With Specific Mounting Feature Patents (Class 280/728.2)
  • Patent number: 11299118
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (16) for an occupant restraint system, comprising a module cap (28) which in the mounted condition of the airbag module (16) faces an occupant and comprising a module bottom (30) which includes a latch means for securing the airbag module (16) to a vehicle component, wherein the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) are movable toward each other along a mounting axis (A) until they reach at first an axial pre-mounting position and then an axial final mounting position, the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) including interacting pre-fixing elements which captively secure the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) to each other in the pre-mounting position, the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) including interacting resistance contours which during an axial relative movement of the module cap (28) and the module bottom (30) from the pre-mounting position to the final mounting position have a predetermined mounting resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: André Funk, Marc Friess, Markus Haas
  • Patent number: 11292420
    Abstract: Inflatable airbag assemblies and methods are disclosed for a vehicle seating position having a utility component or occupant accessory that at least partially extends over a seat of the vehicle seating position. The utility component/occupant accessory may be stowable, and may be adjustable upward-downward, fore-aft, rotationally, etc. The utility component/occupant accessory may house an inflatable airbag cushion of the inflatable airbag assembly, which may deploy in a collision event so as to be disposed between the utility component/occupant accessory and the vehicle seating position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Changsoo Choi, Harry Park, Vinay Genthikatti
  • Patent number: 11292422
    Abstract: A restraint system includes a reaction surface and an airbag supported by the reaction surface. The airbag is inflatable along an axis away from the reaction surface to an inflated position. The airbag includes an inner portion and an outer portion concentric with the inner portion about the axis. The inner portion and the outer portion define a gap therebetween in the inflated position. The airbag includes a panel extending radially across the gap from the inner portion to the outer portion. The panel is uninflatable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Zhenyan Gao, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque
  • Patent number: 11292414
    Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag having a stored condition in which the airbag is deflated, flattened, and rolled and/or folded. A packaging wrap is formed from a fabric sheet. The packaging wrap includes a cover and an elongated tail that extends from the cover. The cover is configured to be wrapped or folded about the rolled and/or folded airbag to envelope and package the airbag in the stored condition. The tail is configured to be wrapped around the cover and the airbag packaged therein to secure the airbag packaged in the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Manuel Schaefer, Rico Scott Bertossi
  • Patent number: 11285901
    Abstract: An airbag device is moved toward mounting portions and pins are inserted into insertion holes. Slopes at the distal end of each pin come into contact with a locking bar, so that the locking bar rotates and enters a longitudinal groove. When the locking bar approaches a back surface of the longitudinal groove, the locking member is rotated by an urging force of the coil spring and enters lateral grooves. Thus, the airbag device is mounted on a steering wheel body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
    Inventors: Shinji Hayakawa, Masaru Iwazato
  • Patent number: 11285900
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes a housing having a base, a first wall, a second wall, and a pair of end walls defining a cavity. The first wall and the second wall are spaced from each other, each of the first wall and the second wall extending from the base to a distal edge. The pair of end walls are spaced from each other and extending from the first wall to the second wall. The distal edge of the first wall extends from the end walls toward the second wall. The airbag assembly includes an airbag disposed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Bhavani Thota, Chuck R. Reese, Angela Zaetta, Eric Axel Smitterberg, Linh Ngoc Doan, Murali Maddali
  • Patent number: 11279317
    Abstract: A gas generator including a diffuser for diffusing inflation gases generated by an inflator of the gas generator. The gas generator includes at least a first mounting stud. The diffuser has a cylindrical sidewall axially extending between first and second axial ends and circumferentially extending between first and second axially extending sides. A gap is defined between the first and second axially extending sides. The cylindrical sidewall includes a plurality of holes radially extend therethrough and includes a slot having a closed end and an open end. The diffuser circumferentially surrounds a portion of the cylindrical housing of the inflator with the first mounting stud disposed in the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Louis A. Mueller, Nathaniel Lee Gerlach
  • Patent number: 11279316
    Abstract: An airbag cushion, which expands and deploys between adjacent seats in a passenger compartment, comprising a top panel and bottom panel that are separated and face each other vertically when deployed, side panels connecting the edges of the top panel and the bottom panel, a protruding part that protrudes upward from the top panel, a cylindrical inflator attached along the inner surface of the side panel on the side of the protruding part is stowed in a folded state by overlaying the top panel and the side panel provided with the attachment part of the inflator, and lining up a first roll part which is the protruding part rolled up, a fold-back part which is the first side part folded back to cover the attachment part of the inflator, and a second roll part on top of the top panel with the second roll part in the center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Hiroyoshi Shimono, Yuto Kobayashi, Tsutomu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 11279310
    Abstract: An apparatus for connecting a curtain airbag to a vehicle includes a fabric mounting portion formed from or connected to the curtain airbag. The fabric mounting portion has a fastener retainer for retaining a fastener in the mounting portion during installation of the curtain airbag in the vehicle. The fastener retainer is formed from the mounting portion fabric and defined by one or more slots that extend through the mounting portion fabric, leaving the fastener retainer connected to the remainder of the mounting portion by one or more tabs. The mounting portion also has a retainer opening extending through the fastener retainer and sized to form an interference fit with the fastener so that the fastener retainer holds the fastener. The one or more tabs in combination with the one or more slots permits the fastener retainer to move relative to the remainder of the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC., DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventors: Ernesto Uribe, Miguel Sobradelo Sineiro, Pedro Lorenzo Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11273784
    Abstract: A side support block for a vehicle seat configured to be disposed adjacent to a lateral side of a seat back of the vehicle seat includes an airbag module, a cushion pad having a recessed portion accommodating the airbag module on a rear surface of the seat back, a frame embedded in the cushion pad, and a bracket with which the airbag module is fixed to the frame. The bracket includes a fixing portion to be fixed to a vehicle body, and the fixing portion is disposed behind the airbag module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TACHI-S CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shuhei Hashimoto, Kenji Sato
  • Patent number: 11267422
    Abstract: An elongate airbag module (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a folded airbag (12) and an envelope (14) receiving the folded airbag (12) and at least one elongate flexible fixing tab (16) via which the airbag module (10) can be fastened to a vehicle. The fixing tab (16) has at least one opening (24b) for receiving a fastening clip (18) through which an engaging portion (20) of the fastening clip (18) serving for locking to the vehicle extends. Portions of the fastening clip (18) are wrapped in the fixing tab (16), with the fixing tab (16) extending toward a free end (34) of the fixing tab (16), relating to the not yet folded state, substantially in parallel to a longitudinal direction (L) of the airbag module (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Tatjana Schmid
  • Patent number: 11267430
    Abstract: A knee protection airbag device includes: an airbag that is folded and stored; an inflator configured to supply inflation gas to the airbag; a case that stores the airbag and the inflator; and an airbag cover covering the folded airbag. The airbag cover includes a door portion that covers a protruding opening and can be opened when the airbag is deployed and inflated, and is attached to a peripheral wall portion of the case around the door portion. A recessed groove through which a harness main body can be inserted is formed at a portion of a peripheral edge of the protruding opening in the case so as to recess an end edge of the peripheral wall portion. A bead for reinforcement at a peripheral edge portion of the recessed groove is formed on the peripheral wall portion so as to surround a periphery of the recessed groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhito Kobayashi, Minoru Ono, Naoki Hotta, Tetsuya Ogata
  • Patent number: 11267435
    Abstract: An airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle includes an airbag, which can be unfolded by filling with a gas, and a sheathing, in which the airbag is arranged before and after filling. The airbag is provided and is to be arranged on the motor vehicle in such a way that, before filling, it is located in the region of a first end of the sheathing and/or a vehicle pillar of the motor vehicle and can be unfolded by filling inside the sheathing and along at least one section of the vehicle pillar up to a second end of the sheathing and/or the vehicle pillar. The invention further relates to a motor vehicle having such an airbag arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: DAIMLER AG
    Inventors: Yves Clauss, Till Heinrich, Ingo Kalliske, Marco Porstmann, Norman Steinke
  • Patent number: 11260822
    Abstract: A side airbag device includes: a side airbag in a folded state; a gas generator that includes an attachment portion to be attached to a vehicle, and that is configured to generate inflation gas to be supplied to the side airbag; a wrapping sheet that covers peripheries of the side airbag and the gas generator, and that is breakable when the side airbag is deployed and inflated; and a wire harness that includes a connection end portion electrically connected to the gas generator, and that is led out to an outer portion of the wrapping sheet. The wire harness is provided with a first locking portion, and the wrapping sheet is provided with a second locking portion that is locked to the first locking portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Matsuo Nagata, Tatsuya Hashido
  • Patent number: 11260782
    Abstract: A vehicle bracket assembly includes first and second platforms each including a body and connectors that extend from each of the bodies. A central base is disposed between the first and second platforms and are coupled to the first and second platforms via the connectors. First and second connecting legs are coupled to the body of each of the first and second platforms, respectively. A first attachment base is coupled to the first platform via the first connecting legs. A second attachment base includes a locating tab. The second attachment base is coupled to the second platform via the second connecting legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Liliana Alonso Vazquez, Alfredo Ivan Trujillo Rolon, Raul Ezequiel Alvarez Ruiz, Andrew John Abramouski, Carlos Ernesto Saenz Camacho
  • Patent number: 11235730
    Abstract: An extruded side curtain airbag ramp including a tear-resistant material forming at least one attachment feature and method for manufacturing said extruded side curtain airbag ramp. The airbag ramp according to the present invention incorporates a plurality of extruded materials and provides an easier manufactured product and attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Vintech Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Schoonover, Robert Rutoski
  • Patent number: 11235724
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a side airbag apparatus capable of quickly and properly restraining a passenger in the initial stage of deploying an airbag, along with a passenger protection apparatus including this. [Resolution means] A side airbag apparatus according to the present invention includes: an airbag for restraining a passenger when expanded and deployed; and an inflator for supplying expansion gas to the airbag. The airbag includes: a first chamber which houses the inflator and is deployed outside in the vehicle width direction of the frame side wall part; and a second chamber which is deployed inside in the vehicle width direction of the frame side wall part. In addition, the first chamber is deployed such that at least a portion thereof, as seen from the vehicle side, overlaps the frame side wall part. At this time, the rear end part of an expanding region of the second chamber, as seen from the vehicle side, is formed in front of the rear end part of the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Yuto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11235727
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (10) for fastening a gas generator (11) in an oscillatory manner as a vibration damping mass inside an airbag module. A fastening ring (12) provided for fastening the gas generator (11) has at least one elastic section (14) and at least one reinforcement insert (15) for reinforcing the fastening ring (12) and securing the fastening ring (12) to the gas generator. A surface of the reinforcement insert (15) is made at least in part of plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Constantin Von Roden, Gregor Eck, Holger Oechel
  • Patent number: 11230251
    Abstract: A side airbag device includes a main bag which is an airbag deployed between a passenger seated on a seat and a side wall portion of a vehicle. The airbag expands by gas supply when a vehicle side collision occurs. The side airbag device also includes a sub bag deployed between a side frame on a vehicle outer side in a seat back of the seat and the passenger. The sub bag expands by supplying gas and pushes a waist portion of the passenger forward from backward, prior to deployment of the main bag, when the vehicle side collision occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Tanaka, Takashi Iida, Kenichi Fukurono, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 11230249
    Abstract: An air bag guide for a motor vehicle, includes a molded component defining a guide channel with an exit opening so the air bag can exit from the guide channel. The molded component is a thermoplastic material or a thermoplastic matrix and includes an insert inserted into the molded component. A first section of the insert, connects the insert with the molded component. A second section hingedly connects to the first section that is movable and opens under the action of the air bag upon exiting the guide channel then closes the exit opening. The insert is of the same thermoplastic material as the molded component or includes the same thermoplastic matrix and is self-reinforcing at least in the second section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: MOTHERSON INNOVATIONS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Eric Nogaret
  • Patent number: 11220232
    Abstract: A ramp of a curtain airbag device including: a ramp body part on or into which a folded cushion is seated or inserted; one or more vehicle body mounting parts formed at a lower part of the ramp body part, and coupled to a vehicle body; one or more tab through-hole parts formed through the ramp body part, such that a mounting tab part of the cushion is passed through the tab through-hole part; and one or more locking hook parts formed at an upper part of the ramp body part, such that an end of the mounting tab part extended upward between the vehicle body and the ramp body part through the tab through-hole part is locked to the locking hook part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ju Kyung Kim, Hyung Ho Je
  • Patent number: 11214219
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, an inflator and an attachment base. The airbag includes a body portion, and an inflow port portion, into which the distal end side of the inflator is inserted. The attachment base includes a holding plate portion including a pressing portion and a support portion that are provided at positions displaced around an axial center of the inflator so as to surround a periphery of the inflow port portion into which the distal end side of the inflator is inserted. The pressing portion is plastically deformable so as to approach a side of the support portion by being crimped, and the distal end side of the inflator inserted between the pressing portion and the support portion and the inflow port portion are sandwiched between the crimped pressing portion and the support portion, and are held by the attachment base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minoru Ono, Tetsuya Ogata, Naoki Hotta
  • Patent number: 11214220
    Abstract: An air bag device to be installed in a vehicle provided with a front seat and a rear seat disposed away from each other in a front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a reclining mechanism provided in the front seat to allow a seat back to pivot about a reclining pivot axis includes an air bag that deploys from a back surface of the seat back of the front seat toward the rear seat. At least an upper rear portion of the air bag in a deployed state is formed into an arc shape about the reclining pivot axis in a side view of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mie Yoshimura, Teruhiko Hiruta, Taei Shibahara, Takahiro Narikawa
  • Patent number: 11214218
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (16) of a vehicle safety system as well as to a method of mounting an actuator assembly (10) for activating a tensile means (12) on a module casing (14) of the airbag module (16), comprising the following steps: a) the tensile means (12) is connected to the actuator assembly (10) and is fixed to a mounting element (18) together with the actuator assembly (10) so that the tensile means (12), the actuator assembly (10) and the mounting element (18) constitute a pre-mounted unit (20); the pre-mounted unit (20) is arranged inside the module casing (14) and is fastened to the module casing (14) by means of the mounting element (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Bernd Strobel, Jens Debler
  • Patent number: 11198410
    Abstract: A side airbag device includes a main bag which is an airbag deployed between a passenger seated on a seat and a side wall portion of a vehicle. The airbag expands by gas supply when a vehicle side collision occurs. The side airbag device also includes a sub bag deployed between a side frame on a vehicle outer side in a seat back of the seat and the passenger. The sub bag expands by supplying gas and pushes a waist portion of the passenger forward from backward, prior to deployment of the main bag, when the vehicle side collision occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koki Tanaka, Takashi Iida, Kenichi Fukurono, Yuji Sato
  • Patent number: 11192515
    Abstract: An airbag for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an upper portion for being mounted to a vehicle roof, a lower portion having a ring-shaped configuration configured to encircle the occupant and a seatback of the vehicle seat when deployed, and at least one pillar connecting the lower portion to the upper portion. The lower portion encircles the seatback configures the lower portion to utilize the seatback as a reaction surface for supporting the lower portion against movement in response to an impacting occupant. An airbag module includes a housing that supports the airbag and an inflator. A vehicle safety system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor senses the occurrence of an event for which deployment of the airbag is desired and produces a signal indicative thereof. The controller is connected to the sensor and, in response to receiving the signal, actuates the inflator to inflate and deploy the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Hylus Ranjit Raj Jayakar, Kurt F. Fischer
  • Patent number: 11192519
    Abstract: Provided is a gas generator including the housing with a gas discharge port. The housing has a circular shape and includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a peripheral wall, the housing having a ratio of an axial length L to an outer diameter D satisfying L/D?1.1. The gas discharge port includes first opening portions having low burst pressure (P1) of the closing member and second opening portions having burst pressure (P2) higher than the burst pressure (P1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11192514
    Abstract: A trim attachment system for a vehicle is provided herein. The trim attachment system includes first and second vehicle surfaces. A first fastener may be coupled to the first vehicle surface and may be configured for releasable engagement with a second fastener that is coupled to the second vehicle surface. Each of the first and second fasteners may include a substrate and a plurality of engaging stems protruding outward from the substrate. The plurality of engaging stems may be arranged into rows and columns on the substrate. The first fastener may be configured to be coupled to the second fastener, such that the plurality of engaging stems of the first fastener engage the plurality of engaging stems of the second fastener and the rows of the first fastener are generally perpendicular to the rows of the second fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Marc David Nedelman, Anatoly Gelfand
  • Patent number: 11192518
    Abstract: Provided is a curtain air bag device including a cushion body provided with a main cushion part and a cushion moving part that is inflated by gas injected from an inflator when the cushion body is deployed and presses the main cushion part in a desired direction, a strap part configured to bind the cushion body such that the main cushion part and the cushion moving part keep a folded shape and to be broken when the cushion body is deployed, and a mounting part connected to the cushion body and coupled to a vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Ho Kang
  • Patent number: 11186246
    Abstract: A rooftop airbag apparatus including: a first cushion deployed along a ceiling of a vehicle body; a second cushion connected to the first cushion and deployed toward a bottom of the vehicle body; and a third cushion connected to the second cushion and deployed in a widthwise direction of the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung Ho Min
  • Patent number: 11180107
    Abstract: An actuator assembly that includes an actuator device. The actuator device includes a tubular housing with a first end and a second end, the tubular housing defining a storage chamber containing a pyrotechnic material to produce gas. At least one electrical connection is coupled to the first end, the electrical connection in reaction initiating communication with the pyrotechnic material. An actuator housing that partially encompasses the tubular housing, wherein an outer surface of the actuator housing comprises a hexagon shaped portion that extends along a longitudinal direction of the actuator housing. An assembly housing at least partially encompasses the actuator device, wherein an inner surface of the assembly housing comprises an engaging surface portion that extends along a longitudinal direction of the assembly housing that corresponds to and slidably engages with the hexagon shaped portion of the actuator housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Francois Peremarty, Jeff Kida, Brent Alan Parks, Alan Ralph Larsen, Lutz Staack, Sven Hoffmann, Marcus Weber, Thomas Reiter
  • Patent number: 11180192
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration absorber ring (10) for fastening a gas generator (12) to a vehicle steering wheel (14), in a manner capable of vibrating, with a ring axis (A), a support portion (18) for fastening the vibration absorber ring (10) to a holding element, and an absorber portion (22) for fastening the gas generator (16) to the vibration absorber ring (10), wherein an elastic damping element (24) is provided, which extends in the axial direction from the absorber portion (22) towards a free end (26) and, between the absorber portion (22) and the free end (26), has a fastening element (28) for the gas generator (12), wherein the support portion (18) and the absorber portion (22) are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Bachmann, Joao Ribeiro, Marco Tumminello, Constantin Von Roden, Johannes Morhart, Christian Keschke, Gregor Eck, Sascha Schneider, Jurgen Burgard
  • Patent number: 11180105
    Abstract: In a method of folding a curtain-type side airbag (10) into an elongate airbag package (12) defining a longitudinal direction (L), wherein the side airbag (10) at one longitudinal end includes an elongate inflatable extension (14) having a free end (34), in a first folding step the extension (14) is folded over at a first folding line (30) enclosing an angle (?) <90°, especially between 30° and 60°, with the longitudinal direction (L), and in a second subsequent folding step the free end (34) of the extension (14) is folded over at a second folding line (36), the second folding line (36) enclosing an angle (?) of 0 to 45°, especially 0°, with the longitudinal direction (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Heigl, Max Sadwornych
  • Patent number: 11173864
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a curtain airbag having a stored condition in which the curtain airbag is deflated, flattened, and rolled and/or folded. The apparatus further includes a wrap that comprises an integral woven portion of the curtain airbag formed from a fabric extension of an upper edge of the curtain airbag. The wrap is configured to be wrapped about a circumference of the rolled and/or folded curtain airbag to package the curtain airbag in the stored condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventor: Dylan Moran
  • Patent number: 11167715
    Abstract: Pillar release mechanisms and related airbag cushion assemblies. Some embodiments may comprise a curtain airbag assembly comprising an inflator and a curtain airbag cushion configured to be inflated with the inflator. The curtain airbag cushion may extend along an elongated axis and the curtain airbag assembly may be configured to be positioned within and deploy from a panel of a vehicle. The assembly may further comprise a release mechanism coupled with the curtain airbag cushion and configured to be coupled with the panel. The release mechanism may be configured to release the panel using an initial deployment force from the curtain airbag cushion, the initial deployment force being in a direction at least substantially parallel to the elongated axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David Oral Ballam, Brian Laird, Yutaka Hirata, Lindford R. T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11161472
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling device (16) for mounting an airbag module (14) to be oscillating on a steering wheel structure (12) of a vehicle steering wheel (10), comprising a mounting member (18) which includes, relative to a steering wheel axis (A), an axial bottom side (20) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel (10) faces the steering wheel structure (12) as well as an opposite axial top side (22) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel (10) faces the airbag module (14), a contact face (24) for a damping element (26) provided on the axial bottom side (20) for oscillating coupling of the mounting member (18) to the steering wheel structure (12), and comprising a locking element (28) disposed on the top side (22) of the mounting member (18) for locking with the prefabricated airbag module (14), wherein the locking element (28) is configured so that the airbag module (14) can be coupled to the mounting member (18) by a locking connection substantially in an axial
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventor: Dominik Schütz
  • Patent number: 11155235
