Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Michelle M Abraham

Michael J White, Jr

Al S Emambakhsh

Anthony C Burgi

Andrew M Haig

An apparatus (,) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (,) having a seat (,) for the occupant and a vehicle side structure (,) comprises an air bag module (,) including an air bag (,) inflatable into a position between the occupant and the vehicle side structure. The apparatus (,) also comprises a bracket (,) for supporting the air bag module (,) on the vehicle seat (,). The bracket (,) comprises a first bracket portion (,) connectable to the seat frame (,), and a second bracket portion (,) for mounting the module (,). The bracket (,) includes a hinge (,) disposed intermediate the first and second bracket portions (,) and interconnecting the first and second bracket portions. The hinge (,) enables the second bracket portion (,) to pivot relative to the first bracket portion (,) during inflation of the air bag (,) to affect the direction in which the air bag deploys from the vehicle seat (,).

Mounting bracket for seat mounted air bag

A vehicle occupant safety apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle (12) having a side structure (16) comprises a cushioning device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition in which the cushioning device (14) is inflated between an occupant of a vehicle (12) and the side structure (16) of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a fill tube (24) having a portion located in the cushioning device (14) that directs inflation fluid into the cushioning device (14) to inflate the cushioning device (14). A support device (40) has a portion that attaches to the fill tube (24) and supports the fill tube (24) and the cushioning device (14) in the vehicle (12). A fastener (170) fixedly connects the support device (40) and the fill tube (24) to the side structure (16) of the vehicle (12). The fastener (170) has a portion that cooperates with a tool for securing the fastener (170) to the vehicle (12). The support device (40) has a fastener receiving portion (44) for blocking movement of the tool transverse to the axis (178) and preventing engagement of the tool with cushioning device (14).

Support device for a vehicle occupant safety apparatus

An inflatable air bag (10) for restraining a vehicle occupant (14) includes woven air bag material defining a chamber (20) into which inflation fluid is directed to inflate the air bag (10). The air bag material (10) has an opening (30) for venting fluid from the chamber (20). Reinforcement material (36) is fixedly secured to the air bag (10) and surrounds the opening (30) in the air bag material (10). The reinforcement material (36) has a weave orientation (52) that extends at an angle to a weave orientation (50) of the air bag material (10). Orientation means (40, 42) on the air bag (10) and the reinforcement material (36) help ensure that the weave orientations extend at an angle to each other.

Air bag with a vent

An air bag structure for restraining a vehicle occupant comprises air bag material (10) having first and second portions. A rectangular vent opening (16) is defined in the air bag material (10). The rectangular vent opening (16) is defined by folded edges (42) of four triangular flaps (20) of the first portion of air bag material folded over and onto the second portion of air bag material. The flaps (20) are secured in the folded position to the second portion of the air bag material. Preferably, the flaps (20) are secured in the folded position using stitches (22) which extend around the periphery of the rectangular vent opening (16).

Apparatus for restraining a vehicle occupant and method of making the

An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (10) includes a first panel (44) of woven fabric, a second panel (40) of woven fabric, and a seam (52) at which the first and second panels (44, 40) are fastened to each other. The seam (52) includes a folded part (80) of the first panel (44) and a folded part (70) of the second panel (40). The folded part (80) of the first panel (44) includes two lapped plies (82, 84) of the first panel (44). The folded part (70) of the second panel (40) includes two lapped plies (72, 74) of the second panel (40). The folded parts (80, 70) of the first and second panels (44, 40) overlap each other so as to define a double-lapped part (89) of the seam (52) which includes four lapped plies (82, 84, 72, 74) of the first and second panels (44, 40). A first row ( 94) of stitches fastens the four lapped plies (82, 84, 72, 74) of the first and second panels (44, 40) to each other. A second row (90) of stitches is spaced from the double-lapped part (89) of the seam (52) and fastens the two lapped plies (82, 84) of the first panel (44) to each other.

Inflatable vehicle occupant restraint including sewn panels

An air bag module (10) includes an inflatable air bag (14) and a container (12). The container (12) has a plurality of walls (27, 50, 60, 70) defining a chamber (18) in the container. The air bag (14) is folded and stored in the chamber. The container outer wall (70) includes a door (68) which is moved out of the inflation path of the air bag (14) by the air bag when the air bag inflates. The air bag (14) has a first stack of first folded portions (122) which extend in a direction (130) between the outer and inner walls (70, 27) of the container (12) and generally parallel to the upper and lower walls (50, 60) of the container. The air bag (14) has a second stack of second folded portions (126) which extend in a direction (144) between the upper and lower walls (50, 60) of the container (12) and generally parallel to the door (68) of the container (12). One of the first and second stacks of folded portions (122, 126) of the air bag (14) is disposed in an upper chamber portion (18a), and the other stack of folded portions of the air bag is disposed in the lower chamber portion (18b).

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Macomb, MI, United States of America

Michelle M Abraham