Key Safety Systems, Inc.

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Eric J Baumbach

Robert L Arwood

Brian Christopher Ford

John Cooper

Ravinder Mann

Robert H Block

Kaustubh Bedekar

Pat Atkinson

Charles R Bonam

Joseph Hillaker

An airbag module has an airbag with an inflation chamber. The inflation chamber has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the inflation chamber is deployed generally along a first axis and the second portion of the inflation chamber is generally deployed along a second axis. The first axis is transverse to the second axis. The first portion of the inflation chamber is defined by a front panel and a back panel. The second portion of the inflation chamber is attached to the back panel. An inflator is in communication with the airbag. A tether is provided in the first portion of the inflation chamber. The tether has three portions. The first portion of the tether extends across the first inflation chamber and is secured to the airbag at a first panel location and a first back panel location. The second portion of the tether extends across the first inflation chamber and is secured to the airbag at the first back panel location and a second front panel location displaced from the first front panel location. The third portion of the tether extends across the first inflation chamber and is secured to the airbag at the second front panel location and a second back panel location displaced from the first back panel location.

Inflatable knee bolster airbag with internal tether

An air bag module () comprising: an inflator (), a first support member (-), a second support member (-) and a cover () for enclosing an air bag (); the cover includes a plurality of resilient tabs (), the tabs are situated in a predetermined pattern about a cavity () which receives the air bag (), a formation having a thickened tip is formed on a distal end of each tab, the thickened tip is configured as lock feature () which prevents the cover from disengaging from the first and second support members, each tab and associated lock feature is movable from a rest position to a deflected position upon contact with one of the plates; the first and second support members are locatable about each tab and configured to cooperatively define an effective narrow opening which is of smaller dimension than the thick tip, thereby preventing movement of the thick tip through the first and second support members and hence the disengagement of the cover from the first and second support members.

Driver air bag cover and attachment method

An air bag module has an air bag housing with an opening for deploying the air bag. The opening is provided with the cover. A connector attaches the cover to the air bag housing. The connector has an aperture and a protrusion for engaging the aperture. The aperture is located on one of the air bag housing and the cover while the protrusion is located on the other of the air bag housing and the cover. The protrusion has a first portion, a second portion and a third portion. The first portion extends from a surface of one of the air bag housing and the cover while the second portion extends transversely from the first portion and the third portion extends transversely from the first portion.

Air bag door and attachment method

A knee bolster for a vehicle has an air bag and an air bag inflator. The air bag has an inflated condition and a deflated condition. The air bag is attached to the knee bolster, which is moveable with the air bag. The knee bolster may move from an unactuated position when the air bag is in the deflated condition to an actuated position when the air bag is inflated. A guide structure, which is attached to the knee bolster directs the bolster along a linear path from the unactuated position to the actuated position.

Upward deploying inflatable knee bolster with mechanical guides

An air bag module has an air bag, an air bag inflator and an air bag housing. The air bag has flaps that extend through slots in the air bag housing. The flaps are folded onto hooks on the exterior of the air bag housing. The slots extend around a mouth of the air bag housing.

Air bag housing

An airbag folding apparatus includes a folding tube, a folder support apparatus, and a plunger mechanism. The folding of an airbag utilizing the folding apparatus comprises the following steps. A vehicle airbag is attached to the plunger mechanism and the airbag is lowered into the folding tube. The plunger mechanism is introduced into the folding tube after the airbag is completely inside the folding tube. The plunger mechanism is forcibly lowered into the folding tube causing the airbag to be compressed or folded. The plunger mechanism remains exterior to the airbag throughout the folding process. The plunger mechanism is then detached and a fold retention sheet is wrapped around the folded airbag.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Eric J Baumbach