IP Library Granted Patent US 7,234,560
Granted Patent B2
US 7,234,560 · App. 10/675,509 · Granted Jun 26, 2007

Inflatable restraint cushions and other uses

Assignee: Applied Elastomerics, Inc.
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,234,560
App. No.
10/675,509
Granted
Jun 26, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicular safety system comprising an inflatable restraint gel cushion having a gel rigidity of from about 50 gram Bloom to about 1,200 gram bloom.

Claims (34)

1. A vehicular safety system comprising a combination of at least one inflator and one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) made from one or more tear resistant gel(s) comprising:

(I) one or more hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene block copolymer(s), and

(II) one or more selected plasticizer(s), said gel(s) having a selected gel rigidity of from about 50 gram Bloom to about 1,200 gram Bloom, said at least one inflator for deployment by pressure of said one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s).

2. A vehicular safety system comprising a combination of at least one inflator and one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) made from a tear resistant gel composition comprising:

(I) one or more hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene or styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer(s), and

(II) one or more selected plasticizer(s);

in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more polymer(s) or copolymer(s) selected from poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, and metallocene catalyzed poly(ethylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-octene-1), poly(ethylene acrylic acid), and linear low density polyethylene; wherein said selected copolymer(s) is a linear, radial, branched, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and n is an integer greater than one; said gel(s) having a selected gel rigidity of from about 50 gram Bloom to about 1,200 gram Bloom.

3. A vehicular safety system comprising one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) of one or more shaped gel diaphragm(s) selected from one or more of a thin gel diaphragm, a thick gel diaphragm, a multiple progressive thin gel diaphragm, and a multiple progressive thick gel diaphragm; said shaped gel diaphragm(s) with or without one or more expansion control element(s), said shaped gel diaphragm(s) comprising a tear resistant gel composition comprising:

(I) one or more hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene or styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer(s), and

(II) one or more selected plasticizer(s);

in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more polymer(s) or copolymer(s) selected from poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, and metallocene catalyzed poly(ethylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-octene-1), poly(ethylene acrylic acid), and linear low density polyethylene; wherein said selected copolymer(s) is a linear, radial, branched, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and n is an integer greater than one; said gel(s) having a selected gel rigidity of from about 50 gram Bloom to about 1,200 gram Bloom.

4. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) comprises one or more shaped gel diaphragm(s) with or without one or more expansion control element(s) selected from a multiple single layer expansion control element, a single layer expansion control element, a dual single layer expansion control element, a multiple layer expansion control element, and a gel restrainer, said shaped gel diaphragm(s) made from a tear resistant gel composition comprising:

(I) one or more hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene or styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer(s), and

(II) one or more selected plasticizer(s);

in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more polymer(s) or copolymer(s) selected from poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, and metallocene catalyzed poly(ethylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-octene-1), poly(ethylene acrylic acid), and linear low density polyethylene; wherein said selected copolymer(s) is a linear, radial, branched, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and n is an integer greater than one; said gel(s) having a selected gel rigidity of from about 50 gram Bloom to about 1,200 gram Bloom.

5. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) comprises one or more shaped gel diaphragm(s) in combination with one or more expansion control elements, said shaped gel diaphragm(s) made from a tear resistant gel composition comprising:

(I) one or more controlled distribution styrene ethylene/butylene styrene block copolymer(s), and

(II) one or more selected plasticizer(s):

in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more polymer(s) or copolymer(s) selected from poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, and metallocene catalyzed poly(ethylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-octene-1), poly(ethylene acrylic acid), and linear low density polyethylene; wherein said selected copolymer(s) is a linear, radial, branched, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and n is an integer greater than one; said gel(s) having a selected gel rigidity of from about 50 gram Bloom to about 1,200 gram Bloom.

6. A vehicular safety system according to claim 1 , wherein said one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) comprises two or more gel diaphragm(s) with expansion volumes selected from a dual expansion diameters, a single diameter, an internal and external diameters, a triple diameters, a multiple layered diameters, a triple internal diameters, a triple small and dural large diameters, a equal triple diameters, a dural internal with single external surround diameters, said shaped gel diaphragm(s) made from a tear resistant gel composition comprising:

(I) one or more hydrogenated controlled distribution styrene isoprene/butadiene styrene and styrene butadiene styrene block copolymer(s), and

(II) one or more selected plasticizer(s):

in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more polymer(s) or copolymer(s) selected from poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, and metallocene catalyzed poly(ethylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-octene-1), poly(ethylene acrylic acid), and linear low density polyethylene; wherein said selected copolymer(s) is a linear, radial, branched, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and n is an integer greater than one; said gel(s) having a selected gel rigidity of from about 50 gram Bloom to about 1,200 gram Bloom.

