Deflated Confinement Located In Or On Instrument Panel Patents (Class 280/732)
  • Patent number: 8419053
    Abstract: An inclined type air-bag cushion may include a side panel including a first side panel, and a second side panel which has an area smaller than that of the first side panel and may be placed to be substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first side panel, and a main panel obliquely connecting and enclosing the first and second side panels to each other to form an inclined contact surface with which a passenger's head may be put in oblique contact, when gas may be supplied in the air-bag cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Taeg Young Ahn
  • Publication number: 20130087997
    Abstract: The volume of a passenger airbag device is reduced, and the behavior thereof when inflated and deployed is stabilized. A passenger airbag device (1) installed in a top surface of an instrument panel (20) has, on an instrument panel side (back surface side) of an inflated and deployed cushion (10), a projecting portion (10b) that serves as support means when an occupant moves forward therein, and recesses (10c and 10d) provided adjacent to the projecting portion (10b). The volume of the cushion (10) is reduced by providing the recesses (10c and 10d), and the behavior of the airbag device in an inflated and deployed state is stabilized by the projecting portion (10b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tadaaki Sekino
  • Patent number: 8414015
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag support structure comprises a base member, a first support leg and a mounting arrangement. The base member defines an inflator aperture for receiving a portion of a vehicle airbag module supported on a top surface of the base member. The first support leg includes first and second ends with first and second segments disposed between the first and second ends. The first end is attached to a peripheral portion of the base member with the first and second segments disposed on a bottom side of the base member that faces in an opposite direction from the top surface. The first and second segments extend perpendicularly and non-orthogonally, respectively, with respect to the base member. The mounting arrangement is attached to the second end and defines a fastening aperture with a center fastener axis arranged in a direction parallel to a plane including the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Nissan North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Bristol, Chad Kwolek
  • Patent number: 8414022
    Abstract: A passenger airbag system includes an airbag cushion with an upper airbag chamber and a lower airbag chamber. The front face of the lower airbag chamber has an upper edge joined to the lower face of the upper airbag chamber at a connection region. An upper airbag chamber length is defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the portion of the mid portion of the instrument panel closest to the passenger. A lower airbag chamber front offset is defined as a horizontal distance between the portion of the front face of the upper airbag chamber closest to the passenger and the connection region. The lower airbag chamber front offset is at least 25% of the upper airbag chamber length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: CIS Tech, LLC
    Inventors: Seung-Jae Song, Jong Seop Nam
  • Patent number: 8414016
    Abstract: An internal paneling part conceals a passage area of an airbag. The internal paneling part includes a planar carrier and a textile fabric covering at least part of the passage area. The textile fabric includes at least one initial weakening for tearing along a defined tear line to release the airbag. The defined tear line runs along an X direction, with the textile fabric having a further tearing force in the X direction that is less than in any other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfram Bühler
  • Patent number: 8408593
    Abstract: A vehicle cabin having a vehicle seat is provided and the vehicle seat is aligned in a frontal direction. An instrument panel extends on the front side toward the vehicle seat and forms a foot well in the perpendicular projection onto a projection plane that is defined by a vehicle floor or sections thereof. A leg space extends between the foot well and the vehicle seat, and an airbag system is provided that is integrated at least in sections in the instrument panel and which has a prebag and an airbag. In the inflated state, the airbag is supported on the prebag. In the projection plane, the leg space in the frontal direction is at least twice as long, preferably at least three times as long as the foot well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Klaus Kuhlmann
  • Patent number: 8408596
    Abstract: An airbag device that may ensure an increased restraining force and a reduction of damage with respect to an occupant that is out of position or of small stature is provided. The airbag device for a passenger seat of the present invention may be disposed inside an instrument panel of a vehicle and protects an occupant inside the vehicle by inflation and deployment of an airbag when an emergency situation occurs. The airbag device includes: an airbag that is compressed into a plurality of layers in a vertical direction when not used, and inflated and deployed when an emergency situation occurs; and a restriction member that restricts the deployment of the airbag so that a deployment direction of an upper layer portion is directed toward an occupant side, wherein the upper layer portion is deployed first from among the plurality of layers of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Takashi Matsunaga, Takeshi Ohwada
  • Patent number: 8408587
    Abstract: A dashboard support part is provided for fastening on a dashboard of a motor vehicle, having an airbag exit opening for unfolding a passenger airbag, and a flap configuration, which is hinged on the dashboard support part and closes the airbag exit opening. The dashboard support part has a depression, in which the flap configuration is received. The flap configuration comprises a separate flap, which closes the entire airbag exit opening, is only connected to the dashboard support part along a hinge line, and rests in the depression along its remaining circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ulrich Rick, Udo Wagner
  • Patent number: 8403357
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a passenger air-bag door. The passenger air-bag door includes a chute frame located in an instrument panel, a door plate located in an opening of the chute frame, and a hinge part rotatably connecting the door plate to the chute frame and comprising a scrim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Seob Choi
  • Patent number: 8393636
    Abstract: An airbag device for a vehicle including at least one airbag housing interface chamber that attaches to an airbag housing; at least one airbag cushion chamber downstream of the at least one interface chamber; an elbow that fluidly connects the housing interface chamber with the cushion chamber and configured so that it controllably regulates gas flow into the at least one airbag cushion chamber; the elbow having an internal configuration, which includes at least one opening that permits back and forth gas flow between the elbow and the at least one airbag cushion chamber, and which controls the directional deployment of the airbag cushion chamber so that upon deployment the downstream end of the cushion chamber exits an airbag housing outwardly in a first direction and then in at least one second direction, so that the direction of deployment of the cushion chamber changes in direction to thereby wrap at least partially around a structure of a vehicle of the vehicle and at least temporarily interpose the cush
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd
    Inventors: Hiroki Tanaka, Jonathan David Ruddy, Dennis Ames Burton, Kimberly Cole
  • Patent number: 8388020
    Abstract: Described is an inflatable multilayer bolster for a vehicle passenger compartment including a hollow body with back and front walls, an air chamber formed between them, and an inflator for injecting pressurized fluid to inflate the hollow body. Preferably, both the front and back walls have an inner layer made of a structural deformable material and an outer surfacing layer co-extruded with the inner layer. Also described is a method of manufacturing the multilayer bolster by co-extruding first and second polymers through a die to produce a parison, and then blow-molding the parison to form the hollow body. Thus the front wall and preferably the back wall as well have an inner layer made of the first polymer in a structural deformable condition and an outer surfacing layer made of the second polymer. This co-extruded multilayer constructed bolster allows efficient manufacturing, structural, inflation and aesthetic characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Salflex Polymers Ltd.
    Inventors: Rimas Ciplijauskas, Michael James Best, Babak Fana, Raj S. Roychoudhury
  • Patent number: 8376392
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag arrangement, comprising a carrier of an airbag covering, an airbag module which is arranged on a rear side of the carrier and which is fastened on the carrier at at least one location, by way of a screw connection, as well as a reinforcement part which is formed from a sheet-metal piece in a single-piece manner, is involved in the screw connection and comprises at least one rim-hole provided with an inner thread, for screwing a screw of the screw connection and with which a holding force provided by the screw may be introduced into the carrier, wherein the reinforcement part is supported on a front side of the carrier and wherein the airbag module is screwed to the reinforcement part through a hole in the carrier which is aligned with the at least one rim-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignees: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH, A. Raymond et Cie
    Inventors: Denis Staebler, Rainer Holtorp, Andreas Bachmann, Tobias Puetz, Frank Ketelsen, Stefan Schmedes
  • Patent number: 8371610
    Abstract: A retention device for an airbag arrangement can include a first retaining element, which can be connected via a first end section to an airbag flap and via a second end section to a firing channel or via a first end section to at least one airbag flap and via a second end section to a carrier which encloses the airbag flap and has at least one section disposed between the first and the second end sections. The first end section and/or the second end section have at least two overlapping end subsections, which are connected to one another and which are connected opposite to one another and spaced apart from one another to the first plate and second plate, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Kreppold, Tobias Putz
  • Publication number: 20130033023
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with an interior covering is provided, which is movable and/or deformable relative to a vehicle body, and with a safety device, which includes, but is not limited to an expansion body with an elastic diaphragm, which delimits a hollow space. The filled expansion body is arranged between the interior covering and the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Patent number: 8366142
    Abstract: An airbag module has a case-like housing and an open side covered by a protective covering. The protective covering (17), having a pre-set tear line, is fastened at its one end (18) in the interior of the housing (10). With its other, free end (19), the protective covering overlaps the open side (13) of the housing (10) and is secured on a flange (14) outwardly protruding from the housing wall (12) and mounted on the housing (10). The flange (14) has at least one opening (20), immediately adjoining the transition between housing wall (12) and flange (14), for guiding a tongue (22) formed on the free end (19) of the protective covering (17). A holding nose (21) projecting from the housing wall (12) into the opening (20) can be brought into engagement into a holding recess (23) formed in the tongue (22) of the protective covering (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Nicolas Chevalier, Jason Svarc, Nathan Muscat, John Frendo
  • Patent number: 8353531
    Abstract: A passenger protection apparatus comprises an airbag having a concaved receiving portion at its specified position which corresponds to a face of a small-sized passenger seated in a passenger's seat when the airbag inflates in a vehicle collision, an inflator supplying gas to the airbag in a collision of a vehicle to inflate the airbag before the passenger's seat, a position sensor detecting a longitudinal sitting position of the passenger seated in the passenger's seat, and a seatbelt device, an airbag unit for pop-up seat, and a knee airbag unit which adjust a restraint position of the passenger in accordance with the longitudinal sitting position of the passenger so that the face f the small-sized passenger is received at said receiving portion of the airbag in the vehicle collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Miyajima
  • Patent number: 8348303
    Abstract: An airbag cover hinge has load-absorption capabilities that provide a controlled release of the airbag cover during airbag deployment. The hinge has a textile base structure formed of longitudinal and cross threads. High strength, load-bearing stop threads are integrated into the textile base structure. When the airbag deploys, the longitudinal threads eventually tear, while the stop threads extend in length and function as a hinge that holds the torn parts of the textile base structure together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: K.L. Kaschier-und Laminier GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Roring, Michael Grimmelt
  • Publication number: 20130001937
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a front passenger's seat is disclosed. The apparatus includes a wrapping member that wraps up an airbag in a folded-up configuration. The wrapping member includes a joint portion that is secured to an airbag housing or its vicinity together with the airbag, a main body that extends forward from the joint portion and a cover portion that extends rearward from the joint portion for deployment between the airbag and an out-of-position object in an initial phase of airbag deployment. During a folding process of the airbag, the cover portion is wrapped around a front-rear contracted bag, and a leading end of the cover portion is tucked down between an upper folded portion and a lower folded portion of the front-rear contracted bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 8342570
    Abstract: An air bag system for a vehicle includes an air bag body formed by stitching base fabric material, an inflator that charges the air bag body with gas, and a vent hole that is a through hole provided in the air bag body so as to communicate the inside with the outside of the air bag body. The vent hole of the air bag body is formed to be slit-like and longer in a longitudinal direction thereof. The air bag body includes two base fabric pieces having overlapping side ends that are joined together, a tensile-force applying mechanism that applies tensile-force in the longitudinal direction of the vent hole, including a pair of V-shaped stitched lines bent in a sharply angled V-shape and formed on the side ends of the two base fabric pieces with a predetermined distance therebetween that defines the slit-like vent hole, and portions of the side ends aligned with vent hole along the gas discharge direction form a flow-passage restriction membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20120326421
    Abstract: Provided are an airbag device and an airbag folding method capable of enhancing deployment performance of an airbag without using a separate component. An airbag includes a restraint portion to be located in front of an occupant upon inflation and deployment, a base portion connected to an inflator, a top portion to be located on a windshield W side upon inflation and deployment, and a bottom portion to be located between the occupant and an instrument panel I upon inflation and deployment. The restraint portion is folded in a belt shape with a contact surface of the restraint portion for contact with the occupant facing up to form a flap portion, and the flap portion is folded to move while turning toward the occupant upon inflation and deployment of the airbag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Inventors: Akihiro Motomochi, Masaki Terada, Yasumasa Kamiya, Tomohiro Suekuni
  • Patent number: 8336906
    Abstract: A sealing assembly for an air bag door is disclosed. The sealing assembly may include a crash pad formed with an opening portion, through which an air bag is deployed, wherein the opening portion is provided with a locking portion recessed with a predetermined length from an upper surface of the crash pad along the opening portion thereof, and an air bag door displaced on the locking portion and engaged thereto to cover the opening portion of the crash pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyun Kim, Ho Sik Choi
  • Patent number: 8336907
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is an internal panel component for motor vehicles comprising an integrated air bag cover (1) and a method and device for the manufacture thereof. The internal panel component is characterized in that the area of the air bag cover 91) the decorative layer (2) is adapted as a multifunctional layer that enclosed the air bag cover (1) on both sides. The manufacture of the internal panel component according to the invention is done in an at least two-stage molding tool comprising a slide (16) integrated into the molding tool core (5) in the area of the air bag cover (1), said slide being shifted for expanding the cavity (14) provided in the area of the air bag cover (1) for the formation of a decorative layer (2), said cavity being expandable up to the back side of the support (3) of the air bag cover (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Peguform GmbH
    Inventors: Eric Nogaret, Pierre Pignard
  • Patent number: 8328229
    Abstract: An airbag module for protecting the knees of an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag formed by at least one panel of material, an inflator that produces gas that inflates the airbag into a deployed condition, a tether connected to the airbag for restraining upward movement of the airbag when the airbag begins to deploy, and a housing. Prior to deployment, the airbag is compacted in the storage condition. In the storage condition, the airbag includes a rolled portion and a folded portion, where the folded portion includes a half Z-shape fold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Henning Wigger, Gerardo Mendez
  • Patent number: 8322748
    Abstract: [Object] To provide an airbag, an airbag apparatus, and an air-discharging method of the airbag which are able to reduce the pressure loss during inflation and deployment of the airbag, or is able to demonstrate the impact absorbing capability of the airbag apparatus efficiently depending on the physical structure of an occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Yasuhito Miyata, Masayoshi Kumagai
  • Patent number: 8308188
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle includes an airbag having a left airbag section and a right airbag section inflatable at left and right sides in a front area of an occupant, a retainer for retaining the airbag, and a first deployment-limiting sheet having one end coupled to the airbag or the retainer. The first deployment-limiting sheet at least partly overlaps the airbag and extends along the airbag from a rear portion to a front portion of the airbag. The first deployment-limiting sheet extends along the rear portion of the airbag during inflation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Kumagai, Yasuhito Miyata
  • Patent number: 8308187
    Abstract: An airbag comprises a right half airbag to be inflated on a front right side of an occupant, a left half airbag to be inflated on a front left side of the occupant, and a base-end chamber that communicates with base-end sides of the right half airbag and the left half airbag. The right half airbag and the left half airbag are stitched together by a seam. The interior of each of the bags and communicate with each other by upper part and lower part openings and. A vertically extended concave portion exists on a surface of the inflated airbag that faces the occupant. The concave portion is deepest in the intermediate part and shallow in the upper part and lower part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhito Miyata
  • Patent number: 8308189
    Abstract: A knee airbag is provided to the lower part of a glove box door, and an airbag door provided to the glove box door opens in both upward and downward directions when the knee airbag expands. As the knee airbag expands, the rigidity of the lower part of the glove box door decreases, and this causes a relatively small reaction force, which corresponds to a relatively small load generated when the knees of an occupant having a relatively small body build make contact with the lower part, to be generated on the lower part of the glove box door. On the other hand, because the knee airbag is not provided to the upper part of the glove box door, the upper part can generate a relatively large reaction force which corresponds to a relatively large load generated when the knees of an occupant having a relatively large body build make contact with the upper part via the knee airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Matsushima, Osamu Fukawatase
  • Patent number: 8302991
    Abstract: A method of folding a knee airbag. One side surface of the airbag is roll-folded toward the centerline defined by the airbag and the other the side surface is thereafter roll-folded toward the centerline. After the steps of roll-folding both of the side surfaces, the knee airbag is vertical roll-fold from an end toward a connection part. With the roll-folding of the side surfaces, the side surfaces are roll folded such that they form different inclination angles with respect to the centerline of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Ik-pyo Hong, Gyeong-won Jeong
  • Publication number: 20120267881
