Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Edward J Burley

Louis R Brown

Charles E Steffens, Jr

Thomas H Vos

Matthew C Bollaert

Peter F Layer

A method of inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes the step of directing inflation fluid to flow into the restraint (12) to inflate the restraint (12) in a vehicle (11) between a vehicle seat (16) and a side portion of the vehicle (11), such as a vehicle door (18). The inflation fluid increases the internal fluid pressure of the restraint (12) toward a maximum internal fluid pressure as the inflation fluid flows into the restraint (12). The method further includes the step of constraining the restraint (12) to resist inflating the restraint (12) during at least a portion of the step of directing inflation fluid into the restraint (12). The step of constraining the restraint (12) causes the restraint (12) to reach a constrained volume at which the internal fluid pressure is approximately 70-100% of the maximum internal fluid pressure at approximately 6-8 milliseconds after the inflation fluid begins to flow into the restraint (12).

Method and apparatus for inflating an inflatable vehicle occupant

An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (12) includes a first fabric panel (60), a second fabric panel (62), and a seam (64) at which the fabric panels (60,62) are fastened to each other. The restraint (12) further includes a vent opening (128) which interrupts the seam (64) to direct inflation fluid to exit the restraint (12) between the fabric panels (60,62). The restraint (12) is inflated between a vehicle seat (16) and an adjacent vehicle door (18) upon the occurrence of a side impact collision, and protects an occupant of the seat (16) from being forcefully struck by the door (18). The vent opening (128) directs the inflation fluid to exit the restraint (12) in a direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which the door (18) is moved toward the seat (16) by the side impact collision. As a result, the flow of inflation fluid which is directed from the restraint (12) through the vent opening (128 ) is directed away from the occupant and is not blocked or impeded substantially by the seat (16) or the door (18).

Side impact inflatable restraint with vent openings

A side impact head air bag module (10) is mounted in a headrest (18) of a vehicle seat (12). The module (10) includes an inflator (32) mounted in a housing (34) fixed in the headrest (18). A mouth portion (250) of the air bag (30) is secured to the housing (34). A body portion (280) of the air bag (30) is folded and stored in a chute (36). The chute (36) is supported for sliding movement in a direction away from the inflator (32). Upon actuation of the inflator (32), the chute (24) and the body portion (280) of the air bag (30) move sideways in a first direction (220) out of the headrest (18) and away from the inflator (32). The body portion (280) of the air bag (30) then inflates forward in a second direction (300) to protect an occupant of the seat (12).

Side impact head air bag module

An apparatus for restraining movement of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact to the vehicle includes an air bag module (10) in the vehicle door (12). The air bag module includes front (60) and rear (50) air bags, a source (70) of inflation fluid, and a flow control apparatus (94). The flow control apparatus (94) is actuatable into either a first condition for directing inflation fluid from the source into the front air bag (60) or a second condition for directing inflation fluid into the rear air bag (50). A sensor (26) senses the position of the vehicle occupant and provides a position signal indicative of the vehicle occupant's position. An actuator (80) is responsive to the position signal for actuating the flow control apparatus (94) into either the first or conditions. When the vehicle occupant's seat (20) is disposed forward of a predetermined position in the vehicle, the actuator (80) places the flow control apparatus (94) in the first condition to direct fluid from the inflation fluid source into only the front air bag (60). When the seat (20) is disposed rearward of the predetermined position in the vehicle, the actuator (80) places the flow control apparatus (94) in the second condition to direct fluid flow from the inflation fluid source only into the rear air bag (50).

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Romeo, MI, United States of America

Edward J Burley