Frontal air bag system

• US 20030155756A1
• Filed: 02/20/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Webber, James L., Hawthorn, Laura A., Donegan, Michael W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A frontal air bag system for a vehicle includes an air bag module having a housing for mounting to vehicle structure of the vehicle and an air bag operatively connected to the air bag module. The frontal air bag system also includes an inflator disposed in the housing for inflating the air bag with an inflation gas. The frontal air bag system further includes at least one tether interconnecting the air bag and either one of the housing and the inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through the housing to atmosphere.

Claims

1. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:

an air bag module having a housing for mounting to vehicle structure of the vehicle;

an air bag operatively connected to said air bag module;

an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas; and

at least one tether interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said housing to atmosphere.

2. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 1 wherein housing comprises an outer housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough.

3. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said outer housing has a base wall and a plurality of side walls extending generally perpendicularly from said base wall, said vents extending through said side walls.

4. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 3 including an inner housing disposed within said outer housing and having a plurality of vents extending therethrough and aligned with said vents of said outer housing when said inner housing is in an initial position relative to said outer housing.

5. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said at least one tether has a first end connected to said inner housing and a second end connected to said air bag.

6. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 2 including an inflator panel disposed over said inflator and connected to said outer housing and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough.

7. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 2 wherein outer housing has a base wall and a side wall and a corner portion interconnecting said base wall and said side wall, said vents extending through said corner portion.

8. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said base wall has a first projection.

9. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said inflator has a second projection to cooperate with said first projection.

10. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said at least one tether has a first end connected to said inflator and a second end connected to said air bag to rotate said inflator upon deployment.

11. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 10 including at least one break-away stitch in said at least one tether to stitch a portion of said at least one tether together until broken when said first projection contacts said second projection.

12. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said at least one tether has a plurality of vents extending therethrough and aligned with said vents of said outer housing when at least one tether is in an initial position relative to said outer housing.

13. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:

an air bag module having a housing for mounting to vehicle structure of the vehicle, said housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough;

an air bag operatively connected to said housing;

an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas; and

a plurality of tethers interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said vents in said housing to atmosphere.

14. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said housing comprises an outer housing has a base wall and a plurality of side walls extending generally perpendicularly from said base wall, said vents extending through said side walls.

15. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing includes an inner housing disposed within said outer housing and having a plurality of vents extending therethrough and aligned with said vents of said outer housing when said inner housing is in an initial position relative to said outer housing.

16. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 15 wherein each of said tethers has a first end connected to said inner housing and a second end connected to said air bag.

17. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said housing comprises an outer housing having a base wall and a side wall and a corner portion interconnecting said base wall and said side wall, said vents extending through said corner portion.

18. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said tethers has a first end connected to said inflator and a second end connected to said air bag to rotate said inflator upon deployment.

19. A frontal air bag system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said at least one tether has a plurality of vents extending therethrough and aligned with said vents of said outer housing when at least one tether is in an initial position relative to said outer housing.

20. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:

an air bag module having an outer housing for mounting to vehicle structure of the vehicle, said outer housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough;

an air bag operatively connected to said outer housing;

an inflator disposed in said outer housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas; and

a plurality of tethers having a first end connected to said air bag and a second end operatively connected to either one of said outer housing and said inflator to open said vents and cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said vents in said outer housing to atmosphere.