Airbag cushion with adaptive diffuser for out-of-position conditions
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag module, comprising:
- an inflatable airbag cushion having a cushion membrane with a first cushion vent,a diffuser having a first diffuser vent, wherein the diffuser is positioned and configured to re-direct inflation gas from an inflator to the first diffuser vent, and wherein the diffuser is positioned and configured to provide an aligned configuration between the first diffuser vent and the first cushion vent when deployment of the airbag is obstructed such that the gas rapidly exits the inflatable airbag cushion via the first cushion vent, anda tether extending between the cushion membrane and the diffuser such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the tether does not fully extend and gas continues to be directed via the first diffuser vent toward the first cushion vent to prevent the airbag cushion from fully expanding, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the tether extends sufficiently to pull the diffuser such that the first diffuser vent moves from the aligned configuration with respect to the first cushion vent to a misaligned configuration, which reduces the flow of gas directed toward the first cushion vent via the first diffuser vent and increases the flow of gas into the inflatable airbag cushion to enable the inflatable airbag cushion to fully expand.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes a diffuser tethered to the membrane of the cushion. The airbag cushion partially expands when an obstruction is encountered and fully expands when no obstruction is encountered. The tethered diffuser is controlled by expansion of the cushion. This permits the cushion to vary the amount of gas vented from the cushion to adjust for out-of-position conditions and normal restraint conditions.
117 Citations
29 Claims
-
1. An airbag module, comprising:
-
an inflatable airbag cushion having a cushion membrane with a first cushion vent, a diffuser having a first diffuser vent, wherein the diffuser is positioned and configured to re-direct inflation gas from an inflator to the first diffuser vent, and wherein the diffuser is positioned and configured to provide an aligned configuration between the first diffuser vent and the first cushion vent when deployment of the airbag is obstructed such that the gas rapidly exits the inflatable airbag cushion via the first cushion vent, and a tether extending between the cushion membrane and the diffuser such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the tether does not fully extend and gas continues to be directed via the first diffuser vent toward the first cushion vent to prevent the airbag cushion from fully expanding, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the tether extends sufficiently to pull the diffuser such that the first diffuser vent moves from the aligned configuration with respect to the first cushion vent to a misaligned configuration, which reduces the flow of gas directed toward the first cushion vent via the first diffuser vent and increases the flow of gas into the inflatable airbag cushion to enable the inflatable airbag cushion to fully expand. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An airbag module, comprising:
-
an inflatable airbag cushion having a cushion membrane with a first cushion vent, a diffuser having a first fixed diffuser vent, wherein the diffuser is positioned over an inflator and is configured to re-direct inflation gas from the inflator and out of the first fixed diffuser vent, and a tether extending between the cushion membrane and the diffuser, wherein the first fixed diffuser vent is initially aligned with the first cushion vent such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction gas is vented out of the first cushion vent which is directly received from the first fixed diffuser vent, and wherein the tether pulls the diffuser upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction to misalign the first fixed diffuser vent and the first cushion vent so that gas from the first fixed diffuser vent is not directed at the at least one cushion vent and the airbag cushion fully deploys. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An airbag module, comprising:
-
an inflatable airbag cushion having a cushion membrane with a first cushion vent, a diffuser having first closeable diffuser vent, wherein the diffuser is positioned over an inflator and is configured to re-direct inflation gas from the inflator and out of the diffuser, and a tether extending between the cushion membrane and the first closeable diffuser vent, wherein gas is vented out of the first cushion vent which is directly received from the first closeable diffuser vent upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, and wherein deployment without obstruction enables the tether to become sufficiently taut to cause the reduction of the flow of gas directed toward the first cushion vent via the first closeable diffuser vent to enable the inflatable airbag cushion to fully expand. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
-
-
28. An airbag module, comprising:
-
an inflatable airbag cushion having a cushion membrane with means for venting gas out of the cushion membrane, wherein the means for venting gas out of the cushion membrane remain open when the airbag cushion expands, means for diffusing gas by re-directing inflation gas received directly from an inflator to means for venting gas out of the diffusing means, means for tethering the diffusing means to the cushion membrane such that upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the tethering means does not fully extend and gas continues to be directed via means for venting gas out of the diffusing means toward the means for venting gas out of the cushion membrane to prevent the airbag cushion from fully expanding, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, the tethering means extends sufficiently to cause the reduction of the flow of gas directed toward the means for venting gas out of the cushion membrane via the means for venting gas out of the diffusing means to enable the inflatable airbag cushion to fully expand. - View Dependent Claims (29)
-
Specification