Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Jeff Steven Vinton

Todd Nelson Clark

Sean Timothy Ryan

Ian Brewster Hall

William Moore Sherwood

Alan Perelli

Nathan Kristofor Tardif

Nial James Wykes

Juanito Yu Co

Rachelle Tustanowski

Michael Barthlow

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an energy absorbing steering column assembly with a J-shaped lower intermediate shaft that is coupled to an upper intermediate shaft. The J-shaped lower shaft includes a curved 'slider' portion that fits within a bent portion of the upper shaft such that even when the rigid connection between the J-shaped lower shaft and the upper shaft is broken, the slider portion of the J-shaped lower shaft remains in contact with the upper shaft. Such a configuration enables the driver to maintain control of the vehicle through the steering wheel.

Steering column with decoupling J-slider

An exemplary driver airbag module may include an inflatable cushion having a chamber that inflates up to a maximum volume. The airbag module may also have a fabric diffuser disposed within the chamber. The inflatable cushion and the fabric diffuser can be configured to deploy at least a portion of the inflatable cushion forward of a steering wheel in response to an out-of-position occupant preventing rearward expansion of the inflatable cushion up to the maximum volume.

Driver airbag module having multiple deployment paths

An instrument panel trim apparatus mounts in a vehicle to frame an instrument cluster above a collapsible steering column. An integrally molded plastic panel has an upper collar section, a lower bridge section, and a shroud section, wherein the upper collar section and lower bridge section are configured to form a frame around the instrument cluster. The upper collar section and lower bridge section converge along a pair of tear seams. The shroud section extends downward from the lower bridge section and has an arched shape to receive the steering column. A plurality of risers are disposed between the shroud section and the lower bridge section for concentrating stress at the tear seams when the shroud section is impinged by the steering column when collapsing, so that the tear seams separate and the lower bridge section and the shroud section can deflect upward.

Instrument cluster finish panel with tear seams

An exemplary passenger airbag for a vehicle passenger restraint system may include an inflatable cushion having an upper rear portion with a convex surface and a lower rear portion with a concave surface when the airbag is deployed. The airbag may further include a longitudinal tether secured to the lower rear portion to limit longitudinal expansion of the inflatable cushion and form the concave surface in the lower rear portion.

Airbag and vehicle passenger restraint system

An impact event countermeasure control method and system for an automotive vehicle includes management of impact countermeasures using not only variable timing responsive to impact severity, but also event control as a function of the displacement of a vehicle's occupant with respect to the passenger cabin environment, including various countermeasure devices.

Impact event countermeasure control method and system for automotive vehicle

A system and method for venting an airbag is provided. The system includes a set of vent doors, thereby reducing the overall package spaced that would otherwise be required to allow the doors to swing open. The vent doors are connected by a single tether or by multiple tethers to the primary surface of the airbag cushion.

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Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Jeff Steven Vinton