Plural Compartment Confinement (e.g., "bag Within A Bag") Patents (Class 280/729)
  • Patent number: 11919468
    Abstract: A side airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) which is provided to be mounted on a vehicle seat (14) comprises an inflatable head gas cushion (18) and an inflatable torso gas cushion (20) connected to the head gas cushion (18) both of which form separate inflatable compartments of the side airbag (12). The head gas cushion (18) and the torso gas cushion (20) are formed by separate inflatable cushions which are fastened to each other in a connecting section (22). In a vehicle occupant restraint system, the side airbag (12) is mounted on a vehicle seat (14) of a vehicle on the side facing a passenger seat (16) of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Dominique Acker, Jürgen Scherr, Kathrin Weinhardt, Andreas Loos, Javier Acedo Ibanez
  • Patent number: 11904787
    Abstract: An airbag system for a vehicle includes an inflator, and a cushion operably connected to the inflator including a plurality of sealed cushion segments interconnected by a plurality of cushion joints. The activation of the inflator dispenses a flow of inflation gas into the cushion to sequentially inflate the plurality of sealed cushion segments from a stowed state to a deployed state. A passenger compartment of a vehicle includes an instrument panel including at least an upper panel surface and a downward panel surface, and an airbag system located in the instrument panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Spencer William Chavez
  • Patent number: 11891006
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a steering wheel. The assembly includes an airbag inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag has a main chamber supported by the steering wheel. The main chamber in the inflated position has a rear panel facing the steering wheel, an impact panel opposite the rear panel, and an outermost periphery between the impact panel and the rear panel. The airbag includes an extension having a first end and a terminal end. The extension extends from the first end to the terminal end adjacent the rear panel of the main chamber. The first end extends from the outermost periphery and the rear panel and the terminal end is connected to the rear panel. The airbag has an inflation chamber extending from the main chamber to the terminal end through the first end of the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Weng, Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Zhibing Deng
  • Patent number: 11884827
    Abstract: An electrically conductive filler comprises particles having a base substrate and a conductive coating. In some embodiments, the base substrate is a metal, plastic, glass, natural or synthetic graphite, carbon, ceramics, fiber or fabric. In some embodiments, the coating provides improved electrical conductivity, and the coated particle has lower electrical resistance than the uncoated base particle. Other embodiments and methods of making and using the electrically conductive filler are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: TRITON SYSTEMS, INC
    Inventors: Anant K. Singh, Peter S. Schuler
  • Patent number: 11760302
    Abstract: An airbag includes: a bag main body: and regulating units configured to regulate an expansion completed shape of the bag main body. The bag main body has an expansion completed shape as a substantially square cylindrical shape, where a hollow portion which penetrates substantially along a left-right direction is provided and a circumference of the hollow portion is surrounded by an upper expansion portion and a lower expansion portion and a front expansion portion and a rear expansion portion. The regulating units are arranged at a plurality of horizontally symmetrical locations centered on a center of the bag main body on the left-right directional side and each of the regulating units is configured to straddle the hollow portion when viewed from a lateral side in the left-right direction and at least an upper edge side and a lower edge side are connected to the bag main body side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Suzuki, Motoyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11745786
    Abstract: A steering control system includes a hub connectable to a steering shaft defining a steering axis. An airbag receiving zone is formed in the hub. A steering wheel is connected to the hub, the steering wheel includes a central hub member, a plurality of spokes each having a first end extending from the central hub member and a second end, and a steering wheel rim connected to the second end of each of the plurality of spokes. The central hub member being slidably mounted to the hub along the steering axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Thomas E. Houck
  • Patent number: 11685328
