Airbag cushion with cinch tube for reduced out-of-position effects

• US 7,347,450 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rose, Larry D., Jordan, Michael P., Smith, Bradley W., Williams, Jeffrey D., Jamison, Patrick D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/959,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 280/739, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An airbag cushion is disclosed for use in automotive protective systems. The airbag cushion includes a tube that may be restricted to prevent gas venting. A cord is coupled to the tube and to a surface of the cushion. Upon airbag deployment, the cord extends until taut or extends until the cushion encounters an obstruction. If pulled taut, the cord tightens the tube and restricts gas venting. If the cushion encounters an obstruction, the cord remains lax and the tube is able to vent gas.

Claims

1. An airbag cushion module, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion defining an interior;

a cinch tube having a base end opposite from a terminal end, wherein the terminal end has an aperture; and

a cinch cord coupled to the terminal end of the cinch tube and extending around a majority of the aperture of the terminal end of the cinch tube, the cinch cord further coupled to a surface of the airbag cushion such that upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the cinch cord does not fully extend and the cinch tube remains open, and upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the cinch cord extends and at least partially closes the aperture at the terminal end,

wherein the cinch tube is configured such that the aperture at the terminal end at least partially closes, upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, without necessitating closure of the base end of the cinch tube, and

wherein the configuration of the cinch tube and the length of the cinch cord enables the aperture to at least partially close, upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, such that the terminal end is at least partially within the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion after the aperture becomes at least partially closed.

2. The airbag cushion module of claim 1, wherein the cinch tube includes,

a sleeve extending around the majority of the aperture of the terminal end of the cinch tube and housing a portion of the cinch cord;

and

a sleeve aperture in communication with the sleeve and through which the cinch cord passes.

3. The airbag cushion module of claim 2, further comprising a stopper coupled to the cinch cord and disposed within the sleeve prior to airbag deployment, the stopper adapted to pass through the sleeve aperture upon airbag deployment and resisting entry into the sleeve aperture after airbag deployment.

4. The airbag cushion module of claim 2, further comprising a tack stitch inserted into the sleeve and the cinch cord.

5. The airbag cushion module of claim 2, wherein the cinch tube includes a plurality of loops and wherein the cinch cord is disposed within the loops.

6. The airbag cushion module of claim 1, wherein the surface coupled to the cinch cord is an internal surface of the inflatable airbag cushion and the cinch cord is disposed within the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

7. The airbag cushion module of claim 1, wherein the surface coupled to the cinch cord is an external surface of the inflatable airbag cushion.

8. The airbag cushion module of claim 1, further comprising:

a second cinch tube having a base end opposite from a terminal end, wherein the terminal end has an aperture; and

a second cinch cord coupled to the terminal end of the second cinch tube and extending around a majority of the aperture of the terminal end of the second cinch tube, the second cinch cord further coupled to a surface of the airbag cushion such that upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the second cinch cord does not fully extend and the second cinch tube remains open, and

upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the second cinch cord extends and at least partially closes the aperture at the terminal end without necessitating closure of the base end of the second cinch tube;

wherein the second cinch tube is configured such that the aperture at the terminal end of the second cinch tube at least partially closes, upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, without necessitating closure of the base end of the second cinch tube, and

wherein the configuration of the second cinch tube and the length of the second cinch cord enables the aperture to at least partially close, upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, such that the terminal end of the second cinch tube is at least partially within the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion after the aperture of the second cinch tube becomes at least partially closed.

9. The airbag cushion module of claim 8, wherein the cinch tubes are symmetrically disposed on the airbag cushion.

10. The airbag cushion module of claim 1, further comprising a vent disposed on the airbag cushion and adapted to vent gas during airbag deployment with and without obstruction.

11. An airbag cushion module, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion defining an interior;

a first cinch tube and a second cinch tube, wherein each cinch tube has a base end opposite from a terminal end, and each terminal end has an aperture; and

a cinch cord coupled to the first and second cinch tubes and extending around a majority of the aperture of the terminal end of each of the cinch tubes;

wherein the cinch cord passes through a cinch loop coupled to a surface of the airbag cushion at a location such that upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the cinch cord does not fully extend and the cinch tubes remain open, and

upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the cinch cord extends and at least partially closes the apertures of the terminal ends of the cinch tubes;

wherein the cinch tubes are configured such that the apertures at the terminal ends at least partially closes, upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, without necessitating closure of the base ends of the cinch tubes, and

wherein the configuration of the cinch tubes and the length of the cinch cord enables the apertures to at least partially close, upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, such that the terminal ends are at least partially within the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion after the apertures becomes at least partially closed.

12. The airbag cushion module of claim 11, wherein the first and second cinch tubes each include,

a sleeve extending around the majority of the aperture of the terminal end of the cinch tube and housing a portion of the cinch cord;

and

a sleeve aperture in communication with the sleeve and through which the cinch cord passes.

13. The airbag cushion module of claim 12, further comprising a first stopper coupled to the cinch cord and disposed within the sleeve of the first cinch tube and a second stopper coupled to the cinch cord and disposed within the sleeve of the second cinch tube, the first and second stoppers adapted to pass through corresponding sleeve apertures upon airbag deployment and resisting entry into the sleeve apertures after airbag deployment.

14. The airbag cushion module of claim 12, further comprising tack stitches inserted into the sleeves of the first and second cinch tubes and the cinch cord.

15. The airbag cushion module of claim 11, wherein the first and second cinch tubes each include a plurality of loops and wherein the cinch cord is disposed within the loops.

16. The airbag cushion module of claim 11, wherein the surface coupled to the cinch loop is an interior surface of the inflatable airbag cushion and the cinch cord is disposed within the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion.

17. The airbag cushion module of claim 11, wherein the surface coupled to the cinch cord is an external surface of the inflatable airbag cushion.

18. The airbag cushion module of claim 11, wherein the first and second cinch tubes are symmetrically disposed on the inflatable airbag cushion.

19. The airbag cushion module of claim 11, further comprising a vent disposed on the inflatable airbag cushion and adapted to vent gas during airbag deployment with and without obstruction.

20. An airbag cushion module, comprising:

an inflatable airbag cushion defining an interior;

means for venting gas out of the airbag; and

means for restricting gas venting by cinching the venting means to reduce the circumference of the venting means at a terminal end without necessitating closure of an opposing base end upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction and enabling the venting means to remain open upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction

wherein the configuration of the venting means and configuration of the means for restricting gas venting enable the venting means to at least partially close, upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, such that the terminal end is at least partially within the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion after the venting means becomes at least partially closed.