Brian A Lighthall

US Patent:

7083188, Aug 1, 2006

Filed:

Nov 13, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/712242

Inventors:

David Henderson - North Ogden UT, US
Brian A. Lighthall - Kaysville UT, US

Assignee:

Autoliv ASP, Inc. - Ogden UT

International Classification:

B60R 21/16

US Classification:

2807302, 2807282

Abstract:

An airbag module may include an inflator, a cushion, and a retention apparatus that keeps the cushion in a stowed configuration until deployment. The retention apparatus may include a flexible member wrapped around the cushion and a hook-and-loop fastening strip attached to the flexible member via a sewn seam. The hook-and-loop fastening strip has hooks fastened to the flexible member to secure the flexible member around the cushion. The sewn seam is weak enough to permit the hook-and-loop fastening strip to break away from the flexible member. When the cushion begins to inflate, the sewn seam breaks to allow the hook-and-loop fastening strip to separate from one side of the flexible member while remaining attached to the opposite side. The cushion is able to inflate through the corresponding opening formed in the retention apparatus. In alternative embodiments, the flexible member, fastener, and attachment mechanism may be reconfigured or omitted.

US Patent:

20050062266, Mar 24, 2005

Filed:

Sep 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/668917

Inventors:

Daniel Steimke - Ogden UT, US
Brian Lighthall - Kaysville UT, US

International Classification:

B60R021/24
B60R021/22

US Classification:

280730200, 280729000

Abstract:

An airbag module is disclosed which, in one configuration, inflates from a vehicle seat to protect a vehicle occupant against lateral impact. The airbag module has a cushion with a pelvic chamber and a thoracic chamber. The airbag module also has an inflation assembly including an inflator within a housing inside the cushion. The housing has an aperture disposed within each of the chambers such that, when the inflator deploys, the pelvic chamber is inflated to a relatively higher pressure. The inflator may be moved axially within the housing to control the pressure ratio between the chambers. The housing is attached to the vehicle seat via attachment features that may be located at a variety of positions with respect to the remainder of the housing to facilitate adaptation of the inflation assembly to multiple cushion and vehicle configurations.