Airbag system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag system, comprising:
- an airbag housing having a cavity configured to store an airbag, the cavity having an aperture providing an outlet for the airbag during deployment; and
a cover releasably attached over the aperture via an attachment mechanism having an initial attachment strength, wherein the attachment mechanism is at least partially formed from at least one of a shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, an electro active polymer, a piezo electric, a magnetorheological elastomer, or an electrorheological elastomer;
wherein the initial attachment strength is configured to reduce to a release attachment strength in response to receipt of a release signal at the attachment mechanism;
wherein the release signal is provided in response to one of a preliminary impact condition, an impact condition, an occupant environment condition, or a manual input; and
wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to increase substantially from the release attachment strength to the initial attachment strength in response to a triggering event.
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Abstract
An embodiment of an airbag system includes a cavity configured to store an airbag, wherein the cavity has an aperture that provides an outlet for the airbag during deployment. The embodiment also includes a cover releasably attached over the aperture via an attachment mechanism having an initial attachment strength. The initial attachment strength is configured to reduce to a release attachment strength in response to receipt of a release signal at the attachment mechanism.
64 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An airbag system, comprising:
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an airbag housing having a cavity configured to store an airbag, the cavity having an aperture providing an outlet for the airbag during deployment; and a cover releasably attached over the aperture via an attachment mechanism having an initial attachment strength, wherein the attachment mechanism is at least partially formed from at least one of a shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, an electro active polymer, a piezo electric, a magnetorheological elastomer, or an electrorheological elastomer; wherein the initial attachment strength is configured to reduce to a release attachment strength in response to receipt of a release signal at the attachment mechanism; wherein the release signal is provided in response to one of a preliminary impact condition, an impact condition, an occupant environment condition, or a manual input; and wherein the attachment mechanism is configured to increase substantially from the release attachment strength to the initial attachment strength in response to a triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of activating an airbag system having an airbag housing with a cavity configured to store an airbag deployable by an airbag inflator, the cavity having an aperture providing an outlet for the airbag during deployment, and a cover releasably attached over the aperture via an attachment mechanism having an initial attachment strength, the method comprising:
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providing a release signal to the attachment mechanism in response to one of a preliminary impact condition, an impact condition, an occupant environment condition, or a manual input; receiving the release signal at the attachment mechanism, wherein the attachment mechanism is at least partially formed from at least one of a shape memory alloy, a shape memory polymer, an electro active polymer, a piezo electric, a magnetorheological elastomer, or an electrorheological elastomer; reducing the initial attachment strength to a release attachment strength in response to the receipt of the release signal at the attachment mechanism, wherein reducing the initial attachment strength to the release attachment strength includes activating at least one of the shape memory alloy, the shape memory polymer, the electro active polymer, the piezo electric, the magnetorheological elastomer, or the electrorheological elastomer; and either receiving a deployment signal at the airbag inflator and deploying the airbag via the aperture, or increasing the release attachment strength substantially to the initial attachment strength in response to a triggering event. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification