Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Jeffrey A Welch

Ian V Lau

Timothy W Hill

Kenneth H Desaele

Brian H Frantz

Bonnie Y Cheung

Bernd Uwe Zimmerbeutel

Mansour Ashtiani-Zarandi

Youssef Tishbi

Larry G La Grange

Kenneth Henry DeSaele

A restraint assembly includes an inflator for generating inflation gas and a restraint cushion including an inflatable transfer portion in fluid communication with the inflator for initial inflation by the inflation gas. The cushion further includes an inflatable bladder portion in fluid communication with the transfer portion for extended inflation by transfer of inflation gas from the transfer portion into the bladder portion. The bladder portion has a fully inflated condition in which the bladder portion is filled with inflation gas from the transfer portion and in which the bladder portion engages the transfer portion to limit the amount of gas further transferred into the bladder portion and to seal the bladder portion such that inflation gas is held in the bladder portion for lengthened and extended inflation of the bladder portion even after deflation of the transfer portion for extended coverage of a preselected vehicle location.

Side restraint assembly

An air bag assembly in a vehicle has an inflator for generating gas and an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The air bag assembly also includes a tether being substantially external to the air bag. The tether has a first end connected to the air bag and a second end connected to the vehicle. Preferably, the second end of the tether is spaced laterally apart from the first end of the tether such that upon air bag deployment, the tether provides lateral support to the air bag.

Air bag assembly with tether

An air bag module for a vehicle includes an inflator for discharging inflator gas and an air bat; for inflation by the discharging inflator gas. The air bag has a fixed edge adapted to be fixedly connected to the vehicle and also has a sliding edge adapted to be slidably connected to the vehicle. Upon air bag deployment, the sliding edge of the air bag slides along the vehicle and extends the air bag to the inflated condition. The air bag module preferably includes a conduit having a first portion in fluid communication with the inflator for receiving the discharging inflator gas therein. The conduit also includes a second portion spaced apart from the inflator and having an opening in fluid communication with the air bag for directing inflator gas into the air bag. The second portion of the conduit directs the discharging inflator gas such that the sliding edge of the air bag is forced to the extended condition. Advantageously, the conduit allows the inflator to be spaced apart from the air bag for easier packaging of the air bag module in the vehicle. Further packaging advantages are preferably gained by slidably connecting the sliding edge of the air bag to the same conduit which transmits the inflator gas from the inflator to the air bag.

Side mounted air bag module

A side impact air bag mounted in a door of a motor vehicle in an unfurled, deflated position for reducing deployment time and providing reliable orientation of the air bag upon deployment. The air bag is mounted in an upper portion of the door, and an actuable inflator is mounted in the lower portion of the door. The inflator is in communication with the air bag via a connecting air bag or flexible duct, which provides added padding to the door upon inflation. A soft flexible material overlies the air bag to hide the air bag from the occupant's view as well as retain the air bag in the unfurled position. The soft flexible material is adhesively attached or stapled to an inner trim panel of the door and becomes detached from the inner trim panel upon the air bag inflating and pushing the soft flexible material away from the inner trim panel so that the air bag reaches its inflated position. A second embodiment provides the soft flexible material with a weakened portion that tears upon the air bag inflating and pushing the soft flexible material away from the inner trim panel of the door.

Unfurled side impact air bag

The air bag assembly, including the inflator and the stored air bag are mounted on the vehicle pillar adjacent the front seat back. Upon deployment, the air bag unfurls from a housing mounted on the pillar and extends along the door between the end of the seat and the door. The air bag assembly can include either an air bag which unfurls forwardly for the front seat occupant, or which unfurls rearwardly for the rear seat occupant, or air bags for both the front and rear occupants. The air bags maybe inflated by a single inflator, or separate inflators may be provided for the front and the rear seats. A sensor may be mounted on either the door or the pillar to provide an input signal to the air bag actuating electrical circuit.

Air bag for side impact

An assembly for mounting a molding to a vehicle body has a windshield supported by a pillar. The pillar has an outer pillar component and an inner pillar component with the components mounted together. A one piece energy absorbing bracket is interposed between the pillar and the molding. The energy absorbing bracket has a base mounted to the inner pillar component. A mounting portion of the bracket conforms to the shape of the molding and carries the molding. A support portion connects the mounting portion to the base and spaces the molding from the pillar. A foot of the bracket engages the pillar to provide stability of the bracket relative to the pillar. A buckling portion connects the mounting portion to the foot and is adapted to undergo deformation when subject to a force of impact transmitted through the molding. The components of the pillar each have a channel shape and open towards each other.

Energy absorbing molding attachment bracket

A door inner panel and a door outer panel attached together in spaced apart relation defining a cavity. The door inner panel has a plurality of openings therein and the door components are individually mounted on the inner panel within these openings by a plurality of energy absorbing devices which are preferably comprised of convoluted straps.

Energy absorbing modular door

A door inner panel and a door outer panel attached together in spaced apart relation defining a cavity. The door inner panel has an opening therein and the door components such as the window regulator and door handles are mounted on the module panel. A plurality of energy absorbing devices extended between the module panel and the door inner panel to effectively mount the module panel within the opening of the door inner panel. The energy absorbing devices yield upon the imposition of an occupant thereagainst to enable energy absorbing movement of the module panel and the door components into the cavity space between the inner and outer panels. The energy absorbing devices are preferably comprised of stamped steel straps having convolutions therein with one end of the strap welded to the module panel and the other end bolted to the door inner panel.

The method for making an energy absorbing panel comprises the steps of coating a stretchable lightweight fabric with resin, molding the resin coated fabric into a generally planar sheet having a plurality of spaced apart conical projections rising from the planar sheet, cutting the fabric to provide molded panels in a size and shape of the desired energy absorbing panel structure, cutting adhesive coated planar sheet material in a size and shape of the desired energy absorbing panel structure to provide interface panels, interleaving the molded panels and the adhesive coated interface panels to the desired thickness of the energy absorbing panel structure, and then curing the adhesive to attach the panels and thereby form the energy absorbing structure. Upon the imposition of a force against the energy absorbing structures, the resin rigidified projections collapse to absorb energy. The energy absorbing structure is mounted on a vehicle door above the arm rest and below the window opening between the door trim panel and the door inner panel to absorb energy in the event that the occupant contacts the door inner panel.

Energy absorption system for vehicle door and method of making

A vehicle door includes an outer panel and an inner panel attached together and defining a space for mounting the window and window regulator. A door trim assembly mounted on the inner panel includes an energy absorbing member, preferably of plastic or other foam matrial, and a trim panel which overlies the energy absorbing member and provides a decorative surface. An arm rest is mounted to project inboard from the trim panel and overlies a cavity provided in the door trim assembly. The arm rest is mounted on the door trim assembly by a yieldable mount which yields upon imposition of a predetermined level of force against the arm rest by the seated occupant whereby the arm rest is collapsed into the cavity and assumes a substantially flush relationship with the door trim assembly.

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St. Clair Shores, MI, United States of America

Jeffrey A Welch