AIRBAG CUSHION

• US 20120205900A1
• Filed: 02/09/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Mallinger, Heather, Raska, Mary, Curry, Lyle
• Granted Patent: US 8,657,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

An airbag cushion (100) with a recessed portion formed on an exterior of the airbag cushion has a pair of side panels (104a, 104b) and a tether (180) for limiting outward movement of the inflated airbag cushion; and wherein the tether (180) forms a portion of the exterior surface of the airbag cushion (100).

Claims

1. An airbag cushion with a recessed portion formed on an exterior of the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion comprises:

a pair of side panels;

at least one tether for limiting outward movement of the inflated airbag cushion; and

wherein the at least one tether forms a portion of the exterior surface of the airbag cushion.

2. The airbag cushion of claim 1 wherein the tether is “

y”

shaped.

3. The airbag cushion of claim 1 further comprises:

a central panel interposed between the pair of side panels and attached along edges of each side panel defining a single inflatable chamber with a gas inlet passageway, the central panel having a cut out; and

wherein the tether limits outward movement of the inflated airbag cushion, has one end of the tether attached to the central panel proximate the cut out and the opposite end of the tether secured to the central panel proximate the gas inlet passage;

the pair of side panels, the central panel, and portions of the tether form the exterior surface of the airbag cushion.

4. The airbag cushion of claim 3 wherein the side panels have a curved outer periphery.

5. The airbag cushion of claim 4 wherein the tether has a main tether panel portion for limiting the outward movement of the cushion, the main tether panel portion has an outer groove forming portion, the groove forming portion being part of the exterior surface of the airbag cushion.

6. The airbag cushion of claim 5 wherein the tether has a groove panel sewn or otherwise attached to the main tether panel portion, the groove panel being similarly sized and shaped to the outer groove portion of the main tether panel portion and being part of the exterior surface of the airbag cushion, the tether having a “

y”

shape when viewed in a cross section.

7. The airbag cushion of claim 6 wherein the groove portion of the main tether panel portion and the groove panel are sewn along edges of the cut out in the central panel, the groove portion being sewn one edge of the cut out and the groove panel to an opposite edge of the cut out.

8. The airbag cushion of claim 7 wherein the main tether panel portion is sewn at an anchoring location inside the airbag cushion at or near the gas inlet passageway on a bottom or top portion of the central panel, where the main tether panel portion has a twist formed between the anchoring location at or near the inlet and the groove panel portions.

9. The airbag cushion of claim 5 wherein the main tether panel portion has a generally truncated triangular shape, the widest part extending from the groove portion to a narrow terminal end, the distance between the narrow terminal end to the widest part limits the distance the airbag cushion can open.

10. The airbag cushion of claim 9 wherein the location wherein the groove panel is sewn or otherwise attached to the main tether panel portion of the tether defines the maximum depth of the recess formed in the airbag cushion.

11. The airbag cushion of claim 1 wherein the recessed portion is vertically oriented when the airbag cushion is deployed and inflated.

12. The airbag cushion of claim 8 wherein one end of the main tether panel portion is oriented in one direction, the opposite end is oriented in another direction with the main tether panel portion twisted.

13. The airbag cushion of claim 1 comprises two tethers, each tether forming a portion of the exterior surface of the airbag cushion.

14. The airbag cushion of claim 1 wherein the at least one tether forming a portion of the exterior surface of airbag cushion is sewn or otherwise affixed to a top or upper surface of a central panel and extends to a bottom surface of the central panel.

15. The airbag cushion of claim 13 wherein the at least one tether forming a portion of the exterior surface of airbag cushion is sewn or otherwise affixed to a top or upper surface of a central panel and extends to a bottom surface of the central panel.

16. The airbag cushion of claim 1 further comprises a vent mechanism affixed to the airbag cushion.

17. A tether for an airbag cushion with a recessed portion on an exterior surface of the airbag cushion, the tether comprising:

a main tether portion;

a groove portion sewn to the main tether portion;

the tether being “

y”

shaped; and

wherein the tether forms a portion of the exterior surface of the airbag cushion.

18. The tether of claim 17 wherein the tether forms the surface of recessed portion on the exterior of the airbag cushion.