Low risk deployment airbag cushion

• US 7,931,299 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Baker, Paul Alan, McFadden, Stephanie Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US12/149,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20080203713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 280/739, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• 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 21/233 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 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

The application relates to an airbag with a venting assembly. An air bag cushion can include at least one panel and a tether that forms the venting assembly. The tether can include an attachment portion to attach the tether to a panel of the air bag cushion, an opening, at least one passive vent, and a discrete vent. The passive venting system can be formed by folding the tether over upon itself so that the opening and vents substantially lie above and below one another.

Claims

1. An air bag with at least one venting assembly, comprising:

at least one air bag panel; and

a tether that includes an opening and at least one vent;

wherein the tether is folded so that the opening and the vent overlay one another.

2. The air bag of claim 1, wherein the air bag panel includes at least one vent opening, wherein the vent opening of the air bag panel and the vent of the tether are configured to align with one another at least for a period of time during deployment of the air bag.

3. The air bag of claim 1, wherein a first portion of the tether including the opening is configured to move relative to a second portion of the tether including the vent during deployment of the air bag.

4. The air bag of claim 3, wherein the first portion is located underneath the second portion when the tether is folded.

5. The air bag of claim 3, wherein the vent is a passive vent.

6. The air bag of claim 5, wherein air bag and venting assembly are configured to close the passive vent if the air bag deploys without contacting an object or an out of position occupant.

7. The air bag of claim 5, wherein the tether further comprises a discrete vent.

8. The air bag of claim 7, wherein a joint is formed around the discrete vent.

9. The air bag of claim 7, wherein the air bag and venting assembly are configured so that the discrete vent remains open during deployment of the air bag.

10. The air bag of claim 1, further comprising at least one tear tab.

11. The air bag of claim 10, wherein the tear tab is located at one end of the tether and the tether is fixed to the air bag at an end of the tether opposite to the tear tab.

12. The air bag of claim 1, wherein the tether is connected to the air bag at a most rearward portion of the air bag in relation to a vehicle that the air bag is located in.

13. The air bag of claim 1, further comprising a central panel connection.

14. The air bag of claim 13, wherein the tether is connected to the central panel connection.

16. The air bag of claim 13, wherein the central panel connection includes an opening.

17. The air bag of claim 13, further comprising a second tether that is connected to a forward portion of the air bag.

18. The air bag of claim 13, wherein the central panel connection includes at least one alignment portion.

19. The air bag of claim 13, wherein the central panel connection is connected to the air bag by a joint.

20. The air bag of claim 13, wherein the central panel connection is connected to the air bag at a most rearward portion of the air bag in relation to a vehicle that the air bag is located in.

15. The air bag of clam 13, wherein the air bag comprises a plurality of venting assemblies, wherein each venting assembly includes a tether that is connected to the central panel connection.