초록

An improvement in inflatable restraint air bag module assemblies with non-symmetric gas output inflators wherein a diffuser of specific design and in cooperation with the reaction canister results in reduced air bag deployment skewness.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An inflatable restraint air bag module assembly comprising:an inflatable air bag having an inflation gas inlet opening,an elongated non-symmetric gas output inflator having a longitudinal length and at least one inflation gas outlet port at one end thereof to emit inflati

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An inflatable restraint air bag module assembly comprising:an inflatable air bag having an inflation gas inlet opening,an elongated non-symmetric gas output inflator having a longitudinal length and at least one inflation gas outlet port at one end thereof to emit inflation gas upon actuation,an elongated open-mouthed reaction canister forming a housing for said air bag and said inflator, said reaction canister including first and second opposed longitudinal sides and first and second opposed parallel lateral ends and forming a mouth for the deployment of said air bag therethrough, andan inflation gas diffuser including a lace member interposed between the at least one inflator gas outlet port and the air bag gas inlet opening, the face member including a gas flow through area comprising at least one inflation gas passage aperture for conveying inflation gas from said inflator to said air bag,wherein the reaction canister sides and ends each include sections extending beyond said diffuser towards the reaction canister mouth, said diffuser cooperating with the extending sections of the reaction canister sides and ends to define a cavity for housing said air bag when in a stored, uninflated condition,wherein a sufficient portion of the diffuser gas flow through area is adjacent one of a) the extending section of the reaction canister first end, b) the extending section of the reaction canister second end, and c) the extending sections of the reaction canister first and second ends, such that upon actuation of said inflator, said diffuser and said reaction canister cooperate whereby said air bag deploys from said reaction canister in a non-skewed manner without the flow of inflation gas through said diffuser being significantly restricted,wherein the inflator end having the at least one inflation gas outlet port is adjacent the reaction canister first end and the sufficient portion of the diffuser gas flow through area includes a first area adjacent the reaction canister first end and a second area adjacent the reaction canister second end, andwherein the first area comprises at least 60% of the total of the first and the second areas.