Overhead passenger airbag
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag module for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising:
- an airbag inflator;
an airbag cushion, the airbag cushion having a cushion throat, a windshield face, an occupant face, an inboard face, and an outboard face; and
a one-piece clamshell inflator housing, the inflator housing comprising an inflator sleeve and a diffuser sleeve, the inflator sleeve being configured to receive and close about the airbag inflator, the diffuser sleeve formed from a first sleeve wall and a second sleeve wall that contact each other, wherein the first and second sleeve walls contact each other on the interior of the airbag cushion, wherein an outlet port of the airbag inflator extends into the diffuser sleeve such that the diffuser sleeve directs inflation gas produced by the inflator, wherein the diffuser sleeve is substantially transverse to the inflator sleeve.
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Abstract
The application provides an overhead passenger airbag module for use in vehicles. The overhead passenger airbag module has a clamshell inflator housing configured to retain an airbag inflator. The inflator housing is also constructed to allow attachment of an airbag cushion to the airbag module. The overhead passenger airbag module also includes an airbag cushion having an airbag throat portion and a cushion portion. The invention also provides a method of folding the airbag cushions of the invention to aid proper deployment and help assure proper support and deceleration of a vehicle occupant during a collision event.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An airbag module for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising:
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an airbag inflator; an airbag cushion, the airbag cushion having a cushion throat, a windshield face, an occupant face, an inboard face, and an outboard face; and a one-piece clamshell inflator housing, the inflator housing comprising an inflator sleeve and a diffuser sleeve, the inflator sleeve being configured to receive and close about the airbag inflator, the diffuser sleeve formed from a first sleeve wall and a second sleeve wall that contact each other, wherein the first and second sleeve walls contact each other on the interior of the airbag cushion, wherein an outlet port of the airbag inflator extends into the diffuser sleeve such that the diffuser sleeve directs inflation gas produced by the inflator, wherein the diffuser sleeve is substantially transverse to the inflator sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An overhead airbag module for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising:
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an airbag inflator; an overhead airbag cushion, the airbag cushion having a cushion throat, a windshield face, an occupant face, an inboard face, and an outboard face; and a one-piece clamshell inflator housing, the inflator housing comprising an inflator sleeve and a diffuser sleeve, the inflator sleeve being configured to receive and close about the airbag inflator, the diffuser sleeve formed from a first sleeve wall and a second sleeve wall that contact each other, wherein the first and second sleeve walls contact each other on the interior of the airbag cushion, wherein an outlet port of the airbag inflator extends into the diffuser sleeve such that the diffuser sleeve directs inflation gas produced by the inflator, wherein the diffuser sleeve is substantially transverse to the inflator sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An airbag module comprising:
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an airbag cushion having a throat portion and a cushion portion, the throat portion further comprising a loop diffuser; and an inflator housing comprising an inflator sleeve and a diffuser sleeve, the diffuser sleeve formed from a first sleeve wall and a second sleeve wall that contact each other, wherein an outlet port of an airbag inflator extends into the diffuser sleeve such that the diffuser sleeve directs inflation gas produced by the inflator, wherein the first and second sleeve walls contact each other on the interior of the airbag cushion, wherein the diffuser sleeve is substantially transverse to the inflator sleeve. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification