Airbag protection flap

• US 20080217887A1
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rose, Larry D., Lachat, Michael, Seymour, Brian T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An airbag assembly comprising an airbag cushion, a deployment flap and an extension flap attached to the deployment flap, is disclosed. The deployment flap is configured to protect the airbag cushion as it deploys from the module housing. The extension flap is configured to position the airbag cushion during deployment. In some embodiments, the airbag assembly may also include a cinch tube arrangement.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion;

a deployment flap coupled adjacent the inflatable airbag cushion, the deployment flap configured to protect the inflatable airbag cushion as it deploys out of an airbag module housing; and

an extension flap attached to and extending from the deployment flap, the extension flap configured to position the inflatable airbag cushion in a passenger compartment of a vehicle during deployment.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the extension flap comprises a first end attached to the deployment flap and a second end that extends to adjacent a distal end of the inflatable airbag cushion.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the extension flap comprises a first end attached to the deployment flap and a second end that extends beyond a distal end of the inflatable airbag cushion.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the extension flap is configured to deploy in front of the inflatable airbag cushion such that the extension flap deploys between the inflatable airbag cushion and an out-of-position object.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the extension flap is comprised of fabric.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the extension flap is folded between the undeployed inflatable airbag cushion and a cover of an airbag module in a stored state.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the extension flap is folded with folds of the undeployed inflatable airbag cushion within an airbag module in a stored state.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the extension flap is attached to the deployment flap through stitching.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflatable airbag cushion is a frontal airbag.

10. The airbag assembly of claim 9, wherein the frontal inflatable airbag cushion is a passenger-side airbag.

11. The airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a closeable vent disposed on the inflatable airbag cushion; and

a tether coupled to the closeable vent and coupled to a surface of the airbag.

12. The airbag assembly of claim 11, wherein the tether is configured such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the tether does not fully extend and the closeable vent remains open, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the tether extends and at least partially closes the closeable vent.

13. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion;

a deployment flap coupled adjacent the inflatable airbag cushion, the deployment flap configured to protect the inflatable airbag cushion as it deploys out of an airbag module housing;

an extension flap extending from the deployment flap, the extension flap configured to position the inflatable airbag cushion during deployment;

a closeable vent disposed on the inflatable airbag cushion; and

a tether coupled to the closeable vent, the tether further coupled to a surface of the airbag.

14. The airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein upon deployment of the inflatable airbag with an obstruction, the tether is configured to not fully extend and the closeable vent remains open, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag without an obstruction, the tether extends and at least partially closes the closeable vent.

15. The airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein the extension flap has a first end that is attached to a free end of the deployment flap through stitching.

16. The airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein the extension flap is integrated with a fabric of the deployment flap, such that the extension flap has a free end that extends adjacent to a distal end of the inflatable airbag cushion.

17. The airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein the deployment flap is coupled to the inflatable airbag cushion.

18. The airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein the deployment flap is coupled adjacent to a gas-introducing throat of the inflatable airbag cushion.

19. The airbag assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a second closeable vent disposed on the inflatable airbag cushion; and

a second tether coupled to the second closeable vent and extending around a majority of the perimeter of the second closeable vent, the second tether further coupled to a surface of the airbag cushion;

wherein upon deployment of the inflatable airbag with an obstruction, the second tether is configured to not fully extend and the second closeable vent remains open, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag without an obstruction, the second tether extends and at least partially closes the second closeable vent.

20. The airbag assembly of claim 19, wherein the first and second closeable vents are symmetrically disposed on the inflatable airbag cushion.

21. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion;

means for protecting the airbag cushion during deployment from an airbag module housing;

means for positioning the airbag cushion during deployment, the positioning means attached to and extending from the deployment protecting means; and

means for restricting gas venting upon deployment without an obstruction and enabling gas venting upon deployment with an obstruction.