With Confinement Deflation Means Patents (Class 280/739)
  • Patent number: 11945396
    Abstract: An airbag cushion and an airbag apparatus for a passenger seat including the same. A side panel portion of the airbag cushion is divided into a first panel portion, which is disposed at an upper position, and a second panel portion, which is disposed at a lower position, an open gap communicating with the outside is formed in an overlap region between the first panel portion and the second panel portion, and a low-risk deployment (LRD) vent for the airbag cushion is formed using the open gap. Accordingly, the configuration for forming the LRD vent is simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Su Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 11920265
    Abstract: A multi-layer fabric, and an airbag formed of the multi-layer fabric are provided. The multi-layer fabric can provide an airbag capable of sufficiently protecting a driver or a passenger by minimizing damage caused by broken glass fragments when a vehicle is overturned. The multi-layer fabric includes an inflating part, and a co-woven part surrounding the inflating part. At least one layer of the inflating part includes a first region formed of two or more types of weaves comprising 1/1 plain weave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jin Wook Heo, Il Chung, Ki Jeong Kim, Hyo Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 11919471
    Abstract: An airbag module (10) for a restraint device (14) includes an airbag (24), in particular a seat-integrated side airbag, and a slidable actuator (40), wherein the airbag (24) has at least a first chamber (26) and at least a second chamber (28) which are fluidically connected to each other via a fluid communication, wherein the actuator (40) has a blocking position in which the fluid communication is blocked and a release position in which the fluid communication is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AG
    Inventors: Marco Wahl, Gerd Zischka
  • Patent number: 11910850
    Abstract: A wearable airbag device adapted to be worn by a wearer is disclosed, including a gas generator that is configured to be actuated at fall of the wearer, an airbag that includes a plurality of inflatable portions that are partitioned from one another, the plurality of inflatable portions each including an gas inlet port and being configured to be inflated with an inflation gas fed from the gas generator via the gas inlet port for protecting a targeted body part of the wearer, and a gas switching mechanism that is disposed in a pathway of the inflation gas from the gas generator toward the plurality of inflatable portions, the gas switching mechanism being configured to switch a destination of the inflation gas emitted from the gas generator over to only one inflatable portion disposed in a falling direction of the wearer out of the plurality of inflatable portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihito Yanagisawa, Wataru Miura, Hitomi Takahashi, Yusuke Kawamura
  • Patent number: 11878645
    Abstract: A knee airbag device according to the present invention includes: an airbag that restrains a lower extremity of an occupant by expanding and deploying below an instrument panel of a vehicle; and an inflator that supplies expansion gas to the airbag. The airbag includes, when the inside of the vehicle is a first side and the outside of the vehicle is a second side, a first portion positioned on the first side and a second portion positioned on the second side. Furthermore, the first portion of the airbag protrudes more toward the occupant side than the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yutaka Nakajima, Takanari Muroya, Ryota Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 11866113
    Abstract: In a straddle-type vehicle including an airbag device in a seat for an occupant, the airbag can be efficiently disposed in the seat, and an occupant on a front side of the airbag device can be protected by the airbag device. In the straddle-type vehicle including an airbag device in a seat for an occupant, the seat includes a front seat and a rear seat disposed on a rear side and an upper side of the front seat, a step portion is formed between the front seat and the rear seat, the airbag device is disposed on a rear side of the step portion in the seat, and an airbag of the airbag device is to be deployed forward of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yutaka Aikyo
  • Patent number: 11858451
    Abstract: An airbag module having a retainer, an airbag cushion affixed to the retainer, an inflator, affixed to the retainer, to inflate the airbag cushion and a vertical restrictor disposed inside the airbag cushion. The vertical restrictor being affixed to the airbag, cushion and to the retainer and configured to limit a distance the airbag cushion travels in a vertical direction during inflation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: William J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 11858452
    Abstract: An air bag cushion for a vehicle. A tether reinforcing fabric coupled to a tether seam portion of a main cushion is used to allow the tether reinforcing fabric to inflate with the main cushion when the main cushion inflates, and the inflating tether reinforcing fabric forms an auxiliary chamber between the main cushion and the tether reinforcing fabric, and the auxiliary chamber of the tether reinforcing fabric supports the head of a passenger in a front passenger seat in the event of a crash, thereby preventing the rotation of the passenger's head and efficiently protecting the safety of the front passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min Seok Koh
  • Patent number: 11820320
