Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Steven R Fredin

David W Schneider

Patrick G Jarboe

Bradley W Smith

David W Parkinson

Gregory J Lang

Christopher Hock

Bradley D Harris

Brent R Marchant

Earl Henry Nelson

John G Bauer

Russell S Gans

Michael J Ward

Jeffery L Scharret

Tae Y Kwak

Ronald W Bonatz

Earl H Nelson

An airbag restrain system is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag restraint system includes an inflatable airbag cushion having a tether coupled to the interior surface of the cushion. The airbag restraint system further includes first and second inflators for dual mode airbag cushion deployment. Upon a pre-impact condition, the first inflator deploys to partially inflate the cushion and release the tether. The second inflator also deploys to inflate the cushion to approximately full capacity. Upon an impact condition, only the second inflator deploys and the tether extends until taut to limit expansion of the cushion. Means are provided to retain and release the tether in response to the first inflator.

Airbag cushion with dual mode deployment for pre-impact and impact conditions

Enhanced airbag covers and associated methods are disclosed. Each of the covers permits deployment of a compacted airbag cushion along multiple axes, thereby decreasing the relative momentum of the airbag and the vehicle occupant, and enhancing the ability of the cushion to protect vehicle occupants who are out of their nominal positions. Covers may include two frontal portions separated by a frontal seam that tears open to permit emergence of the cushion between the frontal portions. In addition, each cover may have a peripheral skirt that opens to permit emergence of the compacted cushion along additional axes. The peripheral skirt may have peripheral seams and connecting seams that facilitate opening of the skirt portion. The peripheral and connecting seams may be configured such that the peripheral skirt opens consistently, regardless of whether the frontal seam has separated.

Airbag cover with multi-axis deployment

A pillar-mounted airbag module is disclosed. The frontal airbag module of the invention includes an airbag cushion configured to be deployed from a pillar of a vehicle and an airbag inflator coupled to the airbag cushion, the airbag inflator being suitable for attachment to a pillar of a vehicle. The frontal airbag module of the invention is configured to deploy the airbag cushion laterally along a windshield of the vehicle and then to subsequently inflate the airbag cushion toward the vehicle occupant.

Pillar-mounted frontal airbag

Enhanced airbag covers are disclosed. Each of the covers permits deployment of a compacted airbag cushion along multiple axes, thereby decreasing the momentum of the vehicle occupant relative to the airbag, and enhancing the ability of the cushion to protect vehicle occupants who are out of their nominal positions. Covers may include a plurality of frontal portions separated by a frontal seam or seams that tear open to permit emergence of the cushion between the frontal portions. In some implementations, each cover has a peripheral skirt and/or a junction between the frontal portions and peripheral skirt that opens to permit emergence of the folded cushion along additional axes. The peripheral skirt and/or junction may open consistently, regardless of whether the frontal portions have separated.

Airbag covers for multi-axis deployment

A tethered knee bolster panel which is deployed rearward in the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle during a crash to provide lower torso restraint. The knee bolster is an air bag system which propels the knee bolster panel rearward during deployment. The activated knee bolster allows automobile designers the flexibility to provide increased leg room in the vehicle while maintaining the same level of safety during a crash.

Air bag activated knee bolster

The requirement for a hinge, tether, or other connection between the breakaway door of an automotive airbag installation and a fixed attachment point is eliminated. This is accomplished by substituting a pressure-sensitive material connecting the door with the material of the airbag itself.

Airbag cover retainer

An air bag formed of thin flexible sheet material is mounted in a housing within a motor vehicle in a deflated condition and is rapidly inflatable for protecting an occupant in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The air bag has an elongated, generally cylindrical shape when deployed to inflate for expanding directly and more rapidly from the housing into protective cushioning contact with the occupant thus reducing the chances that the occupant will be subjected to excessive movement or velocity relative to the interior of the vehicle and further reducing the possibility that the occupant will be subjected to unwanted contact with closely adjacent surfaces in a relatively small passenger compartment of the vehicle. The novel air bag is formed from three pieces including a pair of generally circular inner and outer end walls joined together with a cylindrically-shaped side wall.

Cylindrical air bag

A driver's side airbag has an internal tether to prevent displacement forwardly of, or upwardly from, the steering wheel. The tether has one end secured substantially centrally of the bottom of the bag. The other end is secured in the peripheral seam joining the bottom and top halves of the bag and at a location forward of the steering wheel.

Anti-roll driver side airbag tether

An arrangement for providing an opening in an interior trim structure of an automotive vehicle for the deployment of an air bag therethrough which minimizes the visual and/or tactile impression of the presence of the closure and the air bag deployment opening thereunder and which is not susceptible to significant fragmentation and projection of such fragments into the passenger compartment upon the opening thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Ortonville, MI, United States of America

Steven R Fredin