Load path control for inflatable airbag

• US 6,877,765 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rose, Larry D., Russell, Marc P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/241,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046365A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/728.2, 280/731, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23 Inflatable members B60R21/18 takes precedence; connection to inflation fluid source retainers B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams

Abstract

An airbag cushion for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact is presented. The airbag cushion has an inflatable region which inflates upon the reception of an inflation gas from an inflator. The airbag cushion is secured to a housing by a retaining member. The retaining member is configured to secure an attachment region of the airbag cushion to the housing by the use of fasteners which create a clamping force. The clamping force is highest adjacent the fasteners and is lowest at positions between the fasteners. Thus, a high clamp region is created adjacent the fasteners and a low clamp region is created at positions distant from the fasteners. As the airbag cushion is inflated, a load force puts tension on the attachment region of the airbag cushion potentially ripping the airbag cushion out from the low clamp regions. A load controlling cutout is positioned within the attachment region and between the fasteners. The load controlling cutout is configured to shift the load force the low clamp region to the high clamp region during inflation of the inflatable region.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact comprising:

an inflatable region configured to protect the vehicle occupant; and

an attachment region for securing the airbag to a housing with a retaining member, the attachment region comprising a load controlling cutout configured to shift a load force from a low clamp region to a high clamp region during inflation of the inflatable region;

wherein the attachment region is reinforced by one or more layers of reinforcement material;

wherein the load controlling cutout traverses all but one layer of reinforcement material.

2. The airbag cushion of claim 1, wherein the attachment region is reinforced by about 3 to about 10 layers of reinforcement material.

3. The airbag cushion of claim 2, wherein the load controlling cutout traverses all but one layer of reinforcement material.

4. The airbag cushion of claim 1, further comprising three or more attachment points within the attachment region for securing the airbag cushion to the housing with the retaining member.

5. The airbag cushion of claim 4, wherein the load controlling cutout has a length equal to about 30% to about 90% of the distance between two attachment points.

6. The airbag cushion of claim 4, wherein the load controlling cutout has a length equal to about two-thirds of the distance between two attachment points.

7. The airbag cushion of claim 1, wherein the load controlling cutout comprises a series of perforated holes within the attachment region.

8. The airbag cushion of claim 1, wherein the load controlling cutout comprises a slit within the attachment region.

9. The airbag cushion of claim 1, further comprising a second load controlling cutout within the attachment region.

10. An airbag cushion for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact comprising:

an inflatable region configured to protect the vehicle occupant; and

an attachment region for securing the airbag to a housing with a retaining member, the attachment region comprising an inflation opening and a first load controlling cutout within the attachment region, the first load controlling cutout configured to shift a load force from a low clamp region to a high clamp region during inflation of the inflatable region, wherein the first load controlling cutout is separate from the inflation opening.

11. The airbag cushion of claim 10, wherein the attachment region comprises about 3 to about 10 layers of reinforcement material.

12. The airbag cushion of claim 11, wherein the first load controlling cutout traverses all but one layer of the reinforcement material.

13. The airbag cushion of claim 10, further comprising three or more attachment points within the attachment region for securing the airbag cushion to the housing with the retaining member.

14. The airbag cushion of claim 13, wherein the first load controlling cutout has a length equal to about 30% to about 90% of the distance between two attachment points.

15. The airbag cushion of claim 13, wherein the first load controlling cutout has a length equal to about two-thirds of the distance between two attachment points.

16. The airbag cushion of claim 10, further comprising four attachment points within the attachment region for securing the airbag cushion to the housing with the retaining member.

17. The airbag cushion of claim 16, further comprising a second load controlling cutout positioned generally parallel to the first load controlling cutout within the attachment region.

18. The airbag cushion of claim 10, wherein the first load controlling cutout comprises a series of perforated holes within the attachment region.

19. The airbag cushion of claim 10, wherein the first load controlling cutout comprises a slit within the attachment region.

20. The airbag cushion of claim 10, further comprising a second load controlling cutout within the attachment region, wherein the second load controlling cutout is separate from the inflation opening.

21. An inflatable restraint device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact comprising:

an airbag cushion having an attachment region for securing the airbag to a housing with a retaining member, the attachment region comprising a plurality of attachment points for securing the airbag cushion to a housing with a retaining member, the attachment region further comprising a plurality of high clamp regions within the attachment region adjacent the attachment points, a plurality of low clamp regions distal from the attachment points, and a plurality of load controlling cutouts within the low clamp region;

wherein each of the load controlling cutouts is positioned to shift a load force from at least one of the low clamp regions to at least one of the high clamp regions;

wherein a first load controlling cutout of the plurality of load controlling cutouts runs generally parallel to a second load controlling cutout of the plurality of load controlling cutouts, wherein the second load controlling cutout is separate from the first load controlling cutout.

