3-layer “C” shaped side airbag

• US 9,108,587 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2013
• Issued: 08/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rickenbach, Roger, Wheelwright, Terry A., Parker, Don, Holliday, Andy, Donahue, Megan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US14/049,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20150097359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/729, 280/740
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

An airbag assembly may include an airbag with a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel. The first and second fabric panels may define a first inflatable cushion and the second and third fabric panels may define a C-shaped second inflatable cushion. Upon deployment, the first inflatable cushion may have a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion may have a second pressure greater than the first pressure. Further, the first inflatable cushion may be positioned directly outboard of the thoracic region and the second inflatable cushion may be positioned directly outboard of the acromial region and the coxal region, but not the thoracic region, to provide gentler cushioning for the thoracic region.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly for providing pressure-appropriate protection during a side impact collision generally for regions corresponding to an acromial region, a thoracic region, and a coxal region of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and seat back comprising:

an airbag comprising a stowed configuration in which the airbag is compacted proximate an outboard side of the vehicle seat and a deployed configuration in which the airbag is positioned to protect the occupant of the vehicle seat from lateral impact, the airbag comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel, wherein the first and second fabric panels define a first inflatable cushion and the second and third fabric panels define a second inflatable cushion; and

an inflator positioned at least partially within the airbag to deliver inflation gas to the first and second inflatable cushions;

an inflator adapter tube coupled to the inflator to control inflation gas flow into the second inflatable cushion; and

a valve coupled to the inflator adapter tube to restrict gas flow from the second inflatable cushion to the first inflatable cushion;

wherein, in response to delivery of the inflation gas, the airbag transitions from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration;

wherein, in the deployed configuration and in response to impingement of the occupant against the airbag, the first inflatable cushion comprises a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion comprises a second pressure greater than the first pressure;

wherein, in the deployed configuration, the first inflatable cushion is positioned outboard and corresponding generally to the thoracic region of the occupant;

wherein the second inflatable cushion comprises a substantially C-shape comprising a bottom end region, a central region, and a top end region such that, in the deployed configuration, the second inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of the first inflatable cushion with the top end region being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the acromial region of the occupant and extending forward from the seat back, the central portion being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the a forward portion of the seat back, and the bottom end region being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the coxal region of the occupant and a portion of the seat cushion.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the inflator adapter tube comprises a first end secured to the second fabric panel and a second end defining a gas delivery port disposed within the second inflatable cushion, wherein, during deployment, the gas delivery port is oriented toward an end region of the C-shape to expedite inflation gas flow into the end region.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein, in the deployed configuration, the first inflatable cushion is further positioned outboard of and generally corresponding to the acromial region and the coxal region of the occupant.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fabric panel and the second fabric panel are stitched together along a generally C-shaped seam that defines a portion of the C-shape.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the assembly comprises a diffuser within the first inflatable cushion, wherein the diffuser comprises a central portion positioned between the inflator and the C-shaped seam to redirect gas flow from the inflator around the C-shaped seam.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the diffuser comprises a first opening that directs inflation gas toward a top end region of the first inflatable cushion and a second opening that directs inflation gas toward a bottom end region of the first inflatable cushion.

7. A method for inflating an airbag disposed in a vehicle seat for providing pressure-appropriate protection during a side impact collision generally for regions corresponding to an acromial region, a thoracic region, and a coxal region of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat having a seat cushion and seat back, the method comprising:

delivering inflation gas into the airbag from an inflator, wherein the airbag comprises a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel, wherein the first and second panels define a first inflatable cushion, wherein the second and third panels define a second inflatable cushion comprising a substantially C-shape;

in response to delivery of the inflation gas into the airbag, transitioning the airbag from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration;

passing the inflation gas through an inflator adapter tube within which the inflator is at least partially positioned to control inflation gas flow into the second inflatable cushion; and

passing the inflation gas through a valve coupled to the inflator adapter tube to restrict gas flow from the second inflatable cushion to the first inflatable cushion;

wherein transitioning the airbag from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration comprises expanding the first inflatable cushion such that the first inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the thoracic region of the occupant;

