Thin airbag module
First Claim
1. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
- an inflator that produces inflation gas in response to receipt of an activation signal; and
a cushion positionable within an instrument panel of the vehicle to receive the inflation gas such that the cushion inflates to provide impact protection, wherein the cushion is in a compacted configuration in which the cushion has a small thickness perpendicular to a periphery of the instrument panel, the cushion having an area greater than 150 square inches parallel to the periphery.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module may have an inflator, a cushion, and a housing that contains the inflator and the cushion. The cushion is folded flat over a large area of an instrument panel so that the cushion inflates rapidly to protect out-of-position occupants. The housing retains the cushion and the inflator such that the inflator is positioned forward of the cushion. The housing may be deformable in response to impact to provide cushioning and/or provide a softer impact against the inflated cushion. A flat diffuser may be used to help convey inflation gas from the inflator to the cushion. The airbag module may have a thin membrane that hides the cushion from vehicle occupants. The cushion may tear through the membrane. A rigid tear initiation member may be positioned between the cushion and membrane to help the cushion break through the membrane.
40 Citations
68 Claims
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1. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
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an inflator that produces inflation gas in response to receipt of an activation signal; and
a cushion positionable within an instrument panel of the vehicle to receive the inflation gas such that the cushion inflates to provide impact protection, wherein the cushion is in a compacted configuration in which the cushion has a small thickness perpendicular to a periphery of the instrument panel, the cushion having an area greater than 150 square inches parallel to the periphery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
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an inflator that produces inflation gas in response to receipt of an activation signal;
a cushion positionable within an instrument panel of the vehicle to receive the inflation gas such that the cushion inflates to provide impact protection; and
a cover extending along the periphery to conceal the cushion from the occupant;
wherein the inflator is positioned to eject the inflation gas directly into an interior portion of the cushion, wherein the interior portion is separated from the cover by only a single layer of a material of which the cushion is formed. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
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an inflator that produces inflation gas in response to receipt of an activation signal;
a cushion positionable within an instrument panel of the vehicle to receive the inflation gas such that the cushion inflates to provide impact protection, wherein the cushion is in a compacted configuration in which the cushion has a small thickness perpendicular to a periphery of the instrument panel; and
a housing positionable within the instrument panel to retain the inflator and the cushion such that the inflator and the cushion, in the compacted configuration, are both positioned proximate the periphery and the inflator is displaced from a center of the cushion primarily along a direction parallel to the periphery. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
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an inflator that produces inflation gas in response to receipt of an activation signal;
a cushion positionable to receive the inflation gas such that the cushion inflates to provide impact protection; and
a housing positionable to retain the inflator and the cushion, wherein the housing comprises a generally rigid structure that is deformable in response to impact of the occupant against the cushion to absorb kinetic energy from the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. A method for manufacturing an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, wherein the airbag module is designed to be installed in an instrument panel of the vehicle, the instrument panel having a periphery, the airbag module having an inflator, a cushion, and a housing, the method comprising:
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compacting the cushion; and
coupling the inflator and the cushion to the housing such that the cushion is positioned to receive inflation gas from the inflator, wherein the cushion, housing, and inflator form the airbag module shaped such that, after installation in the instrument panel, the cushion has a small thickness perpendicular to the periphery and an area greater than 150 square inches parallel to the periphery. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57)
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58. A method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact through the use of an airbag module installed in an instrument panel of the vehicle, the airbag module comprising an inflator, a cushion, and a cover, the method comprising:
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transmitting an activation signal to trigger production of inflation gas by the inflator;
ejecting the inflation gas from the inflator directly into an interior portion of the cushion, wherein the interior portion is separated from the cover by only a single layer of a material of which the cushion is formed, wherein the cover extends along a periphery of the instrument panel; and
rupturing the cover to permit the cushion to emerge from within the instrument panel to provide impact protection. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. A method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact through the use of an airbag module comprising an inflator, a cushion, and a housing, the method comprising:
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transmitting an activation signal to trigger production of inflation gas by the inflator, wherein the housing retains the inflator and the cushion;
directing the inflation gas into the cushion to inflate the cushion;
receiving impact of the occupant against the cushion; and
deforming the housing in response to impact of the occupant against the cushion to absorb kinetic energy from the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
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Specification