Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Patrick Jamison

Jeffrey Daniel Williams

Larry D Rose

Kent Potter

Greg Waters

Bradley W Smith

Mark Ludwig Enders

Michael Perry Jordan

Changsoo Choi

John C Newkirk

Ralph Tree

Ryan D Nelson

Brad Smith

Shankar Balaskandan

Bin Wang

Mark Sherman Hatfield

Larry Frank Lunt

Christina Morris

James D Erickson

James Coleman

Balaskandan Shankar

Derrick Staheli

Arthur Yakumo

Yuichi Inuzuka

Paul Edward Heasman

Akihiro Yamada

Mike Ravenberg

Airbag cushion assemblies comprising an airbag inflation tunnel positioned within an airbag cushion. Some embodiments may comprise an airbag cushion comprising an inflator opening and an airbag inflation tunnel coupled to the airbag cushion. The inflation tunnel may be configured to direct inflation gas from an inflator positioned within the inflator opening down the airbag inflation tunnel upon deployment of the inflator. A plurality of directional vent openings may be positioned within the airbag inflation tunnel that may be configured to direct the inflation gas laterally relative to the inflator. The inflation tunnel may further be configured such that the inflation gas contacts a terminal end of the inflation tunnel prior to exiting the plurality of directional vent openings.

Airbag inflation tunnels and related systems and methods

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.

Airbag systems with side venting

A front airbag assembly deployable from a steering wheel or instrument panel of a vehicle. The airbag assembly includes an airbag cushion and an outer panel that is coupled to the airbag cushion to form a channel. The venting capacity of some airbag assemblies can be modulated without input from an electrical sensor. In some circumstances, the venting capacity of the airbag assembly can vary based on whether and where a vehicle occupant strikes the outer panel of the airbag assembly.

Airbag assemblies with adaptive venting

A driver airbag can be deployed from a steering wheel of a vehicle. The airbag can include a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber that can be deployed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber. The airbag can further include a one-way valve that controls inflation gas movement relative to at least the first inflatable chamber.

Multi-chamber driver airbags

Seat belt systems and inflatable airbags can be used to mitigate the potential for injury to an occupant's neck. The seat belt systems provide for moderating the seat belt loads acting on the occupant to allow an improved synchronization of the occupant torso and head rebound timing, which in turn limits head and torso differential loading (frontal whiplash) and therefore occupant neck loads and neck, based on the position of the occupant, loads on the seatbelt, or a predetermined time in the crash event. Airbags are also provided with a sloped impact face. Additionally, airbags are also provided with a relatively flat top portion.

Neck injury mitigation systems and methods

An inflatable side airbag has an inflatable duct for the delivery of inflation gas. The inflatable duct of the inflatable side airbag provides for rapid deployment of a multi-chamber air bag while controlling the rate of inflation and the relative pressure of the chambers. The inflatable duct allows a single inflator to inflate a high pressure pelvis chamber and a lower pressure thorax chamber while preventing fluid communication between the two chambers upon completion of inflation.

Air bag with pressure-managed gas delivery inflatable duct

Airbag cushions are provided that mitigate the potential for injury to an occupant's neck via a sloped face, a particular cushion height, and/or a relatively flat top portion. These airbag cushions can be used with seat belt systems that moderates the seat belt loads acting on the occupant to allow an improved synchronization of the occupant torso and head rebound timing, which in turn limits head and torso differential loading (frontal whiplash) and therefore occupant neck loads and neck, based on the position of the occupant, loads on the seatbelt, or a predetermined time in the crash event.

Sloped faced airbag cushions for mitigating neck injury

An airbag cushion has two chambers to permit the front chamber to inflate less rapidly than the back chamber for cushioning the head of an occupant in a vehicle with less force than the chest of an occupant is cushioned by the back chamber.

Dual chamber airbag cushion

An airbag cushion has two chambers to permit the front chamber to inflate less rapidly than the back chamber for cushioning the head of an occupant in a vehicle with less force than the chest of an occupant is cushioned by the back chamber. The front chamber has at least one safety vent.

Dual chamber airbag cushions with a safety vent in the front chamber

An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes at least one closeable vent for re-directing gas out of the cushion when an obstruction is encountered.

Airbag cushions with optional venting for out-of-position conditions

Disclosed are embodiments of airbag cushion which deploys sequentially to have an initial volume to push an occupant away from an instrument panel and then a final volume.

Cushion break stitch pattern

An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes a tube that may be restricted to prevent gas venting. A cord is coupled to the tube and to a surface of the cushion. Upon airbag deployment, the cord extends until taut or extends until the cushion encounters an obstruction. If pulled taut, the cord tightens the tube and restricts gas venting. If the cushion encounters an obstruction, the cord remains lax and the tube is able to vent gas.

Airbag cushion with cinch tube for reduced out-of-position effects

A dual chamber airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion comprises a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber disposed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber. In one embodiment, two opposing surfaces defining the second inflatable chamber are attached to one another at a plurality of attachment regions such that, upon inflation of the second chamber, the second chamber has a low profile region corresponding to the location of the attachment regions. An airbag cushion with dual chambers, each of which is inflated to a different pressure upon deployment, is thereby created.

Dual chamber airbag

The application provides airbag cushion deployment restraint systems for use in inflatable airbag cushions. The deployment restraint systems of the invention regulate deployment of an airbag cushion to provide full radial expansion of the cushion prior to final expansion of the cushion toward a vehicle occupant. The deployment restraint systems of the invention thus increase the amount of contact surface area available to a vehicle occupant early in deployment and decrease the force with which the cushion is expanded toward a vehicle occupant during a collision event, thus reducing the likelihood of injury to an out-of-position vehicle occupant.

Growing community of inventors

North Ogden, UT, United States of America

Patrick Jamison