US 5,395,134 AGranted

Passenger side air bag with controlled deployment

AssigneeMorton International, Inc.

InventorsBrian D. Gunn, Marc D. Folsom, David J. Dyer

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Abstract

A passenger side air bag exhibits controlled deployment of a vertically elongated frontal surface prior to full inflation. The air bag includes a depending lobe extending downwardly from the inlet opening secured to an inflator module mounted in a dashboard. A portion of the front panel of the air bag is releasably secured, such as by breakaway stitching, to a portion of the rear of the depending lobe, below the inlet opening. Outward deployment of the air bag in an elongated column is prevented by the stitching, and a broad front surface develops early in the deployment and inflation process. The breakaway stitching releases part way through the deployment and inflation process, and the front surface then fills out to full inflation. Higher stitch density in the area of stitching which first releases contributes to controlled deployment.

Claims47

Dependent claims

A vehicle occupant restraint system for mounting in a vehicle dashboard in front of a passenger position, the restraint system comprising:

A) an air bag defining an inlet opening and which, when inflated, provides a vertically elongated front surface;
B) the air bag, when inflated, including a depending lobe extending downwardly with respect to the vehicle dashboard, a front surface of the depending lobe forming a portion of the vertically elongated front surface of the air bag, and a rear surface of the depending lobe extending from the inlet opening to the bottom of the depending lobe;
C) means releasably connecting and securing an inside of a portion of the air bag defining the vertically elongated front surface in contact with the inside of a portion of the air bag defining the rear surface of the depending lobe;
and
D) means connected to the air bag at the inlet opening for providing inflation gas;
whereby the releasably securing means limits outward deployment of the vertically elongated front surface of the air bag during initial inflation of the air bag and releases upon partial deployment and inflation of the air bag.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.