The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 11, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 20, 2000
Ruprecht Sinnhuber, Gifhorn, DE;
Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg, DE;
Abstract
The invention relates to an inflatable air bag system ( ) which serves as a protective wall in front of a vehicle sidewall ( ). Said air bag system comprises a plurality of restraint cushions which can be inflated by a gas generator ( ). According to the invention, at least one of the restraint cushions is configured as a gas distributor cushion ( ) which is the first to be impinged upon by a gas mass flow from the gas generator ( ). Said restraint cushion is at least partially covered in the restraint position of one of the vertical pillars, preferably a B-pillar ( ). The gas distributor pillow ( ) comprises discharge openings through which the portions of the gas mass flow can be delivered, optionally via filling channels ( to ), from the gas generator ( ) to additional restraint cushions ( ). Such an arrangement permits the gas distributor cushion ( ) to rapidly cover an assigned vertical column ( ) and permits the connected restraint cushions ( ) to fill rapidly. The gas mass flows can be controlled in a selective manner according to conditions during the inflation process by varying the dimensions of the filling channels ( to ) and by optionally using valves ( ).