Airbag with internal positioning panels for sequential deployment

• US 7,066,487 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sullivan, Donald, Vinton, Jeffrey Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US10/605,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20050098985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/743.2, 280/735, 280/728.3, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• 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 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An airbag (10) is provided that can be sequentially deployed for minimizing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant (12). This airbag (10) is an inflatable bag having a primary chamber (34) and a secondary chamber (36) that is adjacent to the primary chamber (34). The primary chamber (34) is configured for inflating before the secondary chamber (36). In addition, this primary chamber (34) is utilized for applying a generally downward force the vehicle occupant'"'"'s lap (14) and abdomen (16). In this way, a substantial portion of the initial deployment force of the airbag (10) is allocated to the occupant'"'"'s more durable lower body. Also, the primary chamber (34) can be utilized for positioning the occupant'"'"'s body (12) in a manner best suited for impacting the airbag (10). This airbag (10) is then sequentially deployed in a generally linear direction upward from the primary chamber (34) to the secondary chamber (36).

Claims

1. An airbag for minimizing a risk of injury to a vehicle occupant, comprising:

an inflatable bag having a primary chamber and a secondary chamber adjacent to said primary chamber;

said primary chamber inflating before said secondary chamber and applying a generally downward force to a lower-body portion of the vehicle occupant in order to allocate a substantial portion of an initial impact force to said lower-body portion and to position the vehicle occupant for minimizing a risk of injury to the vehicle occupant;

said inflatable bag deployed sequentially in a generally linearly upward direction from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber;

said primary chamber comprising an upper sub-chamber and a lower sub-chamber;

said lower sub-chamber extending substantially across a width and a depth of the improved airbag and allocating said substantial portion of said initial impact force to said lower-body portion of the vehicle occupant;

said upper sub-chamber sized substantially smaller than said lower sub-chamber along said depth of the improved airbag;

said upper sub-chamber absorbing and re-directing said initial impact force generally downward and providing immediate protection for an upper-body region of the vehicle occupant;

said upper sub-chamber is sized substantially smaller than said lower sub-chamber along said width of the improved airbag.

2. The airbag of claim 1 further comprising:

a releasable tether attached to said inflatable bag for maintaining said secondary chamber in a collapsed configuration until a sufficient threshold pressure causes said releasable tether to detach from said inflatable bag and allow said secondary chamber to inflate.

3. The airbag of claim 1 wherein said inflatable bag includes a primary inlet for allowing a gas to be injected directly into said primary chamber of said inflatable bag.

4. The airbag of claim 3 wherein said inflatable bag includes a secondary inlet for allowing said gas to flow from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber.

5. The airbag of claim 4 wherein said secondary inlet is at least one open vent hole.

6. The airbag of claim 4 wherein said secondary inlet is at least one baffle vent.

7. The airbag of claim 4 wherein said secondary inlet is a permeable fabric panel integrated within said inflatable bag.

8. An airbag for minimizing a risk of injury to a vehicle occupant, comprising:

an inflatable bag having at least one panel defining a primary chamber and a secondary chamber that is adjacent to said primary chamber;

said primary chamber inflating before said secondary chamber and applying a generally downward force to a lower-body portion of the vehicle occupant in order to allocate a substantial portion of an initial impact force to said lower-body portion and to position the vehicle occupant for minimizing a risk of injury to the vehicle occupant; and

a releasable tether attached to said at least one panel and maintaining said secondary chamber in a collapsed configuration until a sufficient threshold pressure causes said releasable rather to detach from said at least one panel and allow said secondary chamber to inflate;

said inflatable bag deployed sequentially in a generally linearly upward direction from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber;

said at least one panel defining said primary chamber with an upper sub-chamber and a lower sub-chamber;

said lower sub-chamber extending substantially across a width and a depth of the airbag and allocating said substantial portion of said initial impact force to said lower-body portion of the vehicle occupant;

said upper sub-chamber substantially smaller than said lower sub-chamber along said depth of the airbag and absorbing and re-directing said initial impact force generally downward;

said upper sub-chamber providing immediate protection for an upper-body region of the vehicle occupant;

said upper sub-chamber sized substantially smaller than said lower sub-chamber along said width of the airbag.

9. The airbag of claim 8 wherein said at least one panel includes a primary inlet for allowing a gas to be injected directly into said primary chamber of said inflatable bag.

10. The airbag of claim 9 wherein said at least one panel includes a secondary inlet for allowing said gas to flow from said primary chamber to said secondary chamber.

11. The airbag of claim 10 wherein said secondary inlet is at least one open vent hole.

12. The airbag of claim 10 wherein said secondary inlet is at least one baffle vent.

13. The airbag of claim 10 wherein said secondary inlet is a permeable fabric panel integrated within said inflatable bag.