Narrow-width and/or side-mounted disk inflator airbag assemblies
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsRyan D. Nelson, Kent D. Potter, J D Williams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Airbag cushions and related assemblies configured to accept side-mounting of airbag inflators and/or otherwise accommodate narrowing of an airbag module width. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an inflator housing defining a plenum. An airbag cushion may be fluidly coupled with the plenum and/or inflator housing and may define a throat region. A disk inflator may be coupled to the housing in a side-mounted configuration such that inflation gases from the disk inflator are configured to enter the plenum and then be directed into the airbag cushion via the throat region.
Claims18
An airbag cushion assembly, comprising:
- an inflator housing defining a plenum;
- an airbag cushion fluidly coupled with the inflator housing, the airbag cushion comprising a throat region;
- a disk inflator coupled to the housing in a side-mounted configuration such that inflation gases from the disk inflator are configured to enter the plenum and then be directed into the airbag cushion via the throat region, wherein the plenum comprises a lower chamber and an upper chamber in fluid communication with the lower chamber, and wherein the upper chamber is positioned entirely above the lower chamber.
An airbag cushion module, comprising:
- a housing comprising a diffusion chamber, wherein the housing comprises a width, and wherein the housing is configured to be installed in a vehicle with the width extending along a front-to-back direction of the vehicle;
- an inflator coupled with the housing, wherein the inflator comprises a height and a width, wherein the inflator is configured to deliver inflation gases in a direction corresponding with the width, wherein the width is greater than the height, and wherein the inflator is coupled with the housing such that the height of the housing is at least substantially parallel with the width of the inflator, wherein the inflator comprises a plurality of inflator ports extending about a perimeter of an upper end of the inflator, wherein the upper end of the inflator extends through a slot formed in the housing, wherein the diffusion chamber comprises an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and wherein the slot is formed in the lower chamber;
- and
- an inflatable cushion fluidly coupled with the housing.
An airbag cushion assembly, comprising:
- an inflator housing comprising an upper chamber and a lower chamber;
- a disk inflator mounted to the lower chamber and fluidly coupled with the upper chamber such that inflation gas exits the disk inflator laterally of the disk inflator, within and into the lower chamber, and at a same height as the disk inflator, the height extending along a direction between the lower chamber and the upper chamber;
- and
- an inflatable cushion coupled with the upper chamber and configured to receive inflation gas from the disk inflator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.