AIRBAG CUSHION

• US 20060186656A1
• Filed: 02/21/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: KUMAGAI, Masayoshi
• Application Number:
  US11/276,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186656A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01225 control of expansion volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01238 control of expansion shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01538 for image processing, e.g. cameras or sensor arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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

Abstract

A device that includes an airbag and a tether that can be used to form the size and shape of the airbag. The device can include a winder connected to the tether for controlling the length of the tether. The device may be configured to control the size and shape of the airbag to more than two sizes when the airbag is in a deployed state. The airbag can include multiple chambers, wherein the size and shape of the chambers can be controlled independently.

Claims

1. An airbag device, comprising:

an airbag including first and second chambers, a recess formed in an exterior surface of the airbag between the first and second chambers;

a tether connected to at least one of the first and second airbag chambers; and

a winding device connected to the tether, wherein the winding device is arranged to control the size and shape of the airbag when the airbag is in a deployed state.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the tether includes first and second members, wherein each member is connected to at least one of the first and second chambers.

3. The airbag device of claim 2, wherein the winding device includes first and second winding devices.

4. The airbag device of claim 3, wherein the first member is connected to the airbag in the first chamber and wherein the second member is connected to the first winding device, and wherein the size and shape of the first chamber is controlled by the first winding device;

and

wherein the second member is connected to the airbag in the second chamber and wherein the second member is connected to the second winding device, wherein the size and shape of the second airbag chamber is controlled by the second winding device.

5. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the winding device is configured to control the size and shape of the airbag to more than two different airbag sizes when the airbag is in a deployed state.

6. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the winding device is configured to control the size and shape of the airbag by controlling the size and shape of the first and second chambers.

7. The airbag device of claim 6, wherein the winding device is configured to control the size and shape of the first and second chambers independently.

8. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the winding device is configured to control the area of at least one vent hole.

9. The airbag device of claim 8, wherein the winding device is configured to control size and shape of the airbag to more than two different airbag sizes when the airbag is in a deployed state.

10. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the winding device is configured to receive an input signal related to an output of a sensor and to control the size and shape of the airbag in response to the sensor output.

11. A vehicle safety system comprising:

an airbag comprising two chambers separated by a recess in the surface of the airbag;

wherein the recess is positioned so that when the airbag deploys the recess faces an occupant of the vehicle;

wherein the airbag includes an internal tether, wherein the tether includes first and second portions;

wherein each of the first and second portions is connected to one of the two chambers;

a tether control device for controlling the length of each the tether portions so that the deployment of the two chambers can be separately controlled;

a sensor for sensing a vehicle or occupant characteristic.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a seat weight sensor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor comprises a camera.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising a controller, wherein the controller receives a signal from the sensor and sends a signal to the tether control device to thereby control the length of the tether portions and the corresponding position of the deployed airbag.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the tether control device is configured to allow the airbag to deploy asymmetrically.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the tether control device comprises a winder for the tether.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the winder is connected to an airbag retainer.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising a knee bolster, wherein the deployment of the knee bolster is controlled by the controller.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising a motorized seat belt retractor controlled by the controller.

20. A vehicle safety system comprising:

a two chambered passenger side airbag including a pair of internal tethers, wherein each tether extends from a position adjacent an inflation gas input opening at one end to one of the chambers at another end;

wherein the dual chambers are separated by a recess in the surface of the airbag;

wherein the recess is positioned so tat when the airbag deploys the recess faces an occupant of the vehicle;

a tether control device for controlling the length of each the tethers so that the shape of the deployed airbag is asymmetrical.