7. A vehicular safety system comprising one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) made from a tear resistant gel comprising:

(I) one or more of a hydrogenated styrene block copolymer(s) selected from poly(styrene isoprene/butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) block copolymer(s), poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) block copolymer(s), controlled distribution poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) block copolymer(s), and

(II) selected amounts of one or more plasticizers(s);

in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more selected polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, and metallocene catalyzed poly(ethylene-styrene), polyethylene-octene-1), poly(ethylene acrylic acid), and linear low density polyethylene; wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, radial, branched, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and n is an integer greater than one.

8. A vehicular safety system comprising one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) made from a tear resistant gel composition comprising:

(I) one or more of a hydrogenated block copolymer(s) selected from controlled distribution poly(styrene isoprene/butadiene-styrene), hydrogenated controlled distribution poly(styrene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), and controlled distribution poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene);

in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more selected polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, or polyethylene, and metallocene catalyzed poly(ethylene-styrene), polyethylene-octene-1), poly(ethylene acrylic acid), and linear low density polyethylene; wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, radial, branched, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and n is an integer greater than one.

9. A vehicular safety system comprising one or more inflatable restraint gel cushion(s) made from a tear resistant gel composition comprising:

(I) one or more of a hydrogenated block copolymer(s) selected from controlled distribution poly(styrene isoprene/butadiene-styrene) block copolymer(s), hydrogenated controlled distribution poly(styrene-butylene-styrene) block copolymers, poly(styrene-ethylene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) block copolymer(s), and controlled distribution poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene) block copolymer(s), and

(II) selected amounts of one or more plasticizers(s);

in combination with or without a selected amount of one or more selected polymer or copolymer selected from the group consisting of poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene), poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene) n , poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene) n , polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, and metallocene catalyzed poly(ethylene-styrene), poly(ethylene-octene-1), and linear low density polyethylene; wherein said selected copolymer is a linear, radial, branched, star-shaped, or multiarm copolymer; and n is an integer greater than one.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2011
From: CHEN, JOHN Y.
To: APPLIED ELASTOMERICS, INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 027306/0787 →
Continuity (36)
Continuation In Part 1061356700 · Jul 2, 2003
Continuation In Part 1042008900 · Apr 22, 2003
Continuation In Part 1042048700 · Apr 21, 2003
Continuation In Part 1042048800 · Apr 21, 2003
Continuation In Part 1042049000 · Apr 21, 2003
Continuation In Part 1042049100 · Apr 21, 2003
Continuation In Part 1042049200 · Apr 21, 2003
Continuation In Part 1042049300 · Apr 21, 2003
Continuation In Part 1089604700 · Jun 30, 2001
Continuation In Part 1027382800 · Oct 17, 2002
Continuation In Part 1033454200 · Dec 31, 2002
Continuation In Part 1029907300 · Nov 18, 2002
Continuation In Part 1019936400 · Jul 20, 2002
Continuation In Part 1019936100 · Jul 20, 2002
Continuation In Part 1019936200 · Jul 20, 2002
Continuation In Part 1019936300 · Jul 20, 2002
Continuation In Part 0951723000 · Mar 2, 2000
Continuation In Part 0972121300 · Nov 21, 2000
Continuation In Part 0941288600 · Oct 5, 1999
Continuation In Part 0928580900 · Apr 1, 1999
Continuation In Part 0927449800 · Mar 28, 1999
Continuation In Part 0898445900 · Dec 3, 1997
Continuation In Part 0890948700 · Jul 12, 1997
Continuation In Part 0886379400 · May 27, 1997
Continuation In Part PCTUS971753400 · Sep 30, 1997
Continuation In Part 0871981700 · Sep 30, 1996
Continuation In Part 0866534300 · Jun 17, 1996
Continuation In Part 0861258600 · Mar 8, 1996
Continuation In Part 0858118800 · Dec 29, 1995
Continuation In Part 0858119100 · Dec 29, 1995
Continuation In Part 0858112500 · Dec 29, 1995
Continuation In Part PCTUS940427800 · Apr 19, 1994
Continuation In Part PCTUS940731400 · Jun 27, 1994
Continuation In Part 0828869000 · Aug 11, 1994
Continuation In Part 0813054500 · Oct 1, 1993
Related Publication 20040070187A1 · Apr 15, 2004