Airbag module
AssigneeTK Holdings Inc.
InventorsBenjamin MORAWSKI, Christopher Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An airbag module including an inflatable airbag and an inflator. The airbag is formed by a main panel and a pair of side panels and deploys into a position to contact the occupant. The airbag includes a tether connected to the main panel at one end and is anchored proximate to the inflator at the other end. Prior to inflation, the airbag includes a pre-folded portion adjacent to the tether. The airbag is configured so that during an initial stage of the inflation process the tether is fully extended and the pre-folded portion remains folded and during a final stage of the inflation process the tether separates into at least two portions thereby allowing the pre-folded portion to unfold and the airbag to fully deploy.
Claims20
An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
- an inflatable airbag;
- and
- an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the airbag;
- wherein the airbag includes an inflatable chamber formed by a main panel positioned to deploy into a position to contact the occupant and wherein the inflatable chamber includes an inflator opening for receiving gas provided by the inflator;
- wherein the airbag includes an internal tether connected to the main panel at one end and wherein the other end of the internal tether is fixed adjacent to the inflator opening;
- and
- wherein the tether is connected to the main panel at a location that ensures when the tether is fully extended due to the deployment of the airbag the main panel includes a tucked portion that is not tensioned, and wherein the tether includes a weakened portion that is configured to tear so that the tether separates during the deployment of the airbag allowing the airbag to fully deploy thereby eliminating the tucked portion.
An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprising:
- an inflatable airbag;
- and
- an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the airbag;
- wherein the airbag includes an inflatable chamber formed by a main panel and a pair of side panels and wherein the inflatable chamber deploys into a position to contact the occupant, wherein the inflatable chamber is configured to be inflated by a process that includes providing gas from the inflator into the chamber;
- wherein the airbag includes a tether connected to the main panel at one end and wherein the other end of the tether is anchored proximate to the inflator, wherein the tether includes a weakened portion between the ends of the tether;
- and
- wherein, prior to inflation, the airbag includes a pre-folded portion adjacent to the tether and wherein the airbag is configured so that during an initial stage of the inflation process of the inflatable chamber the tether is fully extended and the pre-folded portion remains folded and wherein during a final stage of the inflation process the weakened portion tears so that the tether separates thereby allowing the pre-folded portion to unfold and the airbag to fully deploy.
A method of assembling a three panel passenger side airbag in a storage configuration, wherein the airbag includes two side panels and a center panel, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting an internal tether to the main panel at two locations;
- forming a pre-fold in the main panel by connecting the internal tether to the main panel at two locations of the main panel that are further distance apart, when the airbag is fully inflated, than the length of the tether;
- connecting the side panels to the main panel to form the airbag;
- folding the airbag using an automated folding machine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.