MOUNTING BRACKET FOR TETHER RELEASE MECHANISM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A release mechanism bracket configured to receive a tether release mechanism and further configured to be attached to an airbag housing, wherein the bracket and the release mechanism both comprise an aperture through which a tether may protrude.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable airbag cushion assembly with a release device and a release device mounting bracket. The release device is in electronic communication with at least one sensor in a vehicle and is configured to release one or more active vent tethers or airbag restraining tethers.
140 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. A release mechanism bracket configured to receive a tether release mechanism and further configured to be attached to an airbag housing, wherein the bracket and the release mechanism both comprise an aperture through which a tether may protrude.
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13. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an airbag housing comprising an aperture for receiving an inflator and a slot that extends away from the aperture such that the slot is open on a first end and closed on a second end; a release mechanism bracket configured to be attached to the housing; and
,a release mechanism configured to be received by the release mechanism bracket. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable cushion membrane, comprising; an active vent; and
,a vent tether; an airbag housing configured to receive the inflatable cushion membrane, wherein the housing comprises a slot through which the vent tether may protrude; a release mechanism bracket configured to be coupled to the housing; and
,a release mechanism configured to be received by the release mechanism bracket, wherein the release mechanism may be coupled to a portion of the vent tether such that in response to at least one vehicle sensor sensing one or more predetermined conditions, the release mechanism can release the vent tether. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. The airbag assembly of 19, wherein upon initial deployment of the inflatable cushion membrane, the active vent comprises a first configuration and the release mechanism does not release the vent tether such that when the inflatable cushion membrane is inflated at least to a predetermined volume, the vent tether transmits tension to the active vent such that the active vent assumes a second configuration.
- 21. The airbag assembly of 19, wherein before deployment of the inflatable cushion membrane, the release mechanism receives one or more signals via the at least one vehicle sensor such that upon initial deployment, the release mechanism releases the vent tether such that the active vent comprises a first configuration during deployment of the inflatable cushion membrane.
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22. The airbag assembly of 19, wherein after initial deployment of the inflatable cushion membrane, the release mechanism receives one or more signals via the at least one vehicle sensor such that during deployment, the release mechanism releases the vent tether such that the active vent comprises a first configuration.
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23. An assembled airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable cushion membrane, wherein the cushion membrane has been placed in a pre-deployment configuration by subjecting the cushion membrane to a packaging technique chosen from the group consisting of rolling, folding, and rolling and folding, the cushion membrane further comprising; an active vent; and
,a vent tether; an airbag housing that at least partially surrounds the packaged inflatable cushion membrane, wherein the housing comprises a planar bottom portion with an inflator aperture and a slot that has a first end that is contiguous with the inflator aperture a middle portion that extends away from the inflator aperture, and a second end that terminates before the slot extends through a side wall such that the middle portion and the second end are defined by rims of the bottom portion that are defined by the thickness of the planar bottom portion of the housing, a release mechanism bracket comprising an aperture, a base and a vibration damping feature, wherein the base and the vibration damping feature define a gap that receives rims of the housing that define the middle portion and the second portion of the slot; and
,a release mechanism received within the release mechanism bracket, wherein the release mechanism comprises an aperture that is aligned with the aperture in the release mechanism bracket.
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Specification