United States Patent
`
`3,642,303
`[151
`Irish et al.
`[45] Feb. 15, 1972
`
`.................... ..244/121
`4/1947 Whitmer...
`2,418,798
`....280/150
`4/1966
`Lipkin ........ ..
`3,243,822
`....280/ l 50
`3/1969
`Terry et al.
`3,430,979
`....280/150
`3,473,824 10/1969
`Carey et al....
`3,527,475
`9/1970
`Carey et al........................... ..280/150
`
`
`
`Primary Examiner-—Kenneth H. Betts
`Attorney—W. E. Finken, A. M. Heiter and R. L. Phillips
`
`[54] VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT
`SYSTEM
`
`[72]
`
`Inventors: Fred J. Irish, Pontiac; Robert F. McLean,
`Birmingham, both of Mich.
`
`[73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation, Detroit,
`Mich.
`V
`Feb. 13, 1970
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`(211 App]. No.: 11,148
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`[52] U.S. Cl. ..................................................... ..280/150 AB
`
`[51]
`Int. Cl.......................................... ..B60r 21/10
`[58] Fieldofsearch ............... ..280/150 AB, 150 B; 244/121,
`244/122
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`UNITED STATES ‘PATENTS
`
`3,414,292 12/1968
`3,197,234
`7/1965
`3,451,693
`6/1969
`2,834,606
`5/1958
`
`Oldberg et al. ...................... ..280/150
`Bertrand ......... ..
`....280/150
`
`....280/150
`Carey ...... ..
`Bertrand .............................. ..280/! 50
`
`A vehicle occupant restraint system having a plurality of bags
`which are inflated on vehicle impact with a stationary or mov-
`ing object. One of the bags receives the impact of the occu-
`pant’s torso and on such impact, has controlled pressure relief
`to prevent excessive rebounding of the occupant. Another bag
`receives the impact of the occupant’s head and has controlled
`pressure relief to prevent excessive relative movement
`between the occupant’s head and torso. A third bag receives
`the impact of the occupant’s legs and remains inflated on im-
`pact by the occupant to maintain the occupant in the normal
`seated position.
`
`8 Claims, 3 Drawing’ Figures
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`Page 1 of 4
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`KSS _1006_
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`Page 1 of 4
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`KSS 1006
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`PAIENIEDFEB15 I972
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`3,642,303
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`INVENTORS
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`B Y /iéée/Z’ .77//7‘&a/7
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`ATTORNEY
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`Page 2 of 4
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`KSS 1006
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`1
`VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM
`invention relates to vehicular occupant
`restraint
`This
`systems and more particularly to multiple bag restraint
`systems for restraining vehicle occupants on vehicle impact
`with a stationary or moving object.
`In a vehicle having a single bag or cushion that is inflated on
`vehicle impact with a stationary or moving object, an occu-
`pant may rebound off the inflated bag on impact therewith
`and may also become dislodged from the seat if he is not
`otherwise restrained by a belt restraint arrangement.
`The vehicle occupant restraint system according to the
`present invention comprises a plurality of bags that are in-
`flated on vehicle impact with a stationary or moving object.
`On inflation, one of these bags expands to receive the impact
`of the occupant’s torso and then on such impact, has con-
`trolled pressure relief to cushion the occupant while acting to
`prevent excessive rebound of the occupant‘s torso. Another
`bag expands to receive the impact of the occupant‘s head and
`then on such impact also has controlled pressure relief to
`cushion the occupant’s head while controlling relative angular
`movement between the occupant’s head and torso. A third
`bag expands to receive the impact of the occupant’s legs and
`remains inflated on such impact and acts to maintain the occu-
`pant in the normal seated position. The bags may be inflated
`through a single manifold from a single fluid pressure source
`and may also be inflated through separate manifolds from
`separate fluid pressure sources.
`An object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable
`vehicle occupant restraint system that operates to prevent ex-
`cessive rebounding of the occupant and also maintains the oc-
`cupant in the normal seated position.
`Another object is to provide a multiple bag vehicle occu-
`pant restraint system in which one bag acts to cushion the im-
`pact of the occupant while preventing excessive rebound
`thereof and other bag operates to maintain the occupant in the
`normal seated position.
`Another object
`is to provide in a vehicle an occupant
`restraint system that operates to simultaneously inflate at least
`two inflatable bags with one bag on inflation operating to
`receive impact of the occupant’s torso and to prevent exces-
`sive rebound thereof through pressure relief while the other
`bag remains inflated on impact by the occupant’s legs and acts
`to retain the occupant on the seat.
`Another object
`is to provide in a vehicle an occupant
`restraint system that is inflatable to receive impact of both the
`occupant’s head and torso and prevent excessive rebound of
`the
`torso while controlling relative angular movement
`between the torso and head and also to receive the impact of
`the occupant’s legs to prevent dislodgement of the occupant
`from the seat.
`
`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`These and other objects of the present invention will be
`more apparent from the following description and drawing in
`which:
`
`FIG. 1 is a side elevation with pans broken away ofa vehicle
`having an occupant restraint system according to the present
`invention wherein the bags are inflated through a single
`manifold from a single fluid pressure source.
`FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross—sectional view of the manifold
`shown in FIG. 1.
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`55
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`60
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`FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a multiple manifold—multiple
`fluid pressure source arrangement for inflating the bags shown
`in FIG. 1.
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`65
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`Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a vehicle 10 having a
`windshield 11, an instrument panel 12, a toeboard 14 and a
`seat 16 on which a vehicle occupant 18 sits.
`The occupant restraint system according to the present in-
`vention comprises three inflatable bags 20, 21 and 22 which
`are normally stowed in a collapsed, folded position on the ‘
`70
`lower edge of the instrument panel 12. The bags 20, 21 and
`22. when inflated with fluid pressure, expand to the positions
`shown with bag 20 located intermediate the other bags. The.
`bag 20, which may also be called a torso bag, is conditioned
`when inflated to receive the impact of the occupnat”s to-rso 24
`andprevent c_ontact'of the torso with instrument panel 12. Bag
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`75
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`3,642,303
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`2
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`21, which may also be called a knee bag, is conditioned when
`inflated to receive the impact of the occupant’s legs 25 below
`the knees and prevent Contact of the legs with instrument
`panel 12. The bag 22, which may also be called a head bag. is
`conditioned when inflated to receive the impact of the occu-
`pant’s head 28 and prevent contact of the head with
`windshield 11.
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`The fluid for inflating the bags 20, 21 and 22 is normally
`stored under pressure in a pressure vessel or tank 30. Fluid
`pressure delivery for bag inflation is controlled by a valve 31
`which is normally closed and is opened by a sensing device 32
`that senses impact of the vehicle with a stationary or moving
`object. Both the valve 31 and the sensing device 32 may be of
`any appropriate type. When valve 31 is opened on vehicle im-
`pact, the fluid under pressure in tank 30 is delivered through a
`pipe 34 to a manifold 36 that is connected to deliver fluid to
`all the bags.
`g
`The manifold 36 is mounted adjacent the lower edge of in-
`strument panel 12 and as best shown in FIG. 2, comprises a
`cylinder 37 that _is closed at both ends to form a chamber 38
`that is open to pipe 34. The torso bag 20 hasla throat which is
`sealingly clamped completely along its lip to the outer surface
`of the manifold cylinder 37 by a clamp 40 and bolts 41. The
`manifold cylinder 37 has an axially extending slot 43 that pro-
`vides a continuous
`fluid connection between manifold
`chamber 38 and the interior of torso bag 20. The throat of the
`knee bag 21 is sealingly clamped completely along its lip to
`another portion of the outer surface of cylinder 37 by a clamp
`formed integral with clamp 40. An axially extending slot 44 in
`cylinder 37 provides for fluid delivery from manifold chamber
`38 to the interior of knee bag 21.
`Fluid is permitted to travel from manifold 36 to fill knee bag
`21 but is prevented from flowing in the reverse direction by a
`one-way valve 46 comprising a valve member 48 that extends
`axially along the external surface of cylinder 37 beyond both
`ends ofslot 44. The valve member 48 is secured along one axi-
`ally extending edge by one axial row of the clamp bolts 41 and
`is free at its ends and the other axially extending edge. The
`valve member 48 has spring characteristics such that when
`there is no pressure differential between manifold 36 and knee
`bag 21, the valve member 48 assumes the normal position
`shown in dash line in which it seats on cylinder 37 to close or
`block the slot 44. When fluid pressure is supplied to manifold
`36, the valve member 48 is moved by this pressure to the full
`line position shown to provide communication between
`manifold 36 and knee bag 21.
