Airbag module
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A driver side occupant protection device, comprising:
- an airbag positioned in a steering wheel of a vehicle;
an inflator for providing inflation gas to inflate the airbag; and
a wrap initially covering the airbag when the airbag is in a folded position, the wrap including a tear seam configured to tear upon inflation of the airbag,wherein the tear seam is configured to direct the airbag to deploy between a lower rim of the steering wheel and a driver of the vehicle, andwherein the wrap includes a central region and a surrounding edge region, the entire tear seam being located only in the central region.
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Abstract
An occupant protection device including a wrap for holding an inflatable air bag cushion in a folded shape. The wrap includes a tear seam forming a substantial “U” shape. The tear seam directs the initial airbag deployment toward the bottom of the airbag module and between the lower rim of a steering wheel and a driver. The wrap protects a fifth percentile female in close proximity to the lower rim of the steering wheel.
28 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A driver side occupant protection device, comprising:
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an airbag positioned in a steering wheel of a vehicle; an inflator for providing inflation gas to inflate the airbag; and a wrap initially covering the airbag when the airbag is in a folded position, the wrap including a tear seam configured to tear upon inflation of the airbag, wherein the tear seam is configured to direct the airbag to deploy between a lower rim of the steering wheel and a driver of the vehicle, and wherein the wrap includes a central region and a surrounding edge region, the entire tear seam being located only in the central region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15)
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10. An airbag module, comprising:
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an airbag; an inflator for providing inflation gas to inflate the airbag; and a wrap initially covering the airbag when the airbag is in a folded position, the wrap including a tear seam configured to tear open upon inflation of the airbag, wherein the entire tear seam is configured to form a single substantially U-shaped seam extending along the lower, center region of the wrap. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 18)
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13. An airbag module, comprising:
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an airbag; an inflator for providing inflation gas to inflate the airbag; and a wrap initially covering the airbag when the airbag is in a folded position, the wrap including a tear seam configured to tear open upon inflation of the airbag, wherein the tear seam forms a substantial U shape extending along the lower, center region of the wrap, and wherein the wrap includes three tear seams.
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14. An airbag module, comprising:
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an airbag; an inflator for providing inflation gas to inflate the airbag; and a wrap initially covering the airbag when the airbag is in a folded position, the wrap including a tear seam configured to tear open upon inflation of the airbag, wherein the tear seam forms a substantial U shape extending along the lower, center region of the wrap, and wherein the tear seam includes a bottom portion and first and second extending portions.
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16. An airbag module, comprising:
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an airbag; an inflator for providing inflation gas to inflate the airbag; and a wrap initially covering the airbag when the airbag is in a folded position, the wrap including a tear seam configured to tear open upon inflation of the airbag, wherein the tear seam forms a substantial U shape extending along the lower, center region of the wrap, and wherein the tear seam includes three discrete portions forming the substantial U shape, the portions including a first portion forming a bottom portion and second and third portions extending from opposite ends of the first portion.
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17. An airbag module, comprising:
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an airbag; an inflator for providing inflation gas to inflate the airbag; and a wrap initially covering the airbag when the airbag is in a folded position, the wrap including a tear seam configured to tear open upon inflation of the airbag, wherein the tear seam forms a substantial U shape extending along the lower, center region of the wrap, and wherein no portion of the tear seam is adjacent an edge of the wrap.
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Specification