With Confinement Expansion Regulating Tether Or Strap Patents (Class 280/743.2)
  • Patent number: 10391968
    Abstract: An airbag assembly includes a base, an airbag supported by the base and defining an inflation chamber, an external tether, and an internal tether. The airbag includes a panel and an extension extending transverse to the panel. The panel includes an internal surface facing the inflation chamber and an external surface facing away from the inflation chamber. The external tether extends from the extension to the external surface of the panel. The internal tether extends from the base to the internal surface of the panel. During a vehicle impact, the momentum of the occupant may move the occupant towards the extension. The extension may absorb energy from the occupant and reduce or prevent the head of the occupant from sliding across the panel and/or rotating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammed Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, James Chih Cheng, Robert William McCoy
  • Patent number: 10363900
    Abstract: A front airbag for vehicles including an airbag cushion may include a rear panel located at the side of a steering wheel and a front panel located at the side of a passenger and having a shape corresponding to the shape of the rear panel, the rear panel and the front panel provided with protruding supports formed at both sides of the lower end portions thereof, a first tether connecting the central part of the front panel, corresponding to a loading position of the passenger's head, to an airbag housing, and second tethers connecting the lower end portion of the front panel, corresponding to a loading position of the passenger's chest, to the airbag housing and having a shorter length than that of the first tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp., Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Beom Soo Kim, Seung Ho An, Taeg Young Ahn, Jun Yong Min, Sung Woo Lee, Dong Young Kim
  • Patent number: 10300880
    Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle includes an airbag cushion; an inflator coupled to the airbag cushion and configured to selectively provide air to inflate and deploy the airbag cushion from a stowed state into a deployed state; an airbag magnetic element coupled to the airbag cushion; and a magnetic guide element arranged at a distance to the airbag magnetic element when the airbag cushion is in the stowed state. Upon deployment of the airbag cushion, the airbag magnetic element and the magnetic guide element magnetically interact with one another to at least one of guide the airbag cushion in a predetermined direction or maintain the airbag cushion in a predetermined deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Russell J. Mihm
  • Patent number: 10155496
    Abstract: An airbag includes a middle chamber having a front panel and first and second side panels spaced from each other and extending from the front panel. The airbag includes a first side chamber attached to the first side panel and a second side chamber attached to the second side panel, and a manifold chamber spaced from the front panel and attached to and in fluid communication with the middle chamber and the first and second side chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammed Omar Faruque, Saeed David Barbat, Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 9963099
    Abstract: A steering wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a steering wheel and an airbag that is supported by the steering wheel. The airbag is inflatable away from the steering wheel in an inflation direction. An airbag tether includes a first end coupled to the steering wheel, and a second end spaced from the first end and coupled to the steering wheel. The airbag is disposed between the steering wheel and the airbag tether. During a frontal impact of the vehicle, the airbag tether may be positioned independent of steering wheel position to restrict inflation of the airbag adjacent a thorax of a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mangala A. Jayasuriya, Robert William McCoy
  • Patent number: 9908498
    Abstract: A front airbag (10) comprising a cut including two substantially triangular side portions (30, 32) facing toward each other by a respective side which form at least the side walls (18, 20) and at least portions of the upper and lower walls (22, 24) as well as a central portion (44) located between the side portions (30, 32) which is adjacent to the sides of the triangular side portions (30, 32) facing each other and forms at least the front wall (16), wherein in the area of the side walls (18, 20) a respective transitional portion (34, 36) is present between a side portion (30, 32) and the central portion (44), wherein at least one connecting portion (46, 48, 50, 52) projecting from the central portion (44) or the side portions (30, 32) in an outspread state of the cut is provided for the transitional areas (34, 36) associated with the lower and/or upper wall (22, 24) and wherein the connecting portion (46, 48, 50, 52) of the finished front airbag (10) is connected both to the central portion (44) and to at l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Mathias Luna Nell
  • Patent number: 9855912
    Abstract: The present invention provides an airbag module (1) in particular for a front passenger (21, 23) of a vehicle, comprising an inflatable bag (3) having at least a first outer panel (33) and a second outer panel (35) arranged substantially symmetrically to each other with regard to a vertical middle plane (M) of the inflated bag. The airbag is characterised in that the inflatable bag (3) comprises a strap structure (5) substantially located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35), wherein the strap structure (5) is designed such that the bag is extendable from a first state having a first size to a second state having a second size depending on the size of the respective passenger and/or the kind of impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana S.A.
    Inventors: Francisco Miron, Alfonso Bustos Garcia
  • Patent number: 9815429
    Abstract: A knee airbag (KAB) can be constructed with an adaptive vent for reducing internal cushion pressure when the deployment path is obstructed. Obstruction may occur, for instance, by an out-of-position occupant, or when the occupant's legs are in close proximity to the deploying KAB. By reducing the cushion pressure through adaptive venting, a potential for injury due to the deploying KAB can be reduced. External straps can be used to close the vents when no obstruction is encountered. With an adaptive KAB vent design, a direct contact between the occupant and the KAB adaptive vent straps can determine an amount of venting. In addition, the straps may be designed so that they are adaptive (tapered, positioned on an angle, or using different spacing) to account for different occupant sizes/knee spacing/knee contact locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 9789842
    Abstract: According to a passenger airbag apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a left chamber portion and a right chamber portion protrude forward at a front side of an airbag so as to be spaced apart from each other in a left and right direction, and a groove tether pulls the front side of the airbag between the left chamber portion and the right chamber portion, and as a result, a groove is formed at the front side of the airbag between the left chamber portion and the right chamber portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seok Min Shin
  • Patent number: 9758123
    Abstract: An airbag includes on the rear plane a passenger protection portion for protecting a front seat passenger. The passenger protection portion includes a front-collision arresting plane for protecting a head of the passenger as he moves forward in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle and an oblique-collision arresting plane that is disposed at least either on the left or on the right of the front-collision arresting plane in such a manner as to protrude rearward out of the front-collision arresting plane for protecting the head of the passenger as he moves diagonally forward in the event of an oblique or offset collision of the vehicle. The passenger protection portion further includes an arresting recess that is disposed between the front-collision arresting plane and oblique-collision arresting plane in such a manner as to be sunken forward for receiving and arresting the head of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuo Yamada, Takanori Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9731678
    Abstract: A passenger airbag apparatus for a vehicle is provided to more effectively protect the head of a passenger seated in a passenger seat, using an upper chamber of an airbag cushion including vent apertures, covers, and release cords in an oblique collision. Further the upper body (chest) of a passenger seated in a passenger seat is more effectively protected using a lower chamber of the airbag cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Eung Man Kim
  • Patent number: 9707923
    Abstract: An airbag of an airbag device for a front passenger seat includes a passenger-side wall, a circumferential wall, a gas inlet port disposed in a vicinity of the front end of the airbag as deployed, a bottom pocket that is recessed upward from a lower region of the circumferential wall in such a manner as to be continuous with the lower region, and a tether that is disposed generally along a front and rear direction inside the airbag and connects the passenger-side wall and a vicinity of the gas inlet port. The bottom pocket is formed into a pouch like contour by joining outer circumferential edges of left and right bottom pocket constituent regions that extend from the lower region of the circumferential wall. The upper end region of the bottom pocket is joined to the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ikuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 9701271
    Abstract: A passenger seat air bag includes: a bag main body; and a tether arranged within the bag main body, wherein: the bag main body includes a passenger side wall portion and a peripheral wall portion, the peripheral wall portion including a gas supply opening so opened up as to enable the inflating gas to flow therethrough and having a peripheral edge mountable onto the storage portion side; the tether has a back end side connected to the vicinity of the center of the passenger side wall portion to thereby restrict the distance of the passenger side wall portion from the gas supply opening; and a cover sheet formed of a belt-shaped flexible sheet member, the front end side of the cover sheet being connected to the front edge side of the gas supply opening, and the back end side thereof being connected to the tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wataru Miura, Shun Ito
  • Patent number: 9663061
    Abstract: A center side impact airbag module that is mountable to upper and lower locations of a vehicle seat includes an inflatable airbag cushion, a first tether, and a second tether. The first tether has a first end configured to connect to one of the airbag cushion, a mounting member and the vehicle seat at the upper location of the vehicle seat and a second end connected to a forward portion of the airbag cushion. The second tether has a first end configured to connect to one of the airbag cushion, the mounting member and the vehicle seat at the lower location of the vehicle seat and a second end connected to the forward portion of the airbag cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Russell Joseph Mihm
  • Patent number: 9511737
    Abstract: Provided is a curtain airbag apparatus in which an airbag and an inflator are securely coupled to each other. To this end, according to the curtain airbag apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an insertion portion of an anti-withdrawal member, together with a tip portion of the inflator, is inserted into a gas inlet unit of the airbag, and a clamp couples the insertion portion and the tip portion of the inflator to the gas inlet unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwang Soo Cho
  • Patent number: 9505372
    Abstract: An airbag includes a main bag section which protrudes rearward out of a housing and deploys in front of a front passenger seat and a center bag section which deploys toward an inboard direction from the main bag section in a width direction of the vehicle and in front of a space between the front passenger seat and a driver's seat in such a manner as to extend rearward from a side of the housing. A rear end region of the center bag section is deployable rearward relative to the main bag section. The airbag further includes an outer tether which extends outside of the airbag from a front end region of the center bag section and is connected to a vicinity of the housing by a leading end of the outer tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ikuo Yamada, Takanori Komatsu
  • Patent number: 9421940
    Abstract: Provided is an airbag apparatus which prevents the neck of an occupant from being injured. To this end, the airbag apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an airbag which is inflated when gas flows into the airbag, and deployed forward toward an occupant; and a slip panel which is coupled to a front surface of the airbag, and has a folded portion that is unfolded by expansive force of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyo Bae Lee, Dong Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 9403504
    Abstract: A vent hole communicating with an air chamber is opened in an airbag main body. A cover is disposed outside the air chamber of the airbag main body with respect to the vent hole. One end of the tether is connected to the cover via the vent hole, and the other end is connected to the airbag main body. If the tether is not pulled by the airbag main body, the vent hole is reliably opened to discharge gas to the outside. If the tether is pulled by the deployed airbag main body, the cover is partially drawn into the vent hole so that the cover is ensured to be in tight contact with the edge of the vent hole so as to reliably seal the vent hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junichi Umehara, Tomoki Takahashi, Chiari Saito
  • Patent number: 9393925
    Abstract: The present invention provides an airbag module (1) in particular for a front passenger (21, 23) of a vehicle, comprising an inflatable bag (3) having at least a first outer panel (33) and a second outer panel (35) arranged substantially symmetrically to each other with regard to a vertical middle plane (M) of the inflated bag. The airbag is characterized in that the inflatable bag (3) comprises a strap structure (5) substantially located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35), wherein the strap structure (5) is designed such that the bag is extendable from a first state having a first size to a second state having a second size depending on the size of the respective passenger and/or the kind of impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana S.A.
    Inventors: Francisco Miron, Alfonso Bustos Garcia
  • Patent number: 9381885
    Abstract: An airbag includes at least one panel defining an interior of the airbag and a divider attached to the at least one panel so as to divide the interior into a plurality of chambers. An internal tether is attached to the at least one panel and to the divider so as to limit movement of the divider in a direction toward one of the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher L. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9371052
    Abstract: An airbag module (400) has a housing (402), an airbag (404), an inflator (406) and a deflector mechanism (420) which provides a barrier or guide and a reaction hood 401 or surface to modify the trajectory of the airbag on inflation to inflate at a lower trajectory. The deflector mechanism (420) has a tensioning member (430).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Heather Mallinger, Calum Beattie, Roy Deutschmann, Alberto Rodrigues, Joseph Massa
  • Patent number: 9221417
    Abstract: A releasable tether retention system includes a housing and a tether retention member including a portion movably mounted in the housing. The system is configured to retain a tether on the member when the member is positioned in a first position, and configured so that a tether retained on the member is released from the member during movement of the member from the first position to a second position different from the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Stevens, Eduardo L. Quioc
  • Patent number: 9216712
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus in which the deployment pressure is adjustable. A ring portion of the airbag apparatus is formed on a first tether coupled to a front surface of an airbag, and a second tether coupled to a rear surface of the airbag penetrates the ring portion and is coupled to a first vent rate adjusting member and a second vent rate adjusting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hae Wook Kwon
  • Patent number: 9211864
    Abstract: Tether attachment arrangements for a vehicle airbag cushion and methods for attaching tethers to inflatable cushions are provided. One inflatable cushion assembly includes an inflatable cushion having an interior and a tether disposed within the interior of the inflatable cushion. The tether has at least one portion attached to the interior of the inflatable cushion. The inflatable cushion assembly also includes a circuitous stitching at the portion attaching the tether to the interior of the inflatable cushion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Hock, Martha Vazquez
  • Patent number: 9199602
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first end connected to the vent for actuating the vent and a second end connected to the protection device. A guide member connected to the front panel slidably receives a portion of the tether between the first and second ends. First and second portions of the guide member are releasably connected together to define a slackened portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Yohann Le Norcy, Oscar Ugarte, Daniel Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9180832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a gas bag (10) for vehicles, having in an inflated state a lower cushion portion (22) and an upper cushion portion (20) adapted for restraining a vehicle occupant (16), and a dividing portion (24) between the cushion portions (20, 22) which is formed by wall portions of the gas bag (10) extending into the interior of the gas bag (10) in a direction away from the cushion portions (20, 22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GMBH
    Inventors: Yohann Le Norcy, Jean-Christophe Peyre, Ramon Ramos
  • Patent number: 9174603
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device. Tear stitching connects portions of the second segment of the tether to form a slackened portion of the tether. The tear stitching remains intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: TRW VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Patrick Landis
  • Patent number: 9150187
    Abstract: A curtain airbag for providing multiple coverage areas over a window opening includes a shared panel and first and second auxiliary panels. The shared panel is sized to span the height of a window opening upon the curtain airbag's deployment, and has an upper periphery, an opposing lower periphery and a central portion between the upper periphery and the lower periphery. The first auxiliary panel is connected to the shared panel at least along its upper periphery and along its central portion to define a first inflatable chamber configured for inflation to at least partially provide a first coverage area. The second auxiliary panel is connected to the shared panel at least along its lower periphery and along one of its central portion or its upper periphery to define a second inflatable chamber configured for inflation to at least partially provide a second coverage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ari Schiftan, Sarah Verner
  • Patent number: 9120459
    Abstract: A safety device is provided, comprising an elastic membrane, which partially or completely delimits a hollow space, which is provided for the accident-initiated filling subject to elastic expansion of the membrane, and a gas generator with a filling fluid source communicating with the hollow space, wherein between the filling fluid source and a surface of the membrane facing the hollow space and/or in the membrane at least one heat protection means is arranged, which is provided for the protection of the membrane from a thermal impact through filling fluid of the filling fluid source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 9102304
    Abstract: A protective device has a gas generator and a chamber that is limited by a stretchable membrane and is expandable through gas of the gas generator. The membrane is elastic and a stretchability of the membrane is limited at least in a first portion through a reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich Rick
  • Patent number: 9079559
    Abstract: An airbag includes a vent hole discharging gas, a slide tether performing transition of a state of the vent hole, from an open state via a close state to the open state, by changing between a slackened state and an extended state, and a slide tether cover guiding the slide tether. The other end portion in a longitudinal direction of the slide tether body portion constitutes a first supporting point by being fastened in a direction going from the vent hole toward a mounting position of the inflator, bifurcated portions constitutes a second supporting point by the other end portion of the slide tether cover being fastened, terminal end portions of leg piece portions constitute a third supporting point by being respectively fastened. When the airbag is deployed, transition of a state of the vent hole is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Iwamoto, Yohei Kiuchi, Takahiro Yamauchi, Hideaki Saito, Hideki Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20150130174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the securing of a garnish in a vehicle. The garnish is disposed over the airbag and secures to one or more apertures in the vehicle. The garnish includes a cover, which hides the airbag before it is deployed. A tether is attached to the cover. The tether extends from the cover, and includes a flexible securing portion which is received in the vehicle aperture. When the airbag deploys, the garnish is displaced. Displacement of the garnish, and deployment of the airbag, is enabled by the flexible securing portion, which deforms in response to the airbag, thereby allowing deployment while maintaining attachment of the cover to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel F. Gillay
  • Patent number: 9027956
    Abstract: An object is to prevent an airbag from bursting out toward an occupant and to inflate and deploy the airbag in a stable manner. An inner bag (30A) inflates with gas supplied from an inflator (3). An outer bag (20) inflates with the gas supplied through a flow port (31) in the inner bag (30A). A connecting member (7) is disposed in the inner bag (30A) and connects an inner surface of the inner bag (30A) and a front surface of the outer bag (20). As the outer bag (20) inflates, the connecting member (7) is drawn out of the inflated inner bag (30A), moving the front surface of the outer bag (20) in the occupant direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoki Yamaji
  • Patent number: 9027962
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an airbag main body; at least one vent which is provided at a side of the airbag main body, and operated in an opened state; a shield which shields the vent; and a tether which is connected with the shield, in which when an occupant in a vehicle collides with the airbag main body, the tether is operated so that the shield shields the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Rae Ick Jang
  • Patent number: 9027963
    Abstract: A tension member for an airbag, and an airbag device are provided in each of which the tensile force is controlled continuously with a simple configuration. An airbag device includes an airbag that is normally folded and is inflated and deployed in a case of an emergency, an inflator for supplying gas into the airbag, a retainer for retaining the airbag and the inflator, and a tension member that controls a shape or a function of the airbag by using tension. The tension member for an airbag includes two end portions connected to respective portions of the airbag that are movable relative to each other when the airbag is inflated and deployed, a widened portion provided between the two end portions, and a breaking section provided in the widened portion in such a manner as to extend in a direction of widening of the widened portion and configured to break depending on a magnitude of tension applied between the two end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiki Murakami, Kimihiro Koshikawa
  • Patent number: 9022423
    Abstract: An airbag device for stably controlling gas discharge and restraining an occupant in a vehicle. A first vent hole, for discharging gas from the airbag, is formed in a portion of the airbag, and one end of a tubular discharge restricting member is connected to the first vent hole. Once the airbag is inflated and deployed to a predetermined extent or more, the first vent hole is closed by the discharge restricting member. Prior to deployment, at least a portion of the airbag is folded in a bellows shape to form a folded portion. The connecting portion between the discharge restricting member and the first vent hole is positioned in a trough portion of the folded portion. The other end of the discharge restricting member is stored so as to face the outer side and not to protrude beyond an outer edge of the folded portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Naoki Hosoe, Hitoshi Koyama
