Vehicle airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019256036-A1
Application number	US-201815902134-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 22, 2018
Priority date	Feb 22, 2018
Publication date	Aug 22, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An assembly includes an airbag inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag in the inflated position has a first portion, a second portion extending transversely from the first portion, and a corner therebetween. The airbag includes a stay fixed to and rigid relative to the airbag, the stay having a bendable portion at the corner and extending from the bendable portion along the first portion and the second portion when the airbag is in the inflated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An assembly, comprising:
an airbag inflatable to an inflated position; the airbag in the inflated position having a first portion, a second portion extending transversely from the first portion, and a corner therebetween; and a stay fixed to and rigid relative to the airbag, the stay having a bendable portion at the corner and extending from the bendable portion along the first portion and the second portion when the airbag is in the inflated position.

2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag in the inflated position includes a front panel and a rear panel spaced from the front panel, the stay supported by the front panel.

3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stay is bendable about the bendable portion from an extended position to a bent position when the airbag inflates to the inflated position.

4 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stay is notched at the bendable portion.

5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stay includes a first portion and a second portion, and the bendable portion is between the first and second portion of the stay, the bendable portion being flexible relative to the first and second portions of the stay.

6 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the stay is plastic.

7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag includes a third portion extending transversely from the first portion of the airbag and a second corner therebetween, and further comprising a second stay fixed to and rigid relative to the airbag, the second stay having a bendable portion at the second corner and extending from the bendable portion along the first portion and third portion of the airbag in the inflated position.

8 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second stay spaced from the stay and supported by the airbag at the corner.

9 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a tether, wherein the airbag in the inflated position defines a chamber and the tether is in the chamber.

10 . The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a tether, wherein the airbag in the inflated position includes a front panel and a rear panel spaced from the front panel, the tether fixed to the front panel at the corner and extending to the rear panel.

11 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag is a first material, and the stay is a second material that is different than the first material.

12 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the airbag has a first length, and the second portion of the airbag has a second length that is less than the first length.

13 . A vehicle comprising:
a seat; an airbag positioned in front of the seat and inflatable to an inflated position; the airbag in the inflated position having a first portion, a second portion extending transversely from the first portion, and a corner therebetween; and a stay fixed to and rigid relative to the airbag, the stay having a bendable portion at the corner and extending from the bendable portion along the first portion and the second portion when the airbag is in the inflated position.

14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising an instrument panel and a floor, wherein the airbag in the inflated position is between the instrument panel and the floor.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the instrument panel includes a steering column, and the airbag in the inflated position is between the steering column and the floor.

16 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the airbag extends along a cross-vehicle axis and the second portion of the airbag extends along a vehicle-longitudinal axis in the inflated position.

17 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the stay is designed to move from an extended position to a bent position upon contact from an occupant of the vehicle.

18 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the airbag in the inflated position is below a beltline.

19 . The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a tether, wherein the airbag in the inflated position defines a chamber and the tether is in the chamber.

20 . The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising a tether, wherein the airbag in the inflated position includes a front panel and a rear panel spaced from the front panel, the tether fixed to the front panel at the corner and extending to the rear panel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Zhao Yuqin
• Kadam Mangesh
• Shaner Leonard Anthony
• Malapati Srinivas Reddy
• Niesluchowski Matt Alan

Classifications

• B60R2021/23169

  specially adapted for knee protection · CPC title

• B60R21/206

  in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees · CPC title

• B60R21/2334

  Expansion control features · CPC title

• B60R21/231 Primary

  characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration · CPC title

• B60R21/2338 Primary

  Tethers · CPC title