Dual Chambered Passenger Airbag

• US 20150035263A1
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company), TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Guerrero, Michael D., Perez, Jaime F., Miller, Ryan, Maripudi, Vivek, Hardesty, Jason, Solomon, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 9,333,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

An airbag includes an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag, and a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber. A valve mechanism is operatively coupled to the divider. The valve mechanism includes an opening enabling fluid communication between the first and second chambers, and a flap positioned in the second chamber overlying the opening. The flap is structured to deflect in a direction away from the opening responsive to a pressure differential urging a flow of gas from the first chamber through the opening into the second chamber. The flap is also structured to block the opening responsive to a reverse pressure differential urging a flow of gas from the second chamber through the opening into the first chamber. The flap includes at least one attachment edge along which the flap is attached to the divider and at least one non-attachment edge along which the flap is not attached to the divider. The valve is structured such that at least a predetermined minimum distance between the at least one non-attachment edge and an edge of the opening is maintained during application of the reverse pressure differential to the flap.

Claims

1. An airbag comprising:

an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag;

a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber; and

a valve mechanism operatively coupled to the divider, the valve mechanism including;

an opening enabling fluid communication between the first and second chambers; and

a flap positioned in the second chamber overlying the opening, the flap being structured to deflect in a direction away from the opening responsive to a pressure differential urging a flow of gas from the first chamber through the opening into the second chamber, the flap also being structured to block the opening responsive to a reverse pressure differential urging a flow of gas from the second chamber through the opening into the first chamber, the flap including at least one attachment edge along which the flap is attached to the divider and at least one non-attachment edge along which the flap is not attached to the divider,

wherein the valve is structured such that at least a predetermined minimum distance (S) between the at least one non-attachment edge and an edge of the opening is maintained during application of the reverse pressure differential to the flap.

2. A vehicle occupant protection system including an airbag in accordance with claim 1.

3. A vehicle comprising an airbag accordance with claim 1.

4. The airbag of claim 1 wherein the minimum distance (S) is within the range 20 to 40 millimeters inclusive.

5. The airbag of claim 4 wherein the minimum distance (S) is 30 millimeters.

6. The airbag of claim 1 wherein the opening has a diameter (D) within the range 60 to 150 millimeters inclusive.

7. The airbag of claim 6 wherein the opening has a diameter (D) of 120 millimeters.

8. The airbag of claim 1 wherein the at least one attachment edge is attached to the divider along a length (L), and wherein the length (L) is within the range 220 to 280 millimeters inclusive.

9. The airbag of claim 8 wherein the length (L) is 270 millimeters.

10. The airbag of claim of claim 1 wherein the flap is attached to the divider along a pair of parallel seam lines, and wherein the seam lines are spaced apart a distance of 180 millimeters.

11. A divider for an airbag, the divider comprising:

a first side;

a second side opposite the first side;

an opening enabling fluid communication between the first and second sides; and

a flap secured to the second side and positioned to overlie the opening,

wherein the flap is structured with respect to the opening so as to prevent any edge of the flap from entering the opening.

12. An airbag including a divider in accordance with claim 11.

13. A vehicle occupant protection system including an airbag in accordance with claim 12.

14. A vehicle comprising an airbag accordance with claim 12.

15. An airbag comprising:

an outer shell defining an interior of the airbag;

a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into a first chamber and a second chamber; and

a valve mechanism operatively coupled to the divider, the valve mechanism including;

an opening enabling fluid communication between the first and second chambers; and

a flap positioned in the second chamber overlying the opening, the flap being structured to deflect in a direction away from the opening responsive to a pressure differential urging a flow of gas from the first chamber through the opening into the second chamber, the flap also being structured to block the opening responsive to a reverse pressure differential urging a flow of gas from the second chamber through the opening into the first chamber, the flap including at least one attachment edge along which the flap is attached to the divider and at least one non-attachment edge along which the flap is not attached to the divider,

wherein the valve is structured so that the at least one non-attachment edge overlaps an edge of the opening during application of the reverse pressure differential to the flap, thereby forming a gas flow passage defined by a portion of the edge of the opening and a portion of the at least one non-attachment edge.

16. A vehicle including an airbag in accordance with claim 15.

17. A vehicle occupant protection system including an airbag in accordance with claim 15.