Wrap-around airbag device

摘要

An airbag device for a vehicle including at least one airbag housing interface chamber that attaches to an airbag housing; at least one airbag cushion chamber downstream of the at least one interface chamber; an elbow that fluidly connects the housing interface chamber with the cushion chamber and configured so that it controllably regulates gas flow into the at least one airbag cushion chamber; the elbow having an internal configuration, which includes at least one opening that permits back and forth gas flow between the elbow and the least one airbag cushion chamber, and which controls the directional deployment of the airbag cushion chamber so that upon deployment the downstream end of the cushion chamber exits an airbag housing outwardly in a first direction and then in at least one second direction, so that the direction of deployment of the cushion chamber changes in direction to thereby wrap at least partially around a structure of a vehicle of the vehicle and at least temporarily interpose the cushion chamber between any occupant and the vehicle structure.

主权项

1. An airbag device for a vehicle comprising;
at least one airbag housing interface chamber that attaches to an airbag housing, wherein the at least one airbag housing includes a generally downwardly facing opening through which an airbag initially exits; at least one airbag cushion chamber downstream of the at least one housing interface chamber; at least one elbow that fluidly connects the at least one housing interface chamber with the at least one airbag cushion chamber; wherein the at least one elbow has an internal configuration, which controls a direction of deployment of the at least one airbag cushion chamber so that the airbag device inflates from the at least one airbag housing along at least three directions; wherein upon deployment through the generally downwardly facing opening the direction of deployment of the at least one airbag cushion chamber changes from a first direction, in a generally downward direction, to a second direction, and then a third direction so that the airbag wraps at least partially around a component of the vehicle and at least temporarily interposes the at least one airbag cushion chamber between an occupant and the component; wherein at least one tether is proximate each end of the elbow and each of the at least one tether is configured with at least one opening through which gas flows, and the at least one opening in the at least one tether at the end of the elbow adjoining the housing interface chamber is larger than the at least one opening in the at least one tether at the end of the elbow adjoining the at least one airbag cushion chamber so that as gas enters the elbow, the gas is temporarily accumulated in the elbow for causing the elbow to rigidify and effectively deflect further flow of the gas into the at least one airbag cushion chamber; and wherein a sum of i) an inside angle between the first direction and the second direction and ii) an inside angle between the second direction and the third direction exceeds 180 degrees.