  • Patent number: 9022422
    Abstract: A driver airbag cushion includes a front panel and a rear panel that are joined together along a joined perimeter to form an airbag cushion. The airbag cushion is shrunken in diameter along the joined perimeter by a means of a short rope, a group of pleats, or a group of short tethers to form a spool shaped airbag cushion when fully inflated with a recess along the perimeter outside the airbag cushion. The airbag volume is reduced by 20 to 30% while keeping or improving the effectiveness of the occupant protection. The inflator output is significantly reduced so that a low output single stage inflator can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: CIS Tech, LLC
    Inventor: Jong S. Nam
  • Patent number: 9022424
    Abstract: An airbag device that can limit the movement of a strap outside an airbag even when the other end of the strap is released is provided. An airbag device includes an airbag 2 that is folded in a normal state and deployed in case of emergency, an inflator 3 that supplies gas to the airbag 2, a retainer 4 that secures the airbag 2 and the inflator, and a strap-retaining device 6 that retains a strap 5, which is connected to a portion of the airbag 2 at one end 51 thereof, at the other end 52 of the strap 5 in a releasable manner. The airbag device further includes a strap-restraining tether 7, which is connected to the strap 5 at one end 71 thereof and to the airbag 2 at the other end 72 thereof. The strap-restraining tether 7 limits the movement of the free end of the strap 5 that has been released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Nakamura, Atsushi Noguchi, Yasuhito Miyata, Kazuhiro Shingu
  • Patent number: 9010804
    Abstract: An airbag assembly can include a stabilizer strap attached to an airbag, and the stabilizer strap can cooperate with a housing to prevent undesired rotation or skewing of the airbag during deployment. A portion of the stabilizer strap can be positioned at an interior of the housing and can interact with the housing to restrict an amount of the stabilizer strap that is permitted to extend to an exterior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Witt, Jr., David W. Schnieder, Michael Kutchey, Jamie R. Fritz
  • Patent number: 9004531
    Abstract: The present invention incorporates a tether release system within a conventional airbag system or a conventional vehicle occupant protection system. Release of an associated tether may simultaneously open a vent on an associated airbag. A housing contains an actuator contained within the housing for actuation of the tether release system upon receipt of a crash detection signal, for example. A first moving member is configured for receipt of a propulsive force emanating from the actuator upon actuation of the tether release system. A movable tether release member is contained within the housing wherein the movable tether release member operably communicates with the first moving member upon actuation of the tether release system, for release of an associated tether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo L. Quioc, Bruce A. Stevens
  • Patent number: 8998250
    Abstract: A curtain airbag for a vehicle includes a main chamber shaped in such a way that, in a position being mounted on the vehicle, in the inflated state the main chamber covers an inner side structure of the vehicle. The curtain airbag further includes an additional chamber which, in the mounting position, is located on the in driving direction of the vehicle front portion of the main chamber, and deploys in the direction of the interior of the vehicle when the curtain airbag is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Dion Kruse, Jan Mazanek
  • Patent number: 8967665
    Abstract: An inflatable cushion for a side-impact airbag includes first and second fabric panels forming an expandable chamber. The first fabric panel forms a tubular shape upon inflation and includes a top end and a bottom end having continuous outer perimeters and an inflator aperture. The second fabric panel joined to the top end of the first fabric panel and having a circumference equal to a circumference of the continuous outer perimeter of the top end of the first fabric panel and including a vent aperture. The second fabric panel is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the first fabric panel when the inflatable cushion is inflated. The bottom end of the first fabric panel is closed. The longitudinal axis of the tubular-shaped first fabric panel is parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle seat back when the inflatable cushion is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Chin-Hsu Lin, Yi-Pen Cheng
  • Patent number: 8960716
    Abstract: The housing structure for a curtain airbag includes: an airbag body; an inflator configured to inflate and deploy the airbag body; a bracket configured to fix a base end portion of the airbag body to a roof side or a front pillar; and a tether configured to anchor a front end portion of the airbag body to the front pillar. The airbag body is wound into a long narrow shape and covered with a roof lining, and the tether and a portion fixed by the tether are covered with a front pillar trim. The bracket is disposed adjacent to a joint portion of the roof lining and the front pillar trim and has an extension piece extending along the front pillar. An end portion of the airbag body wound together with the tether or a portion of the tether adjacent to the end portion is fixed to the extension piece with a releasable binding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8960713
