Airbag module with external deflector

1. An airbag module ( 400 ) comprising:

a housing ( 402 );

an airbag ( 404 );

an inflator ( 406 );

a deflector mechanism ( 420 ) which provides a barrier or guide and a reaction hood or surface ( 401 ) to modify the trajectory of the airbag 404 on inflation to achieve one or both of: a) to inflate at a lower trajectory, and b) lowers impact force with a windshield; and

wherein the deflector mechanism ( 420 ) has a tensioning member ( 430 ) wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) is a length of band including one of a seat belt webbing ( 430 a ), overlapping layers of the reaction hood ( 401 ), or wires or ropes, the band being secured to the reaction hood ( 401 ) wherein the respective ends ( 432 ), ( 434 ) of the tensioning member ( 430 ) is attached to the housing ( 402 ) by forming a loop ( 450 ) with an extending member or arm ( 452 ) at each end ( 432 , 434 ) of the webbing ( 430 a ) and each webbing loop ( 450 ) is pulled through a hole ( 460 ) on the housing ( 402 ) on each side ( 436 ) or a horizontal lip of the housing ( 402 ).

2. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 1 wherein the deflector mechanism ( 420 ) has a tensioning member ( 430 ).

3. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 2 wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) is a length of band including a seat belt webbing ( 430 a ) secured to the reaction hood ( 401 ).

4. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 2 wherein the reaction hood ( 401 ) is made of one or more layers and the tensioning member ( 430 ) is formed by overlapping layers of the reaction hood ( 401 ).

5. The airbag module of claim 2 wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) is formed by wires or ropes secured to the reaction hood ( 401 ).

6. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 2 wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) further comprises opposing ends secured to the housing ( 402 ).

7. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 6 wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) is secured to the housing ( 402 ) at sides ( 436 ) of the housing ( 402 ).

8. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 2 wherein the reaction hood ( 401 ) partially covers the airbag ( 404 ) when folded in the housing ( 402 ) preventing the airbag ( 404 ) when deployed from moving forward of the tensioning member ( 430 ) and closer to a windshield.

9. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 2 wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) is secured to a top portion of the reaction hood ( 401 ).

10. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 7 wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) is secured to a top portion of the reaction hood ( 401 ).

11. An airbag module ( 400 ) comprising:

a housing ( 402 );

an airbag ( 404 );

an inflator ( 406 );

a deflector mechanism ( 420 ) which provides a barrier or guide and a reaction hood or surface ( 401 ) to modify the trajectory of the airbag 404 on inflation to achieve one or both of: a) to inflate at a lower trajectory, and b) lowers impact force with a windshield; and

wherein the deflector mechanism ( 420 ) has a tensioning member ( 430 ) wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) is a length of band including a seat belt webbing ( 430 a ) secured to the reaction hood ( 401 ) and further

wherein the respective ends ( 432 ),

( 434 ) of the tensioning member ( 430 ) is attached to the housing ( 402 ) by forming a loop ( 450 ) with an extending member or arm ( 452 ) at each end ( 432 , 434 ) of the webbing ( 430 a ) and each webbing loop ( 450 ) is pulled through a hole ( 460 ) on the housing ( 402 ) on each side ( 436 ) or a horizontal lip of the housing ( 402 ).

12. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 11 wherein the end of the webbing ( 430 a ) is folded onto itself and sewn together to form the loop ( 450 ).

13. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 3 wherein the housing ( 402 ) is made of a plastic material and the webbing ( 430 a ) is sewn to sides ( 432 ) of the housing ( 402 ).

14. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 11 wherein a pin ( 472 ) is inserted in each loop ( 471 ), causing the diameter of the loop ( 471 ) with the pin ( 472 ) in place to be wider than the hole ( 460 ) in the housing ( 402 ).

15. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 4 wherein the reaction hood ( 401 ) is made of a material, the material including an extension of the material which is folded back upon itself to form a number of folds to form the tensioning member ( 430 ) secured to the sides ( 436 ) of the housing ( 402 ).

16. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 2 wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) is a strap ( 430 ) having a width W, the housing has an opening (W 1 , S 1 ) is a distance between a rear surface or edge of the tensioning strap ( 430 ) and the rear edge of the housing opening ( 436 , S 2 ) is a distance between a forward edge of the tensioning strap ( 430 ) and the forward edge of the opening or mouth of the housing ( 402 ), wherein placement of the tensioning member ( 430 ) can be used to adjust the inflation trajectory.

17. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 16 wherein the placement of the tensioning member ( 430 ) is as follows: W=47 mm, W 1 =95 mm, S 1 =30 mm and S 2 =20 mm.

18. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 2 wherein the reaction hood ( 401 ) is affixed to the inflator ( 406 ) and the housing ( 402 ) and the tensioning member ( 430 ) and upon inflation of the airbag ( 404 ) creates a tension in the tensioning member ( 430 ) stiffening the forward edge of the reaction hood 401 , the reaction hood ( 401 ) acts as a reaction surface preventing forward movement of the airbag ( 404 ) toward the lower windshield.

19. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 18 wherein the tensioning member ( 430 ) further prevents the airbag movement in a general upward direction to further lessen the airbag ( 404 ) impact with the windshield.

20. The airbag module ( 400 ) of claim 19 wherein the tensioning member 430 upon inflation of the airbag ( 404 ) has an initial tension T, the tension T established by the physical and material characteristics of the tensioning member ( 430 ) and deflector ( 420 ) to control the airbag trajectory.