Gas flow deflection apparatus and method for airbag systems
First Claim
1. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle with a windshield from impact, the airbag module comprising:
- an inflator;
a cushion disposable to receive inflation gas from the inflator along an inflation direction; and
a deflection hood comprising an inlet portion attached to the cushion, the inlet portion comprising an inlet opening disposed to receive inflation gas from the inflator along the inflation direction, a top portion disposed to limit upward motion of the inflation gas to redirect the inflation gas to a discharge direction angled at least forty-five degrees downward from a horizontal plane, and an outlet portion comprising a discharge opening disposed to release the inflation gas into the cushion along the discharge direction, wherein the top portion is disposed such that the vehicle windshield exerts pressure on the top portion during deployment, wherein the inlet portion, the top portion, and the outlet portion are formed by a first fabric section having a first outer edge and a second fabric section integrally formed with the first fabric section, the second fabric section having a second outer edge attached to the first outer edge to define the discharge opening.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module may include an inflator, a cushion, and a deflection hood. When used as a passenger side, frontal impact module, the cushion deploys upward from a vehicle instrument panel. The deflection hood directs gas downward through a discharge opening and into the cushion to expedite inflation of the lower portion of the cushion to more uniformly cushion a vehicle occupant'"'"'s body. The discharge opening may be sewn shut via a tear seam to ensure that the discharge opening is properly positioned when the tear seam opens to release inflation gas. Alternatively, the discharge opening may be sewn shut by a non-tearable seam, and perforations may be applied proximate the non-tearable seam so that the discharge opening opens along the perforations to release the inflation gas. According to one alternative, the deflection hood may be angled within the cushion to provide a significant asymmetrical, lateral gas flow.
30 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle with a windshield from impact, the airbag module comprising:
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an inflator; a cushion disposable to receive inflation gas from the inflator along an inflation direction; and a deflection hood comprising an inlet portion attached to the cushion, the inlet portion comprising an inlet opening disposed to receive inflation gas from the inflator along the inflation direction, a top portion disposed to limit upward motion of the inflation gas to redirect the inflation gas to a discharge direction angled at least forty-five degrees downward from a horizontal plane, and an outlet portion comprising a discharge opening disposed to release the inflation gas into the cushion along the discharge direction, wherein the top portion is disposed such that the vehicle windshield exerts pressure on the top portion during deployment, wherein the inlet portion, the top portion, and the outlet portion are formed by a first fabric section having a first outer edge and a second fabric section integrally formed with the first fabric section, the second fabric section having a second outer edge attached to the first outer edge to define the discharge opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle with a windshield from impact, the airbag module comprising:
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an inflator; a cushion disposable to receive inflation gas from the inflator along an inflation direction, the cushion comprising a first side and a second side generally parallel to the first side; and a deflection hood constructed substantially of a single piece of fabric, the deflection hood comprising an inlet portion comprising an inlet opening disposed to receive inflation gas from the inflator, a top portion disposed to limit upward motion of the inflation gas to redirect the inflation gas to a discharge direction angled downward, a first side portion, and a second side portion, wherein the first and second side portions are generally parallel to the first and second sides of the cushion during inflation of the cushion, wherein the top portion is disposed such that the vehicle windshield exerts pressure on the top portion during deployment. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A deflection hood for an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle with a windshield from impact, the airbag module comprising an inflator and a cushion, the deflection hood comprising:
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an inlet portion attached to the cushion, the inlet portion comprising an inlet opening disposed to receive inflation gas from the inflator along an inflation direction; a top portion disposed to limit upward motion of the inflation gas to redirect the inflation gas to a discharge direction angled at least forty-five degrees downward from a horizontal plane; and an outlet portion comprising a discharge opening disposed to release the inflation gas into the cushion along the discharge direction, wherein the top portion is disposed such that the vehicle windshield exerts pressure on the top portion during deployment, wherein the inlet portion, the top portion, and the outlet portion are formed by a first fabric section having a first outer edge and a second fabric section integrally formed with the first fabric section, the second fabric section having a second outer edge attached to the first outer edge to define the discharge opening. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A deflection hood for an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle with a windshield from impact, the deflection hood being used with the windshield, the airbag module comprising an inflator and a cushion, wherein the cushion is disposable to receive inflation gas from the inflator along an inflation direction oriented toward a first portion of the cushion, the deflection hood comprising:
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a first fabric section having a first outer edge; and a second fabric section integrally formed with the first fabric section, the second fabric section having a second outer edge, wherein the first and second outer edges are attached together to define a discharge opening oriented such that inflation gas is redirected by the deflection hood from the inflation direction toward a second portion of the cushion, wherein the deflection hood further comprises a top portion disposed such that the vehicle windshield exerts pressure on the top portion during deployment. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A deflection hood for an airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising an inflator and a cushion, the deflection hood comprising:
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an inlet portion comprising an inlet opening disposed to receive inflation gas from the inflator along an inflation direction; a top portion disposed to limit upward motion of the inflation gas to redirect the inflation gas to a discharge direction angled downward; and an outlet portion comprising a discharge opening disposed to release the inflation gas into the cushion along a discharge direction different from the inflation direction, wherein the discharge opening is closed through the use of a closure method selected to permit the discharge opening to open in response to formation of a predetermined differential across the discharge opening, wherein the inlet portion, the top portion, and the outlet portion are formed by a first fabric section having a first outer edge and a second fabric section integrally formed with the first fabric section, the second fabric section having a second outer edge attached to the first outer edge to define the discharge opening, wherein the closure method comprises sewing the discharge opening shut and perforating the deflection hood proximate the discharge opening to form a perforated region having a strength selected to tear in response to existence of the predetermined pressure differential. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification