Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Chrysler Corporation

Daniel L Steimke

Larry D Rose

John G Bauer

James H Repp

Michael J Daines

John C Newkirk

Steven R Pripps

Edward Friery

Trudy C Lewis

Joseph D Francis

Randy K Jones

Brian M Lighthall

Paul M Fanning

An airbag module is disclosed which, in one configuration, inflates from a vehicle seat to protect a vehicle occupant against lateral impact. The airbag module has a cushion with a pelvic chamber and a thoracic chamber. The airbag module also has an inflation assembly including an inflator within a housing inside the cushion. The housing has an aperture disposed within each of the chambers such that, when the inflator deploys, the pelvic chamber is inflated to a relatively higher pressure. The inflator may be moved axially within the housing to control the pressure ratio between the chambers. The housing is attached to the vehicle seat via attachment features that may be located at a variety of positions with respect to the remainder of the housing to facilitate adaptation of the inflation assembly to multiple cushion and vehicle configurations.

Dual chamber side airbag apparatus and method

An airbag housing having elastically deflectable mounting tabs is disclosed. The mounting tabs allow for positionable attachment of an airbag module to a vehicle structural member. The mounting tabs may be defined by U-shaped slots in the airbag housing. The semi-flexible mounting tabs deflect during attachment of the airbag module to the steering wheel to provide good fit and finish between an associated decorative airbag cover and the steering wheel. The mounting tabs may also include attachment members to provide attachment location for coupling the airbag housing to the vehicle structural member.

Deflectable airbag housing mounting tabs

Featured for use in an inflatable restraint system installation is an airbag module assembly which reduces and/or minimizes the number of fasteners incorporated therein. The airbag module assembly utilizes the inflator as a structural tension member to axially compress an end closure to a reaction canister body part. The end closure and the body part have a snap-together form of joinder to prevent disengagement of the end closure from the body part upon deployment of the associated airbag cushion.

Snap-together airbag module reaction canister

The reaction canister of a passenger-side motor vehicle airbag module is extruded with a groove in at least one side wall forming a thinned section running the length of the canister. This creates a weakened and bendable region which allows the side wall to buckle under an impact through the instrument panel of the vehicle. This buckling absorbs impact energy, avoiding or reducing injury to the occupant.

Airbag reaction canister with collapsible side wall

A diffuser for uniformly diffusing inflation gas from an elongated inflator having inflation exhaust ports at only one end into an airbag cushion. The diffuser having a longitudinal length extending between opposing first and second diffuser ends. A first end section extends from the first diffuser end, is positionable over the inflation exhaust ports of the inflator and defines at least one diffuser vent opening. An intermediate section extends from the first end section and defines a plurality of diffuser vent openings equal or progressively larger further from the first end section. A second end section extends from the intermediate section to the second diffuser end and defines a single diffuser vent opening. Each of the plurality of diffuser vent openings of the intermediate section is equal or larger than the at least one diffuser vent opening of the first end section and equal or smaller than the single diffuser vent opening of the second end section. All of the diffuser vent openings form a total diffuser vent area of the diffuser. The first end section has a diffuser vent area equal to between about eight and about seventeen percent of the total diffuser vent area, while the intermediate section has a diffuser vent area equal to between about fifty-six and about seventy-nine percent of the total diffuser vent area, and the second end section has a diffuser vent area equal to between about thirteen and about twenty-seven percent of the total diffuser vent area.

Airbag module diffuser

The invention replaces the diffuser that is slid over a non-symmetrical gas output inflator, or diffuser as part of the module assembly, with concentric low cost and low mass rings that are pressed onto the gas outlet area of the inflator. The concentric rings straighten the gas flow coming out of the inflator and serve also to cool the gas flow at the source instead of downstream.

Hybrid inflator with integral diffuser

An airbag module installed in a vehicle comprises a deployment door which comprises a face panel which covers the open top of a reaction canister and is positioned at an opening in the instrument panel of the vehicle and further comprises key and keyway connecting structure for securely holding the deployment door to the reaction canister before and during deployment of an airbag. This connecting structure allows limited movement of the deployment door in three directions with respect to the reaction canister and thus permits adjustment of the position of the face panel of the deployment door to obtain accurate fit and finish at the instrument panel. In preferred embodiments the invention further comprises structure for immovably fixing the position of the deployment door at the instrument panel after the deployment door has been adjusted. Reaction forces acting on the deployment door during deployment and inflation of the airbag are transmitted to the reaction canister through the adjustable connection that fastens the deployment door to the reaction canister, thereby avoiding transmission of damaging reaction forces to the instrument panel.

Adjustable deployment door for airbag module

The strain of increased airbag snap is alleviated in a throat and mouth construction of the type employing rod pockets in opposed sides of a rectangular airbag mouth. This is achieved by forming the throat material by folding and sewing so that the layers of throat material increase by steps from the single layer adjacent the bag to multiple layers forming the rod pockets.

Automotive airbag throat and mouth construction

A valve is provided in an automotive airbag module housing to relieve any excessive pressure in the module housing as may occur during deployment of an airbag. The valve is formed entirely from material in the housing by punching out openings in the housing material. The invention is applicable to airbag inflating devices in which the inflator is enclosed entirely within the module housing and is particularly useful in passenger side airbag inflation devices.

Regulation of pressure in automotive airbags

A passenger-side airbag module assembly consisting of a reaction canister and deployment door is assembled into a motor vehicle's instrument panel. The breakaway deployment door of the airbag module fits flush with the surrounding instrument panel of the vehicle. The reaction canister containing the folded airbag is positioned behind the deployment door and rigidly mounted to the instrument panel sub-structure. The connection between the deployment door and the reaction canister comprises a pair of flexible tethers. Each tether has one edge secured to a different sidewall of the canister. The other edge of each tether engages a portion of the deployment door.

Growing community of inventors

Ogden, UT, United States of America

Daniel L Steimke