Appeal No. 2001-0463 Page 8
Application No. 09/250,863
deflation rates. The motion sensing means 84, 86 and 88
function to delay, or postpone, deflation of the inner bag
thereby maintaining the inner bag in an operative condition.
The duration of the delay and/or retardation may be variable,
dependent on the force of impact or continued sensing of
motion of the vehicle.
In operation, upon detection of a sufficient impact, the
crash sensor 72 sends a signal to a controller means 76 which
then sends a resulting signal to the actuator means 82,
causing the inflator of the gas generator assembly to produce
inflation gas such as nitrogen gas, to fill the inner and
outer air bags. Gille teaches (column 7, lines 33-44) that
When an automobile is involved in an accident which
includes vehicle roll over or spinning, or both, a
typical air bag system both inflates and deflates
significantly before the vehicle comes to rest. The
motion sensing means 84, 86 and 88 of the present
invention are further operative to detect linear and/or
rotational motion associated with vehicle roll over.
Accordingly, the inflatable restraint system 12 is
designed such that the inner air bag 14 or both air bags
14,16 of the dual air bag construction remain inflated
until the vehicle ceases to roll and/or spin, thereby
further protecting vehicle occupants from injury.
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