Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Key Safety Systems, Inc.

Toyoda Gosel Co., Ltd.

Roy P Deutschmann

Roland Furtado

Srinivas Krishnan

Alexandra Marie Lazaros

Ryosuke Jinnai

Calum Beattie

Heather Mallinger

Joseph Massa

Brandon Streeter

Alberto Rodrigues

Daniel Bujaidar

Jonathan Kibat

Natalia Talkat

Eunas Gessling

Steven Zofchak

An airbag module includes a housing and an inflatable cushion structured to be received in the housing. A deployment guide is attached to the housing and is structured to be deployable from the housing to a deployed condition to guide the inflatable cushion in an associated occupant contact direction during cushion inflation. A first side tether is structured to extend along a first side of the deployment guide and includes a first portion structured to be attachable to a portion of a vehicle at a first attachment location of the first side tether. A second portion of the first side tether is attached to the deployment guide at a second attachment location of the first side tether. The second attachment location is structured to reside above the first attachment location of the first side tether.

Vehicle airbag module including tethered deployment guide

An airbag tether separation system includes an airbag tether separator having an explosive and a housing including a wall with at least one space formed in the wall. The tether separator is structured so that, when the explosive is activated, the explosive produces shockwaves causing separation of a portion of a tether extending between the explosive and the wall. At least a portion of the shockwaves also pass into the at least one space, from where they may pass through the space away from a separation region of the tether and to an exterior of the housing, or be reflected in a direction away from the separation region of the tether.

Airbag tether separation

A steering wheel for a vehicle includes an armature and a cap structured to be attached to the armature. The cap includes at least one projection structured to contact a portion of the armature when the cap is applied to the armature. The contact between the projection(s) and the armature is structured to form associated retentive contact interface(s) between the projection(s) and the armature. Each retentive contact interface operates to prevent or impede removal of the cap from the armature, thereby retaining the cap on the steering wheel under normal end-use conditions of the steering wheel.

Steering wheel end caps and associated application structures

An airbag module includes a curtain-type airbag arranged in a packaged configuration, and a strap looped around the airbag. The airbag includes a mounting edge extending exteriorly along the airbag. The mounting edge includes a securement adaptor projecting therefrom exteriorly to the airbag. The strap includes two endpieces respectively anchored to the mounting edge and secured with the securement adaptor, thereby securing the strap in a loop around the airbag at the mounting edge.

Airbag module for a curtain-type airbag

A vehicle occupant restraint system includes an airbag cushion. A reaction surface is configured to move between a retracted position and a deployed position upon deployment of the airbag cushion, such that the reaction surfaces will direct the airbag cushion toward an occupant area upon deployment of the airbag cushion. Multiple embodiments of reaction surfaces are disclosed, including deployable instrument panel sections, flexible straps, and hoods.

Airbag assembly with reaction surface

An airbag can include active vents to manage the pressure within the airbag when deployed. The active vent can be at least partially controlled by using a tether. A tether separator can be configured to separate the tether. The tether separator can include an explosive. The tether separator can be operatively positioned relative to the tether such that, when the tether separator is activated, the explosive produces shockwaves and/or heat energy. The shockwaves and/or the heat energy can cause the tether to be separated into two pieces. In some instances, a portion of the tether can be held in tension to facilitate the separation of the tether.

An airbag module () has a housing (), an airbag (), an inflator () and a deflector mechanism () which provides a barrier or guide and a reaction hoodor surface to modify the trajectory of the airbag on inflation to inflate at a lower trajectory. The deflector mechanism () has a tensioning member ().

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Roy P Deutschmann