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a dash. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the dash and being inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag includes a knee chamber, a chest chamber supported by the knee chamber in the inflated position, and a head chamber supported by the chest chamber in the inflated position. The chest chamber is connected to the knee chamber at a lower seam that defines a lower fluid pathway. The head chamber is connected to the chest chamber at an upper seam that defines an upper fluid pathway. The assembly includes an inflator supported by the dash and being connected directly to the knee chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11661026
    Abstract: A center side airbag configured to reduce spacing between an airbag cushion and a passenger in a front passenger seat to safely restrict transverse movement of the passenger in the front passenger seat. The center side airbag includes an airbag cushion configured to be unfolded between a driver seat and a front passenger seat, and a protruding chamber configured to be unfolded by a front passenger seat-side portion of the airbag cushion protruding toward a passenger in the front passenger seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kum Ho Jo
  • Patent number: 11654851
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag system is proposed. The vehicle airbag system includes: a front airbag mounted to a portion of a vehicle in front of a passenger and configured to be unfolded toward a front of the passenger; an upper airbag mounted to a portion of the vehicle above the passenger and configured to be unfolded toward the front of the passenger; a seat detector configured to detect a seating posture of the passenger; and a controller configured to control unfolding of the front airbag or the upper airbag on the basis of the passenger's seating posture detected by the seat detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Min Lee, Hae Kwon Park, Ga Ram Jeong, Dong Oh Lee, Sang Won Hwangbo
  • Patent number: 11643041
    Abstract: An occupant protection device includes: an airbag including an upper inflating portion and a lower inflating portion, and a rear inflating portion having a restraint surface that receives the occupant, the airbag being provided with a hollow portion penetrating in a left-right direction in a center; and a protrusion length adjustment unit configured to adjust a protrusion length from an accommodation position to the restraint surface in the airbag. An exhaust port configured to exhaust the inflation gas is disposed on an inner peripheral surface side in the vicinity of an intersection portion between the upper inflation portion and the lower inflation portion of the airbag. When the protrusion length by the protrusion length adjustment unit is adjusted to be long, the upper inflation portion and the lower inflation portion approach each other, so that an edge member approaches the exhaust port, thereby reducing an exhaust amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuya Suzuki, Motoyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11548467
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag (10) for restraining a vehicle occupant (12) in an automotive vehicle, comprising an inflatable cushion portion (20) for damping an occupant impact and two inflatable tube portions (22) laterally opposed in the mounted state of the airbag (10) which are arranged on the occupant side on the cushion portion (20), wherein the tube portions (22) are connected to each other by a slide layer (24) arranged on the occupant side on the cushion portion (20) and are laterally movable at least in portions relative to the cushion portion (20). Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for manufacturing an airbag (10) as well as an airbag module (18) comprising said airbag (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Dominik Schütz, Ohnishi Nobuyuki
  • Patent number: 11535185
    Abstract: A restraint system (10) for helping to protect an occupant (60) of a vehicle (20) having a roof (32) and a cabin (40) with a seat (50) for the occupant (60) includes an airbag (120) having a stored condition within the roof (32) and being inflatable to a deployed condition extending into the cabin (40) aligned with the seat (50). A tether (140) includes a first end (142) connected to the airbag (120) and a second end (144) connected to the vehicle (20). Tear stitching (170) interconnects overlying portions (152, 154) of the tether (140). The tear stitching (170) is rupturable in response to occupant (60) penetration into the deployed airbag (120) to permit the interconnected overlying portions (151, 154) to move relative to one another such that the tether (140) lengthens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Alexandra E. Smith, Douglas M. Gould
  • Patent number: 11529926
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag (14) for unfolding between a vehicle part (10) and a vehicle occupant (18), comprising an impact wall (20) which, in the installed and unfolded state of the airbag (14), faces a vehicle occupant (18) and a circumferential wall (22) which is connected to the impact wall (20) and, in the installed and unfolded state of the airbag (14), extends between the impact wall (20) and the vehicle part (10), wherein the circumferential wall (22) is made with multiple layers, at least in some sections, and forms at least one annular tube (23) which delimits an annular inflatable first airbag volume (V1), and wherein a radially inner layer (26) of the circumferential wall (22), together with the impact wall (20), delimits an inflatable second airbag volume (V2) that is separate from the first airbag volume (V1). The invention further relates to an airbag module (12) having such an airbag (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Sapountzis, Bartolomeu Franco, Tiago Cardoso, Dominik Schütz
  • Patent number: 11511700
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide an airbag apparatus in which the injury value of a passenger can be efficiently suppressed in an emergency. [Resolution Means] A typical configuration of an airbag apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes: an inflator 118 which is installed in a vehicle so as to be capable of supplying gas; an inner bag 112 which is expanded from in front of a seat utilizing the gas; and an outer bag 110 to which the gas is supplied from the inflator 118 or via the inner bag 112 and expanded so as to surround the inner bag 112. The outer bag 110 includes an opening 116 which exposes the inner bag 112 towards the seat 104, wherein the inner bag 112 has a more elongated shape in the anteroposterior direction of the vehicle than in the width direction of the vehicle, and the inner bag 112 further includes a restraining part 114 which is exposed on the recessed surface from the opening 116 to the seat side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yutaka Nakajima, Royta Ishigaki, Yoshiki Ito
  • Patent number: 11491943
    Abstract: A front passenger seat airbag includes an attachment portion provided on a front end side when inflation has been completed, an occupant protection portion provided on a rear end side to protect the occupant when inflation has been completed, and a cavity portion formed at an intermediate portion between the attachment portion and the occupant protection portion in a manner of penetrating the front passenger seat airbag substantially along a left-right direction. A left edge side and/or a right edge side of the occupant protection portion when inflation has been completed is formed with a protruding region protruding rearward and outward with respect to a central region. At least one of upper and lower edges of an occupant side panel is coupled to an end of the peripheral wall panel. An outer peripheral panel portion of the panel portion is a concave portion in a flatly deployed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tanaka, Ikuo Yamada, Hajime Kitte, Kenichi Fukurono
  • Patent number: 11433848
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a center console. The assembly includes a first airbag supported by the center console. The first airbag is inflatable away from the center console to an inflated position. The assembly includes a second airbag supported by the center console adjacent the first airbag. The second airbag is inflatable away from the center console to an inflated position. The assembly includes a non-inflatable panel extending from the first airbag to the second airbag when the first airbag and the second airbag are in the inflated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11390239
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag (10), especially for a side curtain airbag system (20), comprising an airbag interior (30) which in the deployed state of the airbag (10) defines one single chamber (40), wherein the chamber (40) comprises a gas guiding device (50) by which the chamber (40) is divided into at least one primary filling zone (41) and at least one secondary filling zone (42), as well as to a vehicle safety system equipped with such airbag (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Jose Santin Navarro, Jose Miguel Fernandes Oliveira
  • Patent number: 11383669
    Abstract: Airbag assemblies, such as overhead airbag assemblies, comprising overlapping pass-through chambers. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an airbag cushion configured to deploy from a vehicle roof structure and a head contact chamber configured to engage a head of an occupant of the vehicle upon deployment. An opening may be formed within the airbag cushion adjacent to the head contact chamber and may extend from a first surface of the airbag cushion configured to engage the occupant to a second surface of the airbag cushion opposite the first surface. The opening may be smaller along one or more dimensions than the head contact chamber upon deployment such that the head contact chamber cannot enter the opening without engaging one or more portions of the airbag cushion defining the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Schneider, Frank Joseph Herzenstiel, II
  • Patent number: 11351951
    Abstract: A vehicular airbag device capable of improving reduction of an occupant obstruction value during a diagonal collision. A vehicular airbag device opens an airbag door on an instrument panel. The outer shape of the airbag when fully deployed and expanded is line-symmetrical with respect to a center line of the opening in a vehicle left-right width direction, and a width dimension in the vehicle width direction at a position of a rear edge of the instrument panel in the vehicle longitudinal direction is greater than a width dimension in the vehicle width direction at a position of a center of the opening in the vehicle longitudinal direction which is more forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear edge position of the instrument panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Tomohiro Sumiya, Kai Maenishi
  • Patent number: 11351954
    Abstract: Provided is an airbag device including an airbag body having a first base fabric and a second base fabric, wherein the first base fabric and the second base fabric have an outer circumferential section and an outer circumferential section that are joined to each other while overlapping each other, a first base fabric joining section formed by joining a plurality of predetermined portions, spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the first base fabric is provided on an outer circumferential side of the first base fabric, and a second base fabric joining section formed by joining a plurality of predetermined portions, spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the second base fabric is provided on an outer circumferential side of the second base fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Ishizuka, Hitoshi Higuchi, Yuichi Mashiko, Tatsuya Narikawa, Ryosuke Seki, Kazuki Hikida
  • Patent number: 11345305
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted to a support structure of the vehicle. The airbag is inflatable to deploy from a stored condition away from the support structure toward a vehicle seat in which the occupant is seated to one of a first deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat, and a second deployed condition in which the airbag is configured for a reclined condition of the vehicle seat. The airbag is configured to deploy to the first deployed condition in response to determining a non-reclined condition of the vehicle seat and to the second deployed condition in response to determining a reclined condition of the vehicle seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Alexandra E. Schroeder, Angelo R. Adler
  • Patent number: 11338758
    Abstract: A rooftop airbag apparatus may include: a rear cushion installed above a rear seat, connected to a rear inflator, and expanded and deployed as gas is injected from the rear inflator; and a rear tether connected to the rear cushion to bend a front side of the rear cushion downward when the rear cushion is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae Kwon Park, Seok Hoon Ko
  • Patent number: 11325558
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus may include: an inflator configured to jet gas in case of a collision of a vehicle; a first cushion inflated by the gas jetted by the inflator, and configured to support the head of a passenger in case of a head-on collision of the vehicle; a second cushion connected to the first cushion so as to be supported by the first cushion, and configured to suppress the head of the passenger from moving in a diagonal direction in case of an oblique collision of the vehicle; a connection tube configured to connect the first and second cushions such that the gas of the inflator moves from the first cushion to the second cushion; and a control tether connected to the first cushion and the connection tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rae Ick Jang, Su Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11299122
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus may include an airbag module mounted at a lower end portion of a crash pad; an airbag cushion configured to deploy from the airbag module to deploy in a space between a knee portion and a head portion of a passenger, wherein a tether is connected to the airbag cushion in a deployment direction of the airbag cushion toward at least one of the knee portion, a chest portion, and the head portion of the passenger to form an integrated deployment shape of the airbag cushion; and a release device connected to the tether close to the airbag module, and operated to allow the tether to be released or maintained in a fixed state in a deployment process of the airbag cushion depending on a body shape of the passenger on a seat of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Yeol Choi
  • Patent number: 11285905
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag assembly for a vehicle body includes an airbag having a storage position and an unfolded position, in the unfolded position the airbag features an inboard side facing an interior of the vehicle body, an outboard side facing an exterior of the vehicle body, a top portion fixed to the vehicle body, and a bottom portion located on a side of the airbag opposite the top portion. A fabric layer is adapted to overlay the outboard side of the airbag in the unfolded position, the fabric layer including a top portion and a bottom portion located on a side of the fabric layer opposite the top portion, the top portion of the fabric layer fixed to the top portion of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jimmie A. Ruffner, II
  • Patent number: 11285907
    Abstract: A restraint system includes a side curtain airbag including an inboard panel, an outboard panel, and a perimeter at which the inboard panel and the outboard panel are connected to each other. The side curtain airbag includes a main portion formed of part of the inboard panel and part of the outboard panel, and a folded-over portion formed of part of the inboard panel and part of the outboard panel. The main portion and the folded-over portion each include a dead zone spaced from the perimeter at which the inboard panel and the outboard panel are connected to each other. The side curtain airbag is folded so that the inboard panel of the folded-over portion abuts the inboard panel of the main portion. The main portion and the folded-over portion are attached to each other via the respective dead zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Joseph E. Abramczyk, Deepak Patel
  • Patent number: 11267432
    Abstract: An airbag that includes an inner bag having a facing surface configured to face a passenger of a vehicle in the deployed state, an outer bag that surrounds the outer periphery of the inner bag with the facing surface exposed, and two protrusion parts which are provided in the outer bag and are respectively disposed on the left and right sides in the width direction of the vehicle with respect to the facing surface so as to protrude rearward. The inner bag and the outer bag may be partitioned by a common partition wall, with a ventilation port formed in the partition wall. Moreover, the inner bag and the outer bag may each be independent bag bodies, a ventilation port may be formed in both the inner bag and the outer bag, and the inner bag and the outer bag may be coupled around the ventilation port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Deveopment AB
    Inventors: Yutaka Nakajima, Takanari Muroya, Ryota Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 11254273
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag system includes an airbag having a cushioning surface configured to be contacted by a user to cushion the user after inflation of the airbag. The airbag also includes at least one cushioning surface positioning vent coupled to the cushioning surface. The at least one cushioning surface positioning vent is actuatable to direct a flow of gas exiting an interior of the airbag so as to produce a reaction force which moves the cushioning surface in a predetermined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica A. Riffe, Nathaniel P. Jordan
  • Patent number: 11235731
    Abstract: [Object]. An object is to suitably control the deployment shape of an airbag, thereby improving the occupant restraining performance. Another object is to reduce damage to an occupant located close to a steering wheel or an instrument panel. [Solving Means]. An airbag device according to the present invention includes: a gas generator that generates expansion gas; an airbag that expands and deploys due to the expansion gas to restrain an occupant; and a diffuser disposed inside the airbag to control a flow of the expansion gas. Given that a direction toward the occupant is a first direction, the diffuser includes a receiving surface disposed between the gas generator and the airbag in the first direction to receive the expansion gas discharged from the gas generator; and a plurality of band-like connecting members having one end connected to an edge of the receiving surface and the other end directly or indirectly connected to the gas generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Kazuki Morita, Keisuke Honma, Ryunosuke Tachiwana
  • Patent number: 11198409
    Abstract: A passenger seat airbag device includes an airbag including a front collision restraining surface, and an oblique collision restraining portion including a protruding portion in which a surface is set as an oblique collision restraining surface, and a restraining recess portion whose facing surfaces are able to restrain the head of the occupant. The rear wall main portion has the front collision restraining surface. The rear wall end edge portion has the oblique collision restraining surface. The upper edge of the rear wall end edge portion is coupled to a rear edge of the upper wall portion. The lower edge of the rear wall end edge portion is coupled to a rear edge of the lower wall portion. An entire edge of the separation edge of the rear wall end edge portion is coupled to a rear edge of the rear edge side portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Hiraiwa, Shinichi Ishida, Koji Hosoe, Masashi Baba, Ryo Kumazaki, Hiromi Kondo
  • Patent number: 11186250
    Abstract: Provided is an airbag configured so that, in the inflated state thereof, a recess is formed in a chest restraint area in the passenger facing surface of the airbag, and the portion of the airbag other than the recess has a large inflation thickness. A driver-side airbag 1 is formed by sewing a front panel 2 and a rear panel 3 together. The rear panel 3 is provided with a left tuck portion 12 which extends from the upper left to the lower left, and a right tuck portion 11 which extends from the upper right to the lower right. The tuck portions 11 and 12 increase the inflation thickness of the driver-side airbag 1. A recess 6 is formed in a passenger chest restraint area in the driver-side airbag 1 by a tether 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS JAPAN K.K.
    Inventors: Kimihiro Koshikawa, Shinichi Takeuchi, Ryo Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11173978
    Abstract: To be able to compactly dispose an airbag device for a saddle-type vehicle provided with an airbag deployable upward. An airbag device for a saddle-type vehicle includes: an inflator; an airbag adapted to be expanded by gas discharged from the inflator; and a retainer accommodating the airbag. The airbag is deployed upward from an opening of the retainer. The retainer is disposed in front of a head pipe adapted to support a handle for steering. A wind screen is disposed above the retainer. The wind screen openably and closably covers the opening of the retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kuroki, Futoshi Miyakawa, Yuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11167717
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus with a cushion that expands and deploys from in front of a seat is provided. The cushion includes a front restraining part that restrains a head of a passenger from the front of a vehicle. The cushion further includes protrusion parts that are provided beside the front restraining part in the width direction of the vehicle and protrude and expand further towards the rear of the vehicle than the front restraining part. Inner tethers inside the cushion are connected to the front restraining part and to which tension is applied to pull the front restraining part towards the front of the vehicle. Outer tethers are connected to the protrusion parts and to which tension is applied to pull the protrusion parts towards the front of the vehicle. When tension is applied to the inner tethers, force towards the inner tethers is applied to the outer tethers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yutaka Nakajima, Takanari Muroya, Ryota Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 11110882
    Abstract: An airbag for a steering wheel is configured to cover an upper surface of the steering wheel generally all over when inflated. The airbag includes a driver-protection portion that is configured to be deployed towards a driver's seat and restrain a driver, a central protruding portion that is disposed in a vicinity of a center of the driver-protection portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat, a circumferential protruding portion that is disposed in a vicinity of an outer circumferential edge of the driver-protection portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat, and a small protruding portion that is disposed between the central protruding portion and circumferential protruding portion and protrudes towards the driver's seat. The small protruding portion is smaller in protruding amount than the central protruding portion and the circumferential protruding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuki Nonoyama, Takanori Komatsu, Masashi Hotta
  • Patent number: 11104288
    Abstract: Objective: To provide a side airbag apparatus that can protect a head portion and chest portion by an appropriate restraining force, while favorably inflating and expanding even a cushion that protects a head portion and chest portion with a small inflator, and that can ensure high OOP performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Makoto Fuma, Yuto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11084450
    Abstract: When a curtain airbag inflates and expands, an independent portion inside a slit portion inflates and expands toward a vehicle lower side toward a gap between a seat back and a center pillar garnish. If the independent portion interferes with the seat back, the independent portion inflects in the vehicle width direction. Meanwhile, regions of the curtain airbag other than the independent portion inflate and expand toward the vehicle lower side without being affected by the position of the independent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Ohno, Masaaki Okuhara
  • Patent number: 11046282
    Abstract: An airbag for a vehicle includes a main chamber that deploys and inflates toward a passenger and has an empty space formed therein. A delay chamber is disposed in the empty space of the main chamber and is connected with the main chamber through a connecting portion. The delay chamber inflates in the empty space of the main chamber by receiving gas from the main chamber through the connecting portion when the main chamber is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Seung Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 11040684
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) for the protection of a vehicle occupant (10; 16) on a particular vehicle seat (12; 16). The control unit is arranged and the airbags (20, 24; 22, 26) are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag (20; 22) and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant (10; 16) is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag (20; 22) than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag (20; 22) and additionally at least a second airbag (24; 26) of the group, with the first airbag (20; 22) backing the second airbag (24; 26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Seyffert, Simon Kramer, Marco Wahl, Silke Leger
  • Patent number: 11027691
    Abstract: An airbag includes a body and a redirecting cloth that is composed of a sheet material having flexibility and disposed inside the body. The redirecting cloth includes an inlet port for taking in an inflation gas; one or more outlet ports that release the inflation gas as flown from the inlet port towards predetermined regions of the body; and a sew region that sews first and second terminal edges of the sheet material together. Each of the first and second terminal edges of the sheet material includes a turned-and-sewn region that has been turned inward and sewn. At least a part of the sew region is formed by sewing terminals of the turned-and-sewn regions together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Nonoyama, Hiroki Imaeda, Tomoya Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11014521
    Abstract: It is provided a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one first inflatable chamber configured for the protection of the head of a vehicle occupant; at least one second inflatable chamber configured for the protection of a shoulder and/or thorax region of the vehicle occupant, wherein the gas bag is to be arranged in or on a side of a vehicle seat facing the vehicle interior space. The first and the second chamber are rotatable relative to each other in the inflated condition of the gas bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Torsten Steiner, Karl-Heinz Bürlen, Christian Weyrich, Hans-Peter Sendelbach
  • Patent number: 11007967
    Abstract: A front airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant (12), especially a passenger airbag, comprises a contact panel (22) facing the vehicle occupant (12) in the inflated state, wherein in the interior of the airbag at the contact panel (22) first tensile means (32) are arranged which in portions retain the contact panel (22) in the inflated state of the airbag (10) and are disposed so that the contact panel (22) forms a side bulge on at least one of its two lateral edges and forms plural central bulges between the lateral edges which central bulges are smaller in cross-section than the at least one side bulge. At least a second tensile means (38) is disposed so that the contact panel (22) forms an upper bulge (36) which substantially extends in the transverse vehicle direction (y) and, with respect to a vertical vehicle axis (z), is disposed above the central bulges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Lothar Zink, Bernd Issler
  • Patent number: 10994691
    Abstract: An airbag having an outer skin enclosing a gas space. The outer skin has a first side wall (11) and a second side wall (12). The first side wall (11) and second side wall (12) are connected to one another at a first end (71), the first side wall (11) extends from the first end (71) to a second end (72), the second side wall (12) extends from the first end (71) to a third end (73), a third side wall (23) extends from the second end (72) of the first side wall (11) to a fourth end (74), and a fourth side (24) wall extends from the fourth end (74) to the third end (73) of the second side wall (12). The third side wall (23) is separate from the first side wall (11) and extends from a fifth end (75) connected to at least a portion of the second end (72) of the first side wall (11) by a first seam (81). The fourth side wall (24) is separate from the second side wall (12) and extends from a sixth end (76) connected to at least a portion of the third end (73) of the second side wall (12) by a second seam (82).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Malgorzata Wasilewska, Maciej Matynski, Magdalena Petecka, Siecla Przemyslaw
  • Patent number: 10988102
    Abstract: A front airbag for vehicle occupants, comprising a front face (16) facing the vehicle occupant in the inflated state, a rear panel (14) facing the vehicle front end and a chamber defining the interior of the inflated airbag (10) is characterized in that, relating to the front face (16), a central sub-chamber starting from the front face (16) is provided which is defined by a central front panel (20) forming part of the front face (16) and a circumferential central side panel (22), wherein the circumferential side panel (22) protrudes into the envelope of the inflated airbag (10), and in that at least one outer chamber (30) laterally adjacent to the central sub-chamber (18) and surrounding the sub-chamber (18) at least partially on the outside is provided which includes an outer front panel (32) forming part of the front face (16) and a side panel (34) which is adjacent to the central side panel (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Michael Stegmeier, Axel Kamrath
  • Patent number: 10967827
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag (10), especially for a side curtain airbag system (20), comprising an airbag interior (30) which in the deployed state of the airbag (10) defines one single chamber (40), wherein the chamber (40) comprises a gas guiding device (50) by which the chamber (40) is divided into at least one primary filling zone (41) and at least one secondary filling zone (42), as well as to a vehicle safety system equipped with such airbag (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA, S.A.
