Profile tuner panel for inflatable cushions

• US 20040012182A1
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Original Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Inventors: Keshavaraj, Ramesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• 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

Abstract

A profile tuner panel that adjusts an air bag profile for top mounted or ¾ mounted cushions and causes the air bags to have enough rotation around an instrumental panel. The profile tuner panel is a section of fabric that is used to form at least part of the mouth section of the airbag cushion in the desired position with respect to the cushion, the module, and the frame of the car, and is also used to rotate and orient the cushion properly upon deployment.

Claims

1. An inflatable cushion for use in a passenger restraint system deployed in an inner surface of a vehicle comprising:

a front panel;

at least one body panel; and

a profile tuner panel;

wherein said front panel is attached to said at least one body panel, and wherein said front panel is the primary impact area for said passive restraint system;

wherein said profile tuner panel is also attached to said body panel and connects said body panel to said inner surface when said inflatable cushion inflates;

wherein said inflatable cushion rotates upon inflation in a manner in part controlled by the shape of said profile tuner panel.

2. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 1, wherein said profile tuner panel and said at least one body panel are cut from a single piece of material.

3. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 1, wherein said profile tuner panel forms at least part of a mouth having a rod-pocket construction.

4. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 1, wherein said profile tuner panel forms at least part of a mouth having a closed pocket construction.

5. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 1, further including a second body panel.

6. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 5, wherein said profile tuner panel is attached between said at least one body panel and said second body panel.

7. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 1, wherein said profile tuner panel is formed into a generally trapezoidal shape.

8. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 1, wherein said profile tuner panel is formed into a generally rectangular shape.

9. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 1, wherein said profile tuner panel is formed into a generally square shape.

10. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 1, wherein said profile tuner panel includes a pair of side extensions projecting from opposed sides thereof.

11. The inflatable cushion set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one of said side extensions defines a hole for receiving an inflator mechanism.

12. A profile tuner panel for use in inflatable cushions comprising a roughly trapezoidal shape material, wherein said profile tuner is attached to one or more body panels of an inflatable cushion, wherein said profile tuner causes said inflatable cushion to rotate a given amount determined by the shape of said profile tuner.

13. The profile tuner panel set forth in claim 12, wherein said profile tuner panel and at least one of said one or more body panels are cut from a single piece of material, whereby sewing attachment of said profile tuner panel to at least one of said one or more body panels in unnecessary.

14. The profile tuner panel set forth in claim 12, further including a pair of side extensions projecting from opposed sides of said profile tuner panel.

15. The profile tuner panel set forth in claim 14, wherein at least one of said side extensions defines a hole into which an inflator mechanism may be inserted.

16. The profile tuner panel set forth in claim 12, wherein said profile tuner panel forms at least part of an open mouth having a rod pocket construction.

17. The profile tuner panel set forth in claim 12, wherein said profile tuner panel forms at least part of a mouth having a closed pocket construction.