Mushroom airbag

• US 8,414,022 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CIS Tech, LLC
• Original Assignee: CIS Tech, LLC
• Inventors: Song, Seung-Jae, Nam, Jong Seop
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/964,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20110140398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/729, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A passenger airbag system includes an airbag cushion with an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber. The front face of the lower airbag chamber has an upper edge joined to the lower face of the upper airbag chamber at a connection region. An upper airbag chamber length is defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger. A lower airbag chamber front offset is defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the connection region. The lower airbag chamber front offset is at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length.

Claims

1. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield with a surface generally facing the windshield and a mid portion further away from the windshield with a surface generally facing a passenger, the passenger airbag system comprising:

an airbag housing mounted in a top portion of the instrument panel, the airbag housing having a folded airbag cushion disposed therein when the airbag cushion is in a non-deployed configuration, the airbag cushion being deployable from the airbag housing through the instrument panel;

the airbag cushion having an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber, the upper airbag chamber being a main airbag chamber and having a substantially larger volume than the lower airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber being a supporting airbag chamber;

a gas generating inflator operable to generate a flow of gas into both the upper and lower chambers;

the upper airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger and a lower face directed downwardly, the lower airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger, a lower face directed downwardly, and a rear face directed toward the mid portion of the instrument panel, the front face of the lower airbag chamber having an upper edge joined to the lower face of the upper airbag chamber at a connection region such that the front face of the lower airbag chamber extends downwardly from the lower face of the upper airbag chamber;

a tether having a rear end attached at or near the airbag housing and a front end attached to the airbag cushion;

an upper airbag chamber length being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger; and

a lower airbag chamber front offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the connection region where the front face of the lower airbag chamber joins the lower face of the upper airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber front offset being at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length.

2. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the tether has a front end attached at or near the connection region;

the upper airbag chamber being located above the tether and the lower airbag chamber being located below the tether, gas from the gas generating inflator flowing past the tether during inflation.

3. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the tether is configured such that the flow of gas from the inflator is encouraged to flow into the lower chamber first and then into the upper chamber during inflation.

4. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

the tether has holes defined therein to control the gas flow.

5. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the front face of the upper airbag chamber is slanted at an angle of 10 to 30 degrees with respect to vertical.

7. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the airbag cushion has a design configuration defined as the shape of the airbag cushion if inflated while not in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel, the airbag further having an actual inflated configuration defined as the shape of the airbag when inflated and in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel; and

the front face of the lower airbag chamber extending generally vertically downwardly from the connection region when the airbag cushion is in the design configuration.

8. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the lower airbag chamber front offset is at least 33% of the upper airbag chamber length.

9. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the lower airbag chamber front offset is about 50% of the upper airbag chamber length.

10. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the airbag cushion has a design configuration defined as the shape of the airbag cushion if inflated while not in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel, the airbag further having an actual inflated configuration defined as the shape of the airbag when inflated and in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel;

the front face of the lower airbag chamber with the airbag cushion in the design configuration is offset rearwardly from the front face of the upper airbag chamber by a distance equal to at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length.

11. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 10, wherein:

the front face of the lower airbag chamber with the airbag cushion in the design configuration is offset rearwardly from the front face of the upper airbag chamber by a distance equal to about 50% of the upper airbag chamber length.

12. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the upper airbag chamber has a volume at least twice as large as the volume of the lower airbag chamber.

13. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the upper airbag chamber has a volume at least three times as large as the volume of the lower airbag chamber.

6. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim wherein:

the front end of the tether is attached at the connection region; and

wherein when the airbag cushion is inflated;

a tension in the tether restraining the connection region resists the lower airbag chamber being bulged toward the passenger at the connection region; and

the rear face of the lower airbag chamber pushes against the mid portion of the instrument panel;

whereby the lower airbag chamber generates a torque and a lifting force to the upper airbag chamber.

14. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield with a surface generally facing the windshield and a mid portion further away from the windshield with a surface generally facing a passenger, the passenger airbag system comprising:

an airbag housing having a folded airbag cushion disposed therein when the airbag cushion is in a non-deployed configuration, the airbag cushion being deployable from the airbag housing through the instrument panel;

the airbag cushion having an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber, the upper airbag chamber being a main airbag chamber and having a substantially larger volume than the lower airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber being a supporting airbag chamber;

the upper airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger and a lower face directed downwardly, the lower airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger, a lower face directed downwardly, and a rear face directed toward the mid portion of the instrument panel, the front face of the lower airbag chamber having an upper edge joined to the lower face of the upper airbag chamber at a connection region such that the front face of the lower airbag chamber extends downwardly from the lower face of the upper airbag chamber;

an upper airbag chamber length being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger;

a lower airbag chamber front offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the connection region where the front face of the lower airbag chamber joins the lower face of the upper airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber front offset being at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length; and

a tether having a rear end attached at the airbag housing and a front end attached at the front face of the upper chamber.

15. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 14, wherein:

the airbag housing has an upper part and a lower part; and

the rear end of the tether is attached to the upper part of the airbag housing;

whereby gas from the airbag housing is encouraged to flow first into the lower airbag chamber and then into the upper airbag chamber.

16. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield with a surface generally facing the windshield and a mid portion further away from the windshield with a surface generally facing a passenger, the passenger airbag system comprising:

an airbag housing having a folded airbag cushion disposed therein when the airbag cushion is in a non-deployed configuration, the airbag cushion being deployable from the airbag housing through the instrument panel;

the airbag cushion having an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber, the upper airbag chamber being a main airbag chamber and having a substantially larger volume than the lower airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber being a supporting airbag chamber;

the upper airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger and a lower face directed downwardly, the lower airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger, a lower face directed downwardly, and a rear face directed toward the mid portion of the instrument panel, the front face of the lower airbag chamber having an upper edge joined to the lower face of the upper airbag chamber at a connection region such that the front face of the lower airbag chamber extends downwardly from the lower face of the upper airbag chamber;

an upper airbag chamber length being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger;

a lower airbag chamber front offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the connection region where the front face of the lower airbag chamber joins the lower face of the upper airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber front offset being at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length;

the airbag cushion having a design configuration defined as the shape of the airbag cushion if inflated while not in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel, the airbag further having an actual inflated configuration defined as the shape of the airbag when inflated and in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel;

a lower airbag chamber rear offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the rear face of the lower airbag chamber with the airbag cushion in the design configuration and the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger; and

the lower airbag chamber rear offset being greater than 25 mm such that the mid portion of the instrument panel causes the rear face of the lower airbag chamber to be distorted to a position closer to the passenger when the airbag is in the actual inflated configuration than if the airbag cushion were in the design configuration.

17. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

the lower airbag chamber rear offset is greater than 50 mm.

18. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield with a surface generally facing the windshield and a mid portion further away from the windshield with a surface generally facing a passenger, the passenger airbag system comprising:

an airbag housing having a folded airbag cushion disposed therein when the airbag cushion is in a non-deployed configuration, the airbag cushion being deployable from the airbag housing through the instrument panel;

the airbag cushion having an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber, the upper airbag chamber being a main airbag chamber and having a substantially larger volume than the lower airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber being a supporting airbag chamber,

the upper airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger and a lower face directed downwardly, the lower airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger, a lower face directed downwardly, and a rear face directed toward the mid portion of the instrument panel, the front face of the lower airbag chamber having an upper edge joined to the lower face of the upper airbag chamber at a connection region such that the front face of the lower airbag chamber extends downwardly from the lower face of the upper airbag chamber;

an upper airbag chamber length being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger; and

a lower airbag chamber front offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the connection region where the front face of the lower airbag chamber joins the lower face of the upper airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber front offset being at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length;

the airbag cushion having a design configuration defined as the shape of the airbag cushion if inflated while not in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel, the airbag further having an actual inflated configuration defined as the shape of the airbag when inflated and in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel;

the lower airbag chamber having a geometric center, a lower airbag chamber geometric offset being defined as the horizontal distance between the position of the geometric center if the airbag cushion is in the design configuration and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger, the geometric offset being in the range of 0 to 33% of the upper airbag chamber length.

19. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield with a surface generally facing the windshield and a mid portion further away from the windshield with a surface generally facing a passenger, the passenger airbag system comprising:

an airbag housing having a folded airbag cushion disposed therein when the airbag cushion is in a non-deployed configuration, the airbag cushion being deployable from the airbag housing through the instrument panel;

the airbag cushion having an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber, the upper airbag chamber being a main airbag chamber and having a substantially larger volume than the lower airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber being a supporting airbag chamber;

the upper airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger, the lower airbag chamber having a front face slanted toward the mid portion of the instrument panel, a lower face directed downwardly, and a rear face directed toward the mid portion of the instrument panel, the front face of the lower airbag chamber having an upper edge joined to the upper airbag chamber at a connection region such that the front face of the lower airbag chamber extends downwardly and rearwardly from the upper airbag chamber;

an upper airbag chamber length being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag cushion closest to the passenger and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger;

the airbag cushion having a design configuration defined as the shape of the airbag cushion if inflated while not in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel, the airbag cushion further having an actual inflated configuration defined as the shape of the airbag when inflated and in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel;

a lower airbag chamber rear offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the rear face of the lower airbag chamber with the airbag cushion in the design configuration and the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger;

the lower airbag chamber rear offset being greater than 25 mm such that the mid portion of the instrument panel causes the rear face of the lower airbag chamber to be distorted to a position closer to the passenger when the airbag is in the actual inflated configuration than if the airbag cushion were in the design configuration; and

the lower airbag chamber having a geometric center, a lower airbag chamber geometric offset being defined as the horizontal distance between the position of the geometric center if the airbag cushion is in the design configuration and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger, the geometric offset being in the range of 0 to 33% of the upper airbag chamber length.

20. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

a tether having a rear end attached at or near the airbag housing and a front end attached at the connection region; and

wherein when the airbag cushion is inflated;

a tension in the tether restraining the connection region resists the lower airbag chamber being bulged toward the passenger at the connection region; and

the rear face of the lower airbag chamber pushes against the mid portion of the instrument panel;

whereby the lower airbag chamber generates a torque and a lifting force to the upper airbag chamber.

21. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 20, wherein:

the airbag housing has an upper part and a lower part; and

the rear end of the tether is attached to the upper part of the airbag housing;

whereby gas from the airbag housing is encouraged to flow first into the lower airbag chamber and then into the upper airbag chamber.

22. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 19, further comprising:

a tether having a rear end attached at the airbag housing and a front end attached at the front face of the upper chamber.

23. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 22, wherein:

the airbag housing has an upper part and a lower part; and

the rear end of the tether is attached to the upper part of the airbag housing;

whereby gas from the airbag housing is encouraged to flow first into the lower airbag chamber and then into the upper airbag chamber.

24. A passenger airbag system in accordance with claim 19, wherein:

the lower airbag chamber rear offset is greater than 50 mm.

25. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield with a surface generally facing the windshield and a mid portion further away from the windshield with a surface generally facing a passenger, the passenger airbag system comprising:

an airbag housing having a folded airbag cushion disposed therein when the airbag cushion is in a non-deployed configuration, the airbag cushion being deployable from the airbag housing through the instrument panel;

the airbag cushion having an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber, the upper airbag chamber being a main airbag chamber and having a substantially larger volume than the lower airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber being a supporting airbag chamber;

the upper airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger and a lower face directed downwardly, the lower airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger, a lower face directed downwardly, and a rear face directed toward the mid portion of the instrument panel, the front face of the lower airbag chamber having an upper edge joined to the lower face of the upper airbag chamber at a connection region such that the front face of the lower airbag chamber extends downwardly from the lower face of the upper airbag chamber;

an upper airbag chamber length being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger compartment and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger compartment;

a lower airbag chamber front offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger compartment and the connection region where the front face of the lower airbag chamber joins the lower face of the upper airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber front offset being at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length;

the airbag cushion having a design configuration defined as the shape of the airbag cushion if inflated while not in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel, the airbag further having an actual inflated configuration defined as the shape of the airbag when inflated and in contact with the mid portion of the instrument panel;

a lower airbag chamber rear offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the rear face of the lower airbag chamber with the airbag cushion in the design configuration and the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger; and

the lower airbag chamber rear offset being greater than 25 mm such that the mid portion of the instrument panel causes the rear face of the lower airbag chamber to be distorted to a position closer to the passenger when the airbag is in the actual inflated configuration than if the airbag cushion were in the design configuration.

26. A passenger airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, a windshield, and an instrument panel disposed between the passenger compartment and the windshield, the instrument panel having a top portion adjacent the windshield with a surface generally facing the windshield and a mid portion further away from the windshield with a surface generally facing a passenger, the passenger airbag system comprising:

an airbag housing having a folded airbag cushion disposed therein when the airbag cushion is in a non-deployed configuration, the airbag cushion being deployable from the airbag housing through the instrument panel, the airbag housing having an upper part and a lower part;

the airbag cushion having an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber, the upper airbag chamber being a main airbag chamber and having a substantially larger volume than the lower airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber being a supporting airbag chamber;

the upper airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger and a lower face directed downwardly, the lower airbag chamber having a front face facing the passenger, a lower face directed downwardly, and a rear face directed toward the mid portion of the instrument panel, the front face of the lower airbag chamber having an upper edge joined to the lower face of the upper airbag chamber at a connection region such that the front face of the lower airbag chamber extends downwardly from the lower face of the upper airbag chamber;

an upper airbag chamber length being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger; and

a lower airbag chamber front offset being defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the connection region where the front face of the lower airbag chamber joins the lower face of the upper airbag chamber, the lower airbag chamber front offset being at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length; and

a tether having a rear end attached to the upper part of the airbag housing and a front end attached at the connection region whereby gas from the airbag housing is encouraged to flow first into the lower airbag chamber and then into the upper airbag chamber; and

wherein when the airbag cushion is inflated;

a tension in the tether restraining the connection region resists the lower airbag chamber being bulged toward the passenger at the connection region; and

the rear face of the lower airbag chamber pushes against the mid portion of the instrument panel;

whereby the lower airbag chamber generates a torque and a lifting force to the upper airbag chamber.