T K Holdings, Inc.

Zf Passive Safety Systems US Inc.

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Jaime Fermin Perez

Douglas M Gould

Joseph Palazzolo

James Peter Karlow

Vivekananda Maripudi

Nicole Wiggins

Michael D Guerrero

Benjamin Aguilar

Vivek Maripudi

John Pilchowski

William B Cox

Ryan A Miller

Paul George Maertens

Gary Andrew Card

Jason T Hardesty

Andrew Solomon

A knee airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag housing configured to be mounted in an instrument panel of the vehicle at a position above a glove box of the instrument panel. The module also includes a knee airbag comprising overlying panels interconnected along a perimeter connection to define an inflatable volume of the knee airbag. The knee airbag has a stored condition in the airbag housing and is configured to inflate and deploy in a direction that is downward and forward into a footwell of the vehicle.

Knee airbag

A knee airbag includes overlying panels interconnected along a perimeter connection to define an inflatable volume of the knee airbag. The knee airbag includes a filling portion and a cushion portion. The filling portion is configured to receive inflation fluid from an inflator and to direct the inflation fluid from the inflator to the cushion portion. The cushion portion has a width that is greater than a width of the filling portion and extends laterally beyond the width of the filling portion on opposite sides of the filling portion. The knee airbag also includes at least one tether having a first end connected to the cushion portion and an opposite second having a connection configured to anchor the at least one tether. The at least one tether is configured to limit movement of the cushion portion and to help position the cushion portion relative to a vehicle surface for which the knee airbag is configured to help prevent impacts from a vehicle occupant.

A knee airbag includes a cushion portion, which includes overlying panels interconnected along a perimeter connection to define an inflatable volume of the knee airbag. The panels are interconnected within the perimeter connection along one or more interior connections that define inflatable chambers within the inflatable volume. The knee airbag also includes a tether connected to an exterior surface of the cushion portion at spaced locations. The tether has a length that is shorter than the distance between the locations on the cushion portion to which the tether is connected. The tether is configured to become tensioned in response to inflation of the cushion portion and causing a bend to form in the cushion portion.

An apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle occupant includes an airbag having primary and secondary chambers fluidly connected by a first passive vent and an active vent having an open condition and a closed condition. The primary chamber has a stored condition and a deployed condition to cover a portion of the vehicle. An interior panel divides the primary chamber into upper and lower inflatable volumes and includes a second passive vent fluidly connecting the upper and lower inflatable volumes. The secondary chamber has a stored condition and a deployed condition to cover portions of the vehicle left uncovered by the primary chamber. An inflator is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the primary chamber. The active vent is controllable to prevent fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers in response to occupant penetration into the primary chamber and controllable to allow fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers in response to occupant penetration into the secondary chamber. The second passive vent automatically closes to prevent fluid flow from the lower inflatable volume to the upper inflatable volume in response to occupant penetration into the secondary chamber.

Airbag with passive and active vents

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle comprises an airbag having a primary chamber and a secondary chamber. The primary chamber has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition to cover a portion of the vehicle. The secondary chamber has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition to cover portions of the vehicle left uncovered by the primary chamber. At least one passive vent provides fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers. At least one active vent is actuatable to provide fluid communication between the primary and secondary chambers. An inflator is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to the primary chamber. The at least one passive vent directs inflation fluid from the primary chamber into the secondary chamber. The at least one active vent is actuatable to direct inflation fluid from the primary chamber to the secondary chamber.

Airbag and method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle

An airbag includes an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag, and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber. The divider includes a body portion and at least one flap attached to the body portion along an edge. The divider is attached to the outer shell so as to form a gas-tight seal between the outer shell and the body portion and so as to form a gas flow passage between the at least one flap and the outer shell.

Dual chambered passenger airbag

An airbag includes an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag, and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber. A valve mechanism is operatively coupled to the divider. The valve mechanism includes an opening enabling fluid communication between the first and second chambers, and a flap positioned in the second chamber overlying the opening. The flap is structured to deflect in a direction away from the opening responsive to a pressure differential urging a flow of gas from the first chamber through the opening into the second chamber. The flap is also structured to block the opening responsive to a reverse pressure differential urging a flow of gas from the second chamber through the opening into the first chamber. The flap includes at least one attachment edge along which the flap is attached to the divider and at least one non-attachment edge along which the flap is not attached to the divider. The valve is structured such that at least a predetermined minimum distance between the at least one non-attachment edge and an edge of the opening is maintained during application of the reverse pressure differential to the flap.

An airbag module includes a bag wrap, a retainer, an airbag, and an inflator to inflate the airbag. The airbag includes at least one vent hole, and a deployment control flap to change trajectory of the airbag such that the airbag will deploy upwards and laterally to left and right sides. The deployment control flap is fixed at both ends to the retainer, airbag, or bag wrap.

Airbag module with deployment control flap

A part of a distal end portion of an airbag is tucked into an interior thereof. A plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds are formed in first and second halves of the airbag, and the folded distal and proximal portions of the airbag are each folded substantially transverse to the longitudinal folds so as to form two compact fold bodies.

Airbag folding method

A method of folding an airbag, and more particularly, a side curtain airbag whereby the airbag is folded to facilitate a relatively more rapid deployment given that the folds as described create a thrusting motion of the airbag out and over the B-pillar and the adjustable turning loop.

Growing community of inventors

Lake Orion, MI, United States of America

Jaime Fermin Perez