Inflatable airbag assembly with an integral cover
First Claim
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1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
- a housing comprising a first longitudinal sidewall, a second longitudinal sidewall, a first lateral sidewall, and a second lateral sidewall, wherein the first longitudinal sidewall and the second longitudinal sidewall are opposite to each other, and wherein the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall are opposite to each other;
a cover connected to the first longitudinal sidewall of the housing by a hinge;
an inflator, wherein the inflator is coupled to a mounting stem that is received by an aperture in the housing;
an inflatable airbag coupled to the inflator;
a deployment strap comprising an inflator coupling portion and a strap portion, wherein the mounting stem extends through the inflator coupling portion to couple the deployment strap to the inflator, wherein the deployment strap is positioned around the inflator and a portion of the inflatable airbag such that the strap portion extends adjacent to the cover prior to deployment of the inflatable airbag;
wherein the housing, the cover and the hinge comprise a single piece of material,wherein the second longitudinal sidewall of the housing and the cover comprises a plurality of cover closing structures, and wherein the cover closing structures of the housing are complementary to the cover closing structures of the cover;
wherein, during inflatable airbag deployment, the deployment strap resists movement of the inflatable airbag in a direction toward the hinge and directs the inflatable airbag upward toward the first longitudinal sidewall, which causes the cover closing structures of the housing and of the cover to cease interacting with each other such that the cover rotates at the hinge and transitions from a closed configuration to an open configuration and causes the inflatable airbag to deploy in a car rearward and upward direction; and
wherein the cover continues to be coupled to the housing via the hinge after the cover transitions to the open configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Inflatable airbag cushions can be rolled and/or folded into a housing assembly. The housing assembly aids in coupling an inflator to the airbag and a vehicle structure. The housing also couples the airbag to a vehicle structure. The housing can be mounted behind an knee bolster or steering wheel of a vehicle and has a cover that can be flush with the cabin side of the mounted position. The housing cover can be a cosmetically finished piece or a cosmetically unfinished piece. The housing cover can be an integral part of the housing, and may be used in combination with a one-piece inflator mounting bracket and heat shield.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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a housing comprising a first longitudinal sidewall, a second longitudinal sidewall, a first lateral sidewall, and a second lateral sidewall, wherein the first longitudinal sidewall and the second longitudinal sidewall are opposite to each other, and wherein the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall are opposite to each other; a cover connected to the first longitudinal sidewall of the housing by a hinge; an inflator, wherein the inflator is coupled to a mounting stem that is received by an aperture in the housing; an inflatable airbag coupled to the inflator; a deployment strap comprising an inflator coupling portion and a strap portion, wherein the mounting stem extends through the inflator coupling portion to couple the deployment strap to the inflator, wherein the deployment strap is positioned around the inflator and a portion of the inflatable airbag such that the strap portion extends adjacent to the cover prior to deployment of the inflatable airbag; wherein the housing, the cover and the hinge comprise a single piece of material, wherein the second longitudinal sidewall of the housing and the cover comprises a plurality of cover closing structures, and wherein the cover closing structures of the housing are complementary to the cover closing structures of the cover; wherein, during inflatable airbag deployment, the deployment strap resists movement of the inflatable airbag in a direction toward the hinge and directs the inflatable airbag upward toward the first longitudinal sidewall, which causes the cover closing structures of the housing and of the cover to cease interacting with each other such that the cover rotates at the hinge and transitions from a closed configuration to an open configuration and causes the inflatable airbag to deploy in a car rearward and upward direction; and wherein the cover continues to be coupled to the housing via the hinge after the cover transitions to the open configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeAutoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
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Original AssigneeAutoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
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InventorsEnders, Mark L.
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Primary Examiner(s)To, Toan
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Assistant Examiner(s)SPISICH, GEORGE D
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Application NumberUS12/645,130Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,323 DaysField of Search280/728.3, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/743.2US Class Current280/728.2CPC Class CodesB60R 21/205 in dashboardsB60R 21/215 characterised by the covers...B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source reta...B60R 21/2176 the air bag components bein...