    Abstract: There is provided a system for improving safety of an occupant by an airbag, which can provide adaptive protection for occupants in different seat positions and different sitting postures. Further, there is provided a method for improving safety of an occupant by an airbag. Further, there is provided a computer-readable medium. The system for improving safety of an occupant by an airbag includes an in-vehicle observation system, an inflatable restraint system, a collision prediction system, and an integrated safety domain control unit. The integrated safety domain control unit formulates a deployment strategy based on data transmitted from the in-vehicle observation system, the inflatable restraint system, and the collision prediction system, to selectively inflate at least one airbag assembly and control an inflation volume for the airbag assembly to be inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ZF Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui Yang, Zhenfei Wang, Yuanyi Cheng
  • Patent number: 11814008
    Abstract: An airbag device of a vehicle and a control method thereof. The airbag device of a vehicle includes a detection unit configured to detect collision information of a vehicle and seating state information of an occupant, an airbag unit including a plurality of airbag modules, each of the airbag modules being configured to be inflated from a contracted state as working gas is supplied and to be restored to the contracted state as the working gas is discharged, a valve unit configured to regulate the working gas supplied to the airbag unit, and a control unit configured to determine a hitting position based on the collision information and the seating state information, and to control the valve unit to supply the working gas to a target airbag module installed at the hitting position, thereby inflating the target airbag module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hae Kwon Park, Jun Sung Park, Byeung Su Kim, Mun Hyoung Yoon
  • Patent number: 11814006
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle, in which a lateral tether is disconnected or a front tether is disconnected, in the event of a collision accident, depending on whether a passenger seated in a passenger seat is in a normal seating state or a relaxed seating state, such that a deployed airbag cushion may effectively protect not only a passenger seated in the passenger seat in the normal seating state but also a passenger seated in the passenger seat in the relaxed seating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Min Lee, Dong Young Kim, Ga Ram Jeong, Jae Hyun Lee
  • Patent number: 11814007
    Abstract: An airbag device configured to improving the opening and closing operability of a vent hole to reduce injuries to a passenger. The airbag device includes a cushion panel of an airbag cushion, the cushion panel having a hole, a guide panel overlapped with the cushion panel, and having a hole matching with the hole of the cushion panel, a bellows vent having a hollow vent hole therein, and connected to the hole of the cushion panel and the hole of the guide panel in a folded state while being located therebetween, and a tether connected to the bellows vent, and configured to close the vent hole by the bellows vent unfolded between the cushion panel and the guide panel as a tension pulling the bellows vent in a deployment direction of the airbag cushion due to an expansion pressure of the airbag cushion is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seok Min Shin
  • Patent number: 11807184
    Abstract: In a vehicle occupant protection system, a first tether is permanently fastened to a front panel of the airbag and is detachably fixed to an actuator unit on the module side. A second tether is arranged on the module side and is connected to the first tether, wherein in an extension of the second tether there is provided a decoupling arrangement which is located between the second tether and the first tether only when the actuator unit is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana, S.A.
    Inventor: Óscar Ugarte Alba
  • Patent number: 11780400
    Abstract: An airbag comprises an airbag panel defining an inflatable volume. A discharge port having a closure is formed in the airbag panel. A tether extends through the inflatable volume from a first end tightly connected to the airbag panel in the direction of the discharge port to an opposite second end. The discharge port closure is connected to the second tether end and the airbag panel. The tether at least in portions has a two-ply design and includes two strap layers. A control strap extends transversely to the tether through the inflatable airbag volume. A first control strap portion is fastened to the airbag panel and to the first strap layer. A second control strap portion is fastened to the airbag panel and to the second strap layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventor: Diogo Rocha
  • Patent number: 11780396
    Abstract: An airbag control device for controlling the volume of an airbag (10) of a restraining means, comprising an inflator (14) for inflating the airbag (10) and an electrically controllable decoupling device (22) for tension means via which the geometry of the airbag (10) can be varied, is characterized in that the inflator (14) and the decoupling device (22) are fluid-communicated and the decoupling device (22) includes at least one outlet opening (36) the cross-section of which is variable by an electrically controllable actuator (46) and through which gas can escape from the inflator (14) to the atmosphere. Moreover, the invention describes an airbag unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignees: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, AUDI AG
    Inventor: Gerd Zischka
  • Patent number: 11738708
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag module (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system (12), comprising an airbag (14), an inflator (18), a shaping tether (22) for influencing the airbag deployment geometry which is connected to the airbag (14) at one tether end, and comprising a port release tether (20) which is connected to a discharge port closure (26) of the airbag (14) at one tether end, wherein the port release tether (20) is connected to the discharge port closure (26) so that it releases a discharge port (28) of the airbag (14) from a predetermined tensile tether force, and wherein an activatable tether release device (24) coupled both to the shaping tether (22) and to the port release tether (20) is provided for actively releasing the tethers (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventor: Óscar Ugarte Alba
  • Patent number: 11667260
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag cushion unit inflatable with working gas introduced thereto, one or more variable vent units protruding outward from the airbag cushion unit and including a hollow portion communicating with an inner portion of the airbag cushion unit, and one or more tether units having one portion shaped to surround the variable vent unit and the other portion fixed to an outer portion of the airbag cushion unit, and configured to tighten and close the variable vent unit in response to the airbag cushion unit being inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Rae Ick Jang
  • Patent number: 11661027
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an airbag includes fixing a first reinforcement panel to a first main panel at a first edge of the first main panel. The method includes fixing a second reinforcement panel to a second main panel at a second edge of the second main panel. The method includes overlaying the first main panel on the second main panel with the first reinforcement panel aligned with the second reinforcement panel and the first edge aligned with the second edge. The method includes fixing the first main panel to the second main panel along the first edge and the second edge. The method includes creating a vent by cutting both the first reinforcement panel and the second reinforcement panel along a cut line to form the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Joseph E. Abramczyk, Deepak Patel
  • Patent number: 11639150
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, a case in which the folded airbag is housed, and an airbag cover that covers the folded airbag. An attachment portion of the airbag cover is attached to a peripheral wall portion of the case by a rivet being caused to pass through. The case is such that a vicinity of a boundary region between the peripheral wall portion and a bottom wall portion is curved in an approximate arc in cross-section. The attachment portion includes a protruding portion that protrudes toward the peripheral wall portion side in an end edge farther to a leading end side than a region of penetration of the rivet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ozeki, Akira Yasuda, Taizo Suemitsu
  • Patent number: 11608024
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an actuator of a configuration that causes a string-form coupling member extending from an airbag to be coupled, and controls an inflation aspect of the airbag by causing a state of coupling with the coupling member to be maintained or terminated. The actuator includes a gas generator that can eject a combustion gas and a holder portion that can hold the coupling member. The holder portion includes a holding wall portion, which can hold the wound coupling member on an outer peripheral face side, and a top wall portion that closes a leading end side of the holding wall portion, and a contact region in which the combustion gas can be brought into contact with the coupling member is disposed in a region of the holding wall portion. The actuator causes the coupling member to be severed by causing the combustion gas to come into contact with the coupling member in the contact region, whereby a state of the coupling member being held in the holder portion can be terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tanaka, Akira Yamashita, Shinichi Ishida, Yoshio Ono
  • Patent number: 11590923
    Abstract: A roof mounted airbag is proposed. The roof mounted airbag includes: an airbag cushion having an upper portion fixed to a roof of a vehicle and configured to be expanded downward when gas is supplied therein; a vent hole formed on the airbag cushion, and configured to discharge the gas in the airbag cushion to the outside of the airbag cushion during opening of the vent hole; and a closing tether having a first end fixed to the roof of the vehicle, and a second end connected to the vent hole to close the vent hole when tension is applied thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ga Ram Jeong, Sang Won Hwangbo, Hae Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 11543511
    Abstract: A radar apparatus includes an antenna configured to radiate a first electromagnetic wave in a first radiation angle range including a first direction and radiates a second electromagnetic wave in a second radiation angle range including a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a circuit configured to detect a target in each of the first direction and the second direction on the basis of a first reflected signal of the first electromagnetic wave and a second reflected signal of the second electromagnetic wave, which are received by the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Murata, Hidekuni Yomo
  • Patent number: 11541841
    Abstract: Disclosed is an airbag apparatus capable of safely protecting a passenger by increasing the width of an airbag cushion in a leftward-rightward direction when the passenger comes into contact with the airbag cushion. The airbag apparatus includes: a first tether disposed inside the airbag cushion in a forward-backward direction, and a second tether disposed inside the airbag cushion in the leftward-rightward direction and connected to the first tether. When the passenger comes into contact with the airbag cushion upon deployment of the airbag cushion, the width of the airbag cushion in the leftward-rightward direction is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jun Yeol Choi
  • Patent number: 11518335
    Abstract: A vehicle steering system including a yoke type steering wheel. An airbag module located in the steering wheel and including an inflator and an airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into two configurations. In the first configuration the airbag is fully inflated into a circular configuration and in the second configuration the airbag inflates into a u-shaped configuration. The u-shaped configuration is formed by a tether connected at a first end to the airbag and at a second end to a tether release device. The tether release device is configured to stay connected to the tether when the driver is determined to be in an out of position (OOP) condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventor: Doug Osterfeld
  • Patent number: 11433847
    Abstract: The airbag comprises an outer skin (20) having a first opening (26), a flap (32) being at least indirectly attached to the outer skin (20), and a tether (37). The first end of the tether is attached to a flap (32) and the second end (37b) of the tether is detachably attached to a holding element (16). When the airbag is deployed and the tether (37) is under tension, the flap (32) covers the first opening (26) at least partially such that the ventilation device is in a closed or throttled first state. When the airbag is deployed and the tether (37) is not under tension because the second end (37b) of the tether is detached from the holding element, the flap (32) covers the first opening (26) less than in in the first state, such that the ventilation device is in second state. The flap (32) is located between the outer skin (20) and an additional layer (34) having a second opening (36) at least partially overlapping the first opening (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Laurent Hellot
  • Patent number: 11414043
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag comprising a vent having a closed condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent, and an opened condition permitting inflation fluid to flow through the vent. The vent includes a vent opening formed in a panel of the airbag and a vent flap connected to the airbag panel adjacent to the vent opening. The vent flap is configured to block inflation fluid flow through the vent opening in the closed condition of the vent, and to permit inflation fluid flow through the vent opening in the opened condition of the vent. The vent flap includes a plurality of folds configured to form one or more pleats in the vent flap. The vent flap is held extending across and covering the vent opening in the closed condition of the vent. The vent flap is released and uncovers the vent opening in the open condition of the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventor: Douglas Gould
  • Patent number: 11383666
    Abstract: A side airbag (SAB) of a vehicle includes: a main chamber disposed in a seat to be deployed from a side surface portion of the seat and, when deployed, configured to cover at least one of a thoracic region, an abdomen region, or a pelvis region of an occupant; a main inflator configured to supply gas to the main chamber to deploy the main chamber; and an auxiliary chamber communicating with the main chamber to allow the gas inside the main chamber to be supplied to an interior of the auxiliary chamber and connected to the main chamber to be deploy above the main chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joo Seon Yoo, Hyock In Kwon, Hyo Shub Shin
  • Patent number: 11377063
    Abstract: The invention relates to an airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising an airbag panel (16) defining an inflatable airbag volume as well as including a front panel portion (18) and a rear panel portion (20), a tether (22) extending in the interior of the airbag (14) across the inflatable airbag volume, a discharge orifice (24) which is formed in the rear panel portion (20) of the airbag panel (16), as well as a first closing tab (26) and a second closing tab (28) for closing the discharge orifice (24), wherein the tether (22) extends from a first tether end (32) tightly connected to the front panel portion (18) in the direction of the discharge orifice (24) to an opposite second tether end (34), wherein the first closing tab (26) extends from a first tab end (36) tightly connected to the rear panel portion (20) to a second tab end (38) tightly connected to the second tether end (34), wherein the second closing tab (28) is fastened on the rear panel portion (20) adjacent to the discharge orific
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignees: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A., SAFELIFE INDUSTRIAL DE COMPOMENTES DE SEGURANCA AUTOMOVEL S.A., TRW AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Thomas Lind, Stefan Sapountzis, Ramon Bana Castro, Bartolomeu Franco, Alexandra Baibas Calvo, Diogo Goncalves Rocha
  • Patent number: 11338752
    Abstract: An airbag module has an airbag and a gas generator, between which a gas supply with a valve arrangement is arranged. The valve arrangement has an electrically actuatable pilot valve and a hydraulic transmission arrangement for amplifying a stroke action of the pilot valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: VITESCO TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Matthias Bleeck, Christoph Aumueller
  • Patent number: 11292423
    Abstract: A side inflatable airbag assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. Inflatable airbag assemblies may provide protection for an occupant in a vehicle collision event. In a side collision event, or other event producing lateral movement of the occupant relative to the vehicle, the disclosed inflatable airbag assembly may receive and support the occupant during ride-down so as to prevent or minimize injury resulting from impact with a vehicle sidewall. An inflatable airbag cushion of the inflatable airbag assembly comprises a valve with an aperture and a vent flap that has a strong connection and a weak connection to the inflatable airbag cushion. The disclosed airbag may differentially support the occupant by providing varied degrees of support for the shoulder, pelvis, and torso, which may be particularly beneficial to an elderly occupant whose bones may be more susceptible to some injury types and modes as a result of age-incident health issues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Nathaniel Lee Gerlach
  • Patent number: 11214228
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag formed with a discharge portion. The discharge portion includes: an opening portion; a tack portion around the opening portion; and a regulating belt portion disposed on a peripheral edge of the opening portion to regulate opening and closing of the opening portion. When the inflation of the airbag is completed, the tack portion is maintained in a folded state by the regulating belt portion due to tension acting on the regulation belt portion, so that a closed state of the opening portion is capable of being maintained, and when the tension does not act on the regulating belt portion, the folded state is released and the opening portion is brought into an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keita Suzuki, Takuya Hiraiwa, Shinichi Ishida
  • Patent number: 11130468
    Abstract: An active vent mechanism for an airbag apparatus that includes a first vent hole formed in an airbag and a patch capable of releasing and closing the first vent hole. A portion of the patch is coupled to the outer surface of the airbag. The airbag apparatus includes a coupling member having one end coupled to the patch and the other end entering the airbag and coupled to the airbag. A portion of the patch or a portion of the coupling member penetrates through an opening in the vicinity of the first vent hole. The airbag apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical regulating member into which the coupling member is inserted inside the airbag. The regulating member has a first end coupled to the inner surface of the airbag so as to surround the opening inside the airbag and a second end coupled to the coupling member in a sealed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Yutaka Baba, Kazuki Morita
  • Patent number: 11124149
    Abstract: An airbag having an exhaust hole and an opening/closing control device configured to control opening and closing of the exhaust hole are provided. The airbag includes a bag body, and a discharge portion having the exhaust hole, the discharge portion is configured to maintain a blocked state of the exhaust hole by being drawn into the bag body at the time of inflation of the bag body in a state where connection between a connection member and the opening/closing control device is maintained, and to be inflated by protruding from the bag body at the time of inflation of the bag body in a state where the connection between the connection member and the opening/closing control device is released to open the exhaust hole. A dummy inflation portion inflated to partially protrude from the bag body is formed at a position approximately symmetrical to the discharge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Hiraiwa, Shinichi Ishida, Keita Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11117542
    Abstract: A covering member is attached to a case body, on which an actuator detachably holding the other end portion of a tether having one end portion connected to an airbag is mounted, and covers the actuator. The covering member includes an opposing portion that opposes at least a part of the actuator in an attachment direction D to the case body. The covering member includes a side surface portion that is formed to extend from the opposing portion in the attachment direction D and is locked and held by being pushed into the case body in the attachment direction D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kei Sano, Ryosuke Muramatsu, Shoji Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 11097681
    Abstract: A vehicle seat having an airbag unit for protecting a passenger sitting rear of the vehicle seat. The deployed airbag (30) extends from the rear side of the backrest of the vehicle seat into the vehicle rear direction. A support surface (32) of the airbag (30) is positioned above the attachment between the airbag unit (20) and the backrest and an impact surface (34) of the airbag (30) is located in front of a rear seated passenger. The airbag is relatively small and high positioned such that the impact surface (34) is positioned to exclusively contact the head of the passenger. In the state in which the airbag (30) is fully deployed but free of outer forces, the impact surface (34) defines an impact plane (IP) and a support surface (32) defines a support plane (SP). The impact plane (IP) and the support plane (SP) enclose a first angle (a) between 5° and 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventor: Ralf Zauritz
  • Patent number: 10974683
    Abstract: A safety airbag, comprising: an airbag (2) having a side air curtain (21) and a front air bag (22); an gas-guiding bag (3), which guides gas generated from a gas generator (4) into the airbag (2); and a backflow prevention assembly (7), which is connected to the gas-guiding bag (3) and which may prevent the gas in the front air bag (22) from flowing back to the side air curtain (21) when the front air bag (22) is extruded. The safety airbag may protect a occupant's head and effectively lessen the impact on the head or neck of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignees: Yanfeng Automotive Safety Systems Co., Ltd., Shanghai Lingang Joyson Safety Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiao Zhuang
  • Patent number: 10953839
    Abstract: An airbag device includes: an airbag having an exhaust hole capable of discharging a part of the inflation gas introduced therein upon opening; and an opening/closing control device capable of controlling opening/closing of the exhaust hole. The airbag has: a flexible bag main body; a discharge part having the exhaust hole; and a coupling member. Peripheral edges of a pair of peripheral wall constituting parts are joined to form the bag main body and the discharge part. Discharge part forming portions, which constitute the discharge part, partially protrude in the peripheral wall constituting parts, respectively. An opening, which constitutes the exhaust hole, is formed in a region, which is closer to a tip end-side of the discharge part than seal parts crimped to each other when the discharge part is pulled into the bag main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tanaka, Takuya Hiraiwa
  • Patent number: 10773679
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus may include: a first chamber connected to an inflator, and supporting the head of a passenger in case of a head-on collision of a vehicle; a second chamber connected to one side of the first chamber, expanded toward the rear of the vehicle, and suppressing the head of the passenger from moving in a diagonal direction based on the front of the vehicle, in case of an oblique collision of the vehicle; a tube part coupled to the first chamber to introduce gas of the first chamber into the second chamber, and having a ring-shaped tightening part formed along the circumference thereof; and a tether part having one end coupled to the first chamber and the other end passed through the tightening part, and closing the tube part after the first chamber is completely deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ga Ram Jeong, Hae Kwon Park, Seok Min Lee, Rae Ick Jang
  • Patent number: 10773680
    Abstract: An oscillation reducing structure for a front passenger seat airbag includes a front passenger seat airbag equipped with a center bag and a friction imparting device. When inflated and deployed, the front passenger seat airbag contacts with a front windshield glass in a first area, and contacts with an instrument panel in a second area. The friction imparting device makes at least one of a coefficient of frictions of the first area and the second area greater than that of other areas of the front passenger seat airbag. The friction imparting device is formed such that a coefficient of friction thereof in a vehicle width direction is greater than in a vehicle front-rear direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Hioda
  • Patent number: 10696266
    Abstract: An inflatable airbag assembly, such as a knee airbag assembly, including a support strap, wherein the support strap may be secured to an inflatable airbag cushion. The support strap may be configured to direct the deployment trajectory of the airbag cushion such that the airbag cushion is deployed rearwardly and upwardly within a vehicle. The inflatable airbag assembly may be configured to prevent injury to an occupant's hip, femur, knee, and/or lower leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Enders, Quin Soderquist
  • Patent number: 10647287
    Abstract: An airbag includes an internal pressure adjusting mechanism, including: a tether arranged in a bag part; a long side part; and a short side part; and adjusting an exhaust of the inflation gas: to be in an exhaust mode in which the exhaust is facilitated when the tether is loosened; and to be in an exhaust suppression mode in which the exhaust is suppressed when the tether is stretched. In a state where the tether is loosened during the exhaust mode, facing edge parts of the long side part and the short side part are separable. In a state where the tether is stretched during the exhaust suppression mode, the facing edge part of the long side part and a root side part are inflated around the short side part and a leading edge side part contacts a back surface side of the short side part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takanori Komatsu, Wataru Miura, Hiroyuki Nakanishi, Koji Kawamura
  • Patent number: 10543804
    Abstract: A first panel 12 includes: a fold-back part 12c formed by folding back the first panel along an edge part 12a of the first panel; and a seam allowance part 12d laid on top of the fold-back part 12c, the second panel 13 is sewed to the first panel with a first chain stitch 17 while being laid on top of the fold-back part 12c, and a chain part 17a of the first chain stitch 17 is located between the fold-back part 12c and the seam allowance part 12d. Thus, because the chain part 17a of the first chain stitch 17 is covered by the seam allowance part 12d of the first panel 12, the chain part 17a of the first chain stitch 17 is prevented from rubbing against other members during deployment of the airbag 11, whereby the reliability of a sewing section 14 can be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fumiharu Ochiai, Hiroshi Hanjono, Kanichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10358110
    Abstract: An airbag includes: an airbag body formed in a bag shape with an occupant-side panel facing an occupant and an opposite-side panel facing a steering wheel in a deployed state; and a flow regulator arranged inside the airbag body and configured to regulate a direction of flow of gas supplied from an inflator. The flow regulator includes: a flow-regulator body arranged such that at least part of the flow-regulator body faces the inflator; fixed portions provided at mutually separated positions on the flow-regulator body and fixed to the opposite-side panel; and a notch provided between the fixed portions in a recessed shape toward a center of the flow-regulator body and forming a gas passage port between the notch and the opposite-side panel, the gas passage port being a port through which the gas supplied from the inflator flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Ooka, Yohei Kiuchi, Akihiko Yamami, Yuta Inaba
  • Patent number: 10131316
    Abstract: In an airbag comprising at least one aperture (14) which is provided in an airbag shell (12) and to which a closure element (16) is attached a tether (34) via which the closure element (16) can be maintained in a closed position acts on the closure element (16). The invention moreover relates to a method of operating a vehicle occupant protection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaler
  • Patent number: 10131315
    Abstract: Holding elements for attaching an element of an airbag assembly to a holding unit comprising such a holding element and an inflating element, along with related methods. In some embodiments, the holding element may be configured for attaching an element of an airbag assembly via at least one tear seam, and the holding element may comprise a first side wall made of a flexible material and a second side wall made of a flexible material. A peripheral connection may couple the first side wall and the second side wall and may extend from a first end to a second end such that the first side wall, the second side wall, and the peripheral connection define a space therebetween and an opening. The holding element may further comprise an inlay comprising a hole and having at least one layer being located between the first side wall and the second side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Haas, Jr., Thomas Reiter, David Keyser
  • Patent number: 10023147
    Abstract: A self standing center side airbag includes: an airbag cushion configured to be located at a side of an interior facing side of a seat back; a first through hole configured to penetrate through the airbag cushion and be located at a back with respect to a central line that bisects the airbag cushion in a front and back direction; a second through hole configured to penetrate through the airbag cushion and be located at a front with respect to the central line that bisects the airbag cushion in the front and back direction; and a tether configured to penetrate through the first through hole and the second through hole and have both ends fixed at the seat back side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Hyock In Kwon
  • Patent number: 10011243
    Abstract: An airbag system includes an airbag having a main portion having a first periphery. The main portion is inflatable in an inflation direction to a first thickness. An extension extends from the main portion and has a second periphery spaced from the first periphery. The extension is inflatable in the inflation direction to a second thickness. The first periphery and the second periphery define a gap therebetween. A depression is disposed between the main portion and the extension at the gap and the depression has a third thickness in the inflation direction less than the first thickness and the second thickness. The extension and the depression may receive a head of an occupant during an oblique impact, in which the head of the occupant may avoid the main portion of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Deepak Patel, Srinivas Reddy Malapati, Dinkar Sadashiv Karanth, Srividya Mudumbi, Zhibing Deng
  • Patent number: 9994191
    Abstract: A gas bag arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided. The gas bag arrangement contains a gas bag which can be deployed for the protection of a person present outside the motor vehicle along at least a section of the outside of the windshield or another portion of an outside of the motor vehicle, at least one pressure reducing device for reducing the internal pressure at least of a partial region of the at least partly inflated gas bag, and a means for moving at least a section of the at least partly inflated gas bag out of the field of view of a vehicle occupant of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: TAKATA AG
    Inventors: Ingo Kalliske, Dieter Markfort, Walter Kisler, Tobias Pausch, Norman Steinke
  • Patent number: 9873402
    Abstract: An airbag is disclosed which allows for stable and easy adjustment of the degree of opening of a discharge hole with a simple configuration. The airbag includes: a variable discharge vent hole in at least one of paired lateral surfaces facing each other; and a cover at a position of an outer portion of an airbag main body to be placed over the variable vent hole. In addition, a first end of a tether is connected to the cover corresponding to a first one of the paired lateral surfaces. A second end of the tether is connected in the airbag main body to a second one of the paired lateral surfaces that is positioned opposite to the first one of the paired lateral surfaces including the variable vent hole corresponding to the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chiari Saito
  • Patent number: 9845069
    Abstract: A restraint system in a vehicle includes a reaction surface, an airbag including an inflation chamber, and a tube in fluid communication with the inflation chamber. The airbag is inflatable from an undeployed state to a deployed state. The airbag is fixed relative to the reaction surface in the undeployed state and adjacent the reaction surface in the deployed state. The tube extends along the airbag between the airbag in the deployed state and the reaction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventor: Elizabeth G. Owen