Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Trudy Lewis

Larry D Rose

Gregory J Lang

Alan Ralph Larsen

Robert E Lewis

Marc Parker Russell

Ronald B Casper

Shyam S V Kuppurathanam

Disclosed are embodiments of methods and apparatus relating to automotive airbags. In one embodiment of the invention, an airbag cushion is provided having four primary panels. A front panel is provided having a substantially rectangular front face. Two substantially triangular side faces are positioned opposite from one another in the inflated airbag cushion, both of which are connected with the front panel. A rear panel including an upper rear face and a lower rear face is also provided. The upper rear face is connected to a first side of both the first and second side faces and the lower rear face is connected to a second side of both the first and second side faces.

Airbag cushion construction

An airbag module may have an inflator, a cushion, and a housing that contains the inflator and the cushion. The housing has an outer wall formed of a flexible material and a bracket designed to be attached to a vehicle. During deployment, the cushion is expelled out of the housing through the bracket. The inflator remains in the housing and inflation gas is conveyed to the cushion through the housing. The inflator may be retained by flaps wrapped around the inflator and secured to a perpendicularly oriented diffuser of the inflator. Alternatively, the diffuser may extend through an orifice formed in a fabric wall within the housing, and retention portions of the outer wall may be wrapped around the opposite side of the inflator. The airbag module may be mounted in an instrument panel to provide front seat, passenger's side impact protection without requiring a rigid module housing.

Flexible housing for an airbag module

The inflatable cushion of the present invention includes at least two panels and one or more heat shield strips. Each panel has an inflatable region, an attachment region, and a peripheral edge. The attachment region is positioned between the peripheral edge and the inflatable region of each panel. An inward fold is disposed between the inflatable region and the attachment region of each panel. The attachment regions of each panel are disposed proximate each other. A heat shield strip is disposed on a portion of the attachment region and the inflatable region of the same panel. A secure fastener secures the attachment regions of each adjacent panel together and secures the heat shield strip to the attachment region on which it is disposed. A frangible fastener secures the heat shield strip to the adjacent inflatable region on which it is positioned.

Inflatable cushion with shielded seams

A check valve for an airbag cushion assembly permitting inflation gas to be rapidly received into an airbag cushion chamber from an inflation gas source through an inflation gas inlet opening in the fabric of the airbag cushion chamber and preventing flow of inflation gas back through the inflation gas inlet opening comprises a main fabric panel with a plurality of pleatable or foldable fabric tabs extending from a portion of the main fabric panel of the check valve and being non-rupturably secured to the fabric of the airbag cushion chamber.

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West Haven, UT, United States of America

Trudy Lewis