Multi-chambered side airbag assemblies
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorDavid W. Schneider
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Multi-chambered side airbag assemblies are provided. The airbag assemblies can include a housing, an inflator, and a side inflatable cushion. The side inflatable cushion can include multiple chambers, for example, a first inflatable chamber coupled to the housing, a second inflatable chamber coupled to the first inflatable chamber, and a third inflatable chamber coupled to the second inflatable chamber. The side inflatable cushion can also include a connector coupling at least two of the inflatable chambers to each other. In a deployed state, at least a portion of the side airbag may protrude transverse to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle such that a portion of the side airbag is configured to receive a vehicle occupant moving from a vehicle occupant position during a vehicle impact event.
Claims19
An airbag assembly comprising:
- a side inflatable cushion comprising:
- a first inflatable chamber to be coupled at a proximal end to an inflator;
- a second inflatable chamber extending from a distal end of the first inflatable chamber;
- a third inflatable chamber extending from a distal end of the second inflatable chamber;
- and
- a first connector having a first end coupled to at least one of the first inflatable chamber or the second inflatable chamber and a second end coupled to the third inflatable chamber;
- wherein the side inflatable cushion is configured to receive inflation gas from the inflator to expand the side inflatable cushion from a packaged state to a deployed state,
- wherein the second inflatable chamber in the deployed state protrudes transverse to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle such that the second inflatable chamber is configured to receive at least a portion of a pelvis of a vehicle occupant moving from a vehicle occupant position primarily in a forward direction relative to the vehicle during a vehicle impact event.
An airbag assembly comprising:
- an inflator;
- and
- a side inflatable cushion comprising:
- a first inflatable chamber coupled to the inflator;
- a second inflatable chamber extending from a distal end of the first inflatable chamber;
- a third inflatable chamber extending from a distal end of the second inflatable chamber;
- and
- a first connector coupling two of the inflatable chambers to each other,
- wherein the side inflatable cushion is configured to receive inflation gas from the inflator to expand the side inflatable cushion from a packaged state within a housing to a deployed state, and
- wherein a first receiving portion of the side inflatable cushion in the deployed state protrudes transverse to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle to a position at least partially forward of a vehicle occupant position, the first receiving portion configured to receive at least a portion of a pelvis of a vehicle occupant moving from the vehicle occupant position primarily in a forward direction relative to the vehicle during a vehicle impact event.
A side inflatable airbag cushion comprising:
- a first inflatable chamber to be coupled in fluid communication with an inflator;
- a second inflatable chamber extending from a distal end of the first inflatable chamber;
- a third inflatable chamber extending from a distal end of the second inflatable chamber;
- and
- a first connector coupling a distal portion of the side inflatable airbag cushion to a proximal portion of the side inflatable airbag cushion, the side inflatable airbag cushion configured to receive inflation gas from the inflator to expand the side inflatable airbag cushion from a packaged state within a housing to a deployed state, wherein a first receiving portion of the side inflatable airbag cushion is configured to receive at least a portion of a pelvis of a vehicle occupant moving from a vehicle occupant position primarily in a forward direction relative to a vehicle during a vehicle impact event, and
- wherein the side inflatable airbag cushion is configured such that when in the deployed state the first receiving portion is disposed within at least a portion of a pathway of the vehicle occupant moving from the vehicle occupant position primarily in the forward direction relative to the vehicle during the vehicle impact event.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.