Airbags with sewn leak reducing panels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inflatable cushion assembly, comprising:
- an inflator configured to generate inflation gas in response to predetermined conditions;
an inflatable cushion coupled to, and in fluid communication with, the inflator at a throat portion, wherein the inflatable cushion is a sealed cushion without vents, wherein the inflatable cushion comprises a front face and a rear face that meet at an edge, wherein the front face and the rear face define a void for receiving the inflation gas, and wherein the inflatable cushion further comprises a boundary seam adjacent to the edge of the inflatable cushion;
a throat liner comprising an aperture for passage of the inflation gas into the inflatable cushion, and a first exterior surface, wherein the throat liner is disposed at a position within the void of the inflatable cushion, wherein the first exterior surface is positioned at or adjacent to the boundary seam, and wherein the throat liner is coupled to the inflatable cushion at one or more coupling sites, the one or more coupling sites comprising;
a first panel coupled to an exterior surface of the front face of the inflatable cushion; and
a second panel coupled to an exterior surface of the rear face of the inflatable cushion, wherein stitching couples at least a portion of the first and second panels, the front and rear faces of the inflatable cushion, and the throat liner at the one or more coupling sites, wherein the stitching extends through each of the void of the inflatable cushion and the aperture of the throat liner, and wherein the first and second panels overlap at least the boundary seam of the inflatable cushion and the first exterior surface of the throat liner.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag, or inflatable cushion assembly, can include an inflatable cushion and a throat liner. The throat liner can be coupled to an interior surface of the inflatable cushion at one or more coupling sites. The one or more coupling sites can include one or more panels that can be coupled to at least a portion of both of the inflatable cushion and the throat liner. The one or more panels can be configured to control or inhibit egress of an inflation gas at the one or more coupling sites.
11 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An inflatable cushion assembly, comprising:
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an inflator configured to generate inflation gas in response to predetermined conditions; an inflatable cushion coupled to, and in fluid communication with, the inflator at a throat portion, wherein the inflatable cushion is a sealed cushion without vents, wherein the inflatable cushion comprises a front face and a rear face that meet at an edge, wherein the front face and the rear face define a void for receiving the inflation gas, and wherein the inflatable cushion further comprises a boundary seam adjacent to the edge of the inflatable cushion; a throat liner comprising an aperture for passage of the inflation gas into the inflatable cushion, and a first exterior surface, wherein the throat liner is disposed at a position within the void of the inflatable cushion, wherein the first exterior surface is positioned at or adjacent to the boundary seam, and wherein the throat liner is coupled to the inflatable cushion at one or more coupling sites, the one or more coupling sites comprising; a first panel coupled to an exterior surface of the front face of the inflatable cushion; and a second panel coupled to an exterior surface of the rear face of the inflatable cushion, wherein stitching couples at least a portion of the first and second panels, the front and rear faces of the inflatable cushion, and the throat liner at the one or more coupling sites, wherein the stitching extends through each of the void of the inflatable cushion and the aperture of the throat liner, and wherein the first and second panels overlap at least the boundary seam of the inflatable cushion and the first exterior surface of the throat liner. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An airbag, comprising:
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an inflatable cushion coupled to an inflator at a throat portion, wherein the inflatable cushion comprises a front face and a rear face that meet at an edge, wherein the front face and the rear face define a void for receiving the inflation gas, and wherein the inflatable cushion further comprises a boundary seam adjacent to the edge of the inflatable cushion, and wherein the inflatable cushion is a sealed cushion without vents; a throat liner comprising an aperture for passage of the inflation gas into the inflatable cushion, and a first exterior surface, wherein the throat liner is disposed at a position within the void of the inflatable cushion, wherein the first exterior surface is positioned at or adjacent to the boundary seam, and wherein the throat liner is coupled to the inflatable cushion at one or more coupling sites comprising a panel, the panel comprising; a first border, a second border at a position opposite from the first border, a middle portion positioned between the first border and the second border, and a slit bisecting at least a portion of the panel at the middle portion, wherein the slit is substantially longitudinally aligned with the edge of the inflatable cushion, wherein at least a portion of the panel adjacent to the first border is coupled to an exterior surface of the front face of the inflatable cushion, wherein at least a portion of the panel adjacent to the second border is coupled to an exterior surface of the rear face of the inflatable cushion, wherein the first border and the second border overlap at least the boundary seam of the inflatable cushion and the first exterior surface of the throat liner, wherein stitching couples at least a portion of the panel, the front and rear faces of the inflatable cushion, and the throat liner at the one or more coupling sites, and wherein the stitching extends through each of the void of the inflatable cushion and the aperture of the throat liner. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An airbag, comprising:
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an inflatable cushion coupled to an inflator at a throat portion, the inflatable cushion comprising an edge, a boundary seam adjacent to the edge of the inflatable cushion, and a void for receiving an inflation gas, wherein the inflatable cushion is a sealed cushion without vents; a throat liner comprising an aperture for passage of the inflation gas into the inflatable cushion, and a first exterior surface, wherein the throat liner is disposed at a position within the void of the inflatable cushion, wherein the first exterior surface is positioned at or adjacent to the boundary seam, and wherein the throat liner is coupled to the inflatable cushion at one or more coupling sites, the one or more coupling sites comprising; a first panel coupled to an exterior surface of the inflatable cushion; and a second panel coupled to an exterior surface of the inflatable cushion, wherein the edge of the inflatable cushion is positioned between the first panel and the second panel, wherein stitching couples at least a portion of the first and second panels, the inflatable cushion, and the throat liner at the one or more coupling sites, wherein the first and second panels overlap at least the boundary seam of the inflatable cushion and the first exterior surface of the throat liner, and wherein upon inflation of the inflatable cushion, egress of the inflation gas is inhibited at the site of the stitching by the first panel and the second panel. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification