Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Srinivas Krishnan

Roland Furtado

Roy P Deutschmann

Alexandra Marie Lazaros

Brandon Streeter

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 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.

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Troy, MI, United States of America

Srinivas Krishnan