Side impact airbag module with soft cover

• US 5,564,739 A
• Filed: 12/07/1995
• Issued: 10/15/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Takata Inc (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Inc (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Davidson, Phillip K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/568,506
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/742, 280/740, 280/732, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

An improved side impact airbag module configured to be attached to the seat frame of a vehicle seat. The module consists of an inflator, an inflator plate, an airbag and a soft cover. The module is designed with a reduce number of airbag components and fasteners. The inflator plate comprises a longitudinal mounting flange, a redirecting flange and a mounting plate. The redirecting flange is configured to redirect and distribute gas generated by the inflator in response to a crash signal. The shape of the redirecting flange can be changed thus causing a change in the direction of airbag deployment. The airbag is configured for receiving the inflator plate/inflator assembly such that the airbag is in fluid communication with the inflator. A soft cover is included for enclosing the inflator plate, inflator and airbag in an undeployed position. The soft cover includes a tear seam configured to open during deployment of the airbag to allow the airbag to deploy outside of the module.

Claims

1. An inflatable restraint module comprising:

a generally cylindrical inflator configured for receiving a crash signal from a crash sensor and for generating gas in response thereto;

an inflator plate configured for receiving said inflator, said inflator plate having means for redirecting and distributing said generated gas and having means for attaching said module to the interior of a motor vehicle;

an inflatable airbag defining an interior volume and having an elongated slit opening configured for receiving said inflator plate and inflator, wherein said airbag is folded around said inflator plate in an undeployed position and is positioned in fluid communication with said inflator such that said inflator and said inflator plate are held within said interior volume and gas generated by said inflator in response to said crash signal is captured by said airbag thus inflating said airbag into a deployed position, said means for redirecting comprising an integrally formed longitudinal redirection flange configured to redirect gas flow from said inflator to control the direction of inflation of said airbag; and

a soft cover for enclosing said inflator plate, said inflator and said airbag in said undeployed position, said cover having a tear seam configured to open during deployment of said airbag to allow said airbag to deploy outside of the module.

2. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 1, wherein the shape of said redirection flange can be altered to control the flow direction of the inflator gases thus controlling the direction of inflation of said airbag.

3. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pins integrally formed on said inflator plate for anchoring said soft cover and said airbag.

4. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 1, wherein said means for attaching further comprise at least one mounting stud integrally formed on said inflator plate for attaching said module to said seat frame.

5. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 1, wherein said inflator plate further includes a longitudinal retaining ridge configured to provide an airbag holding area for holding said airbag in said folded undeployed position inside said soft cover.

6. An inflatable restrain module according to claim 1, wherein said inflator plate is a single integrally formed piece.

7. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 1, wherein said means for redirecting comprises an integrally formed redirecting flange and said inflator plate further comprising an inflator mounting assembly integrally formed with said inflator plate, said assembly comprising a longitudinal mounting flange and a mounting plate integrally formed with said mounting flange such that said mounting plate extends in a generally perpendicular direction from said mounting flange, said mounting plate having an aperture configured for receiving one end of said inflator such that said inflator is secured directly adjacent to said mounting flange.

8. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 7 further comprising said inflator having a threaded stud projecting from an end of said inflator, said stud being configured to extend through said aperture in said mounting plate such that said inflator is secured to mounting plate using a nut on said stud.

9. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 1 wherein said inflator plate further includes an inflator mounting assembly comprising a longitudinal mounting flange and at least one mounting strap, said mounting ridge having a smooth back surface and configured to engage said inflator and to absorb energy from said airbag during deployment, said at least one mounting strap being configured to wrap around said inflator and to be secured to said inflator plate by at least one mounting stud thus securing said inflator to said inflator plate, said mounting stud being configured to extend through an aperture in said inflator plate for attaching said module to said seat frame.

10. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 9 wherein said means for redirecting comprises a lip formed adjacent to said inflator on said inflator plate said lip configured to redirect gas flow from said inflator to control the direction of inflation of said airbag.

11. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 10 wherein the shape of said lip can be altered to control the flow direction of the inflator gases thus controlling the direction of inflation of said airbag.

12. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 10 further comprising a mounting tab operably connect to said inflator plate, said tab being configured for anchoring said module to said seat frame.

13. An inflatable restraint module comprising:

a generally cylindrical inflator having a threaded stud projecting from an end of said inflator, said inflator configured for receiving a crash signal from a crash sensor and for generating gas in response thereto;

an integrally formed single piece inflator plate configured for receiving said inflator, said inflator plate having an inflator mounting assembly integrally formed with said inflator plate, said assembly comprising a longitudinal mounting flange, a redirecting flange for redirecting and distributing said generated gas and a mounting plate integrally formed with said mounting flange such that said mounting plate extends in a generally perpendicular direction from said mounting flange, said mounting plate having an aperture configured for receiving said threaded stud of said inflator such that said inflator is secured directly adjacent to said mounting flange by extending said threaded stud through said aperture and securing said threaded stud to said mounting plate using a nut;

means for attaching said module to a motor vehicle interior, said means for attaching integrally formed with said inflator plate;

an inflatable airbag defining an interior volume and having an elongated slit opening configured for receiving said inflator plate and inflator, wherein said airbag is folded around said inflator plate in an undeployed position and is positioned in fluid communication with said inflator such that said inflator and said inflator plate are held within said interior volume and gas generated by said inflator in response to said crash signal is redirected by said redirecting flange and captured by said airbag thus inflating said airbag into a deployed position wherein said redirecting flange redirects the gas flow from said inflator in a controlled manner to control the direction of inflation of said airbag, said mounting flange configured having a smooth back surface for absorbing energy from said airbag during deployment; and

a soft cover for enclosing said inflator plate, said inflator and said airbag in said undeployed position, said cover having a tear seam configured to open during deployment of said airbag to allow said airbag to deploy outside of the module.

14. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 13, wherein the shape of said redirecting flange can be altered to control the flow direction of the inflator gases thus controlling the direction of inflation of said airbag.

15. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 13, further comprising a plurality of pins integrally formed on said inflator plate for anchoring said soft cover and said airbag.

16. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 13, wherein said means for attaching further comprise at least one mounting stud integrally formed on said inflator plate for attaching said module to said motor vehicle interior.

17. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 13, wherein said inflator plate further includes a longitudinal retaining ridge configured to provide an airbag holding area for holding said airbag in said folded undeployed position inside said soft cover.

18. An inflatable restraint module comprising:

a generally cylindrical inflator configured for receiving a crash signal from a crash sensor and for generating gas in response thereto;

an inflator plate configured for receiving said inflator, said inflator plate including a longitudinal mounting flange and at least one mounting strap, said mounting flange having a smooth back surface and configured to engage said inflator, said at least one mounting strap being configured to wrap around said inflator and to be secured to said inflator plate by at least one mounting stud thus securing said inflator to said inflator plate, said mounting stud being configured to extend through an aperture in said inflator plate for attaching said module to said seat frame;

a redirecting lip formed adjacent to said inflator on said inflator plate for redirecting and redistributing said generated gas;

an inflatable airbag defining an interior volume and having an elongated slit opening configured for receiving said inflator plate and inflator, wherein said airbag is folded around said inflator plate in an undeployed position and is positioned in fluid communication with said inflator such that said inflator plate and said inflator are held within said interior volume and gas generated by said inflator in response to said crash signal is redirected by said lip and captured by said airbag thus inflating said airbag into a deployed position wherein said redirecting flange redirects, in a controlled manner, the gas flow from said inflator to control the direction of inflation of said airbag, said mounting flange being configured to absorb energy from said airbag during deployment; and

a soft cover for enclosing said inflator plate, said inflator and said airbag in said undeployed position, said cover having a tear seam configured to open during deployment of said airbag to allow said airbag to deploy outside of the module.

19. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 18, wherein the shape of said lip can be altered to control the flow direction of the inflator gases thus controlling the direction of inflation of said airbag.

20. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of pins integrally formed on said inflator plate for anchoring said soft cover and said airbag.

21. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 18 further comprising a mounting tab operably connect to said inflator plate, said tab being configured for securing said air bag to said inflator plate and for anchoring said module to said seat frame.

22. An inflatable restraint module according to claim 18, wherein said inflator plate further includes a longitudinal retaining ridge configured to provide an airbag holding area for holding said airbag in said folded undeployed position inside said soft cover.