Self-supporting airbag assemblies

Inventors: Frank J. Herzenstiel (Auburn Hills, MI); Changsoo Choi (Auburn Hills, MI)

Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.

B60R21/233 B60R21/205 B60R21/231 B60R21/2338 B60R21/239 B60R2021/23308 B60R2021/23316 B60R2021/23382 B60R2021/23386

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12673633
App. No.: 19/225,941
Granted: Jul 7, 2026
Kind: B1

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Abstract

An airbag assembly includes an inflator to supply inflation gas, a main airbag cushion configured to receive inflation gas to expand and deploy toward a vehicle seating position, and a support airbag cushion. The main airbag cushion includes an impact surface to constrain occupant movement in a forward direction. The support airbag cushion expands and deploys from a position forward of the main airbag cushion to support it. The support airbag cushion has side tethers configured to constrain upward expansion and impart forward stiffness. The support airbag cushion also includes a support surface configured to restrain forward movement of the main airbag cushion.

Claims (28)

1 . An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflator to supply inflation gas;

a main airbag cushion configured to receive the inflation gas to expand and deploy from a housing located in an instrument panel of a vehicle toward a seating position of the vehicle, the main airbag cushion including an impact surface configured to constrain movement of an occupant in a forward direction relative to the vehicle; and

a support airbag cushion configured to receive the inflation gas to expand and deploy from the housing located in the instrument panel of the vehicle toward the seating position of the vehicle to support the main airbag cushion, the support airbag cushion comprising:

side tethers configured to constrain an upward expansion of the support airbag cushion and impart stiffness to the support airbag cushion in the forward direction, wherein the side tethers are coupled to the housing at a first end and coupled to an upper surface of the support airbag cushion at a second end, and wherein the support airbag cushion is substantially centered above the housing when deployed and a width of the side tethers extends along at least a quarter of a length of the support airbag cushion in the forward direction to limit rotation of the support airbag cushion; and

a support surface configured to restrain movement of the main airbag cushion in the forward direction.

2 . The airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support surface is configured to form a combined surface with a surface of a steering wheel.

3 . The airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support airbag cushion is twice as long in the forward direction as in a lateral direction perpendicular to the forward direction.

4 . The airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support airbag cushion includes a second support surface configured to contact the instrument panel of the vehicle.

5 . The airbag assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a vent in the support surface to provide the inflation gas to the main airbag cushion and one or more of baffles and valves at the vent to maintain an inflation pressure of the support airbag cushion higher than an inflation pressure of the main airbag cushion.

6 . The airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support airbag cushion comprises a support surface panel and two side panels, and wherein the side tethers are coupled to the support airbag cushion at a connection between the support surface panel and the two side panels.

7 . The airbag assembly of claim 1 , wherein the support airbag cushion includes exposed seams on an external surface of the support airbag cushion.

8 . A support airbag cushion configured to expand and deploy from a housing located in an instrument panel forward of a main airbag cushion in a vehicle to support the main airbag cushion, the support airbag cushion comprising:

side tethers configured to constrain an upward expansion of the support airbag cushion and impart stiffness to the support airbag cushion in a forward direction relative to the vehicle, wherein the side tethers are coupled to the housing at a first end and coupled to an upper surface of the support airbag cushion at a second end, and wherein the support airbag cushion is substantially centered above the housing when deployed and a width of the side tethers extends along at least a quarter of a length of the support airbag cushion in the forward direction to limit rotation of the support airbag cushion;

a support surface rearward of the housing configured to restrain movement of the main airbag cushion in the forward direction; and

a second support surface forward of the housing configured to contact a plane of the instrument panel to transfer a reaction force from the instrument panel to the main airbag without contacting a windshield of the vehicle.

9 . The support airbag cushion of claim 8 , wherein the support surface is configured to form a combined surface with a surface of a steering wheel.

10 . The support airbag cushion of claim 8 , wherein the support airbag cushion is twice as long in the forward direction as in a lateral direction perpendicular to the forward direction.

11 . The support airbag cushion of claim 8 , further comprising a vent in the support surface to provide inflation gas to the main airbag cushion and one or more of baffles and valves at the vent to maintain an inflation pressure of the support airbag cushion higher than an inflation pressure of the main airbag cushion.

12 . The support airbag cushion of claim 8 , wherein the support airbag cushion comprises a support surface panel and two side panels, and wherein the side tethers are coupled to the support airbag cushion at a connection between the support surface panel and the two side panels.

13 . The support airbag cushion of claim 8 , wherein the support airbag cushion includes exposed seams on an external surface of the support airbag cushion.

14 . The support airbag cushion of claim 8 , wherein a width of the side tethers extends along at least a quarter of a length of the support airbag cushion in the forward direction.

15 . An airbag assembly, comprising:

an inflator to supply inflation gas;

a main airbag cushion configured to receive the inflation gas to expand and deploy toward a seating position of a vehicle, the main airbag cushion including an impact surface configured to constrain movement of an occupant in a forward direction relative to the vehicle; and

a support airbag cushion configured to receive the inflation gas to expand and deploy from a position forward of the main airbag cushion toward the seating position of the vehicle to support the main airbag cushion, the support airbag cushion comprising:

side tethers configured to constrain an upward expansion of the support airbag cushion and impart stiffness to the support airbag cushion in the forward direction; and

a support surface configured to restrain movement of the main airbag cushion in the forward direction, wherein the support airbag cushion comprises a support surface panel and two side panels, and wherein the side tethers are coupled to the support airbag cushion at a connection between the support surface panel and the two side panels.