The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 08, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 22, 1996
Scott A Jackson, Centerville, UT (US);
Donald J Cunningham, North Ogden, UT (US);
Autoliv ASP, Inc., Ogden, UT (US);
Abstract
A variable volume airbag cushion. The cushion includes a front wall having a central region for contacting the passenger, and a periphery. This periphery is connected to a periphery of a rear wall. The rear wall includes a central inlet operatively connected to a gas generator. The generator provides gas to initially inflate the volume defined between the front wall and rear walls. The rear wall includes at least one pleat therein, with the pleat held by a frangible connection such as a tear seam. It is preferred that the pleat be folded over to lie against the remainder of the rear wall, and secured thereto, again by a frangible connection. The pleats reduce the size of the rear wall, and therefore the volume between the front and rear walls. The frangible connections will rupture above a predetermined gas pressure in the cushion. This permits the rear wall to expand to its full size, increasing the volume between the front and rear walls. The cushion may therefore compensate for increase gas production due to higher ambient temperatures, or may be used with an adaptive gas generator which produces larger or smaller amounts of gas based upon various conditions.