Airbag for oblique vehicle impacts

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9550465-B1
Application number	US-201615000320-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 19, 2016
Priority date	Jul 14, 2015
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

An airbag system includes an inflator and an airbag in communication with the inflator. The airbag system includes a tether actuator and tethers extending from the tether actuator to the airbag. A controller is programmed to receive signals from an impact sensing system and a steering wheel angle sensor. The controller is programmed to instruct the tether actuator to release at least one of the tethers based at least on the signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the impact sensing system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An airbag system comprising:
an inflator;
an airbag in communication with the inflator;
a tether actuator and tethers extending from the tether actuator to the airbag;
a controller programmed to receive signals from an impact sensing system and a steering wheel angle sensor, and to instruct the tether actuator to release at least one of the tethers based at least on the signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the impact sensing system.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the airbag includes a main portion defining an inflation chamber, and a plurality of extensions in communication with the inflation chamber, and wherein the tethers extend from the tether actuator to the extensions.

3. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the airbag presents an impact surface spaced from the inflator in an inflated position and wherein the plurality of extensions are disposed about a perimeter of the impact surface.

4. The system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the airbag defines holes between the main portion and the extension and includes flaps connected to the tethers and mounted to the main portion adjacent the holes.

5. A method comprising:
receiving a signal from an impact sensing system indicating at least an occurrence of an impact of a vehicle;
receiving a signal from a steering wheel angle sensor indicating at least a rotational position of a steering wheel of the vehicle;
instructing a tether actuator to release at least one of a plurality of tethers based at least on the signals from the steering wheel angle sensor and the impact sensing system.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein the signal from the impact sensing system indicates at least a direction of the impact.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• El-Jawahri Raed Essa
• Belwafa Jamel E
• Cheng James Chih

Classifications

• B60R21/233 Primary

  comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other (B60R21/232 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R2021/161

  characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory · CPC title

• B60R21/203 Primary

  in steering wheels or steering columns · CPC title

• B60R21/2338

  Tethers · CPC title

• B60R21/0134

  responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle {, e.g. using radar systems} · CPC title