Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Michael John Wolanin

Scott David Thomas

Gary R Greib

David E Pettigrove

Laura C Stevenson

Laura A Hawthorn

Jack L Jensen

Hubert P Blom

John William Melvin

Darrell O Rogers

Daniel Patrick Faust

Paul F Woley

An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a vehicle during an impact event. The air bag assembly includes an inflator activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions and an air bag cushion in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state from a location of deployment in substantially opposing relation to the occupant. One or more profile restraining tether elements extend from locations on the air bag cushion to a releasable anchor structure so as to shorten the operative length of the profile restraining tether elements. An actuation mechanism activatable in response to a signal from a sensor measuring occupant conditions is used to release the tether elements from the releasable anchor thereby extending the operative profile of the air bag cushion upon the occurrence of predetermined occupant conditions.

Variable profile air bag restraint

An internal vehicle sensing system for assisting in controlling deployment of an air bag is disclosed. The sensing system includes at least one sensor that forms a sensor array designed to detect a portion of an individual. The sensing system sends signals to the air bag system based upon objects detected and signals, commands or allows full deployment, partial deployment, or suppression of deployment of an air bag.

Automotive vehicle sensing system for selective air bag deployment

An air bag system for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The air bag system includes a housing substantially enclosing a gas emitting inflator and a compact undeployed air bag. The system further includes a moveable member that controls flow of gas into the air bag by controlling items such as tether elements and venting openings that, in turn, control the amount of gas released into the bag and the shape of the bag upon deployment.

Automotive vehicle air bag system

An air bag module for protection of a vehicle occupant includes an inflation control device. The module includes an air bag and an inflator for discharging inflator gas for inflating the air bag. The inflator has a first stage of inflation for discharging a predetermined first amount of inflator gas and has a second stage of inflation for discharging a predetermined second amount of inflator gas. A switch member is operatively connected to the inflator. The switch member is disposable between a first position in which the inflator discharges the first stage of gas and a second position in which the inflator discharges the second stage of gas. A tether has a first end operatively associated with the switch member and a second end operatively associated with the air bag. The first end of the tether changes the switch member from the first position to the second position when the tether is tensioned a predetermined amount during air bag inflation.

Air bag module with inflation control device

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 air bag valve assembly for installation in an opening in the fabric wall of an air bag includes first and second housing panels of flexible sheet material which overlie one another and are permeable to pass gas therethrough. The edge portions of the housing panels are stitched together to form a housing envelope in which a valve flap panel of flexible sheet material is supported. A tether is attached to the valve flap panel to move the valve flap panel across the gas permeable first and second panels when the tether is actuated. The valve assembly may be normally closed by using a gas impermeable material for the valve flap panel. Alternatively, the valve assembly may be normally open and then the actuation of the tether pulls a gas impermeable valve flap across the gas permeable first and second panels to block the flow of gas. The housing panels may be of a gas impermeable fabric having holes cut therein, or the panels may be an open weave mesh construction to pass gas therethrough.

Air bag valve assembly

A knee joint for the leg of an anthropomorphic dummy of the type used in vehicle crash testing comprises a femur member including a disk portion with a widened rim and a central axial opening, a tibia member, at least one first joint member pivotably attached to the femur member adjacent the central axial opening and including a slide track thereon with a stop surface at the forward end thereof, friction surfaces on the first joint member and disk portion just outside the central axial opening, adjustment apparatus extending through the central axial opening effective to adjust the axial force and thus the friction force between the friction surfaces, at least one second joint member fixed to the tibia member slidably attached to the slide track of the first joint member for sliding movement toward and away from the stop surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the tibia member and at least one resilient member disposed between the first and second joint member and having a pair of opposing surfaces fixed to the first and second joint members, respectively, whereby sliding movement of the second joint member away from the stop surface generates a restoring force opposing said movement.

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Hartland, MI, United States of America

Michael John Wolanin