Airbag cushion with multiple chambers

• US 7,922,191 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Choi, Hyeongho
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECK, KAREN
• Application Number:
  US12/323,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20090152844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/731
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• 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

Abstract

An airbag cushion has multiple chambers of which the expansion order and speed are controlled. The airbag cushion can expand in a predetermined order at a predetermined speed to optimally protect a passenger. Therefore, the airbag cushion can rapidly expand between the steering wheel and the passenger, without injuring the passenger.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion with multiple chambers comprising:

an inner chamber that is connected to directly receive inflation gas from an inflator; and

a first chamber and a second chamber that are connected to the inner chamber respectively to receive the inflation gas from the inner chamber;

wherein at least one vent hole is formed on a boundary of the inner chamber such that the amount of inflation gas supplied to the second chamber is larger than the amount of inflation gas supplied to the first chamber,

wherein the inner chamber is inflatable by receiving the inflation gas,

wherein a first inner vent hole and a second inner vent hole are formed on the boundary of the inner chamber, the first vent hole allowing inflation gas to pass into the first chamber and the second vent hole allowing inflation gas to pass into the second chamber; and

a diffuser and an airbag module housing comprising an inflator;

wherein the inner chamber, the first chamber, and the second chamber are formed by a cushion sheet making a single closed surface;

wherein the inner chamber is formed by a portion of the cushion sheet recessed from the front portion of the airbag cushion and toward the inside of the airbag cushion;

wherein a portion of the cushion sheet overlaps to form the inner chamber and a tether;

wherein the diffuser is located inside the inner chamber; and

wherein the diffuser passes through the cushion sheet at least two times and is connected to the inflator.

2. The airbag cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one outer vent hole facing the outside of the airbag cushion is formed on the boundary of the first chamber;

the second inner vent hole is larger than the first inner vent hole;

the first chamber is positioned at the upper portion of the airbag cushion;

the second chamber is positioned at the lower portion of the airbag cushion; and

the inner chamber is positioned at the center of the airbag cushion.

3. The airbag cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the inner chamber is rectangular and crosses the center of a circle constructed by the outline of the airbag cushion sheet, when seen from the opposite side of the inflator.

4. The airbag cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the inner chamber has the shape of two trapezoids whose shorter bases coincide, when seen from the opposite side of the inflator.

5. The airbag cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the inner chamber has the shape of two trapezoids whose longer bases coincide, when seen from the opposite side of the inflator.

6. The airbag cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein the cushion sheet is formed by attaching a first cushion sheet forming the front portion of the airbag cushion and the inner chamber to a second cushion sheet forming the rear portion of the airbag cushion;

the inner chamber runs from one edge of the first cushion sheet to the opposite edge;

and at least one of the ends of the inner chamber is closed by attaching the first cushion sheet to the second cushion sheet.

7. The airbag cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein the cushion sheet is formed by combining a first cushion sheet forming the front portion of the airbag cushion and the inner chamber with a second cushion sheet forming the rear portion of the airbag cushion sheet;

the inner chamber runs from one edge of the first cushion sheet to the opposite edge;

a first end of the inner chamber is closed by sewing the edges of the first cushion sheet defining the first end;

and an inner vent hole allowing gas to pass to the first chamber and the second chamber is formed by partially sewing closed the second end of the inner chamber.

8. The airbag cushion as defined in claim 1, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are formed by attaching a first cushion sheet forming the front portion of the airbag cushion and the inner chamber to a second cushion sheet forming the rear portion of the airbag cushion sheet;

the inner chamber is formed by an inner cushion that crosses the inside of the airbag cushion while making a closed surface independent from the airbag cushion;

at least one of the ends of the inner cushion is attached to a portion where the first cushion sheet is attached to the second cushion sheet.

9. An airbag assembly comprising an airbag inflator and the airbag cushion defined in claim 1.

10. An steering wheel assembly comprising a steering wheel and an airbag assembly, the airbag assembly including an airbag inflator and the airbag cushion defined in claim 1.

11. An airbag cushion with multiple chambers, comprising:

an inner chamber that is connected to directly receive inflation gas from an inflator; and

a first chamber and a second chamber that are connected to the inner chamber respectively to receive the inflation gas from the inner chamber;

wherein first inner vent holes and second inner vent holes having the same size are formed on the boundary of the inner chamber to supply inflation gas into the first chamber and the second chamber, respectively;

the first chamber and the second chamber are disposed at both left and right sides of the airbag cushion; and

the inner chamber runs from the top to the bottom of the airbag cushion between the first chamber and the second chamber,

wherein the inner chamber is inflatable by receiving the inflation gas;

wherein the inner chamber, the first chamber, and the second chamber are formed by attaching a first cushion sheet to a second cushion sheet to form a cushion space therein;

the center of the first cushion sheet is recessed away from the outside of the airbag cushion to form the inner chamber such that the cushion space is divided by the inner chamber into the first chamber and the second chamber;

the first cushion sheet overlaps between the inner chamber and the first cushion sheet such that the inner chamber is blocked from the outside, the overlapping portion of the first cushion sheet functions as a tether, and inflation height of the airbag cushion is adjusted by the length of the inner chamber and the tether; and

an outer vent hole facing the outside of the airbag cushion is formed at a portion where the second cushion sheet contacts the inner chamber.