Deployment control device for air bag

• US 20070007757A1
• Filed: 07/11/2005
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Takata Restraint Systems Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Restraint Systems Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Karlow, James, Bauer, Barney, Bosch, Jerome, Klinkenberger, Amy
• Granted Patent: US 7,396,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members

Abstract

An airbag assembly includes an airbag and a system provided in contact with at least a portion of the airbag that includes a first member and a second member. The second member at least partially overlaps the first member and is held in contact during initial deployment of the airbag with the first member by a frictional force between the first member and the second member. The system is configured to cause the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to a vehicle occupant until the frictional force is overcome by inflation of the airbag.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly comprising:

an airbag; and

a system provided in contact with at least a portion of the airbag that comprises a first member and a second member, the second member at least partially overlapping the first member and held in contact during initial deployment of the airbag with the first member by a frictional force between the first member and the second member;

wherein the system is configured to cause the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to a vehicle occupant until the frictional force is overcome by inflation of the airbag.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein there is a coefficient of friction between the first member and the second member of between approximately 0.1 and 0.4.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the system is configured such that inflation of the airbag will cause the first member and the second member to separate after a period of between approximately 3 and 12 milliseconds after initial deployment of the airbag to allow the airbag to inflate toward the vehicle occupant.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member is coupled at a first end to an air bag module and the second member is coupled at a first end to an air bag module.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member and the second member comprise a fabric material.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member have a substance provided thereon for enhancing the frictional force between the first member and the second member.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising a hook and loop type fastener provided to enhance the frictional force between the first member and the second member.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first member and the second member include features provided thereon to enhance the frictional force.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 8, wherein the features comprise at least one of the ribs and dimples

10. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to restrain a center portion of the airbag during initial deployment of the airbag.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first strap and the second strap are configured to separate when a predetermined amount of force is applied by the airbag to allow the airbag to inflate in a direction of a vehicle occupant.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first strap and the second strap are configured to separate between approximately 3 and 20 milliseconds after initial deployment of the airbag.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the first strap and the second strap are configured to separate between approximately 3 and 12 milliseconds after initial deployment of the airbag.

11. A system for controlling the manner in which an airbag inflates comprising:

a first strap having a first end coupled to an airbag module and a second end provided in contact with an airbag at a location; and

a second strap having a first end coupled to the airbag module and a second end provided in contact with the second end of the first strap;

wherein the first strap and the second strap are frictionally engaged such that inflation of the airbag is initially restrained at the location.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein there is a coefficient of friction between the first member and the second member of between approximately 0.1 and 1.0.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first strap and the second strap are made of a fabric material.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the first end of the first strap has a first width and the second end of the first strap has a second width, the first width being greater than the second width.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first strap and the second strap have identical shapes.

19. An airbag system comprising:

an airbag configured to inflate in the direction of a vehicle passenger; and

a system comprising a first fabric member and a second fabric member provided adjacent a portion of the airbag;

wherein a portion of the first member is held in contact with a portion of the second member by a frictional force;

wherein the system is configured to alter the initial direction of inflation of the airbag until the frictional force is overcome by inflation of the airbag.

20. The airbag system of claim 19, wherein the first fabric member and the second fabric member have a coefficient of friction with respect to each other of between approximately 0.1 and 1.0.

21. The airbag system of claim 19, wherein the first fabric member and the second fabric member are made of the same fabric material.

22. The airbag system of claim 19, wherein a first end of the first fabric member is coupled to an airbag module with at least two fasteners and a first end of the second fabric member is coupled to the airbag module with at least two fasteners.

23. The airbag system of claim 19, wherein the shape of the first fabric member and the shape of the second fabric member are substantially identical.

24. The airbag system of claim 19, wherein the system causes the airbag to initially inflate in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the vehicle passenger until the frictional force is overcome.