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an airbag module (16) disposed in an instrument panel (14) the airbag (18) of which extends when inflated from a receipt in the instrument panel (14) into the interior of the vehicle (10). A supporting structure (20) for the airbag (18) on a side of the airbag (18) facing a windscreen (12) is configured so that it supports the airbag (18) against the forces occurring when a vehicle occupant immerses in the airbag (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Timo Abele, Daniele Aranzulla
  • Publication number: 20120261910
    Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) for being inflated between an instrument panel (36) and a seat (22) of the vehicle (12) is provided. The protection device (14) includes a front portion (70) that has a panel (72) presented towards the vehicle seat (22), a rear portion (76) adjacent the instrument panel (36), and top and bottom portions (90, 92) interconnecting the front portion (70) and the rear portion (76) to define an inflatable volume (54). A pocket (100) defines an uninflated volume (102) outside of the inflatable volume (54). The pocket (100) is defined by a single panel (160) of the protection device (14). The panel (100) extends along a centerline (162) and includes an extension (180) of material on each side of the centerline (162). The extensions (180) overly one another and are interconnected along a seam (106) to form the pocket (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier
  • Patent number: 8286992
    Abstract: An airbag device is provided for a motor vehicle. The airbag device includes, but is not limited to a carrying part on the motor vehicle side and an airbag module of an inflatable, folded gas bag fastened to the carrying part and a gas generator for inflating the gas bag. The carrying part includes, but is not limited to a fastening section to which the airbag module is detachably mounted. The airbag module is fastened to the fastening section of the carrying part via a link guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Udo Wagner, Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 8276939
    Abstract: An airbag for a vehicle occupant protective system comprises an inflatable cushion, a cinch tube circumventing a vent aperture disposed in the cushion, and a draw element guided in a circumventing channel of said cinch tube and being coupled to a surface of said cushion such that deployment of said cushion causes said draw element to contract said cinch tube. The airbag comprises a contraction limiting arrangement adapted to limit the contraction of said cinch tube by said draw element to a predetermined minimum free diameter d of at least 20% relative to the free diameter D of the open cinch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Kühne, Karl-Heinz Sommer, Thomas Reiter, Marcus Weber, Marc Schock, Jörg Albert, Tomas Ågren, David Jacobsson, Jonas H. Gustafsson, Ulrika Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 8256798
    Abstract: A substantially vertically extending concave portion is provided at a middle part of an impact absorbing face of an airbag body that deploys under a windshield so as to face a front seat occupant. With this configuration, an occupant who is seated in a regular seating position and wearing a seatbelt can be properly protected by preventing the neck area or the like of the occupant from being damaged. In addition, a bulging portion configured to bulge under the windshield and at an upper part of the concave portion is provided to the airbag body. With this configuration, it is possible to properly prevent the head area of an occupant who is not wearing a seatbelt from being damaged directly by the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuharu Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8246074
    Abstract: An airbag mounting assembly for vehicles to mount a passenger airbag housing to a cowl cross bar may include a mounting bracket, a first end thereof being mounted to the passenger airbag housing and a fastening unit mounting a second end of the mounting bracket to the cowl cross bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hyoung Ho Choi, Hyock In Kwon
  • Patent number: 8246075
    Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The airbag module comprising an airbag and having a visible surface, facing the vehicle interior when installed, which is formed by different segments of the airbag module, wherein at least two of the segments have optically and/or haptically different surfaces. At least two of the segments each have at least one mechanical interface by means of which they can be mechanically connected to at least one of the other segments, forming a connecting area, and at least one of the segments forms at least one tear line, wherein upon tearing open the tear line in the event of deployment an opening is produced in the visible surface through which the airbag can exit the airbag module. Here the mechanical interfaces are designed in such a way that upon tearing open the tear line they endure and do not open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Udo Gaumann, Frank Sauer, Steffen Weigand
  • Publication number: 20120205899
    Abstract: A front passenger airbag (5) is described for arrangement in the instrument panel (20) of a motor vehicle. It has an airbag envelope (10) having an impact area (11) and lateral surfaces extending from the impact area (11). In order to use small gas generators and to reduce the danger for a passenger in a non-standard seating position, the impact area (11) is nearly exclusively allocated to the front passenger's (I) head or head and shoulder area, the impact area (11) having a concave shape when the airbag envelope (10) is fully expanded and free of external forces, such that a left and right section of the impact area (11) respectively extend farther into the interior of the motor vehicle than a central section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Alexander Gulde, Roland Peiz, Armín Kränzle, Peter Gerisch, Reinhard Böswirth, Stefan Taubert, Marc Schock, Jens Hoffmann, Anna Gawlowska, Michal Skibinski, Marcin Wiaderny, Marek Sofinski
  • Patent number: 8231139
    Abstract: In an airbag arrangement for a front seat passenger in a motor vehicle, an airbag is mounted, in its stowed condition, in a dashboard of the vehicle. The airbag is configured to inflate to a deployed condition interposed between the dashboard and the front seat passenger. The inflated airbag is wider on an upper side, over an impact region nearer the front seat passenger, than on a lower side adjacent the dashboard. The airbag is narrower at an end adjacent the vehicle dashboard than at an end nearer to the front seat passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Laurent Hellot, Damien Demulder, Marc Phillips, Mikolaj Niewodniczanski, Waldemar Jarosik
  • Patent number: 8231137
    Abstract: A knee airbag housing assembly including a cover panel, a box case, and a lower panel. The cover panel has an upper support portion and a lower support portion extending transversely from a cantilevered support portion. A tear seam formed between the upper cover and lower cover portion. A lower support portion extends transversely from a cantilevered support on the lower cover portion of said cover panel. The box case supports an airbag module and has a lower wall with a distal end lower wall extending towards the cover panel. The box case is fitted in the space between the upper support and lower support portions such that the distal end lower wall of the box spring is disposed closer to the cantilevered support than the terminal edge of the lower panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Anthony Porcs, Jeffrey Sadao Miki
  • Patent number: 8215665
    Abstract: The present invention obtains an airbag device that can effectively protect an upper body and knees of a passenger by a simple airbag structure. An airbag that structures an airbag device for a passenger's seat has a main bag that restrains an upper body of a vehicle passenger from a front side in a vehicle longitudinal direction, a sub-bag that has a smaller volume than the main bag and that restrains knees of the passenger from the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and an inner tube that is folded-up together with the main bag and the sub-bag and is inflated and expanded within the airbag by a gas supply from an inflator. The inner tube directly supplies gas of the inflator to the main bag and the sub-bag respectively. A check valve is provided at a gas exit that communicates the inner tube with the sub-bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Ohara, Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8205909
    Abstract: An active knee bolster for an automotive vehicle has a base which is attached to a supporting structure, such as a glove box. The base has an outer periphery and an inner field containing a number of frangible attachment tabs. A combination inflatable bladder and cover is attached to the frangible attachment tabs such that the tabs tear partially free, and effectively become hinged from, the base when the bladder is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventor: Raymond Edward Kalisz
  • Publication number: 20120146315
    Abstract: An airbag device configured to be disposed in an instrument panel includes an inflator configured to generate gas, and an airbag that includes a gas inlet through which the gas from the inflator is introduced and is inflated and deployed in a bag shape toward a vehicle room side by the gas introduced from the inflator through the gas inlet. The airbag has, in an upper portion thereof, an extra length in a front and rear direction of a vehicle and is folded in a housed state after experiencing a folded state in an approximately planar fashion such that the extra length portion is tucked into the airbag toward the rear of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tadaaki Sekino, Keisuke Moritani, Takeshi Inazumi, Koichi Ishida
  • Patent number: 8191924
    Abstract: The invention relates to a dashboard (1) for an automobile, of the type that comprises a lower-resistance line defining a flap (4) to be opened under the pressure generated by the expansion of an airbag (10) upon an impact to the automobile, said flap including a wall (18) having an inner surface (24) on the side of a housing (8) containing the airbag, and an outer surface (26) opposite the inner surface, characterized in that it comprises a pattern (6) with which the flap is brought into contact upon the opening thereof, and in that the wall of the flap includes at least one breaking primer (40) located in the vicinity of a contact point (P) between the flap and the pattern, for breaking the wall into several parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventor: Thierry Schupbach
  • Patent number: 8186715
    Abstract: An airbag comprises a right half airbag to be inflated on a front right side of an occupant, a left half airbag to be inflated on a front left side of the occupant, and a base-end chamber that communicates with base-end sides of the right half airbag and the left half airbag. A vertically extended concave portion exists on a surface of the inflated airbag that faces the occupant. The upper parts of the right half airbag and the left half airbag, and the lower parts of the right half airbag and the left half airbag are stitched together by seams, and the intermediate parts of the right half airbag and the left half airbag are stitched together by a seam. The seam is provided at the deepest location. The concave portion is shallow in the upper part and lower part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhito Miyata
