Airbag with at least one extension

• US 9,956,937 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2016
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jindal, Pardeep Kumar, Midoun, Djamal Eddine, Abramoski, Edward Joseph, Makwana, Rahul, Tiwari, Dev
• Primary Examiner(s): Verley, Nicole T
• Application Number:
  US15/258,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20180065590A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0053 Legs
• 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 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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

Abstract

An airbag includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a middle panel, and at least one extension. In the inflated position, the first side panel and the second side panel are spaced from each other by the middle panel, the middle panel having a top and a bottom, and a centerline between the first and the second side panels. The at least one extension is connected to at least one of the first side panel and the bottom of the middle panel, and is extendable in a direction away from the top of the middle panel in a deployed position.

Claims

1. An airbag inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag comprising:

a first side panel and a second side panel spaced from each other;

a middle panel extending from the first side panel to the second side panel transverse to the first and the second side panels in the inflated position;

the middle panel having a centerline between the first and second side panels, the middle panel having a top and a bottom spaced from each other along the centerline; and

an extension spaced from the centerline and connected to at least one of the first side panel and the bottom of the middle panel and a length of the extension extendable in a direction away from the top of the middle panel and toward a floor of a vehicle in a deployed position.

2. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the first side panel, the second side panel, the middle panel, and the extension define an inflation chamber.

3. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the extension extends from the at least one of the first side panel and the bottom of the middle panel in a direction transverse to the centerline.

4. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the extension has a width extending in a direction along the first side panel and a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the width, the width being greater than the thickness.

5. The airbag of claim 1 further comprising a base supporting the airbag, and a first tether connecting the base to the extension.

6. The airbag of claim 5, wherein the base is configured to selectively release the first tether.

7. The airbag of claim 1 further comprising a second extension spaced from the centerline and connected to at least one of the second side panel and the bottom of the middle panel and extendable in a direction away from the top of the middle panel in a deployed position.

8. The airbag of claim 7, wherein the second extension extends from the at least one of the second side panel and the bottom of the middle panel in a direction transverse to the centerline.

9. The airbag of claim 7, wherein the second extension has a length extending in a direction along the second side panel and a width perpendicular to the length, the length being greater than the width.

10. The airbag of claim 7 further comprising a base supporting the airbag, and a second tether connecting the base to the second extension.

11. The airbag of claim 10, wherein the base is configured to selectively release the second tether.

12. A vehicle comprising:

an instrument panel;

an airbag assembly including a base supported by the instrument panel and an airbag supported by the base, the airbag being inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position;

the airbag including a first side panel and a second side panel spaced from each other;

a middle panel extending from the first side panel to the second side panel transverse to the first and second side panels in the inflated position;

the middle panel having a centerline between the first and second side panels, the middle panel having a top and a bottom spaced from each other along the centerline; and

an extension spaced from the centerline and connected to at least one of the first side panel and the bottom of the middle panel and a length of the extension extendable in a direction away from the top of the middle portion and toward a floor of the vehicle in a deployed position.

13. The airbag of claim 12, wherein the first side panel, the second side panel, the middle panel, and the extension define an inflation chamber.

14. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the extension has a width extending in a direction along the first side panel and a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the width, the width being greater than the thickness.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 further comprising a first tether connecting the base to the extension.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the base is configured to selectively release the first tether.

17. The vehicle of claim 12 further comprising a second extension spaced from the centerline and connected to at least one of the second side panel and the bottom of the middle panel and extendable in a direction away from the top of the middle panel in a deployed position.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the second extension has a width extending in a direction along the second side panel and a thickness perpendicular to the width, the width being greater than the thickness.

19. The airbag of claim 18 further comprising a second tether connecting the base to the second extension.

20. The airbag of claim 19, wherein the base is configured to selectively release the second tether.