Air bag module
AssigneeTRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
InventorsErnst M. Faigle, Tracy S. Sparks, Xingyuan Sun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air bag module (10) includes a container (12) and an air bag (16) connected with the container. An inflator (14) is also connected with the container (12). Means, such as, mounting flanges (42, 46), support the container (12) on a vehicle portion (18) for movement relative to the vehicle portion in a first direction ("I") opposite the direction of the inflation of the air bag (16) in response to actuation of the inflator (14). Damping means (102) connected between the container (12) and the vehicle portion (18) damps movement of the container in the first direction ("I") relative to the vehicle portion.
Claims21
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a container;
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device connected with said container for helping to protect the occupant of the vehicle;
- an inflator connected with said container for, upon actuation, providing inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;
- means for supporting said container on a portion of the vehicle for movement in a first direction relative to the instrument panel in response to actuation of said inflator;
- and
- damping means connected between said container and the vehicle portion for damping movement of said container in the first direction relative to the vehicle portion.
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a container;
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device connected with said container for helping to protect the occupant of the vehicle;
- an inflator connected with said container for, upon actuation, providing inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;
- means for supporting said container on a portion of the vehicle for movement in a first direction relative to the vehicle portion in response to actuation of said inflator;
- a first member connected with one of said container and vehicle portion, said first member including surface means for defining a slot extending in a direction generally parallel to the direction of movement of said container upon actuation of said inflator;
- and
- a second member connected with the other one of said container and vehicle portion, said second member being at least partially disposed in said slot in said first member, said first member deforming upon movement of said second member in said slot in response to movement of said container in the first direction relative to the vehicle portion.
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a container;
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device connected with said container for helping to protect the occupant of the vehicle;
- an inflator connected with said container for, upon actuation, providing inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;
- means for supporting said container on the vehicle for movement relative to the vehicle in a first direction opposite the direction of inflation of said inflatable device in response to actuation of said inflator;
- and
- damping means connected between said container and the vehicle for damping movement of said container in the first direction relative to the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.