AIRBAG CUSHIONS WITH GAS DEFLECTORS AND OPTIONAL VENTING FOR OUT-OF-POSITION CONDITIONS

• US 20080303256A1
• Filed: 06/05/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Williams, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,597,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/742
• 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 gas deflector which directs gas to a closeable vent to allow gas to be vented 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 configured to optionally vent gas out of the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion via a vent aperture;

wherein the closeable vent is configured such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the closeable vent remains open, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the closeable vent at least partially closes; and

a gas deflector positioned in the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion to direct inflation gas from an inflator,

wherein the gas deflector has an arm configured to permit gas to be re-directed from an inflator to the closeable vent, and

wherein the arm of the gas deflector and the closeable vent are configured to move together during expansion of the inflatable airbag cushion.

2. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the gas deflector has at least one inflation opening positioned to rapidly direct gas out of the gas deflector to the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the gas deflector is T-shaped.

4. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein movement together of the arm of the gas deflector and the closeable vent during expansion of the airbag enables gas exiting the arm to be continuously directed to the at least one closeable vent.

5. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the arm terminates at an opening defined by a rim and at least a portion of the rim is attached to the cushion membrane while the remainder of the rim is unattached to the cushion membrane so that gas can be re-directed out of the gas deflector and into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion when the closeable vent is closed.

6. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the vent aperture is defined by a rim and wherein the closeable vent is closed by a tether as the rim is drawn into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

7. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein a tether is anchored to the cushion membrane via a tether attachment and wherein the tether is configured to optionally close the closeable vent.

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 configured to optionally vent gas out of the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion via a vent aperture;

wherein the closeable vent is configured such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the closeable vent remains open, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the closeable vent at least partially closes; and

a gas deflector positioned in the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion to direct inflation gas from an inflator,

wherein the gas deflector has an arm which terminates at an opening defined by a rim and at least a portion of the rim is attached to the cushion membrane at a location which permits gas to be re-directed from an inflator to the closeable vent, and

wherein at least a portion of the rim is unattached to the cushion membrane so that gas can be re-directed out of the gas deflector and into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion when the closeable vent is closed.

10. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the gas deflector has at least one inflation opening positioned to rapidly direct gas out of the gas deflector to the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

11. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the attached portion of the rim has a round configuration.

12. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the unattached portion of the rim has a parabolic configuration.

13. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the attached portion of the rim is positioned and sized relative to the unattached portion so that when the closeable vent is open a majority of gas is directed out of the interior of the airbag cushion.

14. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the unattached portion of the rim is positioned so that gas is directed toward a front portion of the interior when the closeable vent is closed.

15. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein a tether is anchored to the cushion membrane via a tether attachment and wherein the tether is configured to optionally close the closeable vent.

16. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the vent aperture is defined by a rim and wherein the closeable vent is closed by a tether as the rim is drawn into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

17. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the closeable vent is closed by blocking the flow of gas out of the vent aperture by a vent flap.

18. 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 configured to optionally vent gas out of the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion via a vent aperture;

a tether 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 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; and

a gas deflector positioned in the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion to direct inflation gas from an inflator,

wherein the gas deflector has an arm which permits gas to be re-directed from an inflator to the closeable vent,

wherein the arm has an opening which permits gas to be re-directed into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion when the closeable vent is closed and permits the tether to extend from the closeable vent to the cushion membrane.

19. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the gas deflector has at least one inflation opening positioned to rapidly direct gas out of the gas deflector to the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

20. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein movement together of the arm of the gas deflector and the closeable vent during expansion of the airbag enables gas exiting the arm to be continuously directed to the at least one closeable vent.

21. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the opening is defined by a rim and at least a portion of the rim is attached to the cushion membrane, and wherein at least a portion of the rim is unattached to the cushion membrane.

22. The airbag module of claim 21, wherein the attached portion of the rim has a round configuration.

23. The airbag module of claim 21, wherein the unattached portion of the rim has a parabolic configuration.

24. The airbag module of claim 21, wherein the attached portion of the rim is positioned and sized relative to the unattached portion so that when the closeable vent is open a majority of gas is directed out of the interior of the airbag cushion.

25. The airbag module of claim 21, wherein the unattached portion of the rim is positioned so that gas is directed toward a front portion of the interior when the closeable vent is closed.

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

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

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

29. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the vent aperture is defined by a rim and wherein the closeable vent is closed by a tether as the rim is drawn into the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

30. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the tether at least partially closes the vent by bringing a rim of the vent aperture together.

31. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the closeable vent is closed by pulling a vent flap in through the vent aperture.

32. The airbag module of claim 18, wherein the closeable vent is closed by blocking the flow of gas out of the vent aperture by a vent flap.