AIRBAG ASSEMBLIES WITH HEAT SHIELD DEFLECTORS
First Claim
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1. An airbag assembly comprising:
- an inflatable airbag cushion that defines a cavity;
an inflator that comprises one or more ports in fluid communication with the cavity of the airbag cushion, wherein the inflator is configured to expel inflation gases through the one or more ports at an expulsion temperature; and
a heat shield deflector positioned to redirect the inflation gases that are expelled through the one or more ports of the inflator before the inflation gases progress into contact with the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion, wherein the heat shield deflector comprises a material having a melting point that is lower than the expulsion temperature.
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Abstract
Heat shields are used to shield an airbag from hot gasses issuing from an inflator. The heat shields can have a low thermal conductivity and may be capable of melting during a deployment event.
8 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable airbag cushion that defines a cavity; an inflator that comprises one or more ports in fluid communication with the cavity of the airbag cushion, wherein the inflator is configured to expel inflation gases through the one or more ports at an expulsion temperature; and a heat shield deflector positioned to redirect the inflation gases that are expelled through the one or more ports of the inflator before the inflation gases progress into contact with the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion, wherein the heat shield deflector comprises a material having a melting point that is lower than the expulsion temperature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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4. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the heat shield deflector is configured to temporarily be in a liquid state after the inflator has finished expelling inflation gases through the one or more ports.
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9. An airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable airbag cushion that defines a cavity; an inflator that comprises one or more ports in fluid communication with the cavity of the airbag cushion, wherein the inflator is configured to expel inflation gases through the one or more ports; and a heat shield deflector positioned to redirect the inflation gases that are expelled through the one or more ports of the inflator before the inflation gases progress into contact with the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion, wherein the heat shield deflector defines a first shape prior to activation of the inflator, and wherein the heat shield deflector is configured to be permanently deformed to a second shape that is different from the first shape due to the heat shield deflector absorbing heat from inflation gases that are redirected by the heat shield deflector during deployment of the airbag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable airbag cushion that defines a cavity; an inflator that comprises one or more ports in fluid communication with the cavity of the airbag cushion, wherein the inflator is configured to expel inflation gases through the one or more ports; and a heat shield deflector positioned to redirect the inflation gases that are expelled through the one or more ports of the inflator before the inflation gases progress into contact with the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion, wherein at least a portion of the heat shield deflector is configured to melt after the inflator has finished expelling inflation gases through the one or more ports. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification