in which the retained portion (12A) is retained inside the airbag. At this time, the gas-flow guide portion (12B) is less likely to be sandwiched between the airbag, because it is standing in the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shimazaki, Kou Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8210568
    Abstract: A side airbag unit for a vehicle seat including a generally cylindrical gas generator unit having a longitudinal axis. The vehicle seat has a backrest with a front surface and a side surface. In order to achieve the result that the airbag requires little additional space and nevertheless is relatively easy to mount on the vehicle seat, the longitudinal axis extends generally parallel to the front surface and perpendicular to the side surface of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignees: Autoliv Development AB, Bayerische Motorenwerke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Timo Ryden, Jonas Björkqvist, Magnus Karisson, Joachim Huber, Lars Kauffeld
  • Patent number: 8186713
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that includes panel (100) of material that helps define an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent opening (104) vents inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). A pleat (120) is folded in the panel (100). The pleat (120) is positioned against a vehicle surface (62) while the protection device (14) is in a normally deployed condition to help block inflation fluid from venting through the vent opening (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Heather Kramer, Alberto Rodriguez, Amit Sharma, John Bauer
  • Patent number: 8181990
    Abstract: An airbag for use within a motor vehicle, which includes a gas generator for supplying inflation gas; a lower chamber configured to be inflated directly by the gas generator; an upper chamber located above and proximate to the lower chamber; and a diffusing panel configured to separate the lower and upper chambers and allows inflation gas to pass through. The upper chamber is to be indirectly inflated by the gas generator through the diffusing panel, and upon completed deployment will have an internal pressure lower than the deployed internal pressure of the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Vivekananda Maripudi
  • Publication number: 20120104737
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to control deployment of an inflatable protection device (14) includes a tether (150) having a first connection with a first portion (100, 104) of the protection device and a second connection with a second portion (102) of the protection device. A guide (156) is connected to the protection device (14). The tether (150) extends through the guide (156). The tether (150) is configured to move through the guide (156) in order to translate movement of the first portion (100, 104) of the protection device (14) in a first direction to movement of the second portion (102) of the protection device in a second direction different from the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould
  • Publication number: 20120104734
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The protection device (14) includes a panel (74) having a portion presented toward the occupant (20) when the protection device is in the inflated condition. A tether (60) has a first connection (78) to a first portion (80) of the panel (74) and a second connection (72) to a second portion (76) of the panel. The tether (60) is operative to limit deployment of the second portion (76) of the panel (74) in response to unrestricted deployment of the first portion (80) of the panel. The tether (60) is also operative to permit further deployment of the second portion (76) of the panel (74) in response to occupant penetration into the first portion (80) of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould
  • Patent number: 8157291
    Abstract: A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an airbag and a crash sensor system. The airbag is normally folded together in a non-activated basic state and is able to be inflated with different volumes. The crash sensor system detects a vehicle impact and emits an activation signal. The crash sensor system includes both a pre-crash sensor system and also an in-crash sensor system, and emits a pre-crash activation signal as activation signal upon detection of an impending collision. The in-crash sensor system detects an actual impact and emits an in-crash activation signal (backup) if the pre-crash sensor system has previously not detected the impending collision and has not emitted a pre-crash activation signal. The airbag may be inflated to a larger airbag volume and to a relatively smaller airbag volume in an in-crash mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Johann Mayer, Thomas Schmidbauer, Thomas Wohllebe, Mark Gonter
  • Publication number: 20120080871
    Abstract: This invention is in the field of safety devices to lessen injuries arising from impact in vehicles, particularly automobiles. A bolster which may be employed to reduce impact severity to passengers from either frontal or side impacts is activated by impact sensing devices. The housing of the bolster has a lateral length L. Upon activation, the bolster is inflated with an activating fluid and extends the lateral length L of bolster upon activation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Raj S. Roychoudhury, Michael James Best, Timothy W. Chapman, Rimas Ciplijauskas, Changize Sadr, Ali Totonchian
  • Patent number: 8142534
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a filter is provided including a first layer of sheet material having a first base portion, and a plurality of first raised portions extending from the first base portion and defining a corresponding plurality of first openings through the first layer. A second layer of sheet material also has a second base portion and a plurality of second raised portions extending from the second base portion and defining a corresponding plurality of second openings through the sheet material. The second layer of sheet material is positioned adjacent the first layer of sheet material such that the first raised portions extend from the first base portion toward the second layer, and the second raised portions extend from the second base portion toward the first layer. A gas generating system and a vehicle occupant protection system utilizing the filter are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Whang, Kousuke Nishigaki
