VEHICLE AIRBAG MODULE
First Claim
1. An airbag module for protecting a rider in a vehicle from impacting the interior of the occupant enclosure of the vehicle, said module comprising:
- a rigid support collar for attachment to the occupant enclosure at an airbag deployment window formed therethrough; and
an inflatable cushion having a neck portion accommodative of pressurized gas for driving said cushion through said deployment window into an inflated condition within the occupant enclosure, said neck portion of said cushion engaging said support collar and said cushion being housed in a compact condition within said neck portion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module protects a rider in a vehicle from impacting the interior of the occupant enclosure of the vehicle. A rigid support collar is attached to the occupant enclosure proximate an airbag deployment window. An inflatable cushion has a neck portion that accommodates pressurized gas for driving the cushion through the deployment window into an inflated condition in the occupant enclosure. The cushion is attached by the neck portion directly to the support collar, while that substantial balance of the cushion is housed in a compact condition within the support collar. An attachment tab is secured to the exterior of the neck portion of the cushion with a restraining aperture formed therethrough. A cushion hook on the exterior of the support collar extends through the restraining aperture and prevents displacement of the neck portion of the cushion out of the support collar, when pressurized gas inflates the cushion. The cushion includes a flexible packaging cover having opposed first and second edges. The first edge is secured to the neck portion of the cushion, and the second edge is attached directly to support collar, while the packaging cover therebetween extends across the support collar retaining therein the cushion in the compact condition thereof.
20 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An airbag module for protecting a rider in a vehicle from impacting the interior of the occupant enclosure of the vehicle, said module comprising:
-
a rigid support collar for attachment to the occupant enclosure at an airbag deployment window formed therethrough; and an inflatable cushion having a neck portion accommodative of pressurized gas for driving said cushion through said deployment window into an inflated condition within the occupant enclosure, said neck portion of said cushion engaging said support collar and said cushion being housed in a compact condition within said neck portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An airbag module for protecting a rider in a vehicle from impacting the interior of the occupant enclosure of the vehicle, said module comprising:
-
an inflatable cushion comprising; a closed-ended inflation portion housed in a compact condition proximate to a deployment window formed through the occupant enclosure, said inflation portion of said cushion being drivable by pressurized gas through said deployment window into an inflated condition within in the occupant enclosure; an activation portion maintained in substantially unchanged disposition exterior of the occupant enclosure during all conditions of said inflation portion; and a neck portion interconnecting said inflation portion and said activation portion in fluid-tight communication, said neck portion accommodating the transfer of pressurized gas from said activation portion into said inflation portion; a rigid support collar for disposition at to the exterior of the occupant enclosure proximate the airbag deployment window, said support collar engaging in circumscribing relation the exterior of said neck portion of said cushion such that said inflation portion of said cushion is housed in said compact condition within said neck portion; and an inflator productive of pressurized gas responsive to an activation signal, said inflator in fluid-tight communication with said activation portion. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An airbag module for protecting a rider in a vehicle from impacting the interior of the occupant enclosure of the vehicle, said module comprising:
-
a deployment section for disposition proximate to the occupant enclosure at an airbag deployment window formed therethrough, said deployment section being drivable to position a gas-inflated impact-absorbing cushion within the interior of the occupant enclosure by way of the deployment window, and said deployment section absorbing snap loads arising from so positioning said cushion; and an energizer section for support from the vehicle independently of said deployment section, said energizer section being in inflation communication with said deployment section, and said energizer section delivering pressurized gas to said deployment section when an impact is imminent between the rider and the interior of the occupant enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification