AIRBAG ADAPTIVE VENTING FOR OUT-OF-POSITION OCCUPANTS

• US 20090039630A1
• Filed: 08/09/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rose, Larry D., Schneider, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/740
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An airbag assembly is disclosed for use in an automobile. The disclosed airbag assembly adaptively vents gas from the interior of the airbag depending on whether an obstruction is encountered during airbag deployment.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a cushion membrane which defines an interior of the inflatable airbag cushion;

at least one closeable vent wherein the vent is initially in a closed configuration, becomes open during the course of deployment, and remains open if the inflatable airbag cushion contacts an out of position occupant, and is closed upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the airbag assembly further comprises a diffuser within the inflatable airbag cushion.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the airbag cushion further comprises at least one fixed vent.

4. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a cushion membrane which defines an interior of the inflatable airbag cushion;

at least one closeable vent wherein the vent is closed during initial deployment of the inflatable cushion airbag, becomes open during the course of deployment, and remains open if the airbag contacts an obstruction, and becomes at least partially closed during the course of deployment without obstruction; and

,

a tether coupled to the cushion membrane, extending to and coupled to the closeable vent, wherein the tether is configured such that during the course of normal initial/mid-deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion or upon deployment with obstruction, tension is applied to the tether and the tether opens the closeable vent, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, tension is released from the tether and the vent is at least partially closed.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the airbag assembly further comprises a diffuser within the inflatable airbag cushion.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the inflatable airbag cushion further comprises at least one fixed vent.

7. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a cushion membrane which defines an interior of the inflatable airbag cushion;

at least one aperture defined by the cushion membrane to provide fluid communication for inflation gas out of the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion;

at least one aperture cover anchored to the cushion membrane on three sides of the vent aperture, the aperture cover configured to completely cover the aperture during initial airbag deployment, to become open during the course of deployment, and remain open if the airbag contacts an obstruction, and become at least partially closed during the course of deployment without obstruction; and

,

a tether attached to the cushion membrane, extending to and attached to the aperture cover, wherein the tether is configured to couple the force of the expanding cushion membrane to the aperture cover such that during the course of unobstructed deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion, tension is applied to the tether and the tether pulls a portion of the aperture cover away from the aperture, and upon full deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion without obstruction, tension continues to be applied to the tether sufficient to cause the tether to cease coupling the force of the expanding cushion membrane to the aperture cover, which allows the aperture cover to at least partially covers the aperture, the tether configured such that during the course of inflatable airbag cushion deployment with obstruction, the tether continues to open the aperture cover.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the airbag assembly further comprises a diffuser within the inflatable airbag cushion.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 7, wherein the inflatable airbag cushion further comprises at least one fixed vent.

10. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a cushion membrane which defines an interior of the inflatable airbag cushion;

at least one closeable vent having an aperture and an aperture cover, wherein the vent is closed during initial deployment of the inflatable cushion airbag, becomes open during the course of deployment, and remains open if the airbag contacts an obstruction, and becomes at least partially closed during the course of deployment without obstruction; and

,

a tether attached to the cushion membrane, extending to and attached to the closeable vent, wherein the tether is configured to couple the force of the expanding cushion membrane to the closeable vent, the tether further configured to rupture when a predetermined amount of tension is placed on the tether such that during the course of unobstructed deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion the tether ruptures and ceases to couple the force of the expanding airbag cushion membrane to the closeable vent, which allows the vent to at least partially close, and upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the tether does not rupture and the force of the expanding airbag membrane is coupled to the closeable vent which at least partially opens the closeable vent.

11. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the airbag assembly further comprises a diffuser within the inflatable airbag cushion.

12. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the inflatable airbag cushion further comprises at least one fixed vent.

13. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the tether ruptures via breakaway stitching being pulled free.

14. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the tether is attached to the airbag membrane using breakaway stitching, which causes the tether to pull free from the airbag membrane when the tether is exposed to a predetermined amount of tension.

15. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the tether is attached to the closeable vent using breakaway stitching, which causes the tether to pull free from the closeable vent when the tether is exposed to a predetermined amount of tension.

16. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the tether further comprises perforations, and ruptures at the perforations when exposed to a predetermined amount of tension.

17. An airbag assembly, comprising;

means for cushioning an occupant in a vehicle during a collision event;

means for venting inflation gas from the cushioning means;

means for selectively restricting the venting of inflation gas from the cushioning means through the venting means;

means for moving the selective gas venting means; and

,

means for releasing the moving means.