    Abstract: Airbag inflator system including a housing defining a flow passage leading into an interior of an airbag). A reverse flow valve is arranged at an inlet end region and selectively enables connection of the flow passage to ambient atmosphere dependent on a pressure differential on opposite sides of the reverse flow valve. A gas generator is arranged in connection with the housing. An activation system provides a signal to the gas generator to cause generation of gas. An aspirator is arranged between the reverse flow valve and the outlet end region and includes an inlet portion alongside the reverse flow valve and an aspiration portion partly separated from the inlet portion to define at least one opening in flow communication with the gas generator. The aspirator is preferably configured to generate gas flow in accordance with the Prandtl-Meyer effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Automotive Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: David S Breed, Gennadii A Voropaiev, Nina F Yurchenko, Yuriy A Paramonov, Andriy I Koshil
  • Patent number: 11155229
    Abstract: A device for removably mounting an airbag module includes at least two hooks connected to one of the airbag module or the steering wheel. The hooks cooperate with insertion elements located on the other of the airbag module or the steering wheel. A resilient ring forms elements for holding the hooks in zones of interaction. The resilient ring includes: first portions that extend in the interaction zones, and a second portion. The mounting device further includes elements for guiding the resilient ring that cause displacement of the first portions out of the zones of interaction, during displacement of the second portion in a direction away from an axis of rotation of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Antoine Ducardonnet, Fabrice Moinard, Frederic Tarte, Rene Fliegner
  • Patent number: 11142159
    Abstract: A cover apparatus of a driver airbag may include: a housing disposed in a mounting plate, and having an airbag installed therein; a cover installed over the housing so as to cover the top of the housing; and a tear line tearably formed on the housing such that the cover is opened when the airbag is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Oh Koang Kwon
  • Patent number: 11142156
    Abstract: A driver airbag mounting verification system comprises a portion of an electrical circuit configured to connect a vehicle horn to a vehicle-mounted power source. The portion of the electrical circuit includes two electrical contacts resiliently biased into contact with one another so as to complete electrically the electrical circuit and thereby to actuate the vehicle horn. The portion of the electrical circuit including both of the electrical contacts is mounted on one of a driver airbag module and a vehicle steering wheel. At least one of the electrical contacts is mounted such that said at least one of the electrical contacts is moved and held out of contact with the other of the electrical contacts when the driver airbag module is securely mounted on the vehicle steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Michael D. Kolosick
  • Patent number: 11130386
    Abstract: A duct system, and more particularly, a rigid endcap of the duct system can be configured to prevent a register from being damaged and from being displaced upon a curtain side airbag deployment. The duct system can include a headliner defining an opening, and a soft duct operatively connected to the headliner. The duct system can include a rigid endcap operatively connected to the headliner and to the soft duct. An airflow channel can be defined by the headliner, the soft duct, and the rigid endcap. Additionally, the rigid endcap can define a terminal end of the airflow channel, and the opening can be located along the airflow channel directly below the rigid endcap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Logan R. Astrike, Toshinao Wada, Skylar C. Watson, Chad Eric Anderson
  • Patent number: 11130464
    Abstract: Tabs for coupling or securing an airbag to a vehicle are provided. A tab may include a first panel and a second panel that meet at a foldable portion. First and second arms may extend away from a central portion of the first panel in substantially opposite directions. First and second recesses may extend inward from first and second lateral edges, respectively, of the second panel. The tab may be configured to be folded to form a bracket receiving member. The bracket receiving member may be configured to be disposed through an aperture of a bracket to secure the tab to the vehicle. Additionally, the first and second panels of the tab may be configured to be secured to an airbag to secure the airbag to the vehicle via the tab and the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Paul Dinsdale, Juan Carlos Garcia Callejas, Tyler Glen Christiansen, John Douglas Kemp
  • Patent number: 11124150
    Abstract: An air bag 2, an inflator 3, and a diffuser 30 are attached to a retainer 10. The diffuser 30 has a main surface portion 31, leg piece portions 32 extending in four radiating directions, and flap portions 34. The main surface portion 31 covers a head side of the inflator 3. The leg piece portion 32 passes through a mounting ring 20 and an inflator opening 12 and passes between the retainer 10 and a flange portion 3b of the inflator 3. A bolt 21 of the mounting ring 20 is inserted through a small hole 33 of the leg piece portion 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
    Inventors: Keisuke Onohara, Hiroki Takehara
  • Patent number: 11117609
    Abstract: A steering wheel includes a steering wheel axis, a hub for fastening the steering wheel to a steering shaft rotatable about a steering wheel axis, and a steering wheel rim connected to the hub and at least partially surrounding the hub in the circumferential direction. A mounting projection for fastening an operating unit is formed on the steering wheel rim and includes a coupling element for detachably fastening the operating unit as well as a positioning portion for fixing the operating unit in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA, S.A.