wherein transitioning the airbag from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration comprises expanding the second inflatable cushion such that the second inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the acromial region and the coxal region of the occupant;

wherein, in the deployed configuration and in response to impingement of the occupant against the airbag, the second inflatable cushion comprises a second pressure higher than a first pressure of the first inflatable cushion.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the inflator adapter tube comprises a first end secured to the second fabric panel and a second end defining a gas delivery port disposed within the second inflatable cushion, wherein expanding the second inflatable cushion comprises orienting the gas delivery port to direct inflation gas into an end region of the C-shape.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein transitioning the airbag from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration further comprises positioning the first inflatable cushion outboard of and generally corresponding to the acromial region and the coxal region of the occupant, positioning a top end region of the C-shape outboard of and generally corresponding to the acromial region of the occupant, and positioning a bottom end region of the C-shape outboard of and generally corresponding to the coxal region of the occupant.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first fabric panel and the second fabric panel are stitched together along a generally C-shaped seam that defines a portion of the C-shape.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein delivering inflation gas into the airbag further comprises passing the inflation gas through a diffuser comprising a central portion positioned between the inflator and the C-shaped seam to redirect gas flow from the inflator around the C-shaped seam.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein passing the inflation gas through the diffuser comprises passing the inflation gas through a first opening of the diffuser that directs inflation gas toward a top end region of the first inflatable cushion and a second opening of the diffuser that directs inflation gas toward a bottom end region of the first inflatable cushion.

13. An airbag assembly for providing pressure-appropriate protection during a side impact collision generally for regions corresponding to an acromial region, a thoracic region, and a coxal region of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and seat back, comprising:

an airbag comprising a stowed configuration in which the airbag is compacted proximate an outboard side of the seat of the vehicle and a deployed configuration in which the airbag is positioned to protect the occupant of the seat from lateral impact, the airbag comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel via a C-shaped seam, wherein the second fabric panel comprises an aperture, the first and second fabric panels define a first inflatable cushion, and the second and third fabric panels define a second inflatable cushion having a C-shape defined by the C-shaped seam;

an inflator positioned at least partially within the airbag to deliver inflation gas to the first and second inflatable cushions;

an inflator adaptor tube, wherein the inflator is positioned at least partially within the inflator adaptor tube, the inflator adaptor tube comprising a first end positioned to receive inflation gas through the aperture and a second end defining a gas delivery port positioned within the second inflatable cushion;

a valve coupled to the inflator adapter tube to restrict gas flow from the second inflatable cushion to the first inflatable cushion; and

a diffuser within the first inflatable cushion, wherein the diffuser comprises a central portion positioned between the inflator and the C-shaped seam to redirect gas flow from the inflator around the C-shaped seam;

wherein, in response to delivery of the inflation gas, the airbag transitions from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration;

wherein, in the deployed configuration and in response to impingement of the occupant against the airbag, the first inflatable cushion comprises a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion comprises a second pressure greater than the first pressure;

wherein, in the deployed configuration, the first inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of and generally corresponding to the thoracic region of the occupant;

wherein the second inflatable cushion comprises a C-shape such that, in the deployed configuration, the second inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of and generally corresponding to the acromial region and the coxal region of the occupant.

14. The airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein the C-shape comprises a top end region positioned outboard of and generally corresponding to the acromial region of the occupant and a bottom end region positioned outboard of and generally corresponding to the coxal region of the occupant.

15. The airbag assembly of claim 14, wherein the gas delivery port is oriented toward the bottom end region of the C-shape to expedite inflation gas flow into the bottom end region.

16. The airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein, in the deployed configuration, the first inflatable cushion is further positioned outboard of and generally corresponding to the acromial region and the coxal region of the occupant.

17. The airbag assembly of claim 16, wherein the diffuser comprises a first opening that directs inflation gas toward a top end region of the first inflatable cushion and a second opening that directs inflation gas toward a bottom end region of the first inflatable cushion.

18. The airbag assembly of claim 13, wherein the inflator comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion encircled by the aperture such that the top portion is positioned within the diffuser and the bottom portion is positioned within the adapter tube.