Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Other

Jeffrey Daniel Williams

Larry D Rose

Patrick Jamison

Kent Potter

Bradley W Smith

Changsoo Choi

Ralph Tree

Michael Perry Jordan

John C Newkirk

Mark Ludwig Enders

Mark Sherman Hatfield

Marc Parker Russell

Ryan D Nelson

Greg Waters

Brad Smith

F Chad Copier

Shankar Balaskandan

David W Parkinson

Bin Wang

Michael Joseph Lachat

Xiaohong Wang

David Henderson

James Coleman

Kurt Petersen

James D Erickson

Anna Libby

Derrick Staheli

Jesse Benny

Paul Edward Heasman

Bob Archibald

Robert N Davenport

Howard Lusk

Cheong (Aaron) Chook Ching

Akihiro Yamada

Joseph Bator

Torrey L Porter

Patrick D Jamison

Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air and related assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise an aspirating airbag cushion assembly comprising an airbag cushion, which may be configured to deploy from a housing or the like. The assembly may further comprise one or more inflation conduits configured to deliver inflation gas into the airbag cushion through a plurality of inflation ports. An inflator module may be crimped onto an inflator hub, in some cases without the use of any fasteners and/or releasable coupling features.

Systems and methods for improved airbag aspiration

Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air and related assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise an aspirating airbag cushion assembly comprising an airbag cushion, which may be configured to deploy from a housing or the like. The assembly may further comprise one or more inflation conduits configured to deliver inflation gas into the airbag cushion through a plurality of inflation ports. Each inflation conduit may comprise one or more features to improve aspiration efficiency, such as expanded distal portions and/or angled features to redirect inflation gases in a manner to improve the efficiency of the inflation gas to aspirate ambient air into the cushion.

Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air and related assemblies, methods, and components. Some embodiments may comprise an aspirating airbag cushion assembly comprising an airbag cushion, which may be configured to deploy from a housing or the like. The assembly may further comprise one or more inflation conduits configured to deliver inflation gas into the airbag cushion through a plurality of aspiration ports. Each inflation conduit may comprise features to improve aspiration efficiency, such as two or more rows of ports per conduit and/or angled features to redirect inflation gases in a manner to improve the efficiency of the inflation gas to aspirate ambient air into the cushion.

An airbag device is adapted to be installed in a vehicle for protecting an occupant. The airbag device includes a bag-like cushion that inflates and deploys in front of a seat and is adapted to restrain the occupant. In an inflated condition, the airbag cushion includes a main inflating section inflating toward the rear of the vehicle, a pair of lobes protruding toward the rear of the vehicle on both sides of the main inflating section in a vehicle width direction, a pair of secondary inflating sections being provided respectively between the main inflating section and each of the lobes in the vehicle width direction and inflating toward the rear of the vehicle, and a pair of tethers are symmetrically attached and tensioned inside the cushion for preventing the protruded lobes from swinging around the main inflating section of the cushion.

Airbag device

A dual stage inflator for an inflatable vehicle safety device includes a second stage combustion cup having a first member and a second member. The first and second members are formed separately from one another and cooperate to define an interior for receiving a second stage gas generant material.

Dual stage inflator

Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air to enhance inflation. Some embodiments may comprise an inflation module comprising an inflator and a plurality of inflation nozzles fluidly coupled with the inflator and configured to deliver inflation gas from the inflator into an airbag cushion. A housing coupled to the airbag cushion may comprise an aspiration inlet configured to allow for receipt of ambient air into the airbag cushion during inflation of the airbag cushion. The plurality of inflation nozzles may be configured to, upon actuation of the inflator, draw ambient air into the airbag cushion along with the inflation gas from the inflator. In some embodiments, a valve assembly may be positioned below the inflation nozzles and may be configured to automatically open upon actuation of the inflator and to automatically close during or following inflation of the airbag cushion.

Airbag aspiration modules and related valve assemblies

Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air and related assemblies, methods, and components. Some embodiments may comprise an aspirating airbag cushion assembly comprising an airbag cushion housing, an aspiration housing coupled to the airbag cushion housing and comprising an aspiration inlet configured to allow for receipt of ambient air into an airbag cushion, and an inflation module slidably coupled to the aspiration housing. The inflation module may comprise an inflator and one or more inflation tubes or other conduits fluidly coupled with the inflator and configured to deliver inflation gas from the inflator into the airbag cushion.

Aspirating airbag module assemblies and components

Airbag assemblies and venting assemblies are disclosed. An airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion and a venting assembly including a vent, one or more shear tethers, and a peel tether. The shear tether(s) are configured to be drawn to a taut state by expansion of the airbag cushion to configure the vent in a first venting state. The shear tether(s) are releasably coupled to the peel tether. The releasable coupling is configured to keep the shear tether(s) releasably coupled to the peel tether. The peel tether is configured to transition from a slack state to a taut state as the airbag cushion continues to expand. When drawn taut, the peel tether produces a peel force transverse to the shear force. The peel force causes the releasable coupling to release and the peel tether to uncouple from the shear tether(s), to transition the vent to a second state.

Airbag systems with passive venting control

Airbag assemblies are disclosed that can reduce rotational velocity of an occupant's head during a collision event and thereby mitigate traumatic brain injury/head injury to an occupant. An airbag includes a pair of lobes or protrusions to deploy and extend from the rear face of the airbag on either side of the occupant's head to limit rotation of the head. A pair of vertical tethers within an interior of the airbag configure the lobes and contour the rear face to form one or more low fabric tension zones or bubbles. The lobes maintain high fabric tension, similar to a pressurization of a main inflatable chamber of the airbag.

Frontal airbag assemblies for reducing rotational velocity of a head of an occupant

Airbag cushion assemblies for aspirating ambient air to enhance inflation. Some embodiments may comprise an inflation module comprising an inflator and a plurality of high-velocity nozzles fluidly coupled with the inflator and configured to deliver inflation gas from the inflator into an airbag cushion. A housing coupled to the airbag cushion, may comprise an aspiration inlet configured to allow for receipt of ambient air into the airbag cushion during inflation of the airbag cushion. The plurality of high-velocity nozzles may be configured to, upon actuation of the inflator, draw ambient air into the airbag cushion along with the inflation gas from the inflator. In some embodiments, a valve assembly may be provided that is configured to open upon actuation of the inflator and to close following inflation of the airbag cushion to prevent air and inflation gas from exiting through the aspiration inlet.

Aspirating airbag assemblies

Airbag cushion assemblies comprising cushion orientation features and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cushion comprising a throat region comprising an inflator opening. An inflator comprising an inflator collar may be coupled with the airbag cushion. The inflator collar may comprise a non-circular shape. The assembly may further comprise an inflator coupling member coupled with the airbag cushion at the inflator opening. The inflator coupling member may similarly comprise a non-circular opening configured to be aligned with the inflator opening and to mate with the non-circular shape of the inflator collar so as to prevent the inflator from being coupled with the airbag cushion in a non-desired rotational orientation.

Airbag cushion mounting and/or orientation features

Airbag assemblies and vents are disclosed. An airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion and a vent assembly including a vent, one or more sheer tethers, and a peel tether. The sheer tether(s) are configured to be drawn to a taut state by expansion of the airbag cushion to configure the vent in a first venting state. The sheer tether(s) are releasably coupled to the peel tether. The releasable coupling is configured to maintain the sheer tether(s) releasably coupled to the peel tether. The peel tether is configured to transition from a slack state to a taut state as the airbag cushion continues to expand. The peel tether drawn taut produces a peel force transverse to the sheer force. The peel force causes the releasable coupling to release and the peel tether to uncouple from the sheer tether(s), to transition the vent to a second state.

An airbag module assembly includes a module housing that defines a storage chamber. A thrust neutral inflator device is at least in part disposed within the storage chamber. The inflator device releases airbag inflation gas within the storage chamber in a cross-car manner. In specific embodiments, the cross-car release of the airbag inflation gas involves substantially all the airbag inflation gas being released at an angle of no more than &#xb1;60&#xb0; and preferably at an angle of no more than &#xb1;50&#xb0; from horizontal when viewed in a top planar view of the inflator device disposed within the housing.

Airbag module assembly with cross-car gas diffusion

Methods, apparatus, and systems for coupling an airbag inflator with a housing, such as an airbag module housing or an adapter housing configured to be coupled with an airbag module housing. In some implementations, a housing comprising an opening may be provided. An inflator comprising a collar may be positioned in the housing such that the collar of the inflator extends into, or in some cases through, the opening of the housing. The inflator may be fixedly coupled with the housing by engaging an exterior surface of the inflator collar with at least one engagement structure, such as a retainer clip or crimp formed in a collar sleeve of the housing.

Airbag inflator mounting apparatus, methods, and systems

Airbag assemblies and active vents for airbag assemblies are disclosed. An airbag assembly may include an airbag cushion, an active vent having an aperture and a patch configured to plug the aperture, a depth-delimiting tether, a cross tether, and a control tether. The control tether may be coupled to the patch and the depth-delimiting tether. The depth-delimiting tether and the control tether may be drawn taut as the airbag cushion expands during deployment to draw the patch toward the aperture from a first position that allows unobstructed venting to a second position that obstructs venting through the aperture. The depth-delimiting tether and the control tether can be in or transition to a slack state due to occupant impact with the airbag cushion. These tethers may also be in a slack state during the early stage of deployment.

Growing community of inventors

Roy, UT, United States of America

Jeffrey Daniel Williams