US 2006/0186648 A1Published application

Air bag

AssigneeTakata Restraint Systems, Inc.

InventorsBarney BAUER, Jerome BOSCH, Brandon MARRIOTT, Nathaniel DENNIS, Vivekanandan MARIPUDI

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Abstract

First and second air bag cushion portions are joined to form a bi-lobular air bag cushion with an opening adapted to receive inflation gas from an air bag inflator. A first inner panel forms first and second chambers in the first cushion portion and provide for fluid communication therebetween proximate to a distal portion thereof. A second inner panel forms third and fourth chambers in the second cushion portion and provide for fluid communication therebetween proximate to a distal portion thereof. Relatively inboard first and third chambers are in fluid communication with one another. The second and fourth chambers are in fluid communication with the opening. In another embodiment, first and second distribution tubes provide for fluid communication between the opening and relatively distal portions of the first and second cushion portions. The inner panels and the distribution tubes provide for lateral inflation of the bi-lobular air bag.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An air bag, comprising:

a. A first opening adapted to receive inflation gas from an air bag inflator;
b. a first air bag cushion portion;
c. a second air bag cushion portion, wherein a first inboard boundary of said first air bag cushion portion is joined to a second inboard boundary of said second air bag cushion portion so that said first and second air bag cushion portions constitute a bi-lobular air bag cushion in fluid communication with said first opening;
d. a first inner panel adapted to divide said first air bag cushion portion into a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein said first chamber is inboard of said second chamber, said first inner panel is adapted to provide for fluid communication between said first chamber and said second chamber proximate to a first end of said first air bag cushion portion, and said first end of said first air bag cushion portion is relatively distal with respect to said first opening;
and
e. a second inner panel adapted to divide said second air bag cushion portion into a third chamber and a fourth chamber, wherein said third chamber is inboard of said fourth chamber, said second inner panel is adapted to provide for fluid communication between said third chamber and said fourth chamber proximate to a first end of said second air bag cushion portion, said first end of said second air bag cushion portion is relatively distal with respect to said first opening, and said first chamber is in fluid communication with said third chamber at said first and second inboard boundaries.

3 more elements

A method of providing for protecting an occupant with an airbag responsive to a crash, comprising:

a. providing for a bi-lobular air bag cushion comprising first and second cushion portions joined to one another along a common inboard boundary;
b. providing for a first opening in said bi-lobular air bag cushion adapted to receive inflation gas from an air bag inflator, wherein said first and second cushion portions are in fluid communication with one another across a second opening bounded by said common inboard boundary, and said first opening is bounded by said first and second cushion portions proximate to said second opening;
c. providing for dividing said first air bag cushion portion into first and second chambers, wherein said first chamber is inboard of said second chamber;
d. providing for fluid communication between said first and second chambers proximate to a first end of said first air bag cushion portion relatively distal with respect to said first opening;
e. providing for dividing said second air bag cushion portion into third and fourth chambers, wherein said third chamber is inboard of said fourth chamber;
f. providing for fluid communication between said third and fourth chambers proximate to a first end of said second air bag cushion portion relatively distal with respect to said first opening;
g. providing for fluid communication between said first opening and said second chamber;
and
h. providing for fluid communication between said first opening and said fourth chamber.

6 more elements

A method of providing for protecting an occupant with an airbag responsive to a crash, comprising:

a. providing for a bi-lobular air bag cushion comprising first and second cushion portions joined to one another along a common inboard boundary;
b. providing for a first opening in said bi-lobular air bag cushion adapted to receive inflation gas from an air bag inflator, wherein said first and second cushion portions are in fluid communication with one another across a second opening bounded by said common inboard boundary, and said first opening is bounded by said first and second cushion portions proximate to said second opening;
and
c. providing for fluid communication from said first opening to a relatively distal portion of said first cushion portion through a first distribution tube along an outboard side of said first cushion portion.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.