Vehicle airbag system

• US 8,226,116 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2009
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• 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: Yoo, Jae Haeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US12/617,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 280/739, 280/733, 280/743.2, 280/728.2, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A vehicle airbag system may include an inflator supplying a gas to an airbag cushion, an airbag housing coupled with the inflator and having a housing vent hole to discharge a part of the gas supplied from the inflator, a retainer mounted in the airbag housing and coupled to the inflator, wherein the airbag cushion covers an opening of the retainer to supply the gas in the airbag cushion, the retainer including a guide hole and a retainer vent hole, and a tether connected to the airbag cushion at a first end portion thereof and fixed to the airbag housing at a second end portion thereof by passing through the guide hole of the retainer, wherein the tether includes a communication portion at the second portion thereof to form a hole therein so as to selectively permit an gas commutation between the airbag cushion and the outside through the retainer vent hole, the housing vent hole, and the hole of the communication portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle airbag system comprising:

an inflator supplying an airbag gas to an airbag cushion;

an airbag housing coupled with the inflator and having at least one housing vent hole discharging part of the airbag gas;

a tether connected to the airbag cushion at a first end thereof and fixed to the airbag housing at a second end thereof;

a retainer mounted in the airbag housing and guiding a movement of the tether; and

a restrictor coupled to the second end of the tether and blocking the housing vent hole when pulled by the tether;

wherein the retainer includes at least one retainer vent hole opposite the housing vent hole, and a pair of guide holes formed in a row in a pulling direction of the tether and supporting the tether.

2. The vehicle airbag system of claim 1, wherein the tether includes a communication portion, which provides a channel for the airbag gas when pulled, at the second end thereof, and the restrictor is coupled to the communication portion.

3. The vehicle airbag system of claim 2, wherein the restrictor is connected to the communication portion via ring portions and is located between the housing vent hole and the retainer vent hole when the airbag cushion is deployed.

4. The vehicle airbag system of claim 2, wherein the restrictor is connected to the communication portion such that tear lines are formed, and the retainer includes cutoff member tearing out the tear lines when the airbag cushion is deployed.

5. The vehicle airbag system of claim 1, wherein the tether is located opposite the inflator at the first end thereof such that the airbag gas is guided towards the housing vent hole when initial deployment of the airbag cushion is obstructed by a passenger.

6. A vehicle airbag system comprising:

an inflator supplying a gas to an airbag cushion;

an airbag housing coupled with the inflator and having a housing vent hole to discharge a part of the gas supplied from the inflator;

a retainer mounted in the airbag housing and coupled to the inflator, wherein the airbag cushion covers an opening of the retainer to supply the gas in the airbag cushion, the retainer including a guide hole and a retainer vent hole; and

a tether connected to the airbag cushion at a first end portion thereof and fixed to the airbag housing at a second end portion thereof by passing through the guide hole of the retainer, wherein the tether includes a communication portion at the second portion thereof to form a hole therein so as to selectively permit gas commutation between the airbag cushion and the outside through the retainer vent hole, the housing vent hole, and the hole of the communication portion.

7. The vehicle airbag system of claim 6, wherein a restrictor is coupled to the communication portion at the second end portion of the tether and blocks a fluid communication between the retainer and the outside through the housing vent hole and the retainer vent hole when the restrictor is pulled by the second end portion of the tether.

8. The vehicle airbag system of claim 7, wherein the second end portion of the tether having the communication portion is folded between the airbag housing and the retainer and the restrictor is disposed between the airbag housing and the retainer to allow the fluid communication between the retainer and the outside through the housing vent hole and the retainer vent hole when initial deployment of the airbag cushion is obstructed.

9. The vehicle airbag system of claim 7, wherein the restrictor includes a ring portion to be slidably coupled to the communication portion.

10. The vehicle airbag system of claim 9, wherein the ring portion of the restrictor is connected to the communication portion by tear lines and the retainer includes cutoff member to tear out the tear lines when the airbag cushion is fully deployed.