Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Delco Electronics Corporation

Jack L Jensen

Gregory A Miller

Brian H Frantz

John William Melvin

Laura A Hawthorn

Michael John Wolanin

Hubert P Blom

Laura C Stevenson

David E Pettigrove

John D Reid

This invention provides a method and apparatus for distinguishing events which require air bag deployment from those which do not and in particular for detecting a high speed pole impact early in a crash event in order to optimize the benefit of an air bag in such an event.

Method and apparatus for vehicle crash discrimination based on

An occupant restraint air bag assembly includes an air bag having a base wall portion communicating with an inflator and an occupant contacting face wall for contact with the occupant upon inflation of the bag. The air bag also has an internal dividing wall which divides the air bag into a first chamber communicating directly with the inflator and a second chamber defined between the dividing wall and the occupant contacting face wall. A first opening in the dividing wall between the chambers communicate inflation gas from the first chamber to the second chamber to inflate the second chamber. A second opening in the dividing wall is normally closed by a vent flap which is operably connected to the occupant contacting face wall so that the inflation of the second chamber and resultant travel of the face wall toward the occupant and away from the dividing wall will move the valve flap to an open position by which the inflation gas is communicated into the second chamber through both the first opening and the second opening during the further inflation of the bag.

Multi-chamber air bag with displacement responsive valve

An occupant restraint air bag assembly includes an air bag having a base wall portion communicating with an inflator and a face wall for contacting the occupant upon inflation of the bag. A vent opening is provided in the base wall portion of the air bag for venting a portion of the inflation gas from the air bag to the occupant compartment. A valve flap carried by the air bag is operable to a position closing the vent opening to contain the inflation gas within the air bag. A tether has a first end connected to the valve flap and a second end attached to the face wall so that the inflation of the air bag and consequent displacement of the face wall pulls the tether to close the valve flap. The vent opening is preferably a plurality of spaced apart openings and the tether progressively moves the valve flap across the openings to progressively close the vent opening in response to the progressive travel of the face wall toward the occupant. If desired, one or more additional vent openings with flap valves may be provided and operated by tethers of different operative lengths to provide selected and variable control over the venting of inflation gas from the air bag in response to displacement of the bag.

Displacement responsive air bag vent

An occupant restraint system includes a folded cushion having an upper wall portion against which is seated a reaction member mounted to the support plate of the system by a strap. The periphery of the reaction member is sealed or pocketed to the upper wall portion by (1) flaps sewn to the upper wall portion and overlying the periphery of the reaction member; or, (2) a sheet of flexible material sewn to the upper wall portion and having tear lines so as to separate into flaps. Both the flaps and sheet of flexible material are sandwiched to the reaction member by a retainer member secured thereto.

Occupant restraint system

An occupant restraint system includes a folded cushion having an upper wall portion and a reaction member which is pocketed or sealed against the upper wall portion by a sheet of flexible material having an inner portion covering the reaction member and an outer peripheral portion which is secured to the upper wall portion. The reaction member is mounted to the support of the system by a flexible strap and has a sharpened edge. During a subsequent stage of deployment of the cushion, the sharpened edge of the reaction member severs the peripheral portion of the sheet of flexible material from the inner portion thereof so that the peripheral portion and the upper wall of the cushion can move normal to or toward the occupant.

Inflation gas flow directing member for air bag system

An occupant restraint system includes a folded cushion having an upper wall portion against which is seated a reaction member mounted to the support of the system by a strap. The periphery of the reaction member is sealed to the upper wall portion of the cushion by a sheet of flexible material which covers the reaction member and has its peripheral edge portions interfolded with the folded side and end walls of the folded cushion.

An occupant restraint system includes a folded cushion and a reaction member mounted to the support of the system by a strap. The reaction member is pocketed to the inside of the upper wall of the cushion by flaps to seal the interface between the reaction member and the upper wall of the cushion. The flaps are located at the ends of legs of strip members which are arranged in cruciform fashion relative to each other and have their bights crossing the reaction member. The legs and flaps of the strip members are folded relative to each other and sandwiched between the reaction member and a retainer member secured to the reaction member.

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Highland, MI, United States of America

Jack L Jensen