Airbag system
First Claim
1. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the module comprising:
- an airbag including an inflatable portion;
an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag;
wherein the airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the non-inflatable portion is bounded on both sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag and wherein the non-inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag;
wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant;
wherein the stiffness of the inflatable portion varies along the surface facing the occupant based on a changing distance from the surface to the non-inflatable portion.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag including an inflatable portion and an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag. The airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the non-inflatable portion is bounded on both sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag and wherein the non-inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant. The stiffness of the inflatable portion varies along the surface facing the occupant based on a changing distance from the surface to the non-inflatable portion.
21 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the module comprising:
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an airbag including an inflatable portion; an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag; wherein the airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the non-inflatable portion is bounded on both sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag and wherein the non-inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag; wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant; wherein the stiffness of the inflatable portion varies along the surface facing the occupant based on a changing distance from the surface to the non-inflatable portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the module comprising:
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an airbag including an inflatable portion; an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag; wherein the airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion, and wherein the non-inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag; wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant; wherein a volumetric ratio of a volume of a space enveloped by the inflatable portion to a volume of the inflatable portion is greater than or equal to 1.2. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the module comprising:
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an airbag including an inflatable portion; an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag; wherein the airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the non-inflatable portion is bounded on both sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag and wherein the non-inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag; wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant; wherein the inflatable portion includes first and second fluidly connected inflatable chambers by a flow restricting channel; wherein the second inflatable chamber is located adjacent to the surface of the airbag facing the occupant and wherein inflation gas enters the second inflatable chamber after passing through the first inflatable chamber and the flow restricting channel so that after initiation of the inflator and prior to completion of the inflation of the airbag the stiffness of the airbag at a point on the surface adjacent the second inflatable chamber is less than the stiffness of the airbag at a point on the surface adjacent the first inflatable chambers. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the module comprising:
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an airbag including an inflatable portion; an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag; wherein the airbag includes a low pressure inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the low pressure inflatable portion is bounded on both sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag and wherein the low pressure inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag; wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant; wherein the inflatable portion includes first and second fluidly connected inflatable chambers by a flow restricting channel; wherein the second inflatable chamber is located adjacent to the surface of the airbag facing the occupant and wherein inflation gas enters the second inflatable chamber after passing through the first inflatable chamber and the flow restricting channel; wherein the second inflatable chamber includes a vent to allow inflation gas to escape from the second inflatable chamber into the low pressure inflatable chamber so that low pressure inflatable chamber inflates to a pressure less than the first and second inflatable chambers. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle, the module comprising:
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an airbag including an inflatable portion; an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag; wherein the airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and in the cross vehicle direction the non-inflatable portion is bounded on all four sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag.
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Specification