Airbag with deflector
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag comprising:
- a base panel defining an inflator opening with which an inflator for delivering inflation gas into the airbag can be coupled, the base panel comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the base panel is configured to be mounted to a vehicle such that the top end of the base panel is at an upper position and the bottom end of the base panel is at a lower position, relative to the vehicle, when the airbag is in a deployed state;
a cushioning panel attached to the base panel and cooperating therewith to define an inflatable chamber;
a deflector attached to the base panel and positioned between the base panel and the cushioning panel, wherein the deflector covers the inflator opening of the base panel and cooperates with the base panel to define a lower inflation aperture that is closer to the bottom end of the base panel than is the inflator opening, and wherein the deflector is configured to direct inflation gas downwardly through the lower inflation aperture toward the bottom end of the base panel during deployment of the airbag; and
a tether attached to the base panel and the cushioning panel, wherein the tether extends through the lower inflation aperture defined by the deflector and the base panel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag can include a base panel and a cushioning panel that cooperate to define an inflatable chamber. A deflector can be positioned between the base panel and the cushioning panel. The deflector can be attached to the base panel so as to define a lower inflation aperture that directs inflation gas toward a bottom end of the base panel. In some arrangements, the airbag can include a tether that extends through the lower inflation aperture.
70 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An airbag comprising:
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a base panel defining an inflator opening with which an inflator for delivering inflation gas into the airbag can be coupled, the base panel comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the base panel is configured to be mounted to a vehicle such that the top end of the base panel is at an upper position and the bottom end of the base panel is at a lower position, relative to the vehicle, when the airbag is in a deployed state; a cushioning panel attached to the base panel and cooperating therewith to define an inflatable chamber; a deflector attached to the base panel and positioned between the base panel and the cushioning panel, wherein the deflector covers the inflator opening of the base panel and cooperates with the base panel to define a lower inflation aperture that is closer to the bottom end of the base panel than is the inflator opening, and wherein the deflector is configured to direct inflation gas downwardly through the lower inflation aperture toward the bottom end of the base panel during deployment of the airbag; and a tether attached to the base panel and the cushioning panel, wherein the tether extends through the lower inflation aperture defined by the deflector and the base panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An airbag comprising:
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a base panel defining an inflator opening with which an inflator for delivering inflation gas into the airbag can be coupled, the base panel comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the base panel is configured to be mounted to a vehicle such that the top end of the base panel is at an upper position and the bottom end of the base panel is at a lower position, relative to the vehicle, when the airbag is in a deployed state; a cushioning panel attached to the base panel and cooperating therewith to define an inflatable chamber; and a deflector positioned between the base panel and the cushioning panel and covering the inflator opening of the base panel, wherein the deflector cooperates with the base panel to define; an inflation cavity; a first lateral inflation aperture configured to direct inflation gas out of the inflation cavity in a direction having components in a first laterally outward direction and in a downward direction, without a component in an upward direction, during deployment of the airbag; a second lateral inflation aperture configured to direct inflation gas out of the inflation cavity in a direction having components in a second laterally outward direction and in the downward direction, without a component in the upward direction, during deployment of the airbag, wherein the second laterally outward direction is opposite of the first laterally outward direction; and a lower inflation aperture that is closer to the bottom end of the base panel than is the inflator opening, wherein the lower inflation aperture is configured to direct inflation gas out of the inflation cavity in the downward direction toward the bottom end of the base panel during deployment of the airbag; wherein the deflector is configured to direct all inflation gas out of the inflation cavity in directions that have no upward component. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An airbag assembly comprising:
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a housing configured to be mounted to a vehicle; an inflator coupled to the housing; and an airbag packaged within the housing and coupled with the inflator, wherein the airbag comprises; a base panel defining an inflator opening with which the inflator is coupled, the base panel comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the housing is configured to be mounted to the vehicle such that the top end of the base panel is at an upper position and the bottom end of the base panel is at a lower position, relative to the vehicle, when the airbag is in a deployed state; a cushioning panel attached to the base panel and cooperating therewith to define an inflatable chamber; and a deflector attached to the base panel and positioned between the base panel and the cushioning panel, an inflation cavity; a first lateral inflation aperture configured to direct inflation gas out of the inflation cavity in a direction having components in a first laterally outward direction and in a downward direction, without a component in an upward direction, during deployment of the airbag; a second lateral inflation aperture configured to direct inflation gas out of the inflation cavity in a direction having components in a second laterally outward direction and in the downward direction, without a component in the upward direction, during deployment of the airbag, wherein the second laterally outward direction is opposite of the first laterally outward direction; and a lower inflation aperture that is closer to the bottom end of the base panel than is the inflator opening, wherein the lower inflation aperture is configured to direct inflation gas out of the inflation cavity in the downward direction toward the bottom end of the base panel during deployment of the airbag; wherein the deflector is configured to direct all inflation gas out of the inflation cavity in directions that have no upward component. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification