Pyrotechnic tether release assembly with a break-away piston for inflatable airbags
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
- an inflatable airbag;
an inflatable airbag housing coupled to the inflatable airbag;
a tether release assembly mounting member attached to the airbag housing;
a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the tether release mounting member;
wherein the tether release assembly comprises an interior chamber that contains a pyrotechnic squib and a piston,wherein, upon activation, the squib causes the piston to fracture such that a portion of the piston remains in the interior chamber of the release assembly and another portion of the piston travels away from the pyrotechnic squib and acts on the mounting member to uncouple the tether release assembly from the mounting member; and
a tether reversibly coupled to, the tether release assembly;
wherein upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle sensor, the tether becomes uncoupled from the tether release assembly to release the tether, due to the tether release assembly becoming uncoupled from the mounting member.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A depth to which an inflatable airbag can deploy may be varied by internal tethers. If the tethers are coupled to a release assembly, then in an unreleased state, the tethers can limit the depth of airbag deployment; however, if the tethers are released, the airbag can deploy of a full depth.
126 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable airbag; an inflatable airbag housing coupled to the inflatable airbag; a tether release assembly mounting member attached to the airbag housing; a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the tether release mounting member; wherein the tether release assembly comprises an interior chamber that contains a pyrotechnic squib and a piston, wherein, upon activation, the squib causes the piston to fracture such that a portion of the piston remains in the interior chamber of the release assembly and another portion of the piston travels away from the pyrotechnic squib and acts on the mounting member to uncouple the tether release assembly from the mounting member; and a tether reversibly coupled to, the tether release assembly; wherein upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle sensor, the tether becomes uncoupled from the tether release assembly to release the tether, due to the tether release assembly becoming uncoupled from the mounting member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable airbag; an inflatable airbag housing coupled to the inflatable airbag; a tether release assembly mounting member attached to the airbag housing, wherein the tether release assembly comprises an open end and a closed end, and wherein a post is located within the mounting member at the closed end; a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the tether release mounting member; wherein the tether release assembly comprises an interior chamber, and wherein a pyrotechnic squib and a piston are located within the interior chamber, wherein, upon activation, the pyrotechnic squib causes the piston to fracture such that a portion of the piston remains in the interior chamber of the release assembly and another portion of the piston travels away from the pyrotechnic squib and pushes against the post within the mounting member, such that the tether release assembly slides away from the closed end of the mounting member, thereby allowing the tether release assembly to become uncoupled from the mounting member; and
;a tether reversibly coupled to, the tether release assembly; wherein upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle sensor, the tether becomes uncoupled from the tether release assembly to release the tether, due to the tether release assembly becoming uncoupled from the mounting member. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an inflatable airbag; an inflatable airbag housing coupled to the inflatable airbag; a tether release assembly mounting member attached to the airbag housing, wherein the tether release assembly comprises an open end and a closed end, and wherein a post is located within the mounting member at the closed end; a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the tether release mounting member;
wherein the tether release assembly comprises a body portion with an interior chamber, and wherein a pyrotechnic squib and a piston are located within the chamber;wherein the piston comprises a base region, a distal region, and a rupture point between the base region and the distal region, and wherein the pyrotechnic squib is located within the base region of the piston, and wherein, upon activation, the pyrotechnic squib causes the piston to fracture at the rupture point between the base portion and the distal portion, such that the base portion of the piston remains in the interior chamber of the release assembly and the distal portion of the piston travels away from the pyrotechnic squib and pushes against the post within the mounting member, such that the tether release assembly slides away from the closed end of the mounting member, thereby allowing the tether release assembly to become uncoupled from the mounting member; and
;a tether reversibly coupled to, the tether release assembly; wherein upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle sensor, the tether release assembly becomes uncoupled from the mounting member and the tether becomes uncoupled from the tether release assembly releases the tether. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification