Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Alliedsignal Inc.

Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

Takata Corporation

Takata Restraint Systems, Inc.

Michael Joseph Lachat

Pongdet Paul Wipasuramonton

Changsoo Choi

Anna Libby

Jesse Benny

Larry D Rose

Robert Tobian

Frank Herzenstiel

Ronald A Zimmerman, Ii

Michael A Hague

Jeffrey A Young

Howard Lusk

Brian K Genslak

David W Schneider

Jeffrey Daniel Williams

Wendell C Lane, Jr

Steven W Maurer

Christina Morris

Marc Parker Russell

Pontus Soderstrom

Ralph Tree

James Ernie Jacobson

Stanley B Good

Douglas E Medvedik

John C Hofer

Patrick J Fonk

Brian Seymour

Eric D Veggian

Lucette Bond

Jonathon P Hurford

Mohammed Boumarafi

Bobby Lusk

Martin Kubiak

John A La Fond

Joseph Bator

Dinesh B Shah

Russ Morris

Mark F Wehner

Christina R Morris

Airbag cushion assemblies comprising internal stabilizers and related methods. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cushion comprising a first side and a second side opposite from the first side and a hub comprising a hub opening configured to be coupled with an inflator so as to receive inflation gases during deployment of the airbag cushion through the hub opening. A stabilizer, such as, in some embodiments, a diffuser or another inflatable structure, may be positioned within the airbag cushion and may be non-releasably coupled with the airbag cushion along at least a portion of the first side, along at least a portion of the second side, and adjacent to the hub opening.

Airbag cushion stabilizers

Airbags and airbag assemblies are disclosed that include passive adaptive venting. The disclosed embodiments include an airbag cushion to define an inflation chamber and that include a set of vents. The set of vents is disposed through a panel of the airbag cushion. The set of vents allow egress of inflation gas from the inflation chamber and to be in an open state when a degree of compression of the airbag cushion is below a threshold level. The set of vents is configured to be in a closed state and/or obstructed by a vehicle surface of a vehicle structure when the degree of compression of the airbag cushion exceeds the threshold level.

Airbag with passive adaptive venting

A deployment flap can be used with inflatable airbag to reduce the risk of the airbag getting caught between the instrument panel of a vehicle and an out of position occupant. The manner in which the airbag and deployment flap are folded prior to deployment alters their deployment characteristics, such as trajectory.

Method of packaging an inflatable airbag cushion including a wrapper and deployment flap

The airbag assembly features an airbag cushion, a deployment flap, an extension flap attached to the deployment flap, and a lateral flap. The deployment flap is configured to protect the airbag cushion as it deploys from the module housing. The extension flap is configured to position the airbag cushion during deployment. The lateral flap is configured to allow for proper airbag deployment.

Airbag lateral flap

An inflatable knee airbag can have a plurality of inflatable chambers. The inflatable chambers can be formed as independent chambers, rather than a single chamber being divided by an internal tether. The inflatable chambers can be arranged in a serial configuration, wherein the chambers form an 'L' shape so that when the airbag is deployed, it conforms to the shape of an instrument panel.

Low-mount inflatable knee airbags having serial chambers

Methods are provided for folding an airbag cushion into a housing. In one implementation of the inventive method, an airbag cushion defined by an upper panel and a lower panel is provided. A first portion of the airbag cushion is tucked into a second portion of the airbag cushion such that the upper and lower panels of the first portion are positioned in between the upper and lower panels of the second portion. The tucked portion is folded in towards the housing. First and second halves of the tucked airbag cushion are folded in towards the housing. Finally, the folded first and second halves of the airbag cushion are folded into the housing.

Airbag cushion folding methods

An airbag assembly comprising an airbag cushion, a deployment flap and an extension flap attached to the deployment flap, is disclosed. The deployment flap is configured to protect the airbag cushion as it deploys from the module housing. The extension flap is configured to position the airbag cushion during deployment. In some embodiments, the airbag assembly may also include a cinch tube arrangement.

Airbag protection flap

An air bag system and method of making the same are provided including a reinforced cover for a vehicle seat having an air bag module hidden therein. The reinforced cover includes cover material that is stretchable and a backing reinforcement material that is stiffer than the cover material. The reinforcement material is attached to the cover material to provide a repeatable deployment path for the air bag as it inflates so that the air bag breaks through the seat cover at a preferred location thereon, e.g. bolster seam. The reinforced cover will not expand as the bag inflates as its stiffness or rigidity as provided by the reinforcement material will cause the bag to seek out the area of greater weakness in the cover at the bolster seam which the reinforcement material does not block. As the reinforcement cover provides the repeatable deployment path for the air bag to the bolster seam, there is no need for complicated and expensive modifications to the air bag module for proper and timely deployment thereof simplifying the installation of the present air bag system.

Air bag system and method of making the same

A side impact crash protection and rollover system comprising: a web guide attachable to a pillar of a vehicle; a seat belt system having a shoulder belt portion supported by and extending from the web guide, the shoulder belt portion adapted to be secured about a seated occupant; an air bag assembly including an air bag initially stored in an uninflated or folded condition adjacent the web guide and when inflated is positioned adjacent the pillar, the air bag including a first channel for receiving a portion of the shoulder belt portion.

Pillar-mounted side impact and rollover air bag

A material cover (27) for a vehicle seat (22), the seat having a seat back (26) having a front surface (28), a rear surface (32) and a side surface (30), the material cover (27) including front (28'), rear (32') and side (30') material panels covering the front, rear and side of the seat back, a reinforcement panel (50,50') secured to an inside surface (31) of the side material (30') for effectively decreasing the elongation of the side panel (30') to localize stress in the side material portion (30') to encourage the side material portion to tear along a line proximate a side (52a) of the reinforcement panel when the panel is forced outwardly by the action of an inflating air bag (46).

Side impact air bag seat-integrated reaction surface panel

An airbag folding pattern in which a portion of the airbag deploys vertically above or vertically below the airbag module retainer is folded so that it is located forward of the portion of the airbag that deploys directly forward of the retainer. By locating the portion of the bag that is vertically displaced forward of the remaining portion of the bag, the time necessary to deploy the airbag to position is reduced.

Airbag folding pattern

An air bag (24) and method of folding an air bag (24) to protect an occupant during a side impact collision, the air bag being part of an air bag module (23) fitted within an outboard portion of a vehicle seat, the method including the step of folding the air bag (24) into a compact configuration such that when inflation gas is communicated into the air bag a resultant momentum vector, of the unfolding air bag sections, is directed forward of the seat and laterally away from a location of a seated occupant.

Method of folding an air bag

A side impact air bag (20) comprising: a lower portion for protecting the thorax region of an occupant, the lower portion including a neck portion through which inflation gas is received and a top portion which is sloped relative to a neck portion. An upper portion protects the shoulder and head regions of the occupant and extends generally perpendicularly from the lower portion.

Side impact air bag system

A seat-integrated air bag deployment door (10) is provided having a rim (22) which defines a deployment opening. The deployment door (10) is configured for attachment to the seat material (18) of a vehicle seat (14) by sewing or gluing. A door conceals the deployment opening and tears at predetermined locations during deployment of the air bag (102) to allow the air bag to deploy therethrough.

Seat-integrated air bag deployment door

A vehicle restraint system for side impact protection includes an inflatable air bag having first and second chambers separated by a panel having an aperture to permit inflation gas to flow from one chamber to the other. A safety flap is partially secured to the separator panel and has an aperture initially aligned with the aperture of the separator panel. The air bag detects the presence of an out of position seat occupant in which case the safety flap partially breaks away and moves the apertures out of alignment, thereby at least partially limiting the flow of inflation gas through the separator panel.

Growing community of inventors

Shelby Township, MI, United States of America

Michael Joseph Lachat