Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle generally includes an airbag cushion, an inflator, and an inflation control device. The airbag cushion includes at least one panel surrounding an inflatable interior portion. The inflator is configured to provide inflation gas for inflating the airbag cushion. The inflation control device is located in the interior portion of the airbag cushion and includes a first member coupled to a coupling member. The first member is connected to the at least one panel. The inflation control device is configured to allow the airbag cushion to inflate generally unrestrained until each of the first and coupling member are subjected to a tensile force. The inflation control device is configured to reduce a rate at which the airbag cushion expands after the first and coupling members are subjected to the tensile forces.

Abstract: An airbag module comprising an inflatable airbag cushion that includes a vent hole and a vent pocket, an inflator for inflating the airbag cushion, an actuator, a vent member configured to fill at least a portion of the vent pocket to selectively cover the vent hole, and a tether having a first end and a second end. The first end of the tether is coupled to the vent member and the second end is coupled to the actuator. When the actuator has not been activated, the vent member remains in a first position covering the vent hole under a tension applied by the tether to thereby prevent inflation gas from escaping through the vent hole. When the actuator has been activated, the tension is reduced enough to allow the inflation gas to move the vent member to a second position uncovering the vent hole thereby allowing inflation gas to escape through the vent hole and through the vent member.

Abstract: An airbag module including an inflatable airbag and an inflator configured to provide gas for inflating the airbag. The airbag includes a vent opening in a surface of the airbag to allow inflation gas to escape the airbag. A tether is aligned against the surface of the airbag adjacent the opening. The tether includes a first tether opening and wherein the tether is configured so that the first tether opening and the vent opening are aligned prior to the full deployment of the airbag. During deployment of the airbag the position of the tether changes so that the first tether opening and vent opening are no longer aligned.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag system including an airbag including a vent and a vent cover, an actuator, and a tether. The tension can be applied to the tether when the actuator has not been activated. Further, when the actuator has not been activated, the vent is closed by the vent cover due to the tension applied to the tether connected to the vent cover. The actuator is configured, once inflation gas is supplied to inflate the airbag, to reduce or release the tension applied to the tether when the actuator is activated. The vent cover is configured to remain in position when the actuator has been activated until the inflation gas forces the vent open. The vent cover is configured to maintain the vent in a closed state when the actuator has not been activated. In addition, the vent cover can be located on an exterior surface of the airbag.

Abstract: A knee airbag module for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising a housing containing an inflatable airbag and an inflator for providing gas for inflating the airbag; and wherein the airbag is configured to inflate and deploy out of the housing into a position forward of the knees of the occupant; where the airbag includes front and rear panels that are connected together to form an inflatable chamber; wherein when the airbag deploys the front panel is positioned adjacent to an instrument panel of the vehicle and the rear panel is positioned adjacent to the occupant; wherein the cross-sectional vertical length of the front panel is shorter than the cross-sectional vertical length of the rear panel thereby causing the airbag to deploy upwardly.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, an airbag system includes an airbag cushion, a housing, an inflator, a latch mechanism, and a valve panel. The airbag cushion defines an inlet and a chamber. The house is coupled to the airbag cushion generally proximate the inlet. The inflator is coupled to the housing and is in fluidic communication with the inlet. The latch mechanism is coupled to the housing. The valve panel has a first end coupled to the airbag cushion generally opposite the inlet and includes a second end releasably coupled to the latch mechanism. The airbag cushion includes one or more vent apertures through a surface thereof. The valve panel includes one or more valve apertures and is disposed in the chamber generally adjacent the surface of the airbag cushion. The valve panel is configured to slide relative to the airbag cushion from a first position to a second position before being released by the latch mechanism to move to a third.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an airbag having a vent and a vent cover configured to close the vent, an actuator, and a tether. The tether is connected between the actuator and the airbag. The vent cover is positioned outside the airbag and between the tether and the airbag. During inflation of the airbag but prior to activation of the actuator, the tether is in tension so as to apply a normal force against the vent cover to maintain the vent in a closed state. The actuator is configured to be activated to reduce or release tension in the tether to reduce the normal force applied by the tether to the vent cover and allow inflation gas to move the vent cover to place the vent in an open state.

Abstract: An airbag module including an inflatable airbag and an inflator configured to provide gas for inflating the airbag. The airbag includes a vent opening in a surface of the airbag to allow inflation gas to escape the airbag. A tether is aligned against the surface of the airbag adjacent the opening. The tether includes a first tether opening and wherein the tether is configured so that the first tether opening and the vent opening are aligned prior to the full deployment of the airbag. During deployment of the airbag the position of the tether changes so that the first tether opening and vent opening are no longer aligned.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, an airbag system includes an airbag cushion, a housing, an inflator, a latch mechanism, and a valve panel. The airbag cushion defines an inlet and a chamber. The house is coupled to the airbag cushion generally proximate the inlet. The inflator is coupled to the housing and is in fluidic communication with the inlet. The latch mechanism is coupled to the housing. The valve panel has a first end coupled to the airbag cushion generally opposite the inlet and includes a second end releasably coupled to the latch mechanism. The airbag cushion includes one or more vent apertures through a surface thereof. The valve panel includes one or more valve apertures and is disposed in the chamber generally adjacent the surface of the airbag cushion. The valve panel is configured to slide relative to the airbag cushion from a first position to a second position before being released by the latch mechanism to move to a third.

Abstract: An airbag module for protecting the knees of an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag formed by at least one panel of material, an inflator that produces gas that inflates the airbag into a deployed condition, a tether connected to the airbag for restraining upward movement of the airbag when the airbag begins to deploy, and a housing. Prior to deployment, the airbag is compacted in the storage condition. In the storage condition, the airbag includes a rolled portion and a folded portion, where the folded portion includes a half Z-shape fold.

Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an airbag having a vent and a vent cover configured to close the vent, an actuator, and a tether. The tether is connected between the actuator and the airbag. The vent cover is positioned outside the airbag and between the tether and the airbag. During inflation of the airbag but prior to activation of the actuator, the tether is in tension so as to apply a normal force against the vent cover to maintain the vent in a closed state. The actuator is configured to be activated to reduce or release tension in the tether to reduce the normal force applied by the tether to the vent cover and allow inflation gas to move the vent cover to place the vent in an open state.

Abstract: An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag including an inflatable portion and an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag. The airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the non-inflatable portion is bounded on both sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag and wherein the non-inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant. The stiffness of the inflatable portion varies along the surface facing the occupant based on a changing distance from the surface to the non-inflatable portion.

Abstract: A knee airbag apparatus includes a front panel configured to face toward an occupant when the knee airbag deploys and a rear panel configured to face toward an instrument panel when the knee airbag deploys. The rear panel is joined to the front panel to form an inflatable knee cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant's knees during a crash event. The knee airbag further includes at least one internal tether extending between the front and rear panels. The internal tether is attached to the front panel at a front panel attachment location offset from a rear panel attachment location. The knee airbag further includes an external tether attached at one end to the front panel, and at a second end at the knee airbag housing.

Abstract: A knee airbag apparatus includes a front panel configured to face toward an occupant when the knee airbag deploys and a rear panel configured to face toward an instrument panel when the knee airbag deploys. The rear panel is joined to the front panel to form an inflatable knee cushion configured to inflate to protect an occupant's knees during a crash event. The knee airbag further includes at least one internal tether extending between the front and rear panels. The internal tether is attached to the front panel at a front panel attachment location offset from a rear panel attachment location. The knee airbag further includes an external tether attached at one end to the front panel, and at a second end at the knee airbag housing.

Abstract: An airbag module comprising an inflatable airbag cushion that includes a vent hole and a vent pocket, an inflator for inflating the airbag cushion, an actuator, a vent member configured to fill at least a portion of the vent pocket to selectively cover the vent hole, and a tether having a first end and a second end. The first end of the tether is coupled to the vent member and the second end is coupled to the actuator. When the actuator has not been activated, the vent member remains in a first position covering the vent hole under a tension applied by the tether to thereby prevent inflation gas from escaping through the vent hole. When the actuator has been activated, the tension is reduced enough to allow the inflation gas to move the vent member to a second position uncovering the vent hole thereby allowing inflation gas to escape through the vent hole and through the vent member.

Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag system including an airbag including a vent and a vent cover, an actuator, and a tether. The tension can be applied to the tether when the actuator has not been activated. Further, when the actuator has not been activated, the vent is closed by the vent cover due to the tension applied to the tether connected to the vent cover. The actuator is configured, once inflation gas is supplied to inflate the airbag, to reduce or release the tension applied to the tether when the actuator is activated. The vent cover is configured to remain in position when the actuator has been activated until the inflation gas forces the vent open. The vent cover is configured to maintain the vent in a closed state when the actuator has not been activated. In addition, the vent cover can be located on an exterior surface of the airbag.

Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus for protecting a front seat passenger of a vehicle. The apparatus includes an airbag module configured to be mounted in a instrument panel of a vehicle in front of the front seat passenger. The module includes an airbag and a gas generator. The airbag includes left and right inflatable lobes separated by a central gap. Each of the inflatable lobes is bounded by an outer panel forming an outer surface of the lobe and an inner panel forming an inner surface of the lobe.

Abstract: A knee airbag module for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising a housing containing an inflatable airbag and an inflator for providing gas for inflating the airbag; and wherein the airbag is configured to inflate and deploy out of the housing into a position forward of the knees of the occupant; where the airbag includes front and rear panels that are connected together to form an inflatable chamber; wherein when the airbag deploys the front panel is positioned adjacent to an instrument panel of the vehicle and the rear panel is positioned adjacent to the occupant; wherein the cross-sectional vertical length of the front panel is shorter than the cross-sectional vertical length of the rear panel thereby causing the airbag to deploy upwardly.

Abstract: An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag including an inflatable portion and an inflator for providing inflation gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the airbag. The airbag includes a non-inflatable portion located within the inflatable portion so that in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle the non-inflatable portion is bounded on both sides by the inflatable portion of the airbag and wherein the non-inflatable portion extends the entire cross vehicle width of the airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into a position so that a surface of the airbag faces the occupant. The stiffness of the inflatable portion varies along the surface facing the occupant based on a changing distance from the surface to the non-inflatable portion.

Abstract: A module comprising a packaged airbag, wherein the airbag is configured to deploy on an interior side of a vehicle in a curtain arrangement; wherein the airbag is packaged so that the bottom of the airbag is folded then rolled in an outboard direction; and wherein the packaged airbag includes a folded portion located above the outboard rolled portion; and wherein the top portion is folded along a longitudinally extending crease to create a folded section located adjacent and outboard the rolled and folded sections. A module further comprising a Z-shaped folded portion above the outboard rolled portion, a second fold of the bottom portion in the outboard direction, a Z-shaped fold located between the bottom and top portions of the airbag, an inflator system, a plurality of mounting straps, and at least one tether on each of the fore and aft ends of the module.