`The head bag 22 is secured to the top of torso bag 20 by any
`appropriate means or may be integral therewith. The interior
`of head bag 22 is connected through an orifice 50 to the interi-
`or of torso bag 20 and is also openable to theatmosphere
`through an orifice 51 that has a flow area larger than orifice
`50. Orifice 51 is normally closed by a patch 52 which is
`releasably sealingly secured to the exterior of head bag 22.
`Describing now the operation of the occupant restraint
`system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve 31 is normally closed
`with the bags 20, 21 and 22 deflated and stored in a folded
`position along the dash 12. Then when the vehicle impacts a
`stationary or moving object, the sensing device 32 operates to
`effect opening of valve 31 to pennit fluid delivery from tank
`30 to manifold 36. The manifold 36 distributes the fluid
`directly to torso bag 20 and knee bag 21, the one-way valve 46
`opening to permit the fluid delivery to knee bag 21. The torso
`bag 20 then exhausts fluid through orifice 50 to head bag 21
`which is thus filled later than the torso bag and knee bag.
`Preferably, the stored pressure in tank 30, the sizes of the
`manifold openings to the torso bag and knee bag and the size
`of the torso bag opening to the head bag are determined in
`relation to the volumes of these bags so that pressure builds to
`high, low and intermediate values in the knee, head and torso
`bags, respectively, prior to these bags being impacted by the
`occupant.
`On impact of the occupant‘s torso 24 with the thus inflated
`torso bag 20, the intennediate‘ pressure therein is increased
`
`«Mn
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`3,642,303
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`flatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pressure assumes
`a position to receive the impact of the occupant's head; said
`first inflatable bag means including flow restriction means for
`delivering fluid from said manifold means to said third inflata-
`ble bag means and also for relieving pressure in said first in-
`flatable bag means by restrictin flow from said first inflatable
`bag means to said third inflatab e bag means when said first in-
`flatable bag means is impacted by the occupant’s torso; and
`said third inflatable bag means including flow restriction
`means for relieving pressure in said third inflatable bag means
`by restricting flow from said third inflatable bag means to the
`atmosphere when said third inflatable bag means is impacted
`by the occupant’s head.
`V
`3. ln combination with a vehicle including a seat for sup-
`porting an occupant in seated position and a source of pres-
`sure fluid, an occupant restraint system comprising, first in-
`flatable cushionmeans engageable by'the torso of the seated
`occupant, second inflatable cushion means engageable by the
`legs of the seated occupant, means communicating the first
`and second cushion means with the pressure fluid source for
`inflation thereof, means communicating the first cushion
`means with the atmosphere to exhaust pressure fluid from the
`first cushion means upon the pressure therein exceeding a
`predetermined level, and means maintaining the pressure fluid
`within the second cushion means upon inflation thereof, the
`first and second cushion means cooperating to maintain the
`occupant in a seated position upon engagement thereof by the
`occupant.
`4. The combination recited in claim 3 including third in-
`flatable cushion means engageable by the head of the seated
`occupant, and means communicating the third cushion means
`with the pressure fluid source for inflation thereof.
`5. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the first
`cushion means is continuously open to the pressure fluid
`source, the means maintaining the pressure fluid within the
`second cushion means upon inflation thereof including means
`limiting the flow of pressure fluid only from the second
`cushion means to the source ‘
`6. The combination recitedin claim 3 wherein the means
`communicating the first and second ‘cushion means with the
`pressure fluid source include a manifold open continuously to
`the first cushion means, the means maintaining the pressure
`fluid within the second cushion means upon inflation thereof
`including means permitting flow of pressure fluid from the
`manifold to the second cushion means and restricting flow of
`pressure fluid from the second cushion means to the manifold.
`7. In combination with a vehicle including a seat for sup-
`porting an occupant in seated position and a source of pres-
`sure fluid, an occupant restraint system comprising, first in-
`flatable cushion means engageable by the torso of the seated
`occupant, second inflatable cushion means engageable by the
`legs of the seated occupant, common fluid delivery means
`simultaneously communicating the first and second cushion
`means with the pressure fluid source for inflation thereof,
`means communicating the first cushion means with the at-
`mosphere to exhaust pressure fluid from the first cushion
`means upon the pressure therein exceeding a predetermined
`level, and means maintaining the pressure fluid within the
`second cushion means upon inflation thereof, the first and
`second cushion means cooperating to maintain the occupant
`in a seated position upon engagement thereof by the occu-
`pant.
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`5
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`sufficiently by this impact to force additional fluid through ori-
`fice 50 into head bag 22 resulting in controlled pressure relief
`of the torso bag 20 as the impact of the occupant’s torso with
`this bag continues with the bag then collapsing about the oc-
`cupant’s torso to provide a very soft cushion therefor and to
`prevent excessive rebound thereof.
`On impact of the occupant‘s head 28 with the thus inflated
`head bag 22, the low pressure therein is increased sufficiently
`by this impact toblow off patch 52 so that there is then pro-
`vided controlled pressure relief through orifice 51 to the at-
`mosphere. The orifice 50, since it provides more flow restric-
`tion than orifice 5!, permits the latter orifice to control the
`collapse of head bag 22 at a faster rate than torso bag 20 to
`thereby control the relative angular movement between the
`occupants head and torso.
`On inflation of the knee bag 21, the one-way valve 46
`opened to permit such inflation. Then on impact of this bag by
`the occupant’s legs, the one-way valve 46 closes so that this
`bag remains inflated with the high pressure while the torso bag
`20 and head bag 22 are being relieved of pressure. lnflation of
`the knee bag 21 is maintained to restrain the occupant in the
`seat 16 by preventing him from slipping downward and toward
`the front of the vehicle.
`V
`
`The multiple manifold—-multiple fluid pressure source ar-
`rangement shown in FIG. '3 for the bag arrangement shown in
`FIG. 1 comprises a tank 56 that is connected by a valve 57 to a
`manifold 59 that directs fluid to the torso bag 20 and thus to
`the head bag. Another tank 61 is connected by a valve 62 to a
`manifold 64 that directs fluid to the knee bag 21. Both valves
`57 and 62 are controlled by a vehicle impact sensor 66 to
`simultaneously open on vehicle impact. Thus, in the FIG. 3 ar-
`rangement, the knee bag remains inflated while the torso bag
`and head bag collapse on impact by the occupant since the
`knee bag and torso bag in this arrangement have separate
`pressure supplies. Furthermore, the FIG. 3 arrangement ena-
`bles easy determination of the three different pressure zones
`provided by the three bags.
`'
`The above embodiment is illustrative of the present inven-
`tion which may be modified within the scope of the appended
`claims.
`-
`We claim:
`
`1. In a vehicle occupant restraint system the combination of
`first inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pressure as-
`sumes a position to receive impact ofa vehicle occupant’s tor-
`so; second inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pres-
`sure assumes a positionto receive impact of the occupant’s
`legs to maintain the occupant
`in a seated position; fluid
`delivery means for delivering fluid under pressure simultane-
`ously to said first and second inflatable bag means; said fluid
`delivery means comprising a manifold continuously open to
`said first inflatable bag means and one-way valve means for
`opening said manifold to said second inflatable bag means;
`and said first inflatable bag means including flow restriction
`means for relieving pressure in said first inflatable bag means
`by restricting flow therefrom when said first inflatable bag
`means is impacted by the occupant’s torso while pressure is
`maintained in said second inflatable bag means.
`2. In a vehicle occupant restraint system the combination of
`first inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pressure as-
`sumes a position to receive impact of a vehicle occupant’s tor-
`so; second inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pres-
`sure assumes a position to receive impact of the occupant’s
`legs to maintain the occupant in a seated position; manifold
`means for delivering fluid under pressure simultaneously to
`said first and second inflatable bag means; said manifold
`means including one-way valve means for opening said
`manifold means to said second inflatable bag means; third in-
`
`8. The combination recited in claim 7 including third in-
`flatable cushion means engageable by the head of the seated
`occupant, and means communicating the third inflatable
`cushion means with the second inflatable cushion means for
`inflation thereof from the pressure fluid source.
`>l<
`*
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`>l=
`*
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