Deployment Door Patents (Class 280/728.3)
  • Patent number: 11932193
    Abstract: A vehicle interior panel for use over a deployable airbag includes an outer substrate portion having a top side, a bottom side, a tear seam, and a structural rib extending from the bottom side of the outer substrate portion. The panel includes an inner substrate portion having a top side, a bottom side, and a deflector extending from the top side of the inner substrate portion. The deflector is configured to contact the structural rib and the tear seam during deployment of the airbag. A method of manufacturing the panel includes injecting the outer substrate portion with the inner substrate portion and folding the inner substrate portion at a hinge region toward the outer substrate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Faurecia Interior Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Carlos Gerardo Lopez Martinez
  • Patent number: 11884230
    Abstract: An instrument-panel assembly for a vehicle includes an instrument panel. The instrument-panel assembly includes a steering column adjacent to the instrument panel. The instrument-panel assembly includes an airbag mounted to the instrument panel below the steering column. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position below the steering column. The airbag defines a knee cavity in the inflated position. The airbag in the inflated position has a knee-forward panel vehicle-forward of the knee cavity; a first wing and a second wing that extends vehicle-rearward from the knee-forward panel on opposite sides of the knee cavity; and a top panel that extends vehicle-rearward from the knee-forward panel and extends from the first wing to the second wing above the knee cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11865992
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising: an airbag device comprising a housing and an airbag, the airbag having a packed configuration and an expanded configuration, the airbag expanding through the aperture in the housing when moving from the packed configuration to the expanded configuration; a composite material panel positioned to cover the airbag device, the panel comprising a break line running over the panel, the break line being proximal to the aperture so that when the airbag moves to the expanded configuration the airbag forces the panel to tear along the break line; and a first protection flap, the first protection flap having an initial configuration where the first protection flap is located adjacent the airbag in the packed configuration and a deployed configuration where the first protection flap covers at least one edge of the panel that runs along one side of the break line when the panel has torn due to the airbag moving to the expanded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: McLaren Automotive Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Mungall, Kingsley Ohuka, Matteo Moscatelli, Tom Sellen
  • Patent number: 11754262
    Abstract: A lighting emblem assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a cover having an installation region surrounded by an inner sidewall and including a light opening formed to pass through the installation region, an inner cover installed in the installation region and including an installation groove, and a lighting module which is installed in the installation groove, is connected to an external power source using a cable connected to a connector, and emits light to an outside through the light opening. The cable may extend between the inner cover and the inner sidewall to an upper end portion of the inner sidewall, and in a state in which the connector extends to an outside of the installation region, a root portion connected to the connector of the cable may be fixedly restricted by a fixing part provided on the inner cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: I Seul Kang
  • Patent number: 11691589
    Abstract: A driver-side airbag device includes: a mounting plate; a cushion disposed inside the mounting plate and configured to be inflated by gas supplied thereto; a cover surrounding the cushion and having a movable lid to be cut and tilted by an inflation of the cushion; a decoration part disposed on a front surface of the movable lid and to be rotated together with the movable lid; and a connector having one side disposed between the cover and the decoration part and another side coupled to the mounting plate, the connector configured to restrain forward deployment of the cover when the cushion is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung Gu Kang, Do Hyoung Kim, Seok Hoon Ko
  • Patent number: 11685336
    Abstract: A vehicle-hood assembly includes a vehicle hood and an energy absorber fixed to the vehicle hood. The energy absorber is releasable from a compressed position to an uncompressed position. The energy absorber includes a chamber that is sealed and vacuum pressurized in the compressed position. An actuator is configured to unseal the chamber to release the energy absorber from the compressed position to the uncompressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Saeed D. Barbat, Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque
  • Patent number: 11630033
    Abstract: A testing device for an airbag module includes a support structure to which an airbag module containing an airbag can be fastened, the support structure forming a passage which can be penetrated by the airbag, at least one lid movably fastened to the support structure by fastening means between a closing position in which the lid closes the passage and an open position in which the passage is opened, and a closure device that closes the lid in the closing position by applying a closing force to the lid, wherein the lid comprises at least one first force sensor measuring the opening force applied to the lid by the airbag when moved out of the closed position by the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: MOTHERSON INNOVATIONS COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Erkan Bal, Alexander Bader, Lukas Kuegel, Konrad Forsthofer
  • Patent number: 11623606
    Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle steering wheel comprising a device for removably mounting an airbag module on the steering wheel, the mounting device comprising at least two hooks linked to either the airbag module or the steering wheel, first portions extending into the interaction zones to form the means for holding the hooks guiding elements forming two distinct removal paths for guiding a removal tool, the steering wheel comprising a single removal opening for insertion of the removal tool along the two removal paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Fabrice Moinard
  • Patent number: 11603069
    Abstract: Airbag covers having emblems and related methods for coupling emblem elements to airbag covers. In some implementations, a fastening member coupled to an emblem element may be inserted through an opening formed within an airbag cover. The emblem element may be secured to the airbag cover by reshaping at least a portion of the fastening member using a LASER welding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 11524651
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover for closing a mouth of a receptacle holding an airbag with at least one airbag flap, wherein the cover has at least one breakaway line at the edge of the airbag flap(s) in order to enable the unfolding of the airbag, and wherein the airbag flap(s) is/are connected via a hinge element to a flap support wall in a molded manner, which is in contact with the inner surface of the receptacle wall in particular in a secured manner, wherein the flap support wall runs around the inner surface of the receptacle wall such that at least the four corners of the receptacle near the airbag flap(s) are covered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: K.L. KASCHIER-UND LAMINIER GMBH
    Inventors: Rembert Schulze Wehninck, Albert Roring
  • Patent number: 11518333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driver airbag apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus having a configuration in which a driver airbag module (20) is mounted on a hub (12) of a steering wheel (10) and a display (30) is mounted on a front side of the airbag module (20), wherein an airbag cover (400) is lift-opened upward by deployment pressure of an airbag cushion (200), an opening angle of the airbag cover (400) is limited by a configuration of an opening angle limiter (500) provided in an airbag housing (100) and the airbag cover (400), and deployment direction of the airbag cushion (200) is controlled by the airbag cover (400) having a limited opening angle so that that airbag cushion may avoid the display (30) and deploy toward the driver through a space (13) between the display (30) and a rim (11) of the steering wheel (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min June Song, Seok Hoon Ko
  • Patent number: 11505152
    Abstract: In a vehicle seat, a back pad outer skin covering a surface of a back pad includes a first portion covering a surface of one part, including a side face, of a bolster pad part, and second portions covering a surface of another part that is different from the one part of the bolster pad part. A bound part is formed by binding to each other mutually adjacent end parts of the first portion and the second portions and extremity parts of expansive force transmission webbings having base portions fixed to a frame, the bound part being capable of breaking when an airbag is made to expand. A non-stretchable cloth member is disposed on a reverse side of specific outer skin portions, covering a front face of the bolster pad part, of the second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignees: TS Tech Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Tachi—S Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Tetsumei Mochizuki, Soichi Nishikawa, Tomoyo Futakawame, Kazuo Noguchi, Ryou Kurobe
  • Patent number: 11485310
    Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes: (i) an airbag chute module which forms a guide to direct an airbag deployment provided with a through-opening, (ii) a deployment panel being movable between a through-opening closing position in which the deployment panel covers at least partially the through-opening and an airbag deployment position in which the deployment panel enables the airbag deployment through the through-opening, and (iii) at least a flexible retention net having a first plane-portion disposed within the airbag chute module, a second plane-portion disposed within the deployment panel and a third portion which extends from the first and second plane-portions. The third portion of the flexible retention net includes an overmolded area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventor: David Onorato Estevez
  • Patent number: 11420584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cover cap (10) for an airbag module (12), especially for a driver airbag module, comprising a front panel (14) including an outer face (16) as well as an opposed inner face (18) which in the assembled state of the airbag module (12) faces a folded airbag (20), and an emblem (22) including two separate emblem elements (24, 26) fastened to the front panel (14), wherein the front panel (14) has a tear line (32) along which the cover cap (10) tears upon activation of the assembled airbag module (12), and wherein the tear line (32) extends between the two separate emblem elements (24, 26). Furthermore, the invention also includes an airbag module (12) comprising said cover cap (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventors: Andreas Joachim Maria Jonietz, Luis Barandela Iglesias, Victor José Zalez Horta, Pedro Pereiro Coto
  • Patent number: 11420585
    Abstract: A cover device of an airbag including a cover unit formed with first tear lines, and able to be torn along the first tear lines; and a housing unit formed to extend in a direction from a rim of the cover unit, and formed with second tear lines. Portions of the housing unit are torn along the second tear lines and rotate by the cover unit, which is torn and rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Oh Koang Kwon
  • Patent number: 11420580
    Abstract: Provided are: an instrument panel capable of stably deploying a deployment part; and a method for manufacturing the instrument panel. An instrument panel is provided with: a base part; and a deployment part which is surrounded by the base part, faces an air bag, and includes a tear line, wherein a slit structure including a plurality of slits arranged so as to surround the tear line is formed in the deployment part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Taiki Moriizumi, Atsushi Hanaoka, Mitsuaki Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 11407372
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag flap covering the mouth of an airbag receptacle, wherein an airbag outer cover overlies the airbag flap and the airbag flap is connected via a hinge element to a flap support wall in a molded manner, which is in turn secured to the airbag outer covering and/or to a wall of the receptacle, wherein the airbag flap and the flap support wall consist of the same flat plastic, in particular a composite material, wherein a direction-fin-guiding structure, in the form of numerous slits and/or openings, is provided in the flat plastic, in particular in the composite material, in the region of the hinge element and/or to one or both sides of the hinge element, in the flat plastic, in particular in the composite material, and thereby creates at least one stretch region in the material in the direction in which the airbag flap moves outward through the airbag cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: K.L. KASCHIER -UND LAMINIER GMBH
    Inventors: Rembert Schulze Wehninck, Albert Roring
  • Patent number: 11390237
    Abstract: An airbag lid reinforcing member includes a door part, a flange part, a leg part and a hinge member. The flange part surrounds an outer periphery of the door part. The leg part is arranged on the flange part. An inside surface of the leg part defines support ribs supporting the hinge member. The support ribs are arranged with a gap in a width direction of the leg part. A portion of the hinge member is buried in the flange part. In a region of the hinge member between a tip of each of the support ribs and an end surface of the flange part, at least an upper part in a thickness direction of the hinge member is exposed from the support ribs. A portion of the hinge member positioned between adjacent ones of the support ribs is exposed from the support ribs and the flange part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Marelli Corporation
    Inventor: Yousuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11383639
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination apparatus in which a light source module 100 is mounted on a steering wheel 10, an illumination element 200 is mounted on a driver airbag cover 20, and the light of the light source module 100 is transmitted to the illumination element 200 through an optical fiber 300. When the driver airbag cushion is deployed due to an accident, it is possible to prevent the scattering of the light source module 100, thereby preventing injuries to the passengers due to the light source module 100, simplifying the structure of the driver airbag cover 20 and achieving weight reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Oh Koang Kwon
  • Patent number: 11332095
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a chute panel of an airbag assembly. The method comprises forming a substrate from a first material to have a body having first and second ends and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween and a void residing in the body. The method further comprises forming a chute and a chute door from a second material. The chute comprises a base molded onto the substrate body and one or more sidewalls extending from the base. And wherein forming the chute door comprises filling the void in the substrate body with the second material to form the chute door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: INOAC USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley W. Harris, Michael J. Aittama
  • Patent number: 11312327
    Abstract: A vehicle seat includes a seat pad and a seat cover including a first part and a second part. The seat cover is provided with: a sewing line that sews the first part and the second part together; and an outline stitch that extends in parallel to the sewing line and that is located on one side of the sewing line. A belt-shaped plate is sewn to a first seam allowance and a first main body of the first part by the outline stitch in a position on an end side of the first seam allowance relative to the sewing line. The seat pad is covered with the seat cover in a state where the belt-shaped plate extends beyond the sewing line toward the second part and where the belt-shaped plate presses a second seam allowance to abut against a second main body of the second part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideki Ohtsu
  • Patent number: 11305718
    Abstract: A driver airbag module with a lighting device installed in a steering wheel of a vehicle is proposed. The driver airbag module includes an inner cover extending in a direction of a plane parallel to the steering wheel and having an accommodation space recessed downwards; an emblem panel accommodated in the accommodation space to be disposed in an upper portion of the inner cover and integrally coupled with the inner cover; a lighting device accommodated in the accommodation space to be disposed between the emblem panel and the inner cover; and an outer cover extending in the direction of the plane parallel to the steering wheel and integrally coupled with an upper surface of the inner cover while covering the emblem panel and the inner cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Hoon Ko, Do Hyoung Kim
  • Patent number: 11292417
    Abstract: A knee airbag device includes: a knee airbag that is housed in a folded state at a lower end portion of an instrument panel, and that, due to gas being supplied thereto, is inflated and expanded along the instrument panel; an airbag case that houses the knee airbag; an airbag door portion that structures a lower surface of the airbag case, and that, due to a planned rupture portion rupturing due to inflation pressure of the knee airbag, is opened toward a vehicle front side; and a flap that is housed within the airbag case, one end portion of the flap being fixed to the airbag case, another end portion of the flap being a free end, and that, at a time of inflation and expansion of the knee airbag, unfolds, and covers the airbag door portion from a vehicle rear side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Hioda
  • Patent number: 11279308
    Abstract: A crash pad including an air-bag-door-opening part is provided, which includes a crash pad base, an air-bag-door-opening part, which is positioned so as to face air-bag doors disposed on the crash pad base, and an opening-inducing groove, which is formed along an opening line of the air-bag-door-opening part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, KBI DONGKOOK IND. CO., LTD., HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hyun An, Chang Hoon Yang, Ik Jin Jung, Seung Sik Han, Dong Il Son, Chang Woo Kang, Seung Hwan Hyun
  • Patent number: 11279309
    Abstract: An occupant support includes a seat frame, a seat cushion unit, and an airbag system. The airbag system includes an airbag unit coupled to the seat frame and an airbag chute coupled to the seat cushion unit. The airbag chute encloses the airbag unit and retains the airbag unit to the seat frame. The airbag chute includes a first chute flap, a second chute flap, and a zipper coupling distal ends of the first and second chute together in an installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Faurecia Automotive Seating, LLC
    Inventors: Dorothy Kromm, Igor Fudym
  • Patent number: 11247628
    Abstract: A fastening device fastens an airbag module to an airbag receiver on an instrument panel of a vehicle by forming at least one mechanical connection and at least one welded connection between the airbag module and the instrument panel. The instrument panel has at least one projection and a flange protruding from the projection to define a compartment and form a fastening bracket for the mechanical connection of the airbag module to the instrument panel. The instrument panel and the airbag receiver have welding ribs for the welded connection between the airbag receiver of the airbag module and the instrument panel. A device prepares an instrument panel and a corresponding instrument panel. A method includes steps of fastening an airbag to the instrument panel and a vehicle with a corresponding instrument panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Matthias Wunderlich, Christof Oles
  • Patent number: 11247632
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes interior component and a panel rotatably connected to the interior component. The assembly includes an actuator designed to rotate the panel relative to the interior component. A sheet extends from the interior component to the panel. An airbag is supported by the interior component and is inflatable to an inflated position adjacent the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Mangesh Kadam
  • Patent number: 11235726
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hinge structure for an air bag door. The hinge structure includes a housing disposed inside a crash pad, an air bag disposed inside the housing, an air bag door disposed on a rear surface of the crash pad adjacent to the air bag, a hinge portion disposed on at least a portion of a rear surface of the air bag door, and a scrim member disposed at least a portion of the hinge portion, the housing and the air bag door, all the components constituting an air bag assembly, wherein the hinge portion is constructed so as to break when the air bag door is opened, and the scrim member serves to enable the air bag door to be opened while being connected to the housing after the hinge portion breaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, DUCK YANG IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Hyun An, Jung Hoon Woo, In Soo Han, Seung Sik Han, Ik Jin Jung, Seung Ho Kim, Jang Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11230248
    Abstract: A knee airbag apparatus including a housing part that is formed such that one side thereof is open, a cover part covering the open portion of the housing part, a cushion part that is accommodated in a folded state inside the housing part and connected to an inflator, and a flap part surrounding the folded cushion part on a side of the cover part, and blocking a gap between the housing part and a lower panel of a vehicle to substantially prevent the cushion part from being caught by the lower panel when the cushion part is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: I Seul Kang
  • Patent number: 11225217
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes an airbag housed deployably, and an instrument panel covering the airbag in a deploying direction and forming a design surface of a vehicle cabin. The instrument panel includes, on the design surface facing the vehicle cabin, a character line including continuous protrusions toward the deploying direction. The instrument panel includes, on a surface facing the airbag along the character line, a tear line that ruptures at the time of deployment of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji Kokubu, Masatoshi Otake, Takeshi Miyajima, Masayuki Tado
  • Patent number: 11173861
    Abstract: An assembly includes an airbag that has a panel defining an inflation chamber. The assembly includes a foam pad exterior to the inflation chamber with the foam pad fixed to the panel of the airbag. The foam pad is intended to provide an additional layer of reinforcement for the inflation chamber 18 when the foam pad interacts with its surroundings upon inflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph E. Abramczyk, Zhibing Deng, Jeffrey C. Paddock, Deepak Patel
  • Patent number: 11173862
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a passenger airbag chute that includes a chute frame, a door plate disposed in an opening of the chute frame, a hinge allowing the door plate to be rotatably connected to the chute frame, and a screen including a frame coupling part coupled to the chute frame, a door coupling part coupled to the door plate, and a hinge coupling part formed between the frame coupling part and the door coupling part and coupled to the hinge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Kyeong Lee
  • Patent number: 11167716
    Abstract: An instrument panel for a passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle comprises a molded plastic substrate and a skin covering the substrate. The substrate has inner and outer surfaces, and is adapted to be mounted in the passenger compartment adjacent a windshield. The inner surface is adapted to receive an air bag chute assembly for deploying an air bag. The inner surface is inscribed by a door groove defining a deployment door at least partially tearing open to expel the air bag. The outer surface is inscribed by a hinge groove following a chord path bisecting the outer surface of the deployment door and configured to bend in response to an edge of the deployment door impacting the windshield. The impact force against the windshield is reduced while stiffness of the door against the air bag remains high to facilitate tearing open of the door by the air bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yi Yang Tay, Li Lu, Kenneth J. Kwasnik, Lisandro Trevino
  • Patent number: 11124148
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device (10) comprises a pre-assembled head side airbag module (12) installed in a backrest (14) of a vehicle seat (16) and including an airbag (28) which deploys between two places adjacent transversely to the longitudinal vehicle direction and reduces lateral oscillation of a vehicle occupant toward an adjacent vehicle seat and/or an adjacent vehicle occupant. The head side airbag module (12) comprises a module housing (32) surrounding the airbag (28) at least partially in the installed condition which includes a guiding portion (34) extending on the side of the airbag (28) and exerting a force (F) upon the deploying airbag (28) so that during deployment the latter is pressed in the direction of the vehicle occupant to be restrained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Gerd Zischka, Dominique Acker, Jürgen Scherr, Marco Wahl
  • Patent number: 11117534
    Abstract: A system for adjusting at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of a vehicle (10) is disclosed. The system may include an exterior sensor (44) configured to generate a signal indicative of an identity a user before the user enters the vehicle (10), and a controller (60) in communication with the exterior sensor (44) and an actuator (40) configured to adjust the at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38). The controller (60) may be configured to automatically cause the actuator (40) to adjust the at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) responsive to the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Faraday&Future Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Coburn, Nicholas William Dazé, Charles Edward Spencer
  • Patent number: 11091112
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag assembly includes a vehicle trim panel including at least one door having an outer surface facing a vehicle cabin and an inner surface facing an airbag prior to deployment, In a pre-deployed state the door extends across an opening and is movably coupled to a rim to open upon deployment of the airbag to permit passage of the airbag through the opening. At least one edge of the door has a tear seam that couples the door to the vehicle trim panel. A bridging member is adjacent the inner surface of the door. The bridging member is configured to contact the inner surface at a location away from the rim and support the door in the pre-deployed state. The bridging member extends at least partially across the opening and is movable upon deployment of the airbag such that the airbag is permitted to pass through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLD
    Inventors: Michal Jan Swiniarski, Timothy Scott
  • Patent number: 11046278
    Abstract: An airbag cover assembly of an airbag module has a molded housing cover and a thin leather or imitation outer cover. The molded housing cover is configured for attachment to the airbag module. The housing cover has an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface has a plurality of tear seams arranged to break along a predetermined path. The thin leather or imitation leather outer cover is glued or otherwise affixed directly onto the outer surface of the housing cover. The leather or imitation leather outer cover has a generally uniform thickness devoid of tear seams. The thin leather or imitation outer cover has a thickness of less than 1.0 mm, preferably 0.6 mm. The outer cover is constructed from three separate pieces stitched together with threads longitudinally along a curved arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Rilat, Alexandru Ciocan, Marius-Ioan Bogdanesc
  • Patent number: 11040686
    Abstract: To improve workability when attaching an airbag module disposed in a side portion of a vehicle seat from a seat back side. A vehicle seat (S) includes: a side frame (13) which constitutes a side portion of a seat back frame (10); a bracket (20) which includes an attachment portion (21) attached to a side surface of the side frame (13) on a seat inner side and a back protrusion portion (22) protruding backward from the attachment portion (21); and an airbag module (30) which includes a retainer (34) fixed to the back protrusion portion (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TS TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuro Yamada, Atsushi Yamabe
  • Patent number: 11034324
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag accommodated in the accommodation part in a state where a wrapping material is wrapped around a folding completion body formed by folding the air bag. A region of the wrapping material configured to cover an upper of the folding completion body has a double structure of an outer part and an inner part. The outer part has slits that are intermittently formed substantially along an axial direction of the folding completion body. The inner part is configured to cover a lower of the slits and is configured so that a terminal, which is an edge side distant from a region configuring the outer part of the wrapping material, is located below a central line extending substantially in a horizontal direction from a sectional center of the folding completion body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ozeki, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11007952
    Abstract: A magnet fastener assembly includes a base, a magnet carrier held in the base and a magnet held in the magnet carrier. The base includes a one-piece body having an upstanding doghouse on a support. The support is made from a first material and the doghouse is made from a second material. The first material has more flexibility than the second material and the second material has a greater rigidity than the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Eric Vargas Linan, Edgar Javier Ortega Garcia, Jesus Manuel Perez Hernandez
  • Patent number: 10994689
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a retractable side protecting airbag for a child safety seat which includes a side protecting base provided on an outer side surface of the seat body. Specifically, the side protecting base is provided with the retractable side protecting airbag. The retractable side protecting airbag is correspondingly provided with an air deflating hole. The side protecting airbag is internally provided with a resetting structure. An outer end of the retractable side protecting airbag is provided with a side protecting cover. The protecting cover and the side protecting base are locked to each other and work collaboratively for folding the retractable side protecting airbag. The present invention has a reasonable structure and a long distance for crumpling, and is capable of providing buffering and effective energy absorption, thereby greatly reducing the damage to children from side crashes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG BOAN MOTHER AND CHILD PRODUCTS CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Renhu Chi, Ruiwei Chi, Xiaoguang Zhang
  • Patent number: 10994688
    Abstract: An airbag covering for use in a motor vehicle has a support (2) with an airbag deployment opening (4) that is closed by an airbag cover. A decorative material (6) is connected to the support (2) by an adhesive layer (9) in at least one region (10) adjacent to the airbag deployment opening (4). To simplify the production of the airbag covering, the support (2) has, in the region (10) adjacent to the airbag deployment opening (4), at least one depression (51-55) that reduces an adhesive force between the support (2) and the decorative material (6) in a targeted manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Inventor: Christian Berta
  • Patent number: 10960843
    Abstract: A cover for an airbag cushion has a fabric for enclosing a folded airbag cushion forming the cover and a frangible tear seam extending across the length of the cover. The tear seam has a plurality of slits. Each slit includes a linear main slit portion arranged in a straight line, an inclined leading end slit portion and an inclined trailing end slit portion. A space between each adjacent slit forms a single fabric tear portion defined by a trailing end slit portion of one slit overlapping an inclined oppositely leading end slit portion of an adjacent slit. Each fabric tear portion is formed as short cut woven yarns cut axially and perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of fabric tear portions forms the frangible tear seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor Esparza
  • Patent number: 10946825
    Abstract: An assembly includes a front console. The assembly includes a body having a reaction surface and supported by the front console. The assembly includes an actuator connected to the body, the body movable by the actuator to a deployed position. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the front console and inflatable to an inflated position that abuts the reaction surface. The assembly includes an inflator connected to the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam, Howard E. Churchwell, II, Swadad A. Carremm, Jayagopal Appukutty
