LOW MASS PASSENGER AIRBAG

• US 20180056915A1
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Published: 03/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Webber, James, Vanderbossche, Jonathan R., Nestico, Gregory A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,112,568 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0032 Position of passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag system includes an airbag module configured to be supported by an instrument panel of a vehicle. The airbag module includes a fabric housing having a top panel and one or more side panels extending from the top panel, and an airbag disposed within the fabric housing, the airbag movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position. In the undeployed position, the one or more side panels include a folded portion configured to extend in an unfolding action as the airbag is inflated and deployed, the unfolding action of the one or more side panels directing an expansion of the airbag in a desired direction.

Claims

1. An airbag system for a vehicle having an instrument panel, the airbag system comprising:

an airbag module configured to be supported by the instrument panel, the airbag module including;

a fabric housing having a top panel and one or more side panels extending from the top panel; and

an airbag disposed within the fabric housing, the airbag movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position,

wherein in the undeployed position, the one or more side panels include a folded portion configured to extend in an unfolding action as the airbag is inflated and deployed, and wherein the unfolding action of the one or more side panels directs an expansion of the airbag in a desired direction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric housing is a flexible housing and substantially encloses the airbag.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the fabric housing includes a tear seam configured to tear after the folded portion has unfolded to a fully extended position.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the tear seam is disposed in the top panel, wherein in the fully extended position, the top panel is disposed above the instrument panel of a vehicle.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the airbag module further comprises an outer wrap having a tear seam, wherein the fabric housing is disposed within the outer wrap.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the fabric housing substantially encloses the airbag.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a support bracket coupled to the airbag module, the support bracket configured to couple to the instrument panel and including a main body portion and a pair of opposed side plates.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the pair of opposed side plates bound at least a portion of the one or more side panels of the fabric housing.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the side plates each include an attachment feature configured to couple the support bracket to a structural component of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the support bracket includes a generally planar main body portion having a surface configured to support the airbag module, the pair of opposed side plates extending upwardly from the main body portion.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the support bracket further includes opposed attachment panels each extending outwardly from the main body portion, the opposed attachment panels configured to couple to the structural component of the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the fabric housing is rectangular.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the airbag module is a passenger air bag configured to be disposed behind the instrument panel of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising an inflator operably associated with the airbag and configured to selectively inflate the airbag into the deployed position.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the inflator is coupled to the support bracket.

16. A vehicle comprising:

an instrument panel having a panel tear seam defined therein; and

a passenger airbag system disposed behind the instrument panel, the passenger airbag system comprising;

an airbag module configured to be supported by the instrument panel, the airbag module including;

a fabric housing having a top panel and one or more side panels extending from the top panel; and

an airbag disposed within the fabric housing, the airbag movable between an undeployed position and a deployed position,

wherein in the undeployed position, the one or more side panels include a folded portion configured to extend in an unfolding action as the airbag is inflated and deployed, wherein the unfolding action of the one or more side panels directs an expansion of the airbag in a desired direction.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the passenger airbag system further comprises a support bracket coupled between the airbag module and the instrument panel.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a cross-car structural member, wherein the support bracket is coupled to both the cross-car structural member and the instrument panel.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the fabric housing is a flexible housing and substantially encloses the airbag and includes a tear seam configured to tear after the folded portion has unfolded to a fully extended position;

and

wherein the tear seam is disposed in the top panel, and in the fully extended position, the top panel is disposed above the instrument panel of the vehicle.