Back to results
US 8,408,584 B2Granted
Pyrotechnic tether release assembly for inflatable airbags
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsDon Paxton, Geoffrey Mills, Brent Parks, Michael P. Jordan, R. Mark Hubbard, Marcus Weber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A depth to which an inflatable airbag can deploy may varied by internal tethers. If the tethers are coupled to a release assembly, then in an unreleased state, the tethers can limit the depth of airbag deployment; however, if the tethers are released, the airbag can deploy of a full depth.
Claims19
An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
- an inflatable airbag;
- an inflatable airbag housing coupled to the inflatable airbag;
- a tether release assembly mounting member attached to the airbag housing;
- a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the tether release mounting member;
- wherein the tether release assembly comprises an interior chamber, an expandable membrane, a pyrotechnic squib, and a piston,
- wherein the membrane is located within the interior chamber and between the pyrotechnic squib and the piston, and
- wherein the expandable membrane receives heat and gas from the pyrotechnic squib, upon activation of the pyrotechnic squib, to act on the piston such that the piston acts on the mounting member to uncouple the tether release assembly from the mounting member;
- and,
- a tether reversibly coupled to the tether release assembly;
- wherein upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle sensor, the tether release assembly becomes uncoupled from the mounting member and the tether becomes uncoupled from the tether release assembly to release the tether.
7 more elements
An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
- an inflatable airbag;
- an inflatable airbag housing coupled to the inflatable airbag;
- a tether release assembly mounting member attached to the airbag housing, wherein the tether release assembly comprises an open end and a closed end, and wherein a post is located within the mounting member at the closed end;
- a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the tether release mounting member;
- wherein the tether release assembly comprises an interior chamber, and wherein a pyrotechnic squib and a piston are located within the interior chamber,
- wherein, upon activiation, the pyrotechnic squib generates heat and gas, which act on the piston to push the piston against the post within the mounting member, such that the tether release assembly slides away from the closed end of the mounting member, thereby allowing the tether release assembly to become uncoupled from the mounting member;
- and;
- a tether reversibly coupled to the tether release assembly;
- wherein upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle sensor, the tether release assembly becomes uncoupled from the mounting member and the tether becomes uncoupled from the tether release assembly to release the tether.
6 more elements
An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
- an inflatable airbag;
- an inflatable airbag housing coupled to the inflatable airbag;
- a tether release assembly mounting member attached to the airbag housing, wherein the tether release assembly comprises an open end and a closed end, and wherein a post is located within the mounting member at the closed end;
- a tether release assembly that is reversibly coupled to the tether release mounting member;
- wherein the tether release assembly comprises a body portion with an interior chamber, and wherein a pyrotechnic squib and a piston are located within the chamber;
- wherein the piston comprises a base region and a distal region, and wherein the pyrotechnic squib is located within the base region of the piston, and
- wherein, upon activation, the pyrotechnic squib generates heat and gas, which act on the piston to push the piston against the post within the mounting member, such that the tether release assembly slides away from the closed end of the mounting member, thereby allowing the tether release assembly to become uncoupled from the mounting member;
- and;
- a tether reversibly coupled to the tether release assembly;
- wherein upon receipt of a signal from a vehicle sensor, the tether release assembly becomes uncoupled from the mounting member and the tether becomes uncoupled from the tether release assembly.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.