22. The inflatable restraint device of claim 21, the attachment region further comprising a plurality of layers of reinforcement.

23. The inflatable restraint device of claim 22, wherein the attachment region comprises about 3 to about 10 layers of reinforcement material.

24. The inflatable restraint device of claim 23, wherein the load controlling cutouts leave intact two or more layers of the reinforcement material.

25. The inflatable restraint device of claim 23, wherein the load controlling cutouts traverse all but one layer of the reinforcement material.

26. The inflatable restraint device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of attachment points comprises three or more attachment points within the attachment region for securing the airbag cushion to the housing with the retaining member.

27. The inflatable restraint device of claim 26, wherein each load controlling cutout has a length equal to about 30% to about 90% of the distance between two attachment points.

28. The inflatable restraint device of claim 26, wherein each load controlling cutout has a length equal to about two-thirds of the distance between two attachment points.

29. The inflatable restraint device of claim 21, wherein the plurality of attachment points comprises four attachment points within the attachment region for securing the airbag cushion to the housing with the retaining member.

30. The inflatable restraint device of claim 21, wherein each load controlling cutout comprises a series of perforated holes within the attachment region.

31. The inflatable restraint device of claim 21, wherein each load controlling cutout comprises a slit within the attachment region.

32. An inflatable restraint device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:

a housing configured to be anchored to a vehicle;

an airbag cushion having an attachment region with three or more attachment points whereby the airbag is attached to the housing by a retaining member, the attachment region further comprising a high clamp region formed by the housing and the retaining member adjacent the attachment points, a low clamp region formed by the housing and the retaining member distally from the attachment points, and a load controlling cutout within a low clamp region positioned to shift a load force from the low clamp region to the high clamp region, wherein the load controlling cutout has a length equal to about 30% to about 90% of the distance between two attachment points, wherein the load controlling cutout leaves at least a layer formed by the airbag cushion; and

an inflator configured to inflate the airbag cushion.

33. The inflatable restraint device of claim 32, wherein the attachment region comprises about 3 to about 10 layers of reinforcement material.

34. The inflatable restraint device of claim 33 wherein the load controlling cutout leaves intact two or more layers of the reinforcement material.

35. The inflatable restraint device of claim 33, wherein the load controlling cutout traverses all but one layer of the reinforcement material.

36. The inflatable restraint device of claim 32, wherein the load controlling cutout has a length equal to about two-thirds of the distance between two attachment points.

37. The inflatable restraint device of claim 32, wherein the attachment points comprise four attachment points within the attachment region for securing the airbag cushion to the housing with the retaining member.

38. The inflatable restraint device of claim 37, wherein the load controlling cutout runs generally parallel to a second load controlling cutout of the attachment region.

39. The inflatable restraint device of claim 32, wherein the load controlling cutout comprises a series of perforated holes within the attachment region.

40. The inflatable restraint device of claim 32, wherein the load controlling cutout comprises a slit within the attachment region.

41. An airbag cushion comprising:

two attachment points whereby the airbag can be attached to a housing, high clamp regions adjacent the attachment points, and a low clamp region distal from the attachment points;

an inflatable region configured to protect the vehicle occupant; and

a load controlling cutout extending generally along the low clamp region, parallel to a displacement between the attachment points to transfer a load force from the low clamp area to the high clamp areas, wherein the load controlling cutout leaves at least a layer formed by the airbag cushion.

42. The airbag cushion of claim 41, wherein the attachment region comprises about 3 to about 10 layers of reinforcement material.

43. The airbag cushion of claim 42 wherein the load controlling cutout leaves intact two or more layers of the reinforcement material.

44. The airbag cushion of claim 42, wherein the load controlling cutout traverses all but one layer of the reinforcement material.

45. The airbag cushion of claim 41, wherein the load controlling cutout has a length equal to about 30% to about 90% of the distance between the attachment points.

46. The airbag cushion of claim 41, wherein the load controlling cutout has a length equal to about two-thirds of the distance between the attachment points.

47. The airbag cushion of claim 41, further comprising two additional attachment points for securing the airbag cushion to the housing.

48. The airbag cushion of claim 47, wherein the load controlling cutout runs generally parallel to a second load controlling cutout.

49. The airbag cushion of claim 41, wherein the load controlling cutout comprises a series of perforated holes.

50. The airbag cushion of claim 41, wherein the load controlling cutout comprises a slit.