Airbag restraint for automotive vehicle

• US 7,367,586 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: El-Bkaily, Marwan Ahmad, Fu, Yan, Chen, Weigang, Xiao, Baohua
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amores; Karen J.
• Application Number:
  US10/908,367
• Publication Number:
  US 20060249942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.2, 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/731, 280/733
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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 restraint for an automotive vehicle includes generally circular front and rear panels, and an inflator attached to the rear panel and acting through an inflator aperture formed in the rear panel. At least one internally tethered section extends laterally along a chord of the front panel at a position at or near the projected location of the inflator. The internally tethered section is defined and shaped by more than one laterally extending tether extending between the front and rear panels of the airbag.

Claims

1. An airbag restraint for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a generally circular front panel;

a generally circular rear panel mated to said front panel;

an inflator attached to said rear panel and acting through an inflator aperture formed in said rear panel; and

a plurality of internal, laterally extending, parallel tethers positioned at a plurality of chordal locations, with each of said tethers being attached to said front and rear panels at the common outer periphery of the front and rear panels such that said tethers form the upper portion, when the airbag is deployed, into a radially and axially directed outcropping positioned upon a lower portion of the airbag whereby the volume of the airbag is shifted downwardly so as to provide a larger volume for reacting to the upper torso of a vehicle occupant.