Airbag module

• US 7,942,444 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2008
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Steinbach, Mark Andrew, Wiik, Richard Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US12/222,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.2, 280/730.2, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

The disclosed airbag device for a vehicle may comprise an airbag and at least one connection member. The airbag may have first and second side surfaces, wherein the first side surface has upper and lower ends. The at least one connection member may connect the lower end of the first side surface to an intermediate position on the first side surface located between the upper and lower ends of the first side surface.

Claims

1. An airbag device configured to deploy along an interior side of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable airbag including a plurality of inflatable chambers;

wherein each of the chambers are formed by seams joining adjacent sides of the airbag;

wherein one of the inflatable chambers is tethered to another portion of the airbag by a connection member;

wherein the airbag is configured so that when the airbag inflates the airbag bends along a seam of the tethered chamber and the tethered chamber deploys substantially outboard an adjacent one of the plurality of inflatable chambers;

wherein the airbag device further comprises a constricted gas passage to the tethered chamber; and

wherein the gas passage is configured so that the tethered chamber fills after the other ones of the plurality of inflatable chambers.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position such that the connection member is located between the airbag and the side of the passenger compartment and contact between the connection member and a vehicle occupant is prevented.

3. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the another portion of the airbag is located on an opposite side surface of the airbag from a side surface positioned adjacent a vehicle occupant.

4. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the another portion of the airbag comprises a non-inflatable portion of the airbag.

5. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a head receiving portion configured to receive a vehicle occupant'"'"'s head during a collision event.

6. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the another portion is located approximately center of the airbag or lower than the center in a vertical direction.

7. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises a first panel and a second panel connected along the seams to form the plurality of inflatable chambers therebetween.

8. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the connection member comprises a tether.

9. The airbag device of claim 8, wherein the tether is a strap.

10. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the connection member is one of a plurality of connection members.

11. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag is a head-side airbag configured to be positioned in a roof of a vehicle so that the airbag deploys downwardly toward a vehicle occupant.

12. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the tethered chamber is substantially horizontal.

13. An occupant protection system comprising:

a head-side airbag; and

a seat-mounted side airbag,

wherein the head-side airbag includes a plurality of inflatable chambers by seams joining adjacent sides of the airbag;

wherein one of the inflatable chambers is tethered to another portion of the head-side airbag by a connection member; and

wherein the head-side airbag is configured so that when the head-side airbag inflates the head-side airbag bends along a seam of the tethered chamber and the tethered chamber deploys substantially outboard an adjacent one of the plurality of inflatable chambers;

wherein an upper portion of the seat-mounted side airbag is configured to occupy a coverage area and a lower portion of the head-side airbag including the tethered chamber is configured to occupy the same coverage area.

14. The occupant protection system of claim 13, wherein the seat-mounted side airbag is configured to protect a torso of a vehicle occupant early during a crash event and the head-side airbag is configured to protect the head and torso of the vehicle occupant at a later time during the crash event.

15. The occupant protection system of claim 13, wherein the head-side airbag is configured to inflate into a position such that the connection member faces a vehicle body and contact between the connection member and a vehicle occupant is prevented.

16. The occupant protection system of claim 13, wherein the another portion of the head-side airbag is located on a non-inflatable portion of the head-side airbag.

17. The occupant protection system of claim 13, wherein the another portion of the head-side airbag is located approximately center of the head-side airbag or lower than the center in a vertical direction.

18. The occupant protection system of claim 13, wherein the connection member comprises a tether.

19. The occupant protection system of claim 18, wherein the tether is a strap.

20. The occupant protection system of claim 13, wherein the head-side airbag includes a constricted gas passage through which inflation gas enters the tethered chamber and wherein the gas passage is configured so that the tethered chamber fills after inflation of the side airbag.