T K Holdings, Inc.

Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC

Richard Andrew Wiik

Scott David Thomas

Russell Joseph Mihm

Mark Andrew Steinbach

Jonathan Richard Kibat

Andrew Jack Pitonyak

Pongdet Paul Wipasuramonton

Douglas Lee Osterfeld

Ryan Fecteau

Paul Maria-Antonius Slaats

Patrick James O'Leary

James Ryan Fletcher

Anthony Paul Clark

Keith P Lane

Jesse B Kirby

An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat. The module includes an inflatable cushion and an inflator. The cushion is configured to inflate into a position inboard of the vehicle seat and includes a first inflatable chamber fluidly connected to a second inflatable chamber. The cushion is configured to inflate into a position in which the first inflatable chamber is in a position to absorb energy resulting from relative movement of the torso of the occupant in a direction lateral to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The second inflatable chamber is configured to inflate into a position to absorb energy resulting from relative movement of the head of the occupant.

Airbag module

An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat includes an inflatable cushion and an inflator for providing inflation gas. The module is mounted on an inboard side of a second vehicle seat located adjacent to the vehicle seat containing the occupant. The cushion is configured to inflate into a position between the seats and includes a forward inflatable chamber that is a larger volume than a rearward inflatable chamber. The forward chamber extends vertically from the bottom of the vehicle seat to a position suitable to receive impact from the head of the occupant in the event of a far-side crash event. The rearward inflatable chamber is configured to deploy into a position inboard of the vehicle seats. The forward and rearward inflatable chambers are separated by a cleft that opens toward the occupant.

Center side airbag module

An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat in the event of a vehicle crash in an oblique direction. The module includes an inflatable cushion and an inflator for providing inflation gas for the cushion. The cushion is configured to inflate into a position inboard of the vehicle seat and includes a first inflatable chamber fluidly connected to a forward inflatable chamber. The cushion is configured to inflate into a position to absorb energy relating to movement of the occupant in an oblique direction. The first inflatable chamber is in a position to absorb energy resulting from relative movement of the occupant in a direction lateral to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The forward inflatable chamber is configured to inflate into a position to absorb energy resulting from relative movement of the occupant in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat. The module includes an inflatable cushion and an inflator for providing inflation gas for the cushion. The cushion includes at least a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber. The inflatable cushion is configured so that the first inflatable chamber fully inflates prior to the second inflatable chamber becoming fully inflated. The second inflatable chamber is positioned to absorb energy resulting from movement of the head of the occupant, and the loft of the second inflatable chamber is greater than the loft of the first inflatable chamber.

An airbag assembly including an airbag module mounted to a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket is mounted to an outside surface of a side member of a back frame of a vehicle seat frame and partially covers the outside surface of the side member and extending along a length of the side member. The assembly includes a load transfer device mounted to an inside surface of the side member. The load transfer device distributing a load originating at the airbag module from the mounting bracket to the vehicle seat frame.

Mounting device for an airbag module

A number of variations may include a product comprising an airbag cushion constructed and arranged to provide an occupant with at least one of head, shoulder, or torso coverage, wherein the airbag cushion comprises an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and wherein the lower chamber is constructed and arranged to overlap at least a portion of a center console in a vehicle when the airbag cushion is in a deployed condition.

Front center airbag lower chamber and panel

An airbag module mounted to an interior side of a bottom portion of a seat frame. The module includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator. The airbag is configured to deploy to a position directly inboard of an interior side of the seat bottom. A portion of the airbag extends above the seat bottom when the airbag is inflated.

A number of variations may include a front center airbag system comprising: a first airbag mounted on an inboard side of a first front seat and a second airbag mounted on an inboard side of a second front seat, wherein the first airbag and the second airbag are constructed and arranged so that in a deployment condition the first airbag and the second airbag fill a space between and partially forward of the first front seat and the second front seat.

