Airbag cushion with adaptive venting for reduced out-of-position effects

• US 20060151979A1
• Filed: 01/07/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: DePottey, Timothy A., Schneider, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,261,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes a vent flap that, prior to cushion deployment, extends from the cushion exterior through a vent. A strap is coupled to the vent flap and to an interior surface of the cushion. Upon airbag deployment, the strap extends until taut or extends until the cushion encounters an obstruction. If pulled taut, the strap pulls the vent flap into the cushion interior where the interior air pressure effectively presses the vent flap against the vent. If the cushion encounters an obstruction, the strap remains lax, and the vent remains open. Means are provided for retaining the vent in the closed position during occupant ride down.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion, comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

a vent disposed on the inflatable airbag;

a vent flap coupled to the interior surface of the airbag and extending through the vent to the exterior of the inflatable airbag;

a strap coupled to the vent flap and coupled to the interior surface of the airbag;

wherein upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the strap is adapted to not fully extend and the vent flap remains partially outside the inflatable airbag interior thereby allowing gas to exit through the vent, and

wherein upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the strap is adapted to extend and to pull the vent flap into the inflatable airbag interior, the vent flap adapted to press against the vent and thereby restrict gas passing through the vent.

2. The airbag cushion of claim 1, further comprising a loop disposed within the inflatable airbag interior and retaining the strap within, the loop adapted to permit passage of the strap during airbag inflation.

3. The airbag cushion of claim 2, further comprising a strap flap coupled to the strap, wherein the strap flap is adapted to pass through the loop during airbag deployment and to restrict movement through the loop during airbag deflation.

4. The airbag cushion of claim 2, further comprising tabs disposed on the strap and adapted to enable passage through the loop during airbag deployment and to restrict movement through the loop during airbag deflation.

5. The airbag cushion of claim 1, wherein the strap further includes a strap aperture, the strap adapted to align the strap aperture with the vent to enable gas to exit upon airbag deployment without obstruction.

6. The airbag cushion of claim 1, further comprising a second vent disposed on the inflatable airbag and adapted to vent gas during airbag deployment with and without obstruction.

7. An airbag cushion, comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

a first vent disposed on the inflatable airbag;

a first vent flap coupled to the interior surface of the airbag and extending through the first vent to the exterior of the inflatable airbag;

a first strap coupled to the first vent flap and coupled to the interior surface of the airbag;

a second vent disposed on the inflatable airbag;

a second vent flap coupled to the interior surface of the airbag and extending through the second vent to the exterior of the inflatable airbag;

a second strap coupled to the second vent flap and coupled to the interior surface of the airbag;

wherein the vent flaps and straps are configured such that upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the straps do not fully extend and vent flaps remain partially outside the inflatable airbag interior, and

wherein vent flaps and straps are configured such that upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the straps extend and pull the corresponding vent flap into the inflatable airbag interior, the vent flap adapted to press against the vent and thereby restrict gas passing through the vent.

8. The airbag cushion of claim 7, wherein the first and second vents are symmetrically disposed on the airbag.

9. The airbag cushion of claim 7, further comprising first and second loops disposed within the inflatable airbag interior, the first loop retaining the first strap within and the second loop retaining the second strap within, the loops adapted to permit passage of the corresponding straps during airbag inflation.

10. The airbag cushion of claim 9, further comprising a first strap flap coupled to the first strap and a second strap flap coupled to the second strap, wherein the strap flaps are adapted to pass through the corresponding loop during airbag deployment and to restrict movement through the corresponding loop during airbag deflation.

11. The airbag cushion of claim 9, further comprising tabs disposed on the first and second straps, the tabs adapted to enable passage through the corresponding loop during airbag deployment and to restrict movement through the corresponding loop during airbag deflation.

12. The airbag cushion of claim 7, wherein the first and second vent flaps each include a flap aperture, the first and second vent flaps adapted to align the respective flap aperture with the corresponding vent to enable gas to exit upon airbag deployment without obstruction.

13. The airbag cushion of claim 7, further comprising a third vent disposed on the inflatable airbag and adapted to vent gas during airbag deployment with and without obstruction.

14. An airbag cushion, comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

means for venting gas out of the airbag; and

means for restricting gas venting by pressing against the venting means to restrict venting gas upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction and enabling the venting means to remain open upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction.

15. The airbag cushion of claim 14, further comprising a loop disposed within the inflatable airbag interior and retaining a portion of the restricting means within, the loop adapted to permit passage of the restricting means during airbag inflation.

16. The airbag cushion of claim 15, further comprising a strap flap coupled to the restricting means, wherein the strap flap is adapted to pass through the loop during airbag deployment and to restrict movement through the loop during airbag deflation.

17. The airbag cushion of claim 15, further comprising tabs disposed on the strap and adapted to enable passage through the loop during airbag deployment and to restrict movement through the loop during airbag deflation.

18. The airbag cushion of claim 14, wherein the restricting means includes venting means adapted to enable limited gas venting upon airbag deployment without obstruction.

19. The airbag cushion of claim 14, further comprising a vent disposed on the inflatable airbag and adapted to vent gas during airbag deployment with and without obstruction.

20. A method for manufacturing an inflatable airbag, comprising:

disposing a vent on the airbag;

coupling a vent flap to an interior surface of the airbag and extending the vent flap through the vent to the airbag exterior; and

coupling a strap fixed to the vent flap to an interior surface of the airbag,

wherein the vent flap, strap, and vent are configured such that upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the strap does not fully extend and the vent flap remains partially outside the inflatable airbag interior, and

wherein the vent flap, strap, and vent are configured such that upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the strap extends and pulls the vent flap into the inflatable airbag interior, the vent flap adapted to press against the vent and thereby restrict gas passing through the vent.