Patent ID: 6394491
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An air bag device comprising:(a) an air bag cushion having a gas inlet opening; (b) a diffuser canister attached to said gas inlet opening of said air bag cushions, said diffuser canister having a plurality of walls configured to define an interior space therein, each of said plurality of walls having an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a wall thickness t, one of said plurality of walls having an aperture formed therethrough in communication with the interior of said air bag cushion, said aperture being defined by an edge extending between said interior surfaceand said exterior surface of said wall wherein diameter d1 of said aperture and said wall thickness t having a ratio of diameter d1 to wall thickness tin the range of about 0.5 to about 4.0; (c) a gas generation inflator configured to rapidly create a gas within said diffuser canister, said gas exiting said diffuser canister through said aperture so as to fill said air bag cushion; and (d) dispersing means for diffusing said gas exiting said diffuser canister through said aperture, said dispersing means comprising an edge defining the perimeter of said aperture, said edge being configured such that the diameter of said aperture proximate to said exterior surface of said wall is larger than the diameter d1 of said aperture proximate to said interior surface of said wall.