James R. Fletcher - Royal Oak MI, US Keith P. Lane - Rochester Hills MI, US Jesse B. Kirby - Clawson MI, US Pongdet P. Wipasuramonton - Rochester MI, US Mark A. Steinbach - Clawson MI, US Richard A. Wiik - Fort Gratiot MI, US Andrew J. Pitonyak - Auburn Hills MI, US
Assignee:
TK Holdings Inc. - Auburn Hills MI
International Classification:
B60R 21/213
US Classification:
2807302
Abstract:
A curtain airbag assembly comprises an inflatable curtain airbag configured to prevent egress of an occupant out of a window during a collision or rollover event. When the curtain airbag is inflated, a bottom edge of the curtain airbag extends below a window sill in a vehicle. A distance the inflated curtain airbag extends below the window sill is greater than a radius of curvature of the inflated curtain airbag.
Jonathan Richard Kibat - Warren MI, US Patrick James O'Leary - Clinton Township MI, US Richard Andrew Wiik - Fort Gratiot MI, US
Assignee:
TK Holdings Inc. - Auburn Hills MI
International Classification:
B60R 21/207 B60R 21/2338
US Classification:
2807302, 2807432
Abstract:
An occupant side-impact protection apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising an inflatable cushion stored in a folded configuration and an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the cushion. The cushion is configured to inflate to protect the occupant of a vehicle. The side-impact protection apparatus further includes a tether to provide tension to tailor the deployment trajectory of the cushion. The tether is coupled to the cushion at a first coupling location and a second coupling location and the distance along the tether from the first coupling location to the second coupling location is less than the distance along the cushion from the first coupling location to the second coupling location.
Richard Wiik - Fort Gratiot MI, US Jonathan R. Kibat - Warren MI, US Scott D. Thomas - Novi MI, US Anthony Paul Clark - Victoria, AU
Assignee:
TK Holdings Inc. - Auburn Hills MI GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Detroit MI
International Classification:
B60R 21/16
US Classification:
2807302
Abstract:
An occupant restraint system for a motor vehicle having a seat system configured to provide seating to an occupant positioned adjacent to