    Abstract: A method of folding a knee airbag includes folding a lower portion of the knee airbag perpendicularly to a vertical central axis so that a lower end of the knee airbag is placed on the front panel of the knee airbag, individually folding both sides of the knee airbag toward the vertical central axis, and rolling an upper end portion of the knee airbag toward the lower portion of the knee airbag. The lower portion of the folded knee airbag is rapidly deployed toward the leg of an occupant in the initial deployment of the knee airbag, thereby minimizing time to ensure the minimum space between the instrument panel and the leg of the occupant and rapidly confining the leg of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Do-Gwan Kim, Kyu-Soung Jang
  • Patent number: 8955634
    Abstract: A pedestrian protection airbag system for a vehicle includes an airbag that is adapted to be deployed along a windscreen and/or A-pillars of the vehicle, is inflatable to a deployed state and has projected periphery. The airbag system further comprises at least one tethering member connecting a first region of the airbag with a second region of the airbag along a path, the path being arranged within the projected periphery of the airbag when the airbag is in the deployed state. A vehicle comprising such a pedestrian protection airbag system and a method of deployment of an airbag of such a pedestrian protection airbag system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Eddy Bergenheim, Tor von Eichwald, Gunnar Hallneus, Mats Erlingfors
  • Patent number: 8944462
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier
  • Patent number: 8931802
    Abstract: In at least one implementation, a variable volume airbag includes an inflatable cushion and a tether coupled to the cushion. The inflatable cushion defines an inner volume in which a gas is received to inflate the cushion longitudinally and laterally within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and has laterally opposed side surfaces defining part of the inner volume of the cushion. The tether is coupled to each of the side surfaces of the cushion and has a first state wherein the tether limits lateral separation of the side surfaces and a second state wherein increased separation of the side surfaces is permitted as compared to the first state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: James Webber
  • Patent number: 8899616
    Abstract: An airbag deployment control system for use in a vehicle seat having a trim cover. The airbag deployment control system includes an upper outer liner member having a first end for coupling to an airbag module and a second end for coupling to the trim cover, and a lower outer liner member having a first end for coupling to the airbag module and a second end for coupling to the trim cover. The trim cover is for covering at least a portion of the vehicle seat and the airbag module. The trim cover includes a burst seam for the airbag member to deploy through the trim cover by rupturing at the burst seam upon inflation of the airbag member. The upper outer liner member and the lower outer liner member control deployment of the inflatable airbag member at least two locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Jerry B. Moore, Robert D. Blair, III
  • Patent number: 8899618
    Abstract: A gasbag arrangement for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle is provided. The gasbag arrangement includes a gasbag which can be inflated for protecting a vehicle occupant. The gasbag, when inflated and mounted in the vehicle, includes an indentation in a portion that points towards the vehicle floor in the straight-ahead position of the steering wheel for reducing the expansion of a gasbag in the direction of a body region extending below the thorax region of the vehicle occupant such that a load on that body region during an impact of the vehicle occupant on the gasbag is minimized. According to another aspect a gasbag arrangement includes a gasbag which, when inflated and mounted in the vehicle, includes a side facing towards the vehicle floor and extending essentially parallel to a plane spanned by the longitudinal vehicle direction and the transverse vehicle direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
    Inventors: Nick Eckert, Frank Wollny, Wolfgang Thonhauser
  • Patent number: RE46909
    Abstract: An airbag cushion is manufactured with a rear fabric panel and two front fabric panels. Each front fabric panel has a projecting tether portion to be sewn to an inner face of the rear fabric panel. The front fabric panels are, firstly, superimposed on each other. A back first end of the projecting tether portion is sewn to a part of a periphery of the front fabric panel, to form a second stitch portion in a recessed shape. A front second end of the tether portion is then sewn to the inner face of the rear fabric panel. A periphery of the rear fabric panel is, in addition, sewn to a periphery of the front fabric panel corresponding to the periphery of the rear fabric panel, to form a third stitch portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: AUTOLIV DEVELOPMENT AB
    Inventors: Takeshi Idomoto, Hiroya Tabushi