Airbag for oblique vehicle impacts

• US 9,550,465 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2016
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: EL-Jawahri, Raed Essa, Belwafa, Jamel E., Cheng, James Chih
• Primary Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US15/000,320
• Publication Number:
  US 20170015266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0032 Position of passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01512 Passenger detection systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01552 detecting position of specific human body parts, e.g. face, eyes or hands
• 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 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

An airbag system includes an inflator and an airbag in communication with the inflator. The airbag system includes a tether actuator and tethers extending from the tether actuator to the airbag. A controller is programmed to receive signals from an impact sensing system and a steering wheel angle sensor. The controller is programmed to instruct the tether actuator to release at least one of the tethers based at least on the signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the impact sensing system.

Claims

1. An airbag system comprising:

an inflator;

an airbag in communication with the inflator;

a tether actuator and tethers extending from the tether actuator to the airbag;

a controller programmed to receive signals from an impact sensing system and a steering wheel angle sensor, and to instruct the tether actuator to release at least one of the tethers based at least on the signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the impact sensing system.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the airbag includes a main portion defining an inflation chamber, and a plurality of extensions in communication with the inflation chamber, and wherein the tethers extend from the tether actuator to the extensions.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the airbag presents an impact surface spaced from the inflator in an inflated position and wherein the plurality of extensions are disposed about a perimeter of the impact surface.

4. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the airbag defines holes between the main portion and the extension and includes flaps connected to the tethers and mounted to the main portion adjacent the holes.

5. A method comprising:

receiving a signal from an impact sensing system indicating at least an occurrence of an impact of a vehicle;

receiving a signal from a steering wheel angle sensor indicating at least a rotational position of a steering wheel of the vehicle;

instructing a tether actuator to release at least one of a plurality of tethers based at least on the signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the impact sensing system.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5, wherein the signal from the impact sensing system indicates at least a direction of the impact.