Front airbag including sub-string and vent part

• US 8,434,786 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jang, Sung Geun, Lee, Ho Yong
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): BECK, KAREN JANE AMORES
• Application Number:
  US12/963,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20110133437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 881 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.2, 280/743.1, 280/742, 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/739
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0032 Position of passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A front airbag including a sub-string and a vent. The front airbag attenuates impact in order to provide protection to a child or an occupant in an abnormal position on a passenger seat. Upon a vehicle collision, the front airbag discharges internal air through a vent provided at the lateral surface of the front airbag, if the front airbag is not inflated at the front, but is instead laterally inflated. The front airbag includes a main tether provided at a central portion of an airbag cushion, a vent selectively discharging air to an outside from the front airbag, and a sub-string, connected to and between the main tether, to control opening/closing of the vent part.

Claims

1. A front airbag deployed by gas supplied from an inflator of an airbag module to protect an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag cushion;

a main tether installed at a central portion of an airbag cushion;

a vent selectively discharging air outside of the front airbag;

a sub-string connected to and between the main tether and the vent, whereby the sub-string controls opening/closing of the vent;

wherein the main tether includes portions secured together to form a folding part, the folding part receiving the sub-string and being secured to the sub-string, wherein the portions secured together are releasably together and configured to separate during deployment of the airbag.

2. The front airbag of claim 1, wherein the sub-string includes a main tether fixture end entering the folding part, and the folding part of the main tether includes a sealing line securing the folding part to the main tether fixture end such that the folding part is integrated with the main tether fixture end in a state in which the main tether fixture end enters the folding part.

3. The front airbag of claim 2, wherein a plurality of sealing lines secure the folding part with the main tether fixture end.

4. A front airbag deployed by gas supplied from an inflator of an airbag module to protect an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag cushion;

a main tether installed at a central portion of an airbag cushion;

a vent selectively discharging air outside of the front airbag;

a sub-string connected to and between the main tether and the vent, whereby the sub-string controls opening/closing of the vent;

the main tether includes a folding part, the folding part receiving the sub-string and being secured to the sub-string;

wherein the sub-string includes a main tether fixture end entering the folding part, and the folding part of the main tether includes a sealing line securing the folding part to the main tether fixture end such that the folding part is integrated with the main tether fixture end in a state in which the main tether fixture end enters the folding part;

a plurality of sealing lines securing the folding part with the main tether fixture end; and

wherein the sealing lines are sequentially torn from an upper most sealing line when the front airbag is laterally expanded.

5. The front airbag of claim 4, wherein the sealing lines are frangible and sequentially torn from an upper most sealing line when the front airbag is laterally expanded.

6. The front airbag of claim 4, wherein the sub-string is tightened when the front airbag is laterally inflated, and the sub-string is loosened when the front airbag is not laterally inflated as the sealing lines are sequentially torn,

wherein the inner vent part is spaced apart from the outer vent part such that the internal air of the front airbag is discharged to an outside when the airbag is laterally inflated, and

wherein the inner vent part is immediately adjacent to the outer vent part when the front airbag is not laterally inflated, so that the internal air of the front airbag is not discharged to the outside.

7. A front airbag deployed by gas supplied from an inflator of an airbag module to protect an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag cushion;

a main tether installed at a central portion of an airbag cushion and extending between opposing sides thereof, wherein the main tether includes a folding part located between opposing ends of the main tether;

a vent selectively discharging air outside of the front airbag; and

a sub-string connected to and between the main tether and the vent, whereby the sub-string controls opening/closing of the vent, the sub-string being received within the folding part and being releasably secured to the main tether within the folding part.