AIR BAG ASSEMBLY PROVIDING ADJUSTABLE CUSHION DEPTH

• US 20040075261A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Damian, Steven Aurel, Niederman, Robert Raymond
• Granted Patent: US 6,749,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• 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 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams

Abstract

An air bag assembly utilizing a releasable anchoring structure operatively connected to one or more extendible tethering elements and providing adjustable cushion depth. A displaceable support element selectively engages or disengages the anchoring structure during operation of the vehicle taking into account steady-state inputs such as vehicle velocity, occupant size, seating position, and seat-belt use. The displaceable support element may be automatically engaged or disengaged from the anchoring structure as occupant and/or driving conditions change prior to actual air bag deployment.

Claims

1. An air bag assembly operable for providing the cushioning restraint of an occupant within a vehicle during an impact event, the air bag assembly comprising:

a gas emitting inflator disposed within a walled support container;

an inflatable air bag cushion having a first expanded profile and at least a second expanded profile, wherein the second expanded profile is characterized by relatively greater air bag cushion depth than the first expanded profile;

at least one tethering element coupled to the air bag cushion, wherein the tethering element has a first configuration associated with the first expanded profile of the air bag cushion and a second configuration associated with the second expanded profile of the air bag cushion;

an anchoring structure operatively coupled to the tethering element, wherein the anchoring structure is normally held at a fixed position prior to deployment of the air bag cushion; and

a variable strength restraining assembly holding the anchoring structure in place prior to deployment of the air bag cushion, the restraining assembly comprising a displaceable support element adapted to be selectively moved between a first position operatively engaging the anchoring structure and at least a second position not engaging the anchoring structure such that when the displaceable support element is in the first position, the anchoring structure is held at said fixed position upon deployment of the air bag cushion and such that when the displaceable support element is in the second position the anchoring structure is displaceable away from said fixed position upon deployment of the air bag cushion and wherein the displaceable support element is adapted to be moved between the first position and the second position multiple times prior to deployment of the air bag cushion based upon changes in the condition of the occupant prior to deployment of the air bag cushion.

2. The air bag assembly of claim 1, wherein the anchoring structure comprises a plurality of plates positioned adjacent to one another, wherein the plurality of plates are configured to compressingly hold a portion of the tethering element.

3. The air bag assembly of claim 2, wherein the anchoring structure further comprises a releasable bracket configured to extend through a slot disposed within the walled support container and wherein the releasable bracket is configured to receive one or more pins.

4. The air bag assembly of claim 3, wherein the restraining assembly further comprises one or more retention brackets fixedly attached to the walled support container, and wherein the one or more retention brackets are configured to receive one or more pins.

5. The air bag assembly of claim 4, wherein the displaceable support element comprises a primary pin operable for engaging the releasable bracket and the one or more retention brackets, thereby holding the releasable bracket secure in relation to the one or more retention brackets.

6. The air bag assembly of claim 5, wherein the restraining assembly further comprises a solenoid coupled to the primary pin, wherein the solenoid is operable for inserting the primary pin into and retracting the primary pin from the releasable bracket multiple times.

7. The air bag assembly of claim 6, wherein the restraining assembly further comprises a step motor coupled to the primary pin, wherein the step motor is operable for inserting the primary pin into and retracting the primary pin from the releasable bracket multiple times.

8. The air bag assembly of claim 5, wherein the restraining assembly further comprises one or more shear pins operable for engaging the releasable bracket and the one or more retention brackets, thereby holding the releasable bracket secure in relation to the one or more retention brackets until a predetermined force is exerted on the one or more shear pins.

9. The air bag assembly of claim 1, wherein the restraining assembly is operable for selectively enabling/disabling the first configuration and the second configuration of the tethering element based upon a steady-state input acquired during vehicle operation.

10. The air bag assembly of claim 9, wherein the steady-state input comprises an input selected from the group consisting of at least one occupant condition and at least one vehicle condition.

11. The air bag assembly of claim 10, wherein the steady-state input comprises an input selected from the group consisting of occupant size, occupant position, occupant mass, occupant seat-belt usage, vehicle velocity and combinations thereof.

12. An air bag assembly operable for providing the cushioning restraint of an occupant within a vehicle during an impact event, the air bag assembly comprising:

a gas emitting inflator disposed within a walled support container;

an inflatable air bag cushion having a first expanded profile and at least a second expanded profile, wherein the second expanded profile is characterized by relatively greater air bag cushion depth than the first expanded profile;

at least one tethering element coupled to the air bag cushion, wherein the tethering element has a first configuration associated with the first expanded profile of the air bag cushion and a second configuration associated with the second expanded profile of the air bag cushion;

an anchoring structure operatively coupled to the tethering element, wherein the anchoring structure is normally held at a fixed position prior to deployment of the air bag cushion; and

a variable strength restraining assembly holding the anchoring structure in place prior to deployment of the air bag cushion, the restraining assembly comprising a displaceable support element adapted to be selectively moved between a first position operatively engaging the anchoring structure and at least a second position not engaging the anchoring structure such that when the displaceable support element is in the first position, the anchoring structure is held at said fixed position upon deployment of the air bag cushion and such that when the displaceable support element is in the second position the anchoring structure is displaceable away from said fixed position upon deployment of the air bag cushion and wherein the displaceable support element is adapted to be moved between the first position and the second position multiple times prior to deployment of the air bag cushion based upon changes in the condition of the occupant prior to deployment of the air bag cushion; and

a vent covering element operatively connected to the displaceable support element such that upon movement of the displaceable support element between the first position and the second position the vent covering element is moved relative to vent openings within the walled support container.

13. The air bag assembly of claim 12, wherein the anchoring structure comprises a plurality of plates positioned adjacent to one another, wherein the plurality of plates are configured to compressingly hold the tethering element.

14. The air bag assembly of claim 13, wherein the anchoring structure further comprises a releasable bracket configured to extend through a slot disposed within the walled support container and wherein the releasable bracket is configured to receive one or more pins.

15. The air bag assembly of claim 14, wherein the restraining assembly further comprises one or more retention brackets fixedly attached to the walled support container, and wherein the one or more retention brackets are configured to receive one or more pins.

16. The air bag assembly of claim 15, wherein the displaceable support element comprises a primary pin operable for engaging the releasable bracket and the one or more retention brackets, thereby holding the releasable bracket secure in relation to the one or more retention brackets.

17. The air bag assembly of claim 16, wherein the restraining assembly further comprises a solenoid coupled to the primary pin, wherein the solenoid is operable for inserting the primary pin into and retracting the primary pin from the releasable bracket multiple times.

18. The air bag assembly of claim 16, wherein the restraining assembly further comprises a step motor coupled to the primary pin, wherein the step motor is operable for inserting the primary pin into and retracting the primary pin from the releasable bracket multiple times.

19. The air bag assembly of claim 15, wherein the restraining assembly further comprises one or more shear pins operable for engaging the releasable bracket and the one or more retention brackets, thereby holding the releasable bracket secure in relation to the one or more retention brackets until a predetermined force is exerted on the one or more shear pins.

20. The air bag assembly of claim 12, wherein the restraining assembly is operable for selectively enabling/disabling the first configuration and the second configuration of the tethering element based upon a steady-state input acquired during vehicle operation.

21. The air bag assembly of claim 20, wherein the steady-state input comprises an input selected from the group consisting of at least one occupant condition and at least one vehicle condition.

22. The air bag assembly of claim 21, wherein the steady-state input comprises an input selected from the group consisting of occupant size, occupant position, occupant mass, occupant seat-belt usage, vehicle velocity and combinations thereof.