Pyrotechnic tether release assembly for inflatable airbags
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inflatable airbag assembly comprising:
- an inflatable airbag;
a housing coupled to the inflatable airbag;
a mounting member attached to the housing;
a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the mounting member,wherein the tether release assembly comprises a body portion, a pyrotechnic squib, and a piston, wherein the body portion comprises an interior chamber, wherein the pyrotechnic squib and the piston are within the interior chamber, and wherein the pyrotechnic squib, upon activation, causes the piston to act on the mounting member to uncouple the tether release assembly from the mounting member; and
a tether reversibly attached to the body portion of the tether release assembly,wherein, when the tether release assembly becomes uncoupled from the mounting member, the tether becomes unattached from the tether release assembly such that the tether is released.
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Abstract
A depth to which an inflatable airbag can deploy may 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.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An inflatable airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable airbag; a housing coupled to the inflatable airbag; a mounting member attached to the housing; a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the mounting member, wherein the tether release assembly comprises a body portion, a pyrotechnic squib, and a piston, wherein the body portion comprises an interior chamber, wherein the pyrotechnic squib and the piston are within the interior chamber, and wherein the pyrotechnic squib, upon activation, causes the piston to act on the mounting member to uncouple the tether release assembly from the mounting member; and a tether reversibly attached to the body portion of the tether release assembly, wherein, when the tether release assembly becomes uncoupled from the mounting member, the tether becomes unattached from the tether release assembly such that the tether is released. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An inflatable airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable airbag; a housing coupled to the inflatable airbag; a mounting member attached to the airbag housing, wherein the mounting member 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 mounting member, wherein the tether release assembly comprises a body portion, a pyrotechnic squib, and a piston, wherein the body portion comprises an interior chamber, and wherein a pyrotechnic squib and a piston are located within the interior chamber, and wherein, upon activation, the pyrotechnic squib generates heat and gas, which act on the piston and cause the piston to push 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 attached to the body portion of the tether release assembly, wherein, when the tether release assembly becomes uncoupled from the mounting member, the tether becomes unattached from the tether release assembly such that the tether is released. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An inflatable airbag assembly comprising:
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an inflatable airbag; a housing coupled to the inflatable airbag; a mounting member attached to the housing, wherein the mounting member 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 mounting member, wherein the tether release assembly comprises a body portion with an interior chamber, a pyrotechnic squib, and a piston, wherein the pyrotechnic squib and the piston are located within the interior chamber, wherein the piston comprises a base region and a distal region, and wherein the pyrotechnic squib is located within the base region of the piston, and wherein, upon activation due to receipt of a signal, the pyrotechnic squib generates heat and gas, which cause the piston to act 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 attached to the body portion of the tether release assembly, wherein, when the tether release assembly becomes uncoupled from the mounting member, the tether becomes unattached from the tether release assembly such that the tether is released. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification