Airbag assembly including depressed region below steering column

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9731674-B2
Application number	US-201514851839-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2015
Priority date	Sep 11, 2015
Publication date	Aug 15, 2017
Grant date	Aug 15, 2017

Abstract

An airbag assembly includes an airbag and an inflator in communication with the airbag. The airbag includes a top side and includes a front side and a rear side each extending from the top side. The front side and the rear side define two extensions spaced from each other along the top side and a recess disposed between the extensions along the top side. The airbag includes a depressed region extending from the recess. The front side and the rear side are connected to each other along the depressed region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An airbag assembly comprising:
an airbag defining an inflation chamber; and
an inflator in communication with the inflation chamber;
the airbag including a top side and including a front side and a rear side each extending from the top side with the inflation chamber defined between the front side and the rear side;
the front side and the rear side defining two extensions spaced from each other along the top side and a recess disposed between the extensions along the top side;
the airbag including a depressed region extending from the recess, wherein the front side and the rear side are connected to each other along the depressed region.

2. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the front side and the rear side are stitched to each other along the depressed region.

3. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein extensions and recess are U-shaped and wherein the depressed region is generally rectangular.

4. The airbag assembly as set forth in in claim 3 wherein the depressed region extends from one extension to the other extension.

5. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the airbag includes a bottom side spaced from the top side with front side and the rear side each extending from the bottom side, wherein the depressed region extends from the top side toward the bottom side.

6. The airbag assembly as set forth in in claim 5 wherein the depressed region extends from one extension to the other extension.

7. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein extensions and recess are U-shaped and wherein the depressed region is generally rectangular.

8. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein the depressed region extends 10-70 mm from the top side toward the bottom side.

9. The airbag assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the airbag is inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position, wherein the distance from the front side to the rear side at the extensions is greater than the distance from the front side to the rear side at the depressed region.

10. The airbag as set forth in claim 1 wherein the recess is configured to extend along a steering column of a vehicle.

11. A steering column assembly comprising:
a steering column; and
an airbag including two extensions and a recess disposed between the extensions, the extensions and the recess being configured to extend partially around the steering column when the airbag is in an inflated position;
wherein a front side and a rear side of the airbag are connected to each other along a depressed region configured to be below the steering column in the inflated position; and
wherein the distance from the front side to the rear side at the extensions is greater than the distance from the front side to the rear side at the depressed region.

12. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the front side and the rear side are stitched to each other along the depressed region.

13. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein extensions and recess are U-shaped and wherein the depressed region is generally rectangular.

14. The steering column assembly as set forth in in claim 13 wherein the depressed region extends from one extension to the other extension.

15. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the airbag includes a top side and a bottom side with the front side and the rear side each extending from the top side to the bottom side, wherein the depressed region extends from the top side toward the bottom side.

16. The steering column assembly as set forth in in claim 15 wherein the depressed region extends from one extension to the other extension.

17. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein extensions and recess are U-shaped and wherein the depressed region is generally rectangular.

18. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein the depressed region extends 10-70 mm from the top side toward the bottom side.

19. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the extensions and the recess are configured to abut the steering column in the inflated position.

20. A steering column assembly comprising:
a steering column; and
an airbag including two extensions and a recess disposed between the extensions, the extensions and the recess being configured to extend partially around the steering column when the airbag is in an inflated position;
wherein a front side and a rear side of the airbag are connected to each other along a depressed region configured to be below the steering column in the inflated position; and
wherein the airbag includes a top side and a bottom side with the front side and the rear side each extending from the top side to the bottom side, wherein the depressed region extends from the top side toward the bottom side.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jindal Pardeep Kumar
• Abramoski Edward Joseph
• Makowski Matthew B

Classifications

• B60R2021/23308

  the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag · CPC title

• B60R2021/23169

  specially adapted for knee protection · CPC title

• B60R21/231 Primary

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

• B60R21/235

  characterised by their material · CPC title

• B60R21/203 Primary

  in steering wheels or steering columns · CPC title