Multi-chamber driver airbags

• US 8,764,057 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jamison, Patrick Dee, Morris, Christina
• Primary Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US13/744,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20140197620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 530 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/729, 280/731
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A driver airbag can be deployed from a steering wheel of a vehicle. The airbag can include a first inflatable chamber and a second inflatable chamber that can be deployed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber. The airbag can further include a one-way valve that controls inflation gas movement relative to at least the first inflatable chamber.

Claims

1. A driver airbag configured to be deployed from a steering wheel of a vehicle, the airbag comprising:

a first inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the steering wheel;

a second inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber to extend toward an occupant position of the vehicle to a greater extent than does the first inflatable chamber when the first and second inflatable chambers are inflated; and

a one-way valve that permits inflation gas to enter the first inflatable chamber to fill the first inflatable chamber during deployment of the airbag, wherein the one-way valve prevents fluid communication between the first and second inflatable chambers when the one-way valve is closed,

wherein the one-way valve has an inlet end in fluid communication with the second inflatable chamber and an outlet end in fluid communication with the first inflatable chamber.

2. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve is configured to close when the first inflatable chamber has been filled with inflation gas to a predetermined pressure.

3. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the one-way valve is configured to yield a higher pressure within the first inflatable chamber as compared with a pressure within the second inflatable chamber during at least an initial stage of deployment of the airbag.

4. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable chamber is configured to be filled with inflation gas to a first volume and the second inflatable chamber is configured to be filled with inflation gas to a second volume that is greater than the first volume, and wherein the first inflatable chamber is configured to be filled faster than the second inflatable chamber to provide a stabilizing base for the second inflatable chamber.

5. The airbag of claim 1, further comprising a partition separating at least a portion of the first and second inflatable chambers from each other, wherein the partition prevents inflation gas from passing therethrough from either of the first and second inflatable chambers to the other of the first and second inflatable chambers.

6. The airbag of claim 5, wherein the partition comprises an interrupted seam positioned between the first and second inflatable chambers, wherein the interrupted seam encircles an opening in the airbag through which inflation gas is introduced into the airbag, and wherein portions of the seam that are not interrupted prevent inflation gas from passing therethrough.

7. The airbag of claim 5, further comprising a front panel and a rear panel that cooperate to define at least a portion of each of the first and second inflatable chambers, wherein the partition comprises a separate piece of material that is joined to the front and rear panels.

8. The airbag of claim 1, further comprising a deflector that redirects inflation gas to fill the first inflatable chamber before fully filling the second inflatable chamber.

9. The airbag of claim 1, further comprising a deflector that is in fluid communication with each of the first and second inflatable chambers and is positioned to receive inflation gas from an inflator, and wherein the deflector is configured to at least initially direct a greater amount of inflation gas to the first inflatable chamber as compared with the second inflatable chamber.

10. The airbag of claim 9, wherein the deflector comprises one or more arms that extend radially outwardly relative to a portion of the airbag at which inflation gas enters the airbag, and wherein the ends of the one or more arms are in fluid communication with the first inflatable chamber to permit inflation gas to exit the arms into the first inflatable chamber.

11. The airbag of claim 10, wherein at least one of the one or more arms comprise one or more vents through which inflation gas can pass into the second inflatable chamber.

12. The airbag of claim 1, further comprising a front panel and a rear panel that cooperate to form at least a portion of each of the first and second inflatable chambers, wherein the front panel is configured to contact the steering wheel and the rear panel is configured to receive a torso of a driver when the airbag is deployed.

13. The airbag of claim 12, wherein the rear panel defines an opening through which inflation gas passes after the inflation gas has exited an inflator, and wherein the first chamber is spaced from and encompasses the opening.

14. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is asymmetrical to provide greater support to the second chamber at a position closest to an A-pillar of the vehicle when the airbag is deployed, as compared to a position that is furthest from the A-pillar of the vehicle.

15. The airbag of claim 14, wherein the first chamber is asymmetrical relative to a vertical plane that passes through a portion of the airbag at which inflation gas enters the airbag, and wherein a portion of the volume of the first chamber that is configured to be on the side of the plane that is closest to an A-pillar of the vehicle when the airbag is installed in the vehicle and inflated is greater than a remaining volume of the first chamber that is on the other side of the plane.

16. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable chamber is configured to rest against the steering wheel to form a base for the second inflatable chamber, and wherein the first inflatable chamber extends outwardly beyond a periphery of the steering wheel.

17. The airbag of claim 1, wherein a first fluid path along which inflation gas can enter the first inflatable chamber extends from an opening in the airbag through which inflation gas is introduced into the airbag to the first inflatable chamber without passing through the second inflatable chamber, and wherein a second fluid path along which inflation gas can enter the second inflatable chamber extends from the opening in the airbag through which inflation gas is introduced into the airbag to the second inflatable chamber without passing through the first inflatable chamber.

18. The airbag of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second fluid paths extend through a conduit that is defined at least in part by a deflector.

19. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first inflatable chamber is devoid of vents and the second inflatable chamber comprises a vent through which inflation gas can exit the second inflatable chamber.

20. The airbag of claim 1, further comprising a panel configured to contact the steering wheel when the airbag is deployed, wherein the first inflatable chamber is configured to stiffen the panel as pressure within the first inflatable chamber increases.

21. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first chamber is configured to be fully inflated prior to full inflation of the second chamber, and wherein the one-way valve is configured to close before the second inflatable chamber is fully inflated.

22. A driver airbag comprising:

a first inflatable chamber;

a second inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber;

a deflector positioned to receive inflation gas from an inflator and to redirect a portion of inflation gas to each of the first and second inflatable chambers, wherein the deflector comprises one or more arms that extend radially outwardly relative to a portion of the airbag at which inflation gas enters the airbag, wherein the ends of the one or more arms are in fluid communication with the first inflatable chamber to permit inflation gas to exit the arms into the first inflatable chamber, and wherein the one or more arms comprise the one-way valve; and

a one-way valve configured to prevent fluid communication between the first and second inflatable chambers when the one-way valve is closed.

23. The airbag of claim 22, wherein the airbag is configured to be deployed from a steering wheel of a vehicle, and wherein the first inflatable chamber is configured to rest against the steering wheel when inflated.

24. The airbag of claim 22, wherein the deflector is positioned to receive inflation gas from an inflator, and wherein the deflector is configured to at least initially direct a greater amount of inflation gas to the first inflatable chamber as compared with the second inflatable chamber.

25. The airbag of claim 22, wherein at least one of the one or more arms comprise one or more vents through which inflation gas can pass into the second inflatable chamber.

26. The airbag of claim 22, wherein a first fluid path along which inflation gas can enter the first inflatable chamber extends from an opening in the airbag through which inflation gas is introduced into the airbag to the first inflatable chamber without passing through the second inflatable chamber, and wherein a second fluid path along which inflation gas can enter the second inflatable chamber extends from the opening in the airbag through which inflation gas is introduced into the airbag to the second inflatable chamber without passing through the first inflatable chamber.

27. An airbag assembly comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted to a steering wheel of a vehicle;

an inflator coupled to the housing; and

an airbag coupled with the inflator and packaged in the housing, the airbag comprising;

a first inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the steering wheel;

a second inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber to extend toward an occupant position of the vehicle to a greater extent than does the first inflatable chamber when the first and second inflatable chambers are inflated; and

a one-way valve that permits inflation gas to enter the first inflatable chamber to fill the first inflatable chamber during deployment of the airbag, wherein the one-way valve prevents fluid communication between the first and second inflatable chambers when the one-way valve is closed,

wherein the one-way valve has an inlet end in fluid communication with the second inflatable chamber and an outlet end in fluid communication with the first inflatable chamber.

28. A driver airbag configured to be deployed from a steering wheel of a vehicle, the airbag comprising:

a first inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the steering wheel;

a second inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber to extend toward an occupant position of the vehicle to a greater extent than does the first inflatable chamber when the first and second inflatable chambers are inflated; and

a one-way valve that permits inflation gas to enter the first inflatable chamber to fill the first inflatable chamber during deployment of the airbag, wherein the one-way valve prevents fluid communication between the first and second inflatable chambers when the one-way valve is closed,

wherein the first chamber is asymmetrical to provide greater support to the second chamber at a position closest to an A-pillar of the vehicle when the airbag is deployed, as compared to a position that is furthest from the A-pillar of the vehicle.

29. The airbag of claim 28, wherein the first chamber is asymmetrical relative to a vertical plane that passes through a portion of the airbag at which inflation gas enters the airbag, and wherein a portion of the volume of the first chamber that is configured to be on the side of the plane that is closest to an A-pillar of the vehicle when the airbag is installed in the vehicle and inflated is greater than a remaining volume of the first chamber that is on the other side of the plane.

30. A driver airbag configured to be deployed from a steering wheel of a vehicle, the airbag comprising:

a first inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the steering wheel;

a second inflatable chamber configured to be deployed adjacent to the first inflatable chamber to extend toward an occupant position of the vehicle to a greater extent than does the first inflatable chamber when the first and second inflatable chambers are inflated; and

a one-way valve that permits inflation gas to enter the first inflatable chamber to fill the first inflatable chamber during deployment of the airbag, wherein the one-way valve prevents fluid communication between the first and second inflatable chambers when the one-way valve is closed,

wherein a first fluid path along which inflation gas can enter the first inflatable chamber extends from an opening in the airbag through which inflation gas is introduced into the airbag to the first inflatable chamber without passing through the second inflatable chamber,

wherein a second fluid path along which inflation gas can enter the second inflatable chamber extends from the opening in the airbag through which inflation gas is introduced into the airbag to the second inflatable chamber without passing through the first inflatable chamber, and

wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second fluid paths extend through a conduit that is defined at least in part by a deflector.