AIRBAG LATERAL FLAP

• US 20090152842A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: BENNY, JESSE, Lusk, Bobby, Lachat, Michael, Libby, Anna
• Granted Patent: US 8,272,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.300
• 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

The airbag assembly features an airbag cushion, a deployment flap, an extension flap attached to the deployment flap, and a lateral flap. 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. The lateral flap is configured to allow for proper airbag deployment.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion in a folded configuration;

an extension flap attached to and at least partially wrapping around the inflatable airbag cushion, the extension flap configured to protect the inflatable airbag cushion during deployment, the extension flap also configured to position the inflatable airbag cushion in a passenger compartment of a vehicle during deployment; and

,

a lateral flap coupled adjacent to the inflatable airbag cushion and at least partially wrapping around the folded inflatable airbag cushion, the lateral flap slideably disposed between the inflatable airbag cushion and the extension flap such that during inflatable airbag cushion deployment the extension flap and the inflatable airbag cushion deploy independently and such that the extension flap does not alter the deployment trajectory of the inflatable airbag cushion, wherein the lateral flap is disposed between the folded inflatable airbag cushion and the extension flap of an airbag cushion in an undeployed state.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the airbag assembly further comprises:

at least one closeable vent disposed on the inflatable airbag cushion; and

at least one tether coupled to the closeable vent, the tether further coupled to a surface of the airbag cushion, 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.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the lateral flap is configured to rupture during inflatable airbag cushion deployment such that the lateral flap does not increase the amount of time required for full deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising 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.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the extension flap is attached to the deployment flap.

6. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion in a folded configuration;

an extension flap attached to and at least partially wrapping around the inflatable airbag cushion, the extension flap configured to protect the inflatable airbag cushion during deployment, the extension flap also configured to position the inflatable airbag cushion in a passenger compartment of a vehicle during deployment; and

,

a lateral flap coupled adjacent to the inflatable airbag cushion and at least partially wrapping around the folded airbag cushion, wherein the lateral flap is disposed between the inflatable airbag cushion and the extension flap, the lateral flap configured to separate the inflatable airbag cushion and the extension flap such that upon inflatable airbag cushion deployment, the extension flap and the inflatable airbag cushion deploy independently and such that the extension flap does not alter the deployment trajectory of the inflatable airbag cushion during deployment, and wherein the extension flap has a plurality of folds positioned on the lateral flap in an undeployed state.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 6, wherein the lateral flap is configured to rupture during inflatable airbag cushion deployment such that the lateral flap does not increase the amount of time required for full deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the plurality of folds of the extension flap are positioned over a portion of the lateral flap configured to rupture.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 6, wherein the extension flap has a width that is less than the width of the folded inflatable airbag cushion.

10. The airbag assembly of claim 6, further comprising 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.

11. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the extension flap is attached to the deployment flap.

12. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion in a folded configuration;

an extension flap attached to and at least partially wrapping around the inflatable airbag cushion on three sides, the extension flap configured to protect the inflatable airbag cushion during deployment, the extension flap also configured to position the inflatable airbag cushion in a passenger compartment of a vehicle during deployment, the extension flap comprising;

a first end attached to and at least partially wrapping one side of the inflatable airbag cushion,

a middle portion at least partially wrapping another side of the inflatable airbag cushion, and,

a second end at least partially wrapping a third side of the inflatable airbag cushion, the second end at least partially folded and positioned on a surface of the inflatable airbag cushion such that the second end will be proximal to an airbag cover when the airbag assembly is mounted in an airbag housing, the folded portion of the second end comprising more than half of the total length of the extension flap and;

a lateral flap coupled adjacent to the inflatable airbag cushion and configured to separate the inflatable airbag cushion and the extension flap such that the extension flap and the inflatable airbag cushion deploy independently and such that the extension flap does not alter the deployment trajectory of the inflatable airbag cushion during deployment, the lateral flap at least partially wrapping the folded inflatable airbag cushion on four sides, the lateral flap disposed between the folded inflatable airbag cushion and the extension flap on the airbag cover-proximal surface of the inflatable airbag cushion.

13. The airbag assembly of claim 12, wherein the airbag assembly further comprises:

a first closeable vent disposed on the inflatable airbag cushion;

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

at least one tether coupled to each closeable vent and a surface of the airbag, 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 first closeable vent.

14. The airbag assembly of claim 12, wherein the extension flap is of such a width that it does not fully cover any surface of the inflatable airbag cushion.

15. The airbag assembly of claim 12, wherein the lateral flap is of such a width that it does not fully cover any surface of the folded inflatable airbag cushion.

16. The airbag assembly of claim 12, wherein the lateral flap comprises at least one tear seam disposed within the fabric of the lateral flap, the tear seam configured to rupture when a predetermined magnitude of stress is applied to the tear seam by the deploying inflatable airbag cushion.

17. The airbag assembly of claim 16, wherein the tear seam runs parallel with the short axis of the rectangular shaped lateral flap.

18. The airbag assembly of claim 16, wherein the tear seam comprises perforations in the fabric of the lateral flap.

19. The airbag assembly of claim 16, wherein the at least one tear seam is configured to fully rupture when a predetermined magnitude of stress is applied to the tear seam by the deploying inflatable airbag cushion such that the pieces of fabric on each side of the tear seam are completely separated and move out of the airbag deployment path.

20. The airbag assembly of claim 12, wherein the lateral flap comprises two semi-circular shaped ends defining the termini of the long axis of the lateral flap, the semi-circular ends configured to surround a gas-introducing throat of the inflatable airbag cushion, such that gas may enter the inflatable airbag cushion unimpeded by the lateral flap, the semi-circular shaped ends also comprising mounting tabs with apertures for receiving mounting hardware.

21. The airbag assembly of claim 12, wherein during inflatable airbag cushion deployment, the second end of the extension flap extends to adjacent a distal end of the inflatable airbag cushion.

22. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion;

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

means for separating the majority of the length of the positioning means from the inflatable airbag cushion during deployment.

23. The airbag assembly of claim 22 further comprising means for restricting gas venting upon deployment without an obstruction and enabling gas venting upon deployment with an obstruction.