Patent · US Expired

Side-collision air bag device

US6386577B1 · kind B1 · utility

88Cited by
9References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 23, 2000
Grant dateMay 14, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 23, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R21/2176
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A module case having an air bag module accommodated therein is disposed in a side face of a seat back, so that a lid of the module case is opened by a pressure of an air bag expanded upon a side collision of a vehicle, and the air bag is deployed through the resulting opening, termed the “primary” opening into a vehicle compartment. As a result of a tear line provided in the module case, even if the lid is held down by the door which has been deformed by a shock resulting from the collision, so that the lid cannot be opened to provide the primary opening, the tear line in a case body of the module case is broken, whereby a front wall is pivoted forwardly to form an alternate or “secondary” opening from the module case. Therefore, the air bag can be deployed without hindrance through the alternate secondary opening defined in the front wall of the module case into the vehicle compartment.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.