MULTI-CHAMBER KNEE AIRBAG
First Claim
1. An airbag module for a vehicle comprising:
- a gas generator for generating a gas; and
a multi-chamber airbag operatively connected to the gas generator for receiving the gas therefrom, the airbag defining at least one first inflation chamber, at least one second inflation chamber, at least one third inflation chamber and at least one fourth inflation chamber, the airbag including a plurality of internal vents configured to allow selective communication between the at least one first chamber and each of the at least one second chamber and the at least one third chamber and selective communication between the at least one second chamber and the at least one fourth chamber, the plurality of internal vents configured to create a higher pressure in one or more selective chambers by restricting an ability of the gas to escape the one or more selective chambers, wherein an order of internal venting between the respective inflation chambers is predetermined so as to control pressure and inflation of the multi-chamber airbag.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module for a vehicle includes a gas generator for generating a gas and a multi-chamber airbag operatively connected to the gas generator for receiving the gas. The airbag defines a first inflation chamber, at least one second inflation chamber, at least one third inflation chamber and a fourth inflation chamber. The airbag includes internal vents configured to allow selective communication between the first chamber and each of the at least one second chamber and the at least one third chamber and selective communication between the at least one second chamber and the fourth chamber. The internal vents are configured to maintain a higher pressure in selective chambers by restricting ability of the gas to escape the selective chamber. The order of internal venting between the respective inflation chambers controls the pressure and timing of inflation of the multi-chamber airbag.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An airbag module for a vehicle comprising:
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a gas generator for generating a gas; and a multi-chamber airbag operatively connected to the gas generator for receiving the gas therefrom, the airbag defining at least one first inflation chamber, at least one second inflation chamber, at least one third inflation chamber and at least one fourth inflation chamber, the airbag including a plurality of internal vents configured to allow selective communication between the at least one first chamber and each of the at least one second chamber and the at least one third chamber and selective communication between the at least one second chamber and the at least one fourth chamber, the plurality of internal vents configured to create a higher pressure in one or more selective chambers by restricting an ability of the gas to escape the one or more selective chambers, wherein an order of internal venting between the respective inflation chambers is predetermined so as to control pressure and inflation of the multi-chamber airbag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A leg protection device for a vehicle comprising:
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a gas generator for generating a gas; and a multi-chamber knee airbag operatively connected to the gas generator for receiving the gas therefrom for inflation, the airbag including; a first inflation chamber, the first chamber having an inlet for directly receiving the gas generated from the gas generator, a pair of second inflation chambers, each second inflation chamber having an inlet valve communicating with the first chamber, a pair of third inflation chambers, each third inflation chamber having an inlet valve communicating with the first chamber, and a fourth inflation chamber, the fourth chamber having a pair of inlet valves, each inlet valve communicating with one of the pair of third chambers, wherein the inlet valves are configured to create a higher pressure in the second and third chambers relative to the first and fourth chambers during inflation, wherein actuation of the gas generator inflates the first chamber, the gas then flowing from the first chamber into the second chambers and then the third chambers, the gas then flowing from the second chambers into the fourth chamber following the flow of gas from the second chambers to the third chambers, wherein the separate chambers provide varying coverage for different sized occupants and different crash modes. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A knee airbag module for a vehicle comprising:
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a gas generator for generating a gas; and a multi-chamber airbag operatively connected to the gas generator for receiving the gas therefrom, the airbag including a plurality of internals baffles defining separate inflation chambers configured to have differing pressures during inflation for providing varying coverage for different sized occupants, the separate chambers including; a first inflation chamber generally tuned for occupants with physical characteristics similar to an AF5% crash test dummy, a pair of second inflation chambers generally tuned for occupants with physical characteristics at least similar to an AM50% crash test dummy, a pair of third inflation chambers generally tuned for out of position occupants to protect knee impacts outside of a regulated knee impact zone, and a fourth inflation chamber for protection against contact with an associated steering column cover of the vehicle; wherein actuation of the gas generator inflates the first chamber, the gas then flowing from the first chamber into the second chambers and then the third chambers only after a fluid pressure in the first inflation chamber exceeds a predetermined first threshold pressure, the gas then flowing from each second chamber into the fourth chamber only after a fluid pressure in each second inflation chamber exceeds a predetermined second threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of inflating a leg protection device for a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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inflating a first inflation chamber of a multi-chamber airbag, the first chamber fluidly connected to a second inflation chamber and a separate third inflation chamber of the multi-chamber airbag, the second inflation chamber fluidly connected to a fourth inflation chamber of the multi-chamber airbag; inflating the second inflation chamber only after a fluid pressure in the first inflation chamber exceeds a first predetermined threshold pressure; inflating the third inflation chamber only after a fluid pressure in the first inflation chamber exceeds a second predetermined threshold pressure; and inflating the fourth inflation chamber only after a fluid pressure in the second inflation chamber exceeds a third predetermined threshold pressure. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification