Airbag cushion attachment
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsQuin Soderquist, Lance M. Bosgieter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Arrangements and methods for attaching an airbag cushion wherein the airbag cushion "floats" or is movable relative to an airbag module element extending through an opening in the cushion with a first end of the module element disposed within the cushion inflatable body and a second end of the module element extending out of the cushion inflatable body. Upon deployment of the corresponding airbag cushion, such floating or movable attachment can help avoid stress concentrations and complications associated therewith.
Claims30
An airbag module combination comprising:
- an inflatable airbag cushion, the cushion including an inflatable body defining an opening wherethrough, upon deployment of the cushion, gases can exit to at least in part deflate the cushion and
- a module element having a longitudinal length, the module element extending through the cushion opening and having opposed first and second ends with the first end disposed within the inflatable body and the second end extending out of the inflatable body,
- wherein, upon inflation of the cushion, the cushion opening is movable relative to the module element along the longitudinal length thereof and wherein the first end of the module element includes a stop to limit movement of the cushion opening relative to the longitudinal length of the module element.
An airbag module combination comprising:
- an inflatable airbag cushion, the cushion including an inflatable body defining an opening wherethrough, upon deployment of the cushion, gases can exit to, at least in part, deflate the cushion and
- an inflator housed within the cushion inflatable body, the inflator including at least one longitudinally-extending projection having a longitudinal length and extending through the cushion opening whereby an end of the longitudinally-extending projection extends out of the inflatable body,
- wherein, upon inflation of the cushion, the cushion opening is movable relative to the longitudinally-extending projection along the longitudinal length thereof and wherein the inflator forms a stop to limit movement of the cushion opening relative to the longitudinal length of the projection.
A method of joining an inflatable airbag cushion in an airbag module, said method comprising the step of:
- forming an airbag module combination including an inflatable airbag cushion with an inflatable body defining an opening wherethrough, upon deployment of the cushion, gases can exit to, at least in part, deflate the cushion and a module element having a longitudinal length, the module element extending through the cushion opening and having opposed first and second ends with the first end disposed within the inflatable body and the second end extending out of the inflatable body, wherein the cushion opening is movable relative to the module element along the longitudinal length thereof upon inflation of the cushion and wherein the first end of the module element includes a stop to limit movement of the cushion opening relative to the longitudinal length of the module element upon inflation of the cushion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.