Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Michael B Kutchey

John F Witt, Jr

Jamie R Fritz

David W Schneider

Donald James Paxton

Christina Morris

Mark Ludwig Enders

Larry Frank Lunt

Dion Kruse

Louis A Mueller

Terry Allen Sella

David Keyser

David Robert Palm, Jr

James N Sonnenberg

Harry Park

Dion Karl-Axel Kruse

Don Paxton

Debra Preston

Geoff Mills

Russell Scott Gans

David W Schnieder

Steven C Glefke

Darcy Malavolti

Noah G Vogeli

Decorative emblem assemblies and related airbag modules and methods. In some embodiments, a decorative emblem may be coupled to a plate having a plurality of holes formed therein. A plurality of non-threaded fasteners may extend from the decorative emblem, wherein each of the plurality of non-threaded fasteners is configured to extend through a hole of the plurality of holes formed in the plate. The assembly may further comprise a clip configured to engage each of the plurality of non-threaded fasteners to secure the emblem assembly to an airbag cover and compress the plate between the decorative emblem and the airbag cover.

Driver airbag assemblies for emblem accommodation

An inflatable airbag system can be configured to be mounted to a frontal region of a vehicle. The inflatable airbag system includes an airbag base cushion and one or more pluralities of cushion portions. In response to a collision event, the base cushion and pluralities of cushion portions may transition from a compact state to a deployed and expanded state. The airbag may receive the head of a vehicle occupant. One or more inner cushion portions may deflate as they receive the head of the vehicle occupant. An outer plurality of cushion portions may be configured to maintain a fully expanded state as they receive the head of the vehicle occupant.

Frontal airbag systems for oblique crash protection

Apparatus, methods, and systems for supplementing a primary airbag cushion, particularly during oblique angle vehicle impacts. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag module comprising an airbag cushion and a supplemental airbag support system configured to provide support to at least one of the airbag cushion and a vehicle occupant during oblique angle impact events. The supplemental airbag support system may comprise a deployable support structure configured to deploy adjacent to the airbag cushion during a vehicle impact event. The deployable support structure may be configured to supplement impact support provided by the airbag cushion during oblique angle vehicle impact events.

Supplemental airbags and related airbag support systems

Apparatus, methods, and systems for retaining an airbag cushion to an airbag housing. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag housing comprising an outer surface, an airbag coupling ring configured to fit over the outer surface of the airbag housing, and an airbag cushion positioned in between the airbag housing and the airbag coupling ring such that the airbag cushion is pinched between the airbag coupling ring and the outer surface of the airbag housing so as to retain the airbag cushion to the airbag housing during deployment of the airbag cushion.

Airbag cushion to housing retaining feature and related methods and systems

Heat shields are used to shield an airbag from hot gasses issuing from an inflator. The heat shields can have a low thermal conductivity and may be capable of melting during a deployment event.

Airbag assemblies with heat shield deflectors

An airbag assembly can include a stabilizer strap attached to an airbag, and the stabilizer strap can cooperate with a housing to prevent undesired rotation or skewing of the airbag during deployment. A portion of the stabilizer strap can be positioned at an interior of the housing and can interact with the housing to restrict an amount of the stabilizer strap that is permitted to extend to an exterior of the housing.

Airbag assemblies with constrained stabilizer straps

An airbag assembly can include an inflator that may exert forces on an airbag housing during deployment of an airbag from the housing. The airbag assembly can include a load distributing plate to distribute or delocalize the forces. In some arrangements, the load distributing plate can be attached to the inflator.

Airbag assembly load distributing structure

Some airbag assemblies can include a housing, an airbag, and a cover. The cover can include a tear seam that is configured to break to permit the airbag to exit the housing. The tear seam can include discrete break columns at which the tear seam ruptures.

Tear seams for inflatable airbag covers

An airbag assembly can include a stabilizer strap attached to an airbag, and the stabilizer strap can cooperate with a housing to prevent undesired rotation or skewing of the airbag during deployment. In some arrangements, a portion of the airbag is secured to the housing via an inflator.

Knee airbag assemblies and related methods

An assembly for attaching an emblem onto the front face of an airbag storage enclosure cover has a plurality of attachment posts that project from the back surface of the emblem and extend through the cover from the front face to terminate in free ends remote from the emblem. An attachment backing sheet is positioned against the rear face of the cover, whereby the attachment posts also extend through the attachment backing sheet with the free end of each positioned on the side of the attachment backing sheet opposite from the cover. A plurality of radially-enlarged attachment nuggets are formed or joined individually in a one-to-one association to the free end of the attachment posts, and each of the attachment nuggets is secured to the backing sheet in proximity to the associated attachment post. The attachment backing sheet thus tethers each of the attachment nuggets to the cover in the event of the mechanical failure of an associated attachment post. The attachment nuggets may be integrally formed with or bonded to the free ends of the attachment posts. If the attachment backing sheet is made of a porous material, such as a fabric, a mesh, or a screen, the material of the attachment nuggets permeates pores in the material of the attachment backing sheet in proximity to each associated attachment post. If the attachment backing sheet is made of a plastic material, the attachment nuggets are bonded with adhesive to the attachment backing sheet.

Assembly for attaching an emblem onto an airbag storage compartment cover

An airbag module including a module housing and cover is disclosed. The cover may include a molded-in channel to engage a flange extending from the module housing. The interaction between the channel and flange permit limited movement of the cover with respect to the module housing. The airbag module may further include hook and window engagement mechanisms as well as locking tab and window engagement mechanisms to couple the cover to the housing.

Growing community of inventors

Macomb, MI, United States of America

Michael B Kutchey