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US 11,535,188 B1Granted
Airbag with integrated air duct
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsStacey H. Raines, Russell Joseph Mihm, Fernando Ovando, Alan Perelli
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An airbag assembly for a vehicle is provided that includes a housing coupled to the support structure of a vehicle. An airbag module is coupled to and supported by the housing. The airbag module includes an airbag deployable from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition, and an inflator configured to inflate the airbag from the undeployed condition to the deployed condition. An air duct that is configured to transmit an airflow is at least partially integrally coupled to the housing.
Claims18
An airbag assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
- a support structure of the vehicle;
- a housing coupled to the support structure;
- an airbag module coupled to and supported by the housing, wherein the airbag module further comprises:
- an airbag deployable from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition;
- and
- an inflator configured to inflate the airbag from the undeployed condition to the deployed condition;
- and
- an airbag module housing coupled to the housing, wherein the airbag module housing has a vehicle-rearward side, a vehicle-forward side, and a bottom side, and wherein the airbag and the inflator are disposed within the airbag module housing, and wherein the housing comprises a housing first portion proximate the vehicle-forward side of the airbag module housing, a housing second portion proximate the bottom side of the airbag module housing, and a housing third portion proximate the vehicle-rearward side of the airbag module housing;
- a hinge integrally formed into at least the housing first portion and the housing second portion, wherein the hinge permits a movement of the housing second portion as the inflator inflates the airbag, and wherein the movement of the housing second portion at least partially defines an opening that is proximate the airbag module housing and is configured to allow the airbag to deploy to the deployed position;
- and
- an air duct coupled to the housing, wherein the air duct is configured to transmit an airflow.
8 more elements
An airbag assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
- a support structure of the vehicle, wherein the support structure is within or proximate a dashboard of the vehicle;
- a housing coupled to the support structure and comprising:
- a housing first portion;
- a housing second portion that is proximate the housing first portion;
- a housing third portion that is proximate the housing second portion;
- and
- a hinge integrally formed into at least the housing first portion and the housing second portion, and wherein the hinge permits a movement of the housing second portion, and wherein the movement of the housing second portion at least partially defines an opening;
- an airbag module coupled to the housing and comprising:
- an airbag module housing coupled to the housing;
- an airbag deployable from an undeployed condition to a deployed condition;
- and
- an inflator disposed within the airbag module housing, wherein the inflator is configured to inflate the airbag;
- and
- an air duct coupled to the housing, wherein the air duct is configured to transmit an airflow.
11 more elements
An airbag assembly of a vehicle, comprising:
- a support structure of the vehicle, wherein the support structure is within or proximate to a dashboard of the vehicle;
- a housing coupled to the support structure and comprising:
- a housing first portion;
- a housing second portion that is proximate the housing first portion;
- a housing third portion that is proximate the housing second portion;
- and
- a hinge integrally formed into at least the housing first portion and the housing second portion, wherein the hinge permits a movement of the housing second portion, and wherein the movement of the housing second portion at least partially defines an opening;
- an airbag module coupled to the housing, wherein the airbag module further comprises:
- an airbag disposed within an airbag module housing that is coupled to the housing;
- and
- an inflator disposed within the airbag module housing, wherein the inflator is configured to inflate the airbag;
- and
- an air duct coupled to the housing, wherein the air duct is configured to transmit an airflow into a passenger compartment of the vehicle, and wherein the air duct further comprises:
- an air duct first portion integrally formed into the housing;
- and
- an air duct second portion coupled to the air duct first portion.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.