  • Publication number: 20120061946
    Abstract: An air bag is provided with a air cushion formed of one woven fabric. At least one functional element, which provides the airbag with an additional function, is woven into the air cushion in one piece. The functional element can be a tube system of a support structure airbag and/or a valve for unfolding of a support structure airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: Daimier AG
    Inventors: Christian Burczyk, Andreas Hirth, Lutz Quarg, Friedrich Reiter, Clark Ruedebusch
  • Publication number: 20120049496
    Abstract: Textile gas guides adapted for use with inflatable cushions and airbag systems are configured to be formed in a manner that reduces or eliminates the need for specialized equipment during manufacturing, and to be sufficiently reinforced to withstand damage during use. Such textile gas guides may comprise a second edge of a first fabric member overlapping and coupled with a shear seam to a portion of a third edge of a second fabric member. The third edge and a fourth edge of the second fabric member may be coupled together with a second seam sewed through the two edges of the second fabric member. The second fabric member at least substantially encompasses the first fabric member. Airbag systems employing such textile gas guides may include at least one inflatable cushion, a portion of which is coupled to the textile gas guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt L. Gamill, Bryan Walston
  • Publication number: 20120043745
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fabric member for injecting an inflation gas into an airbag cushion when an airbag operates. Particularly, the present invention relates to a tube-type fabric substrate for injecting gas, including a tube-type fabric layer at which one or more gas discharge ports are formed, wherein the fabric layer is formed of a weave selected from the group consisting of a double-layered fabric weave, a basket weave, a co-woven fabric weave, a partial co-woven fabric weave, and a mixed weave thereof, and the weight per area of the fabric layer is 10 g/mm2 or less. The present invention also relates to a method of preparing the same, and an airbag system including the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: In-Gik Bae, Sung-Gyun Hong
  • Patent number: 8104792
    Abstract: There is provided an airbag device being excellent in performance of protection of an occupant wherein a folded airbag (10) undergoes sequential and orderly expansion starting from a region where the expansion ought to be started. It is characterized in that a gas rectification member (12?) for rectifying and guiding a gas generated from an inflator (30) up to the vicinity of a part of the airbag (10), inflating in the initial stage of the expansion thereof, is provided substantially at the central part of the airbag (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taniyama, Yoshio Shimazaki, Kou Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8100432
    Abstract: A safety airbag arrangement for a vehicle comprises a main airbag having an inlet for connection with an inflator and a gas deflector bag secured within the main airbag, having an inlet in register with the inlet of the main airbag, for connection with the inflator, the gas deflector bag having ventilator holes and the arrangement being such that gas supplied to the airbag arrangement via the inlets by the inflator must first pass into the gas deflector bag, to pass subsequently from the gas deflector bag through the ventilation holes. The wall of the gas deflector bag is secured to the main wall of the main airbag by a plurality of arcuate seams spaced progressively from inlets, to maintain the gas deflector bag in a predetermined position relative to the main airbag when the airbag arrangement is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Tomas Ågren
  • Patent number: 8091921
    Abstract: A gas generator has an outer housing with a gas outlet section having an outer wall. The gas outlet section has a first and a second outflow area. Each outflow area has a net thrust outflow direction. The net thrust outflow direction of the first outflow area has a first component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator and the net thrust outflow direction of the second outflow area has a second component in the lengthwise direction of the gas generator. The first component is oriented opposite to the second component. The gas generator is arranged in an airbag module in a way that gas from the first and second outflow areas is guided into different inflatable sections of a gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Heigl, Gerd Zischka
  • Patent number: 8087692
    Abstract: An airbag for a motor vehicle is provided The airbag comprising an airbag covering, two covering sections of the airbag covering facing each other, a discharge opening formed in one of the two covering sections for discharging gas out of the airbag, a connecting means for forming a releasable connection between the two covering sections, wherein upon inflation of the airbag the connection counters an escape of gas through the connecting means, and wherein upon inflation of the airbag the connecting means interacts with the airbag covering in such a manner that the connection is released and can escape out of the discharge opening. The two covering sections each form an airbag layer which are connected to each other for forming the airbag covering and which upon inflation of the airbag move away from each other. The airbag layers moving away from each other introduce a force into the connecting means such that the connections between the two covering sections is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
    Inventors: Uwe Klaiber, Michael Knoblauch
  • Publication number: 20110298200
    Abstract: Provided are a check valve for an airbag and an airbag device that can improve the reproducibility of the flow path blocking function while reducing the resistance upon inflation and deployment of the airbag and that can be applied to a place where a flow path is divided into a plurality of flow paths. A first embodiment of an airbag device according to the present invention has an airbag that is normally folded and that is inflated and deployed in an emergency, and an inflator that supplies gas to the airbag. The airbag has a plurality of inflation chambers, a duct portion disposed so as to connect the plurality of inflation chambers, and a check valve for an airbag having a tubular portion sewn to the duct portion, and tongue-shaped portions formed at the tip of the tubular portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Inventors: Masayuki Taniguchi, Masahiro Hasebe, Hideaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8056923
    Abstract: In at least one embodiment, the present invention provides a side airbag apparatus for a vehicle having a seat with a back rest part and a hinge mechanism. The side airbag includes a separation means defining a front airbag chamber and a rear airbag chamber within the side airbag. A connecting passage connects the front and rear airbag chambers adjacent a lower extremity of the separation means. An attaching portion provided on the rear portion of the rear airbag chamber attaches the side airbag to the backrest part. An inflator proximate said attaching portion injects gas into the rear airbag chamber which flows through the connecting passage into the front airbag chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Shimono
  • Publication number: 20110248487
    Abstract: The restraining function of support structure airbags in particular and mechanical airbags should be able to be specifically guaranteed in a simple manner. To this end, an air cushion for an airbag of a motor vehicle is provided, having a sleeve with at least one opening and a closure element arranged on the at least one opening in order to at least partially prevent air from flowing from a first direction. Furthermore, the closure element is flexible and has a channel-shaped design at least upon the flow of air from a second direction opposite the first direction. The closure element thus has the effect of a check valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Christian Burczyk, Andreas Hirth, Lutz Quarg, Friedrich Reiter, Clark Ruedebusch
  • Patent number: 8029017
    Abstract: An example airbag inflator manifold assembly includes a cap portion establishing a plurality of apertures that are operative to communicate flow from an inflator to an airbag interior. A baffle portion redirects at least some of the flow from the plurality of apertures. A mounting face extends radially from the cap portion and is securable to a flange extending radially from the inflator to hold the cap portion and the baffle portion relative to the inflator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael A. Schorle, Peter L. Vigeant, David L. Geyer
  • Patent number: 8020890
    Abstract: A control device for modifying the deployment characteristics of an inflatable cushion of an airbag module is disclosed herein, the control device having a releasable retention device releasably secured to an inner surface of the inflatable cushion at a first location and an actuator at a second location, the releasable retention device being configured to limit deployment of the inflatable cushion in a first direction when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator; and a venting system disposed within and comprising a portion of the inflatable cushion, the venting system providing at least one vent opening in the inflatable cushion when the releasable retention device is secured to the first location of the inflatable cushion and the actuator and the inflatable cushion is inflated by an inflation gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: James L. Webber
  • Patent number: 8007002
    Abstract: An air bag module (60) including an inflatable air bag (50) having a first region formed by opposing edge borders (102, 104) of two facing panels or panel pieces (52, 54), the first region initially open to receive a gas distribution hose (40), the gas distribution hose comprising a tubular portion (42) and a flat portion (44) integrally formed with the tubular portion, the tubular portion configured to receive inflation gas at one portion and having openings (49) therein to permit the egress of inflation gas; the flat portion of the hose located between the opposing edge borders of the facing panels; and a seam or seams (110) extending through the facing borders to join the flat portion of the hose between the facing edge borders in a gas tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Kalandek, James A. Horton
  • Patent number: 8006999
    Abstract: A head protection airbag according to the invention includes: a shielding main body portion which is manufactured by double weaving, is configured to have a substantially rectangular plate shape when the shielding main body portion is flatly deployed so that a vehicle inside-facing wall and a vehicle outside-facing wall overlap with each other, and covers a window on the inside when the inflation is completed; a plurality of mounting portions which protrude upward from an upper edge of the shielding main body portion and mount the upper edge of the shielding main body portion on an upper edge of the window; and a connection port which has a substantially tubular shape, protrudes upward from the upper edge of the shielding main body portion and allows an inflow of inflation gas into the shielding main body portion. The mounting portions and the connection port are separate from the double-woven shielding main body portion and are connected to the shielding main body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taizo Suemitsu, Yasuo Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8007003
    Abstract: A diffuser (50) for use in an air bag system, the diffuser comprising: a connector part (52) configured to be connected to an air bag inflator, the connector part including a side wall (53); and a gas distribution part formed as an integral extension of the connector part and configured to deliver gas from the connector part to the air bag (150), and the distribution part including a first conduit (60) and a second conduit (70), the two conduits configured to give the diffuser a low profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce A. Kalandek
  • Patent number: 7992896
    Abstract: A gas generator for a safety system includes an explosible charge formed at least by a primary pyrotechnic compound, in a first chamber initiated by at least one initiator provided with a reinforcing charge and a secondary compound, in a second chamber, the decomposition of which is entailed by products of combustion of the primary compound, an interaction of the products of combustion of the primary compound and those of the secondary compound through an oxidation-reduction reaction occurring in a slightly confined volume, the first chamber communicating with said second chamber through a central nozzle and said second chamber being provided, at a first zone close to said first chamber, with orifices that discharge the gases and contain, in a second zone, said secondary compound; and means forming an obstacle to the passage of the gases installed in said second chamber between said first and second zones, said obstacle-forming means allowing the gases to pass into a central part and forming an obstacle to th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Seva Technologies
    Inventors: Paul-Philippe Cord, Fabien Béteille, Sylvie Martinel, legal representative
  • Publication number: 20110148078
    Abstract: An airbag and an airbag device can support itself without using the reaction force from a front glass and cost reduction and commonality of components are achieved. An airbag of the present invention is normally accommodated in an instrument panel in a folded state and is inflated and deployed between a front glass and an occupant by gas being supplied thereto in an emergency. The airbag has rectification means disposed therein that controls the flow of the gas. The rectification means has a first opening through which gas is supplied such that part of the airbag on the occupant side is pressed against the instrument panel, a second opening through which gas is supplied such that the airbag is lifted upward, and a third opening through which the gas is supplied to a base end portion of the airbag on the front glass side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventor: Kei Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 7963552
    Abstract: A head-protecting airbag is deployable downward from an upper periphery of a window of vehicle to cover the window. The airbag includes a primary inflatable portion that includes a protection portion for receiving an occupant's head and a secondary inflatable portion that admits inflation gas of the primary inflatable portion and is inflatable secondarily for preventing a pressure increase of the primary inflatable portion. The primary inflatable portion and the secondary inflatable portion are communicated with a tubular conduit that is arranged along the lower periphery of the airbag. The protection portion includes an inlet-side inflatable portion communicated with the conduit and an upper inflatable portion located above the conduit. The conduit includes a main region located facing the outlet port and an enlarged-diameter region that is located facing the inlet port and has a greater opening dimension than the main region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tanaka, Yoshio Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7963555
    Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag module comprising a first subassembly which may be arranged on a motor vehicle, an airbag of the first subassembly which may be inflated for protecting a person, which comprises an interior which may be filled with gas for inflating the airbag, a housing of the first subassembly, for receiving the airbag, a gas generator of the first subassembly for inflating the airbag with gas, an additional second subassembly and a reservoir of the second subassembly (for storing a coolant which is designed and provided for cooling gases located in the interior of the airbag. The additional second subassembly is separate from the first subassembly and is designed and provided to be arranged at a distance from the first subassembly on the motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
    Inventors: Ingo Kalliske, Christian Schreiber, Michael Hänsel, Kazuhiro Abe
  • Patent number: 7950693
    Abstract: A dual stage inflator device including a housing defining first and second chamber each containing a quantity of gas generant material ignitable to produce combustion products. A divider plate, separating the first chamber from the second chamber, is disposed and fixed within the housing. The divider plate includes an opening to allow gas flow communication from the second chamber to the first chamber. A removable plug element is normally disposed in the divider plate opening to prevent gas flow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber when in a static state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Jackson, Kevin R. Smith
  • Patent number: 7950691
    Abstract: A gas generating system includes a housing having an adapter formed integral with the housing to enable operative coupling of the gas generating system to an associated gas-actuatable device. The adapter may include openings formed therein to enable distribution of gases to an exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian A. Mayville
  • Patent number: 7938438
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side airbag module for an automotive vehicle which includes an inflatable bag (11) configured to be deployed between an occupant and the vehicle body upon being filled with the gas produced by a generator, which bag comprises a front panel (21) intended to make contact with the occupant, a rear panel (23) and at least one inner panel (25) forming a first chamber (13) with the rear panel (23) and a second chamber (15) with the front panel (21), having a vent hole (19), the inner panel (25) including a duct (39) allowing the passage of gas from the first chamber (13) to the second chamber (15) and which is located in a position allowing it to be blocked upon the front panel (21) moving closer to the inner panel (25) during the contact of the bag (11) with the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Dalphi Metal España, S.A.
    Inventors: Isabelle Denys, Luis José Duarte De Arez
  • Patent number: 7926837
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (16) of a vehicle (12) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that is inflatable from a deflated condition to an inflated condition. An inflator (32) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (14). A retainer (70) has an opening (78) for receiving the inflator (32). The retainer (70) includes a base portion (72) and an annular wall (74) that extends transversely from the base portion (72). The annular wall (74) has a deflector portion (88) and a retaining portion (86). The deflector portion (88) is positioned radially outward from the retaining portion (86) and extends substantially orthogonal to the base portion (72) to direct inflation fluid from the inflator (32) into the protection device (14) in a direction substantially parallel to a central axis (37) of the inflator (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery A. Harvey, Rickey L. Stratton, Wilfried Burghardt
  • Patent number: 7926838
    Abstract: A side impact protection airbag system includes an inflator, a retainer and an airbag. An interior space of the airbag is divided into a pelvis portion protecting chamber and a chest portion protecting chamber by a dividing part. A gas ejecting part of the inflator and an opening in the retainer are provided between a fixing end portion of the airbag and an end portion (a connecting portion) of the dividing part which lies a side facing the fixing end portion. A circumferential portion on a wall part which is separate from the opening is made to constitute an interruption wall which interrupts the passage of an inflation gas to the dividing part side, and the interruption wall is provided between the gas ejecting part and the connecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensaku Honda, Koji Shibayama, Yuji Sato, Atsushi Nagata
  • Patent number: 7922190
    Abstract: In one form, an airbag is provided with a first bag as a bag formed by joining base fabrics which includes a gas inlet for supplying pressure fluid fed from an inflator inward and a discharge passage for discharging the pressure fluid supplied inward to an outside, a second bag as a bag formed by joining base fabrics which includes an intake passage for introducing the pressure fluid discharged from the discharge passage of the first bag inward, and a passage joint member for joining the discharge passage of the first bag and the intake passage of the second bag while maintaining each cross section shape of the passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichi Sugimoto, Takeshi Sone
  • Patent number: 7905516
    Abstract: An airbag module integrates the components required for gas generation, thereby eliminating the need for a separate inflation component. The airbag module can comprise a cover with a pocket, a gas generant container, an inflatable cushion an upper and lower retainer housing, and an inflation gas generation system in fluid communication with the cushion. The airbag module does not comprise a discrete inflator that is functional outside the assembled airbag module. The gas generant container houses a package of solid gas generating compound. The energetic materials of the propellant do not become functional as a gas generation source until the cover is secured to the lower retainer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Bostick, James P. Karlow, Dave McCormick, Barney Bauer, Henk B. Helleman, Simin Zeng, Daqing Zhang, Hideki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7900960
    Abstract: A deployable inflator that includes a quantity of gas generant. The generant is designed to produce a supply of inflation gas during deployment of the inflator. The inflator includes a first burst disk and a second burst disk. The first and second burst disks are separated by a cavity. The inflator also includes an opening (or multiple openings). During deployment, the inflation gas flows into the cavity via the opening(s) and ruptures the first burst disk to allow inflation gas to escape the inflator. The second burst disk ruptures after the pressure in the cavity drops sufficiently below the pressure on the other side of the second burst disk. This inflator reduces the initial onset rate of deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Lewis, Gregory J. Lang, Brian A. Laubacher
  • Patent number: 7891700
    Abstract: An airbag for knee protection includes at the center in a left and right direction of the upper edge an accommodation recess that recesses downward for accommodating an underside of the column cover. An outer wall of the upper region of the airbag is comprised of a panel material that is doubled on a turn crease that extends straightly through the panel in a left and right direction and forms the upper edge of the airbag. The airbag further includes beneath the turn crease and in the vicinity of the center in a left and right direction of the upper panel and above the thickness regulating tether a connecting member that approximates the driver-side wall and column cover side wall of the airbag to each other so as to provide the accommodation recess. The connecting member is arranged to form a communication passage between the connecting member and the turn crease that allows inflation gas to flow through in a left and right direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryotaro Ishida
  • Publication number: 20110031727
    Abstract: A baffle system is provided including a first end plate having at least one opening formed therein, and a second end plate having at least one opening formed therein. At least one baffle element extends between the first and second end plates. The at least one baffle element defines a chamber. The at least one first end plate opening and the at least one second end plate opening are blocked so as to prevent fluid flow from the chamber to an exterior of the chamber system through the at least one first end plate opening and through the at least one second end plate opening. In addition, the blockage of the end plate openings is such that fluid flow is enabled into the chamber from the exterior of the chamber through the at least one first end plate opening and through the at least one second end plate opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: David M. McCormick
  • Publication number: 20110025033
    Abstract: An airbag has a skin enclosing a gas chamber and the skin has a vent which is closed in the resting state of the airbag and which opens when the pressure in the gas chamber exceeds a pre-determined value is described. The vent includes a vent hole in the skin and a tearable connection closing the vent hole in the resting state of the airbag. The airbag is folded to a package at least along a first direction and the tearable connection connects the skin around the vent hole directly to itself such that the tearable connection extends from a first point to a second point. In order to ensure that the vent remains closed during deployment and that the vent opens after the pressure inside the gas chamber exceeds a predetermined value within a rather small tolerance of the pressure, the line connecting the two points encloses an angle between 30° and 60° with the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Alan Bradburn
  • Publication number: 20110025032
    Abstract: An example airbag assembly includes an airbag and a duct. The duct has a duct opening for venting gas. The duct is moveable between a first position where the duct opening is outside the airbag and a second position where the duct opening is inside the airbag. Inflating the airbag moves the duct between the first position and the second position. The airbag is configured to be inflated by a first stream of gas moving from the duct opening to an interior of the airbag and by a second stream of gas moving from an airbag inflator to the interior of the airbag. The first stream of gas is separate from the second stream of gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
  • Patent number: 7878533
    Abstract: There is provided an airbag device for allowing a holding member to firmly hold an outer circumference part and a peripheral edge part of an airbag during the airbag assembling work and to reduce the assembling work time. The airbag device comprising a holding member (14) for holding an airbag (10) in a state as folded and contained therein, and pressing down a side face of the airbag (10) on the outer circumference thereof. The holding member (14) is made of a woven cloth, and an anticipated rupture part (14k) to be ruptured by a gas generated from an inflator (30) is formed at the position corresponding to the part of the airbag (10), inflating in the initial stage of the expansion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shimazaki, Seiichiro Kamura, Kou Sasaki, Hiroyuki Taniyama
  • Patent number: RE42364
    Abstract: An occupant knee protection system for a vehicle (10) has an airbag (11), which is folded and stored in a part of a vehicle, inflate and deploy in front of the occupant's knees by gas supplied from an inflator (12), so as to protect the occupant's knees. The airbag (11) has in its inside a tether (11c) (gas flow dividing portion whose front and rear end portions are connected to front and rear walls (11a, 11b) of the airbag (11), both walls being arranged in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so as to appropriately regulate a longitudinal thickness (D) of the airbag (11)) for dividing a gas flow from the inflator (12) in right and left directions of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Hayakawa