Inflatable airbag cushion assemblies with modified throat portions

• US 7,963,549 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2009
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: DePottey, Timothy A., Schneider, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/417,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20100253055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/736, 280/740, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

During the manufacture of an inflatable airbag cushion, an inflator may be inserted into, and coupled to, a throat portion of the inflatable airbag cushion. This process may be achieved more quickly and with higher reproducibility of the placement of the inflator within the throat portion by forming an assembly aid in the throat portion of the cushion. The assembly aid functions to assist in the separation of the two panels of material from which the throat portion is manufactured. The separation can be achieved by forming one or more pleats, tabs, or loops in the throat portion near an inflator insert aperture. A throat liner may optionally be used within an airbag throat portion, in which case the assembly aid may also be formed in the throat liner.

Claims

1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflator; and

,

an inflatable airbag cushion configured to be coupled to the inflator at a throat portion, wherein the throat portion comprises a first panel of material and a second panel of material that are coupled together at a seam such that the throat portion comprises an inflator insert aperture and,

wherein the throat portion comprises a first fold located on an extension in the throat portion,

wherein the extension extends beyond the seam in a direction that is proximal with respect to the inflator,

wherein the first fold is configured such that a distal edge of the extension is directed away from the inflator insert aperture and the first fold is approximately perpendicular to a long axis of the throat portion, and

wherein the assembly aid comprises a second fold that is formed on the same extension, and wherein the second fold is made in a direction that is perpendicular to the first fold.

2. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fold is located on the first panel of material.

3. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fold is located on the second panel of material.

4. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fold is retained in a folded state via a fastener.

5. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the fastener comprises stitching.

6. The inflatable airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fold is configured as a pleat.

7. A method for inserting an inflator into a throat portion of an inflatable airbag cushion, comprising the steps of:

providing an inflatable airbag cushion having a throat portion that comprises a first panel and a second panel, wherein the first and second panels are coupled together at a seam to form a void, wherein the throat portion comprises an extension of the throat portion, wherein the extension extends in a cushion-distal direction beyond the seam, and wherein an end of the throat portion comprises an inflator insert aperture;

folding the throat portion, wherein the step of folding the throat portion comprises folding the extension such that a distal edge of the extension is directed away from the inflator insert aperture such that the fold is approximately perpendicular to a long axis of the throat portion and folding the folded extension a second time such that the second fold is made in a direction that is perpendicular to the first fold;

applying a fastener to the folded throat portion such that the folded throat portion is retained in a folded configuration to form an assembly aid;

providing an inflator that is configured to be coupled to the throat portion;

grasping the folded throat portion;

separating the first and second panels; and

,

inserting the inflator within the throat portion, wherein the inflator is located between the first and second panels via the inflator insert aperture, thereby inserting the inflator in to the void of the throat portion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of folding the throat portion comprises forming a pleat in the throat portion, wherein the pleat is adjacent to the inflator insert aperture.