  • Patent number: 10933835
    Abstract: A passenger airbag door includes a frame provided in an instrument panel; a skin layer disposed to face the frame; a foamed layer disposed between the frame and the skin layer; and a fabric layer formed in the frame through an insert injection molding process, the frame includes a frame body mounted to the instrument panel; and a deployment line configured to be torn such that the frame body is opened and divided into parts, the deployment line includes a plurality of slots disposed at positions spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the frame body, and each of the plurality of slots may be formed such that a width thereof is reduced toward opposite ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Min Kyeong Lee
  • Patent number: 10926732
    Abstract: A vehicle interior component is disclosed. The component may facilitate deployment of an airbag and may comprise a panel comprising fibers. The panel may comprise a notch formed as a depression in a first side of the panel and at least one feature adjacent the notch. A second side of the panel may comprise a substantially planar surface opposite the notch. The panel may comprise at least one of a resin, a thermoplastic resin, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate. The notch may direct deployment of the airbag through the panel. The feature may comprise a protrusion to provide a relief for the notch. The component may comprise a rib formed on the panel adjacent the notch comprising resin. The rib may comprise a resin portion comprising resin and a fiber portion comprising fibers of the panel. The component may comprise a trim panel, an instrument panel, a door panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Shanghai Yanfeng Jinqiao Automotive Trim Systems Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jennifer Anne Sterne Stroebe, Bart William Fox, Michael Gerard Zimmer, Michael Edward Phillips, Dale Todd Glynn
  • Patent number: 10926679
    Abstract: A vehicle seat including: a seat cover including: a general cover part; and a sheet-shaped member configured by one sheet and folded inward, and an internal structure covered with the seat cover, and the sheet-shaped member has: a drawing cover part locked to the internal structure; and a concealing cover part covering the drawing cover part from outside of the seat, the sheet-shaped member has: a connection end part; and a pair of free end parts extending from the connection end part, and the sheet-shaped member is connected to an edge of the general cover part at a connection part on the connection end part, and the drawing cover part is formed at one of the pair of free end parts disposed inside the seat and the concealing cover part is formed at the other one of the pair of free end parts disposed outside the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA BOSHOKU KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Ushiyama
  • Patent number: 10913422
    Abstract: A vehicle interior panel and method of manufacturing a vehicle interior panel for use over an airbag. The vehicle interior panel includes a substrate having an airbag door with one or more t-shaped stiffening ribs embedded in the airbag door. The t-shaped stiffening ribs help increase the rigidity of the airbag door, which can help improve deployment performance of the airbag. The t-shaped stiffening ribs may be co-molded or insert molded with the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: FAURECIA INTERIOR SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Scott Beam
  • Patent number: 10906497
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag, an inflator, a first deployment flap, and fasteners. The airbag includes an upper portion and a lower portion. In a stored condition of the airbag, the lower portion is rolled and/or folded and positioned at least partially overlying the inflator, the upper portion is rolled and/or folded separately from the lower portion and positioned at least partially overlying the lower portion, and the first deployment flap extends from the fasteners and has a portion positioned between the upper and lower portions of the airbag. The first deployment flap is at least one of formed from and coated with a material that provides a frictional engagement between the first deployment flap and the lower portion sufficient to at least partially restrict and delay the initial deployment of the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Bezan P. Madon, Douglas M. Gould
  • Patent number: 10906462
    Abstract: A trim arrangement for a vehicle interior includes a trim portion having a through-opening for delimiting the vehicle interior and a light-emitting body inserted into the through-opening. The light-emitting body is configured to transmit light and/or light signals into the vehicle interior, and blocks a movement transversely to an opening normal of the through-opening in a form-fitting manner. The trim arrangement further includes a receiving device connected to a rear side of the trim portion, the rear side facing away from the vehicle interior, and a latching body inserted into the receiving device along an insertion direction extending transversely to the opening normal. The receiving device blocks a movement of the latching body in a direction of the opening normal in a form-fitting manner. The trim arrangement additionally includes a connecting strip provided on the rear side of the trim portion and extending transversely to the opening normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stefan Schmitz