Airbag cushions with optional venting for out-of-position conditions

• US 20070216146A1
• Filed: 10/27/2006
• Published: 09/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Bradley, Rose, Larry, Williams, Jeffrey, Jamison, Patrick, Jordan, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,355 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 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• 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 at least one closeable vent for re-directing gas out of the cushion when an obstruction is encountered.

Claims

1. An airbag module, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a cushion membrane which defines an interior of the inflatable airbag cushion;

at least one closeable vent; and

a tether connected to the closable vent at a first end and anchored to the cushion membrane at a second end, the first end and the second end separated by a length, wherein the tether is configured such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the tether does not fully extend and the vent remains open, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the tether extends and at least partially closes the vent, wherein full inflation of the inflatable airbag cushion creates a cushion membrane tension that fully extends the second end of the tether until reaching the maximum length of the tether thereby pulling on the first end of the tether and closing the vent, and wherein the vent is configured to close without having to overcome resistance from the cushion membrane tension around the vent.

2. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the vent has an aperture defined by a rim and wherein the tether closes the vent without drawing the rim into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the tether is anchored to the cushion membrane via a tether attachment.

4. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the tether is fixedly anchored to the cushion membrane.

5. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the tether is moveably anchored to the cushion membrane.

6. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the tether is initially prevented from closing the vent by a temporary holding feature.

7. The airbag module of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser configured to re-direct inflation gas to the closeable vent from an inflator such that the gas rapidly exits the inflatable airbag cushion via the closeable vent when deployment of the airbag is obstructed.

8. The airbag module of claim 1, further comprising a fixed vent disposed on the airbag and adapted to vent gas during airbag deployment with and without obstruction.

9. An airbag module, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a cushion membrane which defines an interior of the inflatable airbag cushion;

at least one closeable vent having an aperture defined by a rim; and

a tether connected to the rim of the closable vent at a first end and anchored to the cushion membrane at a second end, wherein the tether is configured such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the tether does not fully extend and the vent remains open, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the tether extends and at least partially closes the vent by bringing the rim of the aperture together, wherein full inflation of the inflatable airbag cushion creates a cushion membrane tension that fully extends the second end of the tether until reaching the maximum length of the tether thereby pulling on the first end of the tether and closing the vent by bringing the rim of the aperture together, and wherein the rim of the aperture is configured to be brought together without having to overcome resistance from the cushion membrane tension around the vent.

10. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the tether closes the vent without drawing the rim into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

11. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the tether is anchored to the cushion membrane via a tether attachment.

12. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the tether is fixedly anchored to the cushion membrane.

13. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the tether is moveably anchored to the cushion membrane.

14. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the tether is initially prevented from closing the vent by a temporary holding feature.

15. The airbag module of claim 9, further comprising a diffuser configured to re-direct inflation gas to the closeable vent from an inflator such that the gas rapidly exits the inflatable airbag cushion via the closeable vent when deployment of the airbag is obstructed.

16. The airbag module of claim 9, further comprising a fixed vent disposed on the airbag and adapted to vent gas during airbag deployment with and without obstruction.

17. An airbag module, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a cushion membrane which defines an interior of the inflatable airbag cushion;

at least one closeable vent having an aperture; and

a tether comprising a vent flap anchored to the cushion membrane, wherein the tether is configured such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the tether does not fully extend and the vent remains open, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the tether extends and at least partially closes the vent by at least partially covering the aperture of the of the closeable vent with the vent flap.

18. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the vent has an aperture defined by a rim and wherein the tether closes the vent without drawing the rim into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

19. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the tether is anchored to the cushion membrane via a tether attachment.

20. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the tether is fixedly anchored to the cushion membrane.

21. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the tether is moveably anchored to the cushion membrane.

22. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the tether is initially prevented from closing the vent by a temporary holding feature.

23. The airbag module of claim 18, further comprising a diffuser configured to re-direct inflation gas to the closeable vent from an inflator such that the gas rapidly exits the inflatable airbag cushion via the closeable vent when deployment of the airbag is obstructed.

24. The airbag module of claim 18, further comprising a fixed vent disposed on the airbag and adapted to vent gas during airbag deployment with and without obstruction.