Passenger airbag with a diffuser

• US 20060197327A1
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Published: 09/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Takata Restraint Systems Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lipscomb, Tom, Maripudi, Vivekananda S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,407,185 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23123 Heat protection panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

A three-panel, passenger-side airbag includes main, right, and left panels, and a diffuser provided adjacent a rear side of the main panel. The main panel includes a front impact said and a rear inflation side. The front impact side is formed of upper and lower portions. When the airbag is inflated, the upper portion is configured to be directed toward the upper torso of a passenger and the lower portion in configured to be directed toward the passenger'"'"'s lower torso, groin, and legs. The diffuser is configured to direct inflation gas toward the lower portion so that the lower portion inflates faster than the upper portion.

Claims

1. A passenger-side airbag comprising:

a front impact side;

a rear inflation side;

a diffuser provided adjacent the rear side,

wherein the front impact side has an upper portion and a lower portion,

wherein, when the airbag is inflated, the upper portion is configured to be directed toward the upper torso of a passenger and the lower portion in configured to be directed toward the passenger'"'"'s lower torso, groin, and legs, and

wherein the diffuser is configured to direct inflation gas toward the lower portion so that the lower portion inflates faster than the upper portion.

2. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the diffuser is formed of a single sheet folded into an upper layer and a lower layer.

3. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 2, wherein the lower layer is sewn into a lower portion of the rear side of the airbag adjacent the inflator.

4. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 3, wherein the upper layer expands upward and toward an upper portion of the rear side, when the airbag is inflated.

5. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 4, wherein movement of the upper layer is limited by a tether.

6. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 2, further comprising a heat shield positioned adjacent the upper layer of the diffuser.

7. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 2, wherein the diffuser is formed of fabric.

8. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 6, wherein the diffuser is formed of fabric.

9. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 6, wherein the heat shield is formed of fabric.

10. The passenger-side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag further comprises:

a main panel comprising;

the front impact side; and

the rear inflation side;

a right panel attached to one edge of the main panel;

a left panel attached to a second edge of the main panel.

11. An airbag apparatus comprising:

a passenger-side airbag comprising;

a front impact side;

a rear inflation side; and

a diffuser provided adjacent the rear inflation side; and

an inflator configured to inflate the airbag,

wherein the front impact side has an upper portion and a lower portion,

wherein, when the airbag is inflated, the upper portion is configured to be directed toward the upper torso of a passenger and the lower portion in configured to be directed toward the passenger'"'"'s lower torso, groin, and legs, and

wherein the diffuser is configured to direct inflation gas toward the lower portion so that the lower portion inflates faster than the upper portion.

12. The airbag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the diffuser is formed of a single sheet folded into an upper layer and a lower layer.

13. The airbag apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the lower layer is sewn into a lower portion of the rear side.

14. The airbag apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the upper layer expands upward and toward an upper portion of the rear side, when the airbag is inflated.

15. The airbag apparatus according to claim 14, wherein movement of the upper layer is limited by a tether.

16. The airbag apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a heat shield overlaying the upper layer.

17. The airbag apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the diffuser is formed of fabric.

18. The airbag apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the diffuser is formed of fabric.

19. The airbag apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the heat shield is formed of fabric.

20. The airbag apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the airbag further comprises:

a main panel comprising;

the front impact side; and

the rear inflation side;

a right panel attached to one edge of the main panel;

a left panel attached to a second edge of the main panel.

21. A three-panel, passenger-side airbag comprising:

a main panel comprising;

a front impact side; and

a rear inflation side;

a right panel attached to one edge of the main panel;

a left panel attached to a second edge of the main panel;

a diffuser provided adjacent the rear side,

wherein the front impact side has an upper portion and a lower portion,

wherein, when the airbag is inflated, the upper portion is configured to be directed toward the upper torso of a passenger and the lower portion in configured to be directed toward the passenger'"'"'s lower torso, groin, and legs, and

wherein the diffuser is configured to direct inflation gas toward the lower portion so that the lower portion inflates faster than the upper portion.

22. An airbag apparatus comprising the three-panel, passenger-side airbag according to claim 21;

and an inflator configured to inflate the airbag.