Abstract: An inflator bracket for mounting an inflator of an airbag arrangement to a frame of a vehicle includes a main body portion elongated along a length between a first end and a second end. The main body portion includes a front side for receiving the inflator. The inflator bracket additionally includes first and second mounting portions for attachment to the frame of the vehicle. The inflator bracket further includes an interference portion extending from a rear side of the main body portion for contacting the frame of the vehicle and offsetting at least a portion of the main body portion from the frame. The interference portion has a first end depending from the main body portion and a second end. The second end is a free end. The interference portion is adapted to absorb energy from an impact force.

Abstract: An inflator bracket for mounting an inflator of an airbag arrangement to a frame of a vehicle includes a main body portion elongated along a length between a first end and a second end. The main body portion includes a front side for receiving the inflator. The inflator bracket additionally includes first and second mounting portions for attachment to the frame of the vehicle. The inflator bracket further includes an interference portion extending from a rear side of the main body portion for contacting the frame of the vehicle and offsetting at least a portion of the main body portion from the frame. The interference portion has a first end depending from the main body portion and a second end. The second end is a free end. The interference portion is adapted to absorb energy from an impact force.

Abstract: Airbags including tethered inflatable chambers are disclosed. The tethered inflatable chambers can include internal tethers that are configured to break when an internal pressure of a tethered inflatable chamber reaches a predetermined value. Methods of forming an airbag fabric including internal tethers are also disclosed.

Abstract: Airbags including tethered inflatable chambers are disclosed. The tethered inflatable chambers can include internal tethers that are configured to break when an internal pressure of a tethered inflatable chamber reaches a predetermined value. Methods of forming an airbag fabric including internal tethers are also disclosed.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag assembly has a tubular rolled or folded curtain airbag, and at least one stiffening member provided at the tubular rolled or folded curtain airbag. The stiffening member is fixed by an adhesive connection, a sewing connection, a welding connection or a melting connection directly to the curtain airbag.

Abstract: An inflatable curtain airbag assembly has a tubular rolled or folded curtain airbag, and at least one stiffening member provided at the tubular rolled or folded curtain airbag. The stiffening member is fixed by an adhesive connection, a sewing connection, a welding connection or a melting connection directly to the curtain airbag.

Abstract: Inflatable curtain airbags can be used to mitigate the likelihood of an occupant being ejected from a vehicle through a side window. Inflatable curtain airbags are typically tethered to a vehicle structure on a car-forward side, but may not be tethered to a vehicle structure on their car-rearward side. Increased friction between the car-rearward side of the airbag and an adjacent vehicle structure can be used to help the airbag say in place, and thereby decrease the likelihood of an occupant passing the airbag and being ejected from the vehicle.

Abstract: Inflatable curtain airbags can be used to mitigate the likelihood of an occupant being ejected from a vehicle through a side window. Inflatable curtain airbags are typically tethered to a vehicle structure on a car-forward side, but may not be tethered to a vehicle structure on their car-rearward side. Increased friction between the car-rearward side of the airbag and an adjacent vehicle structure can be used to help the airbag say in place, and thereby decrease the likelihood of an occupant passing the airbag and being ejected from the vehicle.

Abstract: A textile gas guide may include a fabric member which may include an obverse side, a reverse side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The fabric member may overlap upon itself at least once such that at least a portion of the obverse side adjacent the leading edge may be disposed to align with at least a portion of the reverse side adjacent the trailing edge to define an overlapping region. A first seam may be sewn through the overlapping region, the first seam being in shear stress when the airbag module is inflated. An airbag module may include the above textile gas guide and an airbag cushion including an inflation throat. At least a portion of the textile gas guide may be located within the inflation throat. An inflator may be inserted into the textile gas guide.

Abstract: A method of folding or compacting a door-mounted inflatable curtain airbag to reduce the overall length of the airbag for positioning onto a vehicle. The airbag may generally be substantially parallellogrammatical in shape. The method involves a two-step process (1) folding the airbag along an axis that is substantially normal to the rear edge (first edge) of the airbag and (2) subsequently folding the airbag radially to compact the airbag down into its final, storable position. The present methods allow folding, compaction of the airbag without having a fold that is parallel to the compacted length of the airbag.

Abstract: A method of folding or compacting a door-mounted inflatable curtain airbag to reduce the overall length of the airbag for positioning onto a vehicle. The airbag may generally be substantially parallellogrammatical in shape. The method involves a two-step process (1) folding the airbag along an axis that is substantially normal to the rear edge (first edge) of the airbag and (2) subsequently folding the airbag radially to compact the airbag down into its final, storable position. The present methods allow folding, compaction of the airbag without having a fold that is parallel to the compacted length of the airbag.

Abstract: A textile gas guide may include a fabric member which may include an obverse side, a reverse side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The fabric member may overlap upon itself at least once such that at least a portion of the obverse side adjacent the leading edge may be disposed to align with at least a portion of the reverse side adjacent the trailing edge to define an overlapping region. A first seam may be sewn through the overlapping region, the first seam being in shear stress when the airbag module is inflated. An airbag module may include the above textile gas guide and an airbag cushion including an inflation throat. At least a portion of the textile gas guide may be located within the inflation throat. An inflator may be inserted into the textile gas guide.

Abstract: The application provides a bracket for regulating the deployment characteristics of a deploying airbag cushion. The brackets of the invention provide at least local control over the deployment path of an airbag cushion by rotating at least a portion of the cushion along its length either away from a vehicle occupant, or more generally, away from a structure, person, or object possibly positioned in the path of a deploying airbag cushion. Such brackets may be structured to rotate a deploying cushion in part by providing an additional reaction surface and by partially surrounding the cushion.

Abstract: The application provides a bracket for regulating the deployment characteristics of a deploying airbag cushion. The brackets of the invention provide at least local control over the deployment path of an airbag cushion by rotating at least a portion of the cushion along its length either away from a vehicle occupant, or more generally, away from a structure, person, or object possibly positioned in the path of a deploying airbag cushion. Such brackets may be structured to rotate a deploying cushion in part by providing an additional reaction surface and by partially surrounding the cushion.