Inflatable airbag with overlapping chamber

• US 20050248132A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wheelwright, Terry A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0044 Chest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• 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 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take 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 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

An inflatable side airbag apparatus having a thorax cushion and an independently inflatable overlapping high pressure pelvic cushion is disclosed. The airbag system provides for rapid deployment of the pelvic cushion. The thorax cushion inflates adjacent to and provides impact protection for an occupant'"'"'s thorax and pelvis in a lateral collision. The pelvic cushion inflates between the thorax cushion and the side structure of the vehicle and provides impact protection for the occupant'"'"'s pelvis. The airbag system also includes an inflator having a gas guide that is in fluid communication with both cushions, and inflates the pelvic cushion to a higher pressure than the thorax cushion. The thorax cushion further includes a diffuser hood for diverting inflation gas toward the pelvic region of the cushion, thereby rapidly positioning the pelvic cushion in its intended deployment position.

Claims

1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:

a first fabric panel;

a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, the first and second fabric panels defining a first inflatable cushion;

a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel, the second and third fabric panels defining a second inflatable cushion; and

a seal separating the first inflatable cushion from the second inflatable cushion preventing fluid communication between the first and second inflatable cushions.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser hood located within the first inflatable cushion.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the second inflatable cushion overlaps the first inflatable cushion.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the seal is a seam that runs laterally across a middle portion of the second fabric panel separating the first inflatable cushion from the second inflatable cushion.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fabric panel and the third fabric panel are attached to the second fabric panel through stitching.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the third fabric panel is located between the first and second fabric panels.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable cushion is larger than the second inflatable cushion.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first and second fabric panels define a throat for receiving an airbag inflator.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising an inflator that simultaneously inflates the first and second inflatable cushions with inflation gas when activated.

10. The airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein the inflator is a single inflator having a gas guide that includes a first orifice in fluid communication with the first inflatable cushion and a second orifice in fluid communication with the second inflatable cushion.

11. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the inflator is constructed to inflate the second inflatable cushion more rapidly than the first inflatable cushion.

12. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the second inflatable cushion inflates to a greater pressure than the first inflatable cushion.

13. The airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein the inflation gas entering the first inflatable cushion is initially directed toward a portion of the first inflatable cushion adjacent the second inflatable cushion.

14. An inflatable airbag system, comprising:

a first inflatable cushion positionable adjacent a projected position of an occupant in a vehicle; and

a second inflatable cushion located adjacent the first inflatable curtain on a side opposite of the projected position of the occupant, the second inflatable cushion constructed to simultaneously inflate independent of and at a higher pressure than the first inflatable cushion.

15. The airbag system of claim 14, wherein the airbag system is shaped to be a side-impact thorax/pelvic airbag.

16. The airbag system of claim 15, wherein the first inflatable cushion is positionable adjacent a thorax and pelvic region of a projected position of an occupant.

17. The airbag system of claim 16, wherein the second inflatable cushion is positionable adjacent a pelvic region of a projected position of an occupant.

18. The airbag system of claim 14, wherein the airbag system is shaped to be a side-impact thorax/head airbag.

19. The airbag system of claim 14, wherein the first inflatable cushion is larger than the second inflatable cushion.

20. The airbag system of claim 19, wherein the second inflatable cushion is positionable between the first inflatable cushion and a side structure of the vehicle.

21. The airbag system of claim 20, further comprising an inflator that simultaneously inflates the first and second inflatable cushions with inflation gas when activated.

22. The airbag system of claim 21, wherein the inflator is a single inflator having a gas guide that includes a first orifice in fluid communication with the first inflatable cushion and a second orifice in fluid communication with the second inflatable cushion.

23. The airbag system of claim 22, wherein the inflator is constructed to inflate the second inflatable cushion more rapidly than the first inflatable cushion.

24. The airbag system of claim 23, wherein the inflation gas entering the first inflatable cushion is initially directed toward a portion of the first inflatable cushion adjacent a pelvic region of the projected position of the occupant.

25. The airbag system of claim 24, wherein the first inflatable cushion positions the second inflatable cushion in a predetermined location as the first inflatable cushion inflates.

26. The airbag system of claim 25, wherein the first inflatable cushion includes a diffuser hood that directs inflation gas toward the portion of the first inflatable cushion adjacent the pelvic region of the projected position of the occupant.

27. A side-impact inflatable airbag system, comprising:

a first inflatable cushion shaped to provide impact protection for a thorax and pelvic regions of a projected position of a vehicular occupant;

a second inflatable cushion inflatable independent of the first inflatable cushion, the second inflatable cushion shaped to provide impact protection for the pelvic region of the projected position of the occupant and located adjacent a side of the first inflatable cushion furthest away from the projected position of the occupant; and

an inflator constructed to inflate the second inflatable cushion at a higher pressure than the first inflatable cushion.

28. An inflatable airbag system, comprising:

a first inflatable cushion positionable adjacent a projected position of a vehicular occupant; and

a second inflatable cushion located adjacent to a portion of the first inflatable cushion, the second inflatable cushion constructed to inflate independent of the first inflatable cushion;

wherein the first inflatable cushion includes a diffuser hood that initially directs inflation gas toward the portion of the first inflatable cushion adjacent the second inflatable cushion.

29. A vehicle safety restraint system, comprising:

a first inflatable means for providing impact protection for a thorax and pelvic region of a vehicular occupant; and

a second inflatable means for providing impact protection for the pelvic region of the occupant, the second means for providing impact protection inflates independent of the first means for providing impact protection.

30. The vehicle safety restraint system of claim 29, wherein the second means for providing impact protection overlaps the first means for providing impact protection.

31. The vehicle safety restraint system of claim 29, further comprising means for inflating the first and second means for providing impact protection.

32. The vehicle safety restraint system of claim 31, wherein the means for inflating inflates the second means for providing impact protection to a higher pressure than the first means for providing impact protection.

33. The vehicle safety restraint system of claim 29, further comprising means for positioning the second means for providing impact protection into the pelvic region of the occupant.

34. The vehicle safety restraint system of claim 33, wherein the means for positioning includes means for directing inflation gas toward a portion of the first means for providing impact protection that is shaped to be adjacent the pelvic region of the occupant.