Two front center airbag

A mounting device for mounting an airbag module to a seat frame having a bottom frame and a back frame mounted to the bottom frame and having at least one side member extending in a substantially vertical direction. The mounting device includes a mounting bracket, mounted to an outside surface of the side member and connected to the airbag module, and at least one load transfer device, mounted to an inside surface of the side member and engaging a front portion or a rear portion of the side member, having a main body shaped to engage the inside surface and an engagement portion extending from the main body and shaped to engage the front portion or the rear portion. The load transfer device distributes a load, originating at the airbag module as a result of deployment or occupant loading of the airbag, from the mounting bracket to the seat frame.

An airbag module includes an inflatable cushion, an inflator configured to provide inflation gas for inflating the cushion, and a diffuser for directing the inflation gas from the inflator into the airbag. The diffuser is tubular and includes a first opening at one end for connecting to the inflator. The diffuser includes second and third openings located at the other end of the diffuser so that inflation gas is distributed into the inflatable cushion in two different directions.

Airbag module including airbag with diffuser

A side impact airbag cushion for mounting on a seat in a motor vehicle includes an occupant facing panel and a panel opposite the occupant facing panel, and a mounting portion mounted on the seat back. A cushion upper half portion is positioned near the occupant head, and a cushion lower half lower portion is positioned adjacent the occupant torso and has a central unfilled region surrounded by a tubular inflated ring that extends toward the occupant from the central unfilled region. The cushion upper half portion has a tubular inflated pillow region that extends toward the occupant further than the tubular inflated ring surrounding the central unfilled region, to thereby provide an enlarged pillow surface for supporting the occupant head. An upper tether attached to the cushion is shorter in length than the cushion so that the tether rotates the cushion upper half portion toward the occupant head.

Side impact airbag cushion

A side curtain air bag module for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable cushion, an inflator, and a tether. The inflatable cushion includes an inlet and an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion including an inboard layer and an outboard layer. The inflator is in fluidic communication with the inlet and is configured to inflate the inflatable cushion. The tether includes a first end coupled to the inflatable cushion at a first coupling location on an inboard side of the inflatable cushion. During inflation, the tether is configured to be in tension prior to an upper portion of the inboard layer being in tension, the upper portion of the inboard layer extending generally upward from the first coupling location.

Side-impact airbag module

A side curtain air bag module includes an inflatable cushion and an inflator. The inflatable cushion includes a first panel coupled to a second panel. The inflator is configured to inflate the inflatable cushion. The first panel and the second panel are joined generally continuously at a peripheral edge to form a first inflatable chamber. The first panel and the second panel are joined at a central location to form a second inflatable chamber that is in fluidic communication with the first inflatable chamber. In a stored configuration, the first inflatable chamber is rolled in an outboard direction, and the second inflatable chamber is rolled in an inboard direction generally around the first inflatable chamber.

An occupant restraint apparatus for a motor vehicle that includes a cushion configured to inflate to provide restraint to an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the cushion includes an inflatable portion and at least one non-inflatable portion; an inflator configured to provide gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the cushion; and a tether having a first end connected to the cushion and a second anchored end. The cushion includes at least one opening in at least one of the non-inflatable portions and the tether passes through the opening.

Airbag system

An occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle having a seat system configured to provide seating to an occupant positioned adjacent to a console having a top surface and configured to provide utility; which includes a cushion stored in the folded configuration and having an inflatable chamber configured to inflate adjacent to an occupant to provide impact restraint to the occupant; an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the inflatable chamber of the cushion; wherein a bottom portion of the cushion deploys to a position below the top surface of the console and a top portion of the cushion deploys to a position above the top surface of the console; wherein, during occupant loading, a portion of cushion contacts the console to receive lateral support and to react the forces imparted into the cushion induced by the occupant impacting the cushion, wherein the lateral support impedes lateral displacement of the cushion providing additional restraint to the occupant.

Growing community of inventors

Oakland, MI, United States of America

Richard Andrew Wiik