Deployment control device for airbag
AssigneeTK Holdings Inc.
InventorsKyle J. Kakstis, Stephanie M. McFadden
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airbag assembly for protecting a vehicle occupant includes an airbag and a deployment control device provided adjacent at least a portion of the airbag. The device includes a tear seam and is configured to restrain deployment of the airbag toward the occupant thereby causing the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to the occupant until the tear seam is torn by the force of the inflating airbag.
Claims23
An airbag assembly for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising:
- an airbag;
- a deployment control device provided adjacent at least a portion of the airbag and having first and second tear seams, the first tear seam extending in a width direction of the device, and the second tear seam extending perpendicular to the first tear seam and extending in a longitudinal direction of the device,
- wherein the device is configured to restrain deployment of the airbag toward the occupant thereby causing the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to the occupant until the first tear seam is torn by the force of the inflating airbag, and
- wherein the second tear seam is torn by inflation of the airbag before the first tear seam is torn.
A system for controlling an airbag toward a vehicle occupant comprising:
- a deployment control device having a first end coupled to an airbag module and a second end opposite of the first end coupled to the airbag module;
- a first tear seam located on the device between the first end and the second end thereof, the first tear seam extending in a width direction of the device;
- and
- a second tear seam located on the device, the second tear seam extending perpendicular to the first tear seam and extending in a longitudinal direction of the device, wherein initial inflation of the airbag is towards a vehicle occupant until the airbag is restrained by the device,
- wherein further inflation of the airbag is laterally with respect to the occupant until the first tear seam is torn, and
- wherein the second tear seam is torn by inflation of the airbag thereby allowing the airbag to extend a limited amount in a direction towards the occupant, wherein the second tear seam is torn by inflation of the airbag before the first tear seam is torn.
(canceled)
An airbag module for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising:
- a folded airbag;
- a deployment control device wrapped around a central portion of the airbag to restrain deployment of the airbag in a direction toward the occupant;
- wherein the deployment control device includes first and second tear seams, the first tear seam extending in a width direction of the device, and the second tear seam extending perpendicular to the first tear seam and extending in a longitudinal direction of the device
- wherein the device is configured so that the second tear seam tears as a result of the deploying airbag and after the second tear seam tears the deployment of the airbag remains restrained until the first tear seam tears allowing unrestricted deployment of the airbag.
The module of clam 14, wherein the deployment control device comprises fabric and is configured so that when the second tear seam tears, the device separates into at least two parts.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.