Airbag cushion with dual mode deployment for pre-impact and impact conditions

An airbag restraint system to provide occupant restraint in pre-impact and impact conditions, comprising:

• a housing;
• first and second inflators at least partially disposed within the housing, the first inflator to only deploy in a pre-impact condition and the second inflator to deploy in pre-impact and impact conditions;
• an inflatable airbag cushion;
• a rod disposed within the housing;
• a tether coupled to the interior surface of the airbag cushion at a distal end and coupled to the rod at a proximal end of the tether;
• and
• a lock device disposed within the housing and engaging the rod such that upon deployment of the first inflator the lock device enables release of the proximal end of the tether from the rod and the airbag cushion is allowed to expand to full capacity and upon non-deployment of the first inflator the lock device retains the position of the rod and the proximal end of the tether remains secured to the rod and the airbag cushion is allowed to expand to limited capacity.

An airbag restraint system to provide occupant restraint in pre-impact and impact conditions, comprising:

• a housing;
• an inflatable airbag cushion;
• inflator means for inflating the inflatable airbag cushion and at least partially disposed within the housing, the inflator means adapted to deploy in pre-impact and impact condition conditions;
• a tether having distal and proximal ends and coupled to the interior surface of the airbag cushion at a distal end;
• and
• securing means disposed within the housing and releasably coupled to the proximal end of the tether such that upon deployment of the inflator means in a pre-impact condition, the proximal end of the tether is released and the airbag cushion is allowed to expand to full capacity and upon deployment of the inflator means in an impact condition, the proximal end of the tether remains secured and the airbag cushion is allowed to expand to limited capacity.

A method for providing airbag restraint for an occupant during either pre-impact and impact conditions, comprising:

• providing an airbag cushion having a tether coupled to the interior surface of the airbag cushion at a distal end and releasably secured at a proximal end;
• upon detecting a pre-impact condition, sequentially deploying first and second inflators;
• upon deploying the first inflator, releasing the proximal end of the tether and allowing the airbag cushion to expand to full capacity;
• and
• upon detecting an impact condition, deploying only a second inflator and the tether restricting expansion of the airbag cushion to a limited capacity.

An airbag restraint system to provide occupant restraint in pre-impact and impact conditions, comprising:

• a housing;
• an inflator at least partially disposed within the housing and to deploy first and second amounts of exhaust gas, the inflator to only deploy the first amount of exhaust gas in a pre-impact condition and to deploy the second amount of exhaust gas in pre-impact and impact conditions;
• an inflatable airbag cushion;
• and
• a tether coupled to the interior surface of the airbag cushion at a distal end and releasably secured at a proximal end of the tether such that upon deployment of the first amount of exhaust gas the proximal end of the tether is released and the airbag cushion is allowed to expand to full capacity and upon non-deployment of the first amount of exhaust gas the proximal end of the tether remains secured and the airbag cushion is allowed to expand to limited capacity.

A method for providing airbag restraint for an occupant during either pre-impact and impact conditions, comprising:

• providing an airbag cushion having a tether coupled to the interior surface of the airbag cushion at a distal end and releasably secured at a proximal end;
• upon detecting a pre-impact condition, an inflator sequentially deploying first and second amounts of exhaust gas;
• upon deploying the first amount of exhaust gas, releasing the proximal end of the tether and allowing the airbag cushion to expand to full capacity;
• and
• upon detecting an impact condition, deploying only the second amount of exhaust gas and the tether restricting expansion of the airbag cushion to a limited capacity.