Airbag module

• US 20100025971A1
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Wilk, Richard Andrew, Steinbach, Mark Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

The disclosed airbag device for a vehicle may comprise an airbag and at least one connection member. The airbag may have first and second side surfaces, wherein the first side surface has upper and lower ends. The at least one connection member may connect the lower end of the first side surface to an intermediate position on the first side surface located between the upper and lower ends of the first side surface.

Claims

1. An airbag device for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag having first and second side surfaces, wherein the first side surface has upper and lower ends; and

at least one connection member connecting the lower end of the first side surface to an intermediate position on the first side surface located between the upper and lower ends of the first side surface.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position such that the at least one connection member faces a vehicle body and contact between the connection member and a vehicle occupant is prevented.

3. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position such that the second side surface is positioned adjacent a vehicle occupant.

4. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate position on the first side surface is located on a non-inflatable portion of the airbag.

5. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein, when the airbag is deployed, the airbag forms a generally convex profile when viewed from a side.

6. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a head receiving portion configured to receive a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during a collision event.

7. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the intermediate position is located approximately center of the airbag or lower than the center in a vertical direction.

8. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises a first panel and a second panel connected to form one or more inflatable chambers formed therebetween.

9. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection member comprises a tether.

10. The airbag device of claim 9, wherein the tether is a strap.

11. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection member comprises a plurality of connection members.

12. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag is a head-side airbag configured to be positioned in a roof of a vehicle so that the airbag deploys downwardly toward a vehicle occupant.

13. An occupant protection system comprising:

a head-side airbag; and

a seat-mounted side airbag,

wherein the seat-mounted side airbag is configured to occupy a coverage area early in a crash event and the head-side airbag is configured to occupy the same coverage area at a later time during the crash event.

14. The occupant protection system of claim 13, further comprising a control unit and an inflator for each of the seat-mounted side airbag and the head-side airbag,

wherein the control unit controls the inflator of the seat-mounted side airbag to deploy the seat-mounted side airbag so as to occupy a coverage area early in the crash event and controls the inflator of the head-side airbag to deploy the head-side airbag so as to occupy the same coverage area at a later time during the crash event.

15. The occupant protection system of claim 13, wherein the seat-mounted side airbag is configured to protect a torso of a vehicle occupant early during the crash event and the head-side airbag is configured to protect the head and torso of the vehicle occupant at the later time during the crash event.

16. The occupant protection system of claim 13, wherein the head-side airbag has first and second side surfaces, wherein the first side surface has upper and lower ends;

and

wherein at least one connection member connects the lower end of the first side surface to an intermediate position on the first side surface located between the upper and lower ends of the first side surface.

17. The occupant protection system of claim 16, wherein the head-side airbag is configured to inflate into a position such that the at least one connection member faces a vehicle body and contact between the connection member and a vehicle occupant is prevented.

18. The occupant protection system of claim 16, wherein the intermediate position on the first side surface is located on a non-inflatable portion of the head-side airbag.

19. The occupant protection system of claim 16, wherein, when the head-side airbag is deployed, the airbag forms a generally convex profile when viewed from a side.

20. The occupant protection system of claim 16, wherein the intermediate position is located approximately center of the head-side airbag or lower than the center in a vertical direction.

21. The occupant protection system of claim 16, wherein the at least one connection member comprises a tether.

22. The occupant protection system of claim 21, wherein the tether is a strap.