Tension cushion air bag module

• US 20080129022A1
• Filed: 11/02/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Dennis, Nathaniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,891,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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

Abstract

A tension cushion air bag includes an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume. The outer chamber includes a front panel and a rear panel. The tension cushion air bag also includes an inner chamber formed at least in part by the front panel of the outer chamber and at least in part by a front panel patch mounted to the front panel. The inner chamber includes a non-inflated volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber.

Claims

1. A tension cushion air bag comprising:

an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume, wherein the outer chamber comprises a front panel and a rear panel; and

an inner chamber formed at least in part by the front panel of the outer chamber and at least in part by a front panel patch mounted to the front panel, wherein the inner chamber comprises a non-inflated volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber and wherein when the airbag is inflated the front panel patch is pulled taut across the inner chamber in order to absorb the energy of an occupant.

2. The tension cushion air bag of claim 1, further comprising a diffuser configured to restrain a base of the inner chamber.

3. The tension cushion air bag of claim 2, wherein the diffuser is further configured to convey the gas into the outer chamber such that the outer chamber deploys in a radial direction relative to a steering wheel to which the tension cushion air bag is mounted.

4. The tension cushion air bag of claim 1, wherein the front panel patch comprises a body and a plurality of mounting members, wherein the plurality of mounting members are configured to mount to the front panel.

5. The tension cushion air bag of claim 1, wherein the front panel patch comprises an elastic material, and further wherein a diameter of the front panel patch in a non-stretched state is less than a length which the front panel patch covers when the tension cushion air bag is deployed.

6. The tension cushion air bag of claim 5, wherein the diameter of the front panel patch in the non-stretched state is approximately 0.8 times the length which the front panel patch covers when the tension cushion air bag is deployed.

7. The tension cushion air bag of claim 5, wherein the diameter of the front panel patch in the non-stretched state is between approximately 0.6 and approximately 0.99 times the length which the front panel patch covers when the tension cushion air bag is deployed.

8. The tension cushion air bag of claim 1, wherein the inner chamber makes up at most 50% of the total volume of the air bag.

9. A method for deploying an air bag comprising:

detecting a vehicular impact; and

providing a gas to an outer chamber of the air bag such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume and an inner chamber has a non-inflated volume, wherein the inner chamber is surrounded at least in part by a front panel patch mounted to the outer chamber.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving the gas through a diffuser which is configured to direct the gas into the outer chamber.

11. A tension cushion air bag system comprising:

an air bag comprising;

an outer chamber configured to receive a gas such that the outer chamber has an inflated volume, wherein the outer chamber comprises a front panel and a rear panel;

an inner chamber formed at least in part by the front panel of the outer chamber and at least in part by a front panel patch mounted to the front panel, wherein the inner chamber comprises a non-inflated volume which is formed as a result of the inflated volume of the outer chamber; and

an inflator configured to provide the gas to the outer chamber.

12. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 11, further comprising a diffuser configured to restrain a base of the inner chamber, wherein the cover device is mounted to the diffuser.

14. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 11, further comprising a cover device mounted to a steering wheel, wherein the air bag is configured to deploy around the cover device.

15. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 14, wherein the front panel patch comprises an aperture.

16. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 15, wherein the aperture of the front panel patch is mounted between the cover device and a diffuser, and further wherein the aperture is configured to deploy around the cover device when the air bag deploys.

17. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 14, wherein the cover device is mounted between a first steering wheel cover section and a second steering wheel cover section, and further wherein the first steering wheel cover section and the second steering wheel cover section are configured to release from the cover device upon deployment of the air bag.

18. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 14, wherein the cover device comprises at least one of a special effect emblem, a decal, a horn button, a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, a touch screen display, a light, a cruise control button a radio control device or a consumer device.

19. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 11, wherein the inner chamber comprises a base, and further wherein the base comprises at least one of a four point base, an eight point base, a double inverted eight point base, and a cosine base.

20. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 11, wherein the inflator comprises a low output, single stage inflator.

13. The tension cushion air bag system of claim 13, further comprising a mounting element configured to mount to the diffuser, and further wherein the base of the inner chamber is mounted between the diffuser and the mounting element.

21. A tension air bag module, comprising:

an outer ring;

an inner chamber;

and a central membrane covering the inner chamber, wherein when the air bag is inflated, gas is only injected into the outer ring such that the air bag expands in a radial direction, and the central membrane is pulled taut across the inner chamber.

22. A tension air bag module as claimed in claim 21, further comprising a diffuser positioned at the mouth of the air bag and attached to an inflator, wherein the diffuser is configured to vent the gas ejected by the inflator in a radial direction to inflate the outer ring.

23. A tension air bag module as claimed in claim 21, wherein the amount of material used to form the central membrane is slightly less than what is needed to cover the area inside the rim of a steering wheel.

24. A tension air bag module as claimed in claim 21, wherein the central membrane is made from a thin, uncoated fabric.