    Inventors: Pedro Jose Santin Navarro, Jose Miguel Fernandes Oliveira
  • Patent number: 10960845
    Abstract: An airbag (10) comprises a plurality of interconnected adjacent inflatable cells, wherein a cell is attached to an adjacent cell by at least two seam lines (31, 32), said lines being spaced from each other to define a cell area, which is comprising a gas passage portion (1c, 2c, 3c, 4c) between said adjacent cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan Hendrik Schwarzwald, Hichem Mrad, Christian Schickle
  • Patent number: 10933836
    Abstract: A safety device for a vehicle, which includes a main armrest, an auxiliary armrest that obliquely extends from a front end portion of the main armrest toward the center of a seat, a first airbag chamber that is accommodated in the main armrest and that, when triggered to expand, expands upward along a lateral body of a vehicle occupant and thus laterally holds an arm of the vehicle occupant in place, a second airbag chamber that extends protrusively from an upper end portion of the first airbag chamber toward a neck of the vehicle occupant and thus holds a shoulder of the vehicle occupant in place, and a front-body abdominal chamber that is mounted in the auxiliary armrest and that, when triggered to expand, expands toward an abdomen of the vehicle occupant and thus holds a front body of the vehicle occupant in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joo Seon Yoo, Hyo Shub Shin
  • Patent number: 10906499
    Abstract: Provided is a side impact airbag which is deployed between two seats in the width direction of a vehicle to thereby prevent passengers seated on the two seats from colliding with each other. The airbag is configured to, when being fully inflated, form recesses on both sides thereof to accommodate the shoulders and arms of the passengers, such that the fully inflated airbag is configured to be maintained in a certain posture by the pressure applied to the shoulders and arms of the passengers accommodated in the recesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Jong Ki Byun, Wan Dong Yoo, Tae Ik Gwon
  • Patent number: 10899309
    Abstract: An airbag is formed by joining outer edges of an occupant-side wall and a vehicle-side wall each of which is made of a base cloth having flexibility. The occupant-side wall and vehicle-side wall are equal in circumferential length of the outer edge. The occupant-side wall includes a recessed region for receiving a head of a vehicle occupant and an annular raised region that surrounds the recessed region. At least one of the occupant-side wall and the vehicle-side wall includes at least one shortening region that reduces a circumferential length of an outer edge of the base cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD., HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Hotta, Koji Kawamura, Tetsuhiro Arima
  • Patent number: 10889260
    Abstract: An airbag cushion assembly (10, 100) has an airbag cushion (12) and an inflator (20, 120). The airbag cushion has a plurality of inflatable chambers including a primary chamber (11, 111) configured to receive inflation gas and one or more additional chambers (14, 16, 114, 115, 116) for receiving inflation gas from the primary chamber (11, 111). The inflator (20, 120) is in communication with, or open to, the gas inlet of the primary chamber (11, 111). One or more of the additional chambers has one or more one-way gas flow check valves (30, 130) for receiving inflation gases into the chamber and preventing the received gases from back flowing to maintain the one or more additional chambers at full inflation when the airbag cushion is inflated and loaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Pieruch, Matthias Volkmann
  • Patent number: 10882486
    Abstract: The side airbag device includes an inflator and a side airbag that is stored in a folded state in a side portion of a seatback of a vehicle seat and is inflatable and deployable in a space between a vehicle sidewall and a side portion of an occupant. The side airbag includes an outer bag and an inner bag. The inner bag houses the inflator and is disposed at a rear portion of the outer bag along an extending direction of the seatback. The outer bag is provided with a vent hole configured to communicate with an outside. The inner bag is provided with a gas circulating hole configured to communicate with the outer bag. The gas circulating hole is disposed at a position to be blocked by the outer bag when the side airbag in an inflated and deployed state is pressed between the occupant and the vehicle sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation, Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Okada, Yuichi Sugimura, Hidetaka Azuma, Takahiko Yamamura, Ichiro Yokomi, Tetsuro Hamada