    Inventors: Ramon Baña Castro, Pedro Pereiro Coto, Miguel Segovia Romero, Alberto Santorio Cancelas, Rafael Carballido, Laurent Bauvineau, Clément Lemele, Nathalie Richeux Guilloux
  • Patent number: 11097684
    Abstract: The invention relates to a housing of a gas generator module for an airbag system of a motor vehicle, wherein the housing is of substantially tubular design and has a tube portion in which a plurality of stamped formations pointing into the interior of the housing are introduced over an external circumference of the housing, wherein the stamped formations in the interior of the tube portion have a stop for an internal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: BENTELER STEEL/TUBE GMBH
    Inventors: Marcel Wellpott, Daniel Luecke, Dirk Tegethoff
  • Patent number: 11084448
    Abstract: An assembly for attaching a trim element (2) to a structural element (3) of a vehicle, between which a safety airbag (27) is inserted that is able to take a folded stand-by position, a deployed protection position and a deflated post-deployment position, the attachment assembly comprising primary attachment means that allows the trim element (2) to be held against the structural element (3) when the airbag (27) is in stand-by position, and secondary attachment means allowing the trim element (2) to be held when the airbag (27) is in protection position comprises, in addition, means for bringing the trim element (2) back toward the structural element (3) when the airbag (27) is in post-deployment position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NOVARES FRANCE
    Inventor: François Bacelos
  • Patent number: 11084405
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes: a frame provided in at least one of a seat cushion and a seat back; an internal support member for supporting an occupant, the internal support member including a main body in plate or sheet form positioned within the frame and extending substantially in parallel with the frame, and a pair of inclined portions extending laterally outward from at least a part of either lateral side of the main body with a slant away from the frame; a pad placed on a front side of the frame and the internal support member; a skin member covering the pad; and a clip securing another member to one of the inclined portions. The one inclined portion is formed with a tubular portion projecting from a back side thereof orthogonally to the main body, the tubular portion internally defining a mounting hole receiving the clip therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignees: TS TECH CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Onuma, Soichiro Kamei, Masaki Shimazu, Akira Nakajima, Hiromitsu Nagatomo, Yuki Fukuda, Toshimitsu Mizukoshi, Taiji Misono, Kota Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11072303
    Abstract: In an upper interior structure of a vehicle of the present invention, a deployment guide portion for guiding a curtain airbag toward a cabin side when the curtain airbag is deployed. The deployment guide portion comprises a first guide part and a second guide part. The first guide part is arranged above a top ceiling and on an outward side, in a vehicle width direction, of the curtain airbag, facing an upper end portion of a pillar trim, so as to restrain the curtain airbag from being deployed outwardly in the vehicle width direction. The second guide part is arranged between the first guide part and the top ceiling, extending in a vertical direction, so as to restrain the curtain airbag from being deployed into a gap between the first guide part and the upper end portion of the pillar trim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Ono, Shoji Okano, Hiroshi Nagai, Katsunori Monden
  • Patent number: 11066040
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an airbag device that includes an airbag cushion inflated as a working gas is introduced thereinto, a partition installed inside the airbag cushion to partition the airbag cushion into a first chamber facing an occupant's head and a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber, and a deployment adjustment section configured to pass through the partition, to interconnect the first chamber and the second chamber, and to guide deployment of the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Hoon Ko, Ga Ram Jeong, Hae Kwon Park, Do Hyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 11066034
    Abstract: A head protection airbag module comprising a tubular inflator, a holder for the inflator and an airbag which is in fluid communication with the inflator and is folded to form a package, characterized by a guide element for the airbag which is arranged on the holder and includes a guide tongue extending into the airbag package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Jürgen Heigl, Hans-Joachim Tietze, Robert Disam, Steffen Seidel, Michael Rieger