Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Autoliv Development Ab

Kurt Lawrence Gammill

Jeffrey Low

Blake L Cheal

Bryan Walston

David J Green

Karl K Rink

Anthony M Young

Brett R Garner

Paul Dinsdale

John Erik Terbu

Abraham Joseph Mitchell

James E Nelson

Richard Welford

Blake Garn

James L Recker

Roger Tallerico

Airbag cushion modules and vehicles comprising lever elements to facilitate opening adjacent vehicle structures. Some embodiments may comprise curtain airbag cushion assemblies comprising an inflator and a curtain airbag cushion fluidly coupled with the inflator. The curtain airbag cushion may be configured to deploy in a deployment direction adjacent to a vehicle door. A lever member may be coupled, operably and/or physically, with the curtain airbag cushion and may be configured to pivot during deployment of the curtain airbag cushion using forces generated from inflation of the curtain airbag cushion to pry an adjacent portion of a vehicle interior open during deployment.

Vehicle trim opening device for airbag deployment

A throat and fill tube protection device for an inflatable airbag includes a first portion, a second portion and an overlapping region. The first portion is a generally Y-shaped portion with a first arm and a second arm connected at a base. The first arm defines an inlet for receiving an inflator. The second arm defines a first channel for directing a first portion of the inflation gases in a first direction. The second portion defines a second channel for directing a second portion of the inflation gases in a second direction. The second direction is generally opposite the first direction. The overlapping region is cooperatively defined by first and second overlapping areas of the first and second portions, respectively.

Throat and fill tube protection device for an inflatable airbag and related method

A clamping arrangement for an inflatable restraint of a motor vehicle includes a base member and a retention member. The base member has a main body with an axially extending length and a partially cylindrical shape curved in a direction perpendicular to the length. The base member further has at least a first securing portion. Each securing portion includes a planar portion radially extending from the main body of the base member and disposed in a plane parallel to the axially extending length. The retention member has first and second ends connected to the main body of the base member. The first end is connected to the base member by the first securing portion.

Clamping arrangement for securing an airbag to an inflator

A clamping arrangement for an inflatable restraint of a motor vehicle includes a base member and a retention member. The base member has a partially cylindrical shape. The partially cylindrical shape extends circumferentially through no more than 180&#xb0;. The retention member cooperates with the base member to define a circular opening.

A curtain airbag assembly that includes one or more angled stiffening chambers and one or more standoff chambers. An angled stiffening chamber may be configured to support and retain an occupant within a vehicle during or after a vehicle collision. The angled stiffening chamber may include a plurality of extending portions and bent portions such that the angled stiffening chamber, when inflated, has an angled or bent configuration.

Curtain airbag assembly with stiffening chamber

Airbag cushion assemblies comprising tether release functionality. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag housing comprising an airbag housing opening configured to receive a squib. An airbag cushion may be coupled with the airbag housing and a tether comprising a tether opening may be coupled with at least a portion of the airbag cushion. A squib may be positioned to extend through the tether opening and positioned within the airbag housing opening. The squib may be configured to, upon actuation, separate to release the tether.

Airbag tether release assemblies

An inflatable airbag assembly can include an inflatable curtain airbag and an inflator. In some arrangements, the inflatable curtain airbag may include an inflator housing region where the inflator may be at least partially disposed. In some arrangements, the inflatable airbag assembly may also include a mounting assembly that includes a coupling member tethered to a mounting member.

Inflatable airbag assembly with an internally mounted inflator

Mounting assemblies can be used to retain an inflatable airbag cushion in a packaged configuration and attach the cushion to a vehicle structure. The mounting assemblies can have a mounting bracket and a wrapping member. The assemblies can also have a connecting member that connects the mounting bracket to the wrapper. The mounting bracket is attached to a vehicle structure and the wrapping member wraps and retains the cushion after it has been rolled and/or folded. During airbag deployment, the wrapping member releases the cushion so that it can be fully inflated and the mounting structure continues to anchor the cushion to the vehicle structure.

Mounting assemblies with wrappers for inflatable curtain airbags

Inflatable airbag cushions are filled with inflation gas by inflators. The inflators can be coupled in fluid communication with the airbag and are typically mounted within a vehicle structure by a coupling and closing member. The coupling and closing member can be an elongated piece of a flexible material that wraps around an inflator attachment feature on the airbag. The coupling and closing member can also have structures for fixedly attaching the member to a vehicle structure.

Integrated airbag closing and inflator mounting members for inflatable airbag assemblies

Inflatable curtain airbags can be attached to an inflator at a throat portion of the airbag. The attachment of the inflator to the throat portion may be mediated by an inflator mounting bracket. An extended portion of the inflator mounting bracket can protrude through an aperture in the throat portion to provide an anti-rotation function as well as a retention function.

Inflatable airbag assembly with an inflator bracket

An airbag assembly comprises a tensioning mechanism including a clutch is disclosed. The tensioning mechanism maintains the airbag in a desired position upon installation. In one embodiment, an inflatable curtain is coupled to a spool clutch and fastener via a tether to provide tension along the longitudinal mounting surface of the inflatable curtain during its installation adjacent the vehicle roof rail.

Spool tensioning device for airbag installation

An ejection mitigation system for use in a motor vehicle including one or more inflatable airbags and at least one ejection mitigation panel which is not integral with an inflatable airbag and wherein the ejection mitigation panel is attached to at least one point below the belt line of the motor vehicle.

Ejection mitigation panel

An airbag assembly including a tension mounting mechanism is disclosed. In one embodiment, an inflatable curtain is coupled to a one-way locking mechanism via an attaching element to provide tension along the longitudinal mounting surface of the inflatable curtain during its installation adjacent the vehicle roof rail.

Tension-based airbag mounting system

An inflator device for an inflatable cushion restraint system. The inflator device includes a housing at least in part defining a chamber containing a stored gas. The housing includes a first outlet orifice and a second outlet orifice. A first rupturable seal is disposed over the first outlet orifice and a second rupturable seal is disposed over the second outlet orifice. The second outlet orifice is a pressure release orifice for releasing the pressurized gas upon unanticipated elevated temperatures, such as during bonfire conditions. A plug is disposed in the second outlet orifice. The plug includes a low melting temperature material adjacent the second rupturable seal. The low melting temperature material melts at or below an auto-ignition temperature of the inflator device to allow the second rupturable seal to rupture to vent the pressurized stored gas.

Inflator device pressure relief

An inflatable curtain is provided that may be mounted on or proximate to a vehicle's side roof rail. The inflatable curtain includes a first panel and a second panel that is attached to the first panel. The first panel and the second panel are generally made of fabric materials such as nylon and the like. At least one first pleat is added to the first panel. The first pleat is constructed such that when the inflatable curtain is inflated with inflation gas, the first pleat opens into at least one first bulge that changes the deployment trajectory of the inflatable curtain. At least one second pleat may additionally be added to the curtain. The second pleat is added to the second panel and is designed such that during inflation, the second pleat will open into a second bulge that further changes the deployment trajectory of the inflatable curtain.

Growing community of inventors

Layton, UT, United States of America

Kurt Lawrence Gammill