Driver airbag with improved head and neck injury prevention

摘要

An airbag assembly includes a steering wheel, an airbag housing mounted to a hub of the steering wheel, and an airbag stored in the housing. The airbag includes a rim-facing panel, a driver-facing panel, an upper tether extending between the housing and a first location on the driver-facing panel opposite from the hub, and a lower tether extending between the housing and a second location below the first location. The tethers shape the airbag to have a thicker head contact portion adjacent to the upper rim of the steering wheel and a thinner chest contact portion adjacent to the lower rim of the steering wheel. The shape provides more balanced occupant protection in a frontal crash event, because the thicker head contact portion reduces the driver's head acceleration and neck injury.