Overhead airbag system and method
First Claim
1. An airbag system comprising:
- an inflatable cushion having a first opening and a second opening; and
a fill tube having two open ends and an outlet, wherein the fill tube passes through the first and second openings of the inflatable cushion, and wherein the outlet of the fill tube is positioned within the inflatable cushion and the two open ends of the fill tube are positioned outside of the inflatable cushion, wherein, during inflation of the inflatable cushion, the fill tube expands and at least substantially occludes the first and second openings to limit passage of inflation gas between the fill tube and the perimeter of the first and second openings, and wherein, following inflation of the inflatable cushion, the fill tube at least partially separates from the perimeter of the first and second openings to enable inflation gas to exit the inflatable cushion between the fill tube and the perimeter of the first and second openings.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The overhead airbag system includes an inflatable cushion and a fill tube. The inflatable cushion has a first and a second opening. The fill tube has an outlet and two open ends. The fill tube passes through the first and second openings. The outlet is positioned within the inflatable cushion and the two open ends are positioned outside the inflatable cushion. An inflation source is in fluid communication with both the open ends of the fill tube. Upon deployment, the inflation source generates inflation gas that passes through the fill tube and into the inflatable cushion through the outlet. During inflation, the fill tube expands to limit passage of inflation gas between the fill tube and the perimeter of the first and second openings. Following inflation, the fill tube at least partially separates from the perimeter of the first and second openings to enable inflation gas to exit the cushion.
14 Citations
35 Claims
-
1. An airbag system comprising:
-
an inflatable cushion having a first opening and a second opening; and
a fill tube having two open ends and an outlet, wherein the fill tube passes through the first and second openings of the inflatable cushion, and wherein the outlet of the fill tube is positioned within the inflatable cushion and the two open ends of the fill tube are positioned outside of the inflatable cushion, wherein, during inflation of the inflatable cushion, the fill tube expands and at least substantially occludes the first and second openings to limit passage of inflation gas between the fill tube and the perimeter of the first and second openings, and wherein, following inflation of the inflatable cushion, the fill tube at least partially separates from the perimeter of the first and second openings to enable inflation gas to exit the inflatable cushion between the fill tube and the perimeter of the first and second openings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An overhead airbag system comprising:
-
an overhead inflatable cushion having a first opening and a second opening; and
a fill tube having two open ends and an outlet, wherein the fill tube passes through the first and second openings of the overhead inflatable cushion, and wherein the outlet of the fill tube is positioned within the overhead inflatable cushion and the two open ends of the fill tube are positioned outside of the overhead inflatable cushion, and wherein, during inflation of the overhead inflatable cushion, the fill tube expands and at least substantially occludes the first and second openings to limit passage of inflation gas between the fill tube and the perimeter of the first and second openings, wherein, following inflation of the overhead inflatable cushion, the fill tube at least partially separates from the perimeter of the first and second openings to enable inflation gas to exit the overhead inflatable cushion between the fill tube and the perimeter of the first and second openings. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. An overhead airbag system comprising:
-
an overhead inflatable cushion having a first opening and a second opening;
a fill tube having two open ends and an outlet, wherein the fill tube passes through the first and second openings of the overhead inflatable cushion, and wherein the outlet of the fill tube is positioned within the overhead inflatable cushion and the two open ends of the fill tube are positioned outside of the overhead inflatable cushion; and
an inflation source in fluid communication with each of the two open ends of the fill tube, wherein, during inflation of the overhead inflatable cushion, the fill tube expands and at least substantially occludes the first and second openings to limit passage of inflation gas between the fill tube and a perimeter of the first and second openings, and wherein, following inflation of the overhead inflatable cushion, the fill tube at least partially separates from the perimeter of the first and second openings to enable inflation gas to exit the overhead inflatable cushion between the fill tube and the perimeter of the first and second openings. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. An overhead airbag system comprising:
-
a cushion means for cushioning an impact of a vehicle occupant, the cushion means having a first and second opening;
a fill tube means for transmitting inflation gas into the cushion means, the fill tube means having two open ends and an outlet, wherein the fill tube means passes through the first and second openings of the cushion means, and wherein the outlet of the fill tube means is positioned within the cushion means and the two open ends of the fill tube means are positioned outside of the cushion means; and
an inflation means for generating inflation gas, the inflation means being in fluid communication with each of the two open ends of the fill tube means, wherein, during inflation of the cushion means, the fill tube means expands and at least substantially occludes the first and second openings to limit passage of inflation gas between the fill tube means and a perimeter of the first and second openings, and wherein, following inflation of the cushion means, the fill tube means at least partially separates from the perimeter of the first and second openings to enable inflation gas to exit the cushion means between the fill tube means and the perimeter of the first and second openings.
-
-
28. A method of absorbing energy of an occupant striking an inflatable cushion, comprising:
-
providing an airbag system having an inflatable cushion having a first opening and a second opening and having a fill tube made from a flexible material having two open ends and an outlet, wherein the fill tube passes through the first and second openings of the inflatable cushion, and wherein the outlet of the fill tube is positioned within the inflatable cushion and the two open ends of the fill tube are positioned outside of the inflatable cushion;
transmitting inflation gas through the fill tube to expand the fill tube and inflatable cushion such that the fill tube expands and at least substantially occludes the first and second openings of the inflatable cushion; and
stopping transmission of the inflation gas through the fill tube such that the fill tube decreases in size to permit inflation gas to exit the inflatable cushion between the fill tube and a perimeter of the first and second openings. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification