Air bag with diverter and expanded volume chamber

US6279944A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton · Rochester, US
• Bruce A. Kalandek · Dearborn, US
• Robert Tobian · New Baltimore, US
• Brian J. Bailey · Sterling Heights, US
• Michael R. Dillon · Clarkston, US
• Shakir M. Salmo · Sterling Heights, US
• Peter Priemer · Allendorf (Lumda), DE
• Stefan Jost · Munich, DE
• Markus Jost · San Mateo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 6, 1998
• Grant date: Aug 28, 2001
• Expiry date: Oct 6, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/23324
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An air bag for side impact protection system comprising: an air bag (50) having an inflatable first chamber (50a) formed of two joined-together first (52a) and second (52b) panels of material, the first chamber including a forward part (26) and an opposite rear part (60); an inflator (26) for generating inflation gas to inflate the air bag, the inflator including exit ports (26a) which channel the inflation gas into the first chamber in a determinable direction; the air bag further including a flow diverter (70, 90) positioned to receive inflation gas and to divert at least a component of the inflation gas to flow generally perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment the flow diverter is formed as an open topped tube; in another embodiment; the flow diverter includes a plurality of vent openings in the side of the tube. In a third embodiment of the invention the diverter is formed by a permeable sack of material. In another embodiment of the invention the rear of each of the first and second panels includes a curved portion which is separated by a curved separator panel to form a pressure accumulator.