  • Patent number: 8181986
    Abstract: A directional device for the deployment of an airbag includes a deflection element that directs airbag deployment, the deflection element on actuation of the airbag exerting a pressure on the airbag which is directed away from the windscreen during the entire airbag deployment phase such that the airbag is directed away from the windscreen on its deployment. The directional device prevents damage/destruction of the windscreen on actuation of the airbag and thus improves protection of the vehicle occupants. The directional device is also capable of being variable fixed and replaceable in an airbag configuration/covering and may also optionally be integrated therein such that simplification of the development or series production of the airbag configuration is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Lisa Dräxlmaier GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Schlemmer
  • Patent number: 8181990
    Abstract: An airbag for use within a motor vehicle, which includes a gas generator for supplying inflation gas; a lower chamber configured to be inflated directly by the gas generator; an upper chamber located above and proximate to the lower chamber; and a diffusing panel configured to separate the lower and upper chambers and allows inflation gas to pass through. The upper chamber is to be indirectly inflated by the gas generator through the diffusing panel, and upon completed deployment will have an internal pressure lower than the deployed internal pressure of the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Vivekananda Maripudi
  • Patent number: 8181987
    Abstract: An air bag deployment apparatus is provided for use in an air bag deployment system of an automotive vehicle. The apparatus has a support base for attachment to a rear surface of an occupant facing substrate. A door support panel has upper and lower surfaces and four side edges for attachment to the rear surface of the substrate within the area of an air bag deployment door. An air bag chute extends downward from the support base and contains a plurality of skirt walls for defining a path for deployment of an air bag from beneath the substrate. A hinge element extends from one of the skirt walls to one edge of the door support panel wherein the hinge element has upper and lower surfaces joined by a left side surface and a right side surface. At least one of the side surfaces protruding from the skirt wall includes an undercut so that a lower corner of the hinge element forms an obtuse angle, resulting in better transfer of deployment forces through the hinge element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Mazzocchi, Kenneth J. Kwasnik, Brian C. Slane
  • Patent number: 8177255
    Abstract: This device includes a flexible net (26), a first end portion (28) of which is overmolded by the flap (20) and a second portion (30) is overmolded by a support element (24), the central portion extending between the first and second portions (28, 30) forming a flexible hinge (22) for articulating the flap (20) relative to the support element (24). The second portion (30) includes an end part (32) protruding from the support element (24) on the opposite side to the hinge-forming part (22), the end part (32) including a stop element, such that, when the airbag is deployed, the stop element prevents the second part (32) from being pulled out of the support element (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Faurecia Interieur Industrie
    Inventors: Daniel Le Hoang, Jérôme Meziere, Michael Brunet
  • Publication number: 20120091698
    Abstract: An instrument panel having a deployable cover for an airbag module, the instrument panel including: a substrate layer with a tear seam formed therein; a bi-laminate layer comprising a foam layer and an outer layer with a tear seam formed therein, the tear seam of the bi-laminate layer of being aligned with the tear seam of the substrate layer, wherein the substrate layer and the bi-laminate layer are secured to each other and wherein the tear seam of the substrate layer and the tear seam of the bi-laminate layer are each separately formed prior to the substrate layer and the bi-laminate layer being secured to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Wolfe, John Oxner, Edward Wenzel
  • Patent number: 8146942
    Abstract: An airbag bracket has at least one airbag fastening section (31, 32, 41, 42) for fastening an airbag device to the airbag bracket (1) and has at least one instrument panel fastening section (11, 12, 13, 23, 24) for fastening an instrument panel to the airbag bracket. Thus, forces occurring during the triggering of the airbag device can be reliably absorbed. The airbag bracket (1) has at least one supporting fastening section (35, 45) for fastening the airbag bracket (1) to a supporting structure of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Bruning, Bernt Wallrabe, Rainer Mertens, Andre Kurschner
  • Patent number: RE43353
    Abstract: An airbag assembly is disclosed. The airbag assembly includes an inflatable cushion having a recess in its lower portion. The recess may form split sections in the lower portion of the cushion. The recess may be configured to receive a rear-facing child car seat during deployment. The airbag assembly may further include a tethering system to control deployment of the split sections of the cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Schneider, Changsoo Choi, Timothy A. DePottey, Curtis W. Strader