AIRBAG ASSEMBLY INCLUDING DEPRESSED REGION BELOW STEERING COLUMN

• US 20170072890A1
• Filed: 09/11/2015
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jindal, Pardeep Kumar, Abramoski, Edward Joseph, Makowski, Matthew B.
• Granted Patent: US 9,731,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

An airbag assembly includes an airbag and an inflator in communication with the airbag. The airbag includes a top side and includes a front side and a rear side each extending from the top side. The front side and the rear side define two extensions spaced from each other along the top side and a recess disposed between the extensions along the top side. The airbag includes a depressed region extending from the recess. The front side and the rear side are connected to each other along the depressed region.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly comprising:

an airbag defining an inflation chamber; and

an inflator in communication with the inflation chamber;

the airbag including a top side and including a front side and a rear side each extending from the top side with the inflation chamber defined between the front side and the rear side;

the front side and the rear side defining two extensions spaced from each other along the top side and a recess disposed between the extensions along the top side;

the airbag including a depressed region extending from the recess, wherein the front side and the rear side are connected to each other along the depressed region.

2. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the front side and the rear side are stitched to each other along the depressed region.

3. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein extensions and recess are U-shaped and wherein the depressed region is generally rectangular.

4. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the depressed region extends from one extension to the other extension.

5. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the airbag includes a bottom side spaced from the top side with front side and the rear side each extending from the bottom side, wherein the depressed region extends from the top side toward the bottom side.

6. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the depressed region extends from one extension to the other extension.

7. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein extensions and recess are U-shaped and wherein the depressed region is generally rectangular.

8. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the depressed region extends 10-70 mm from the top side toward the bottom side.

9. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the airbag is inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position, wherein the distance from the front side to the rear side at the extensions is greater than the distance from the front side to the rear side at the depressed region.

10. The airbag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the recess is configured to extend along a steering column of a vehicle.

15. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the airbag includes a top side and a bottom side with the front side and the rear side each extending from the top side to the bottom side, wherein the depressed region extends from the top side toward the bottom side.

16. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein the depressed region extends from one extension to the other extension.

17. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein extensions and recess are U-shaped and wherein the depressed region is generally rectangular.

18. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein the depressed region extends 10-70 mm from the top side toward the bottom side.

11. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering column; and

an airbag including two extension and a recess disposed between the extensions, the extensions and the recess being configured to extend partially around the steering column when the airbag is in an inflated position;

wherein a front side and a rear side of the airbag are connected to each other along a depressed region configured to be below the steering column in the inflated position.

12. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the front side and the rear side are stitched to each other along the depressed region.

13. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein extensions and recess are U-shaped and wherein the depressed region is generally rectangular.

14. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein the depressed region extends from one extension to the other extension.

19. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the distance from the front side to the rear side at the extensions is greater than the distance from the front side to the rear side at the depressed region.

20. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the extensions and the recess are configured to abut the steering column in the inflated position.