Load path control for inflatable airbag
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
50 Claims
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1. An airbag cushion for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An airbag cushion for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An inflatable restraint device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An inflatable restraint device for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. An airbag cushion comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification