Takata Corporation

Other

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc.

Brian T Seymour

Timothy E Hughes

Steven J Anderson

Phillip K Davidson

Dennis W Burnard

An inflatable restraint system with selectable ventilation, including a base plate defining a vent aperture, an inflatable cushion secured to the base plate, and a single conventional inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion with inflation gas. In some vehicle impacts, the vent aperture remains sealed with a vent plug, which inhibits ventilation of the inflation gas from the inflatable cushion through the vent aperture. In other vehicle impacts, depending on the placement and force of the impact, the speed and direction of the vehicle, and the size and placement of the passengers, the energy absorption characteristics of the inflatable cushion may be controlled. This is accomplished by an initiator, which may be selectively activated to rupture the vent plug and thereby allow selective ventilation of the inflation gas through the vent aperture.

Inflatable restraint system with selectable ventilation

A vehicle restraint system having an inflator for providing inflation gas and an airbag. The airbag having excursion restrictors made of localized adhesive deposited between and joining a front and a rear member of the airbag. The excursion restrictors retain portions of the front and rear members in proximity to one another until a predetermined threshold pressure is obtained. Thereafter, the adhesive of the excursion restrictor fails in a controlled fashion and the airbag is allowed to fully inflate.

Airbag with excursion restrictors

A supplemental restraint sub-module configured for integral use with a vehicle steering wheel comprising an air bag and an inflator enclosed in a fabric envelope. The sub-module is designed to be incorporated into a well in the central hub section of a steering wheel and is configured to use the well walls and steering wheel mounting plate as reaction surfaces during air bag deployment. The sub-module design eliminates the need for a module housing and thus is smaller and lighter than traditional modules. A membrane horn switch and backing plate can also be incorporated into the sub-module design. The reduced number of parts needed to manufacture the sub-module of the present invention allows the sub-module to be manufactured at a cost reduction. The reduced size and weight of the sub-module allows room for turn signal, light controls, wiper controls and redundant accessory switches to be attached by allowing extra room for the electronics needed to operate these functions.

Airbag sub-module having fabric envelope with horn switch

An occupant restraint system composed of a compact air cushion module containing a rotating vent ring which creates a variable venting system for inflation of an air cushion. The rotating vent ring moves to open one or more vents of different flow areas which allows inflation gas to vent to the atmosphere thereby controlling the pressure with which the inflatable air cushion fills. The rotating vent ring has a neutral or non-rotated position wherein the venting is minimized such that the inflatable air cushion fills with a maximum pressure. The rotating vent ring is rotated to a variety of positions in response to one or more changing environmental conditions within the vehicle. Such conditions may include occupant position, seat belt usage, occupant weight, ambient temperature or any other relevant environmental factor.

Air cushion module with rotating vent ring

An improved driver air bag module cover having a unitary membrane switch assembly including a central horn switch and adjacent accessory switches independently operable in response to user-imparted pressure-induced deformation of the cover front face. Preferably a single sheet of membrane material carries the horn switch, adjacent accessory switches, electrical leads, and connector. Preferably, the U-shaped central tear seam provides a major central portion for placement of the horn switch at a center location of a steering wheel. Cover side walls further locally enforce the cover to prevent inadvertent activation of adjacent accessory switches. Buttons integrally formed in the cover over such switches are preferably formed from a translucent material to provide for backlighting with an electroluminescent sheet. Finally, the central backing plate directly molded into the cover back face entraps the horn switch and membrane to the back of the cover. Additionally, local backing plates mount the peripheral portions of the membrane, including the accessory switches, along with any electroluminescent sheet underneath the outer peripheral portions of the cover.

Driver air bag cover with integral horn and redundant switches

An improved construction and assembly process for a driver's-side air bag module is provided which incorporates an integral inflator and air cushion clamp ring, and which is readily snap-fit attached to a vehicle steering wheel hub. The ring/inflator assembly is received inside an air bag, extends partially through the air bag mounting opening, and mates preferably with ball-lock fasteners to a module base plate to trap the air bag to the module. The fasteners also allow easy attachment of the assembled air bag module to the hub of a vehicle steering wheel.

Driver air bag module assembly

A system for mounting an airbag and airbag inflator comprises an airbag inflator having a plurality of clips that are engagable with a mounting plate. The airbag is interposed between the inflator and the mounting plate when the clips on the inflator are engaged with the mounting plate so as to support the airbag and seal the interface between the inflator and mounting plate. Gas flow incident to deflation of the airbag is vented through the mounting plate.

Growing community of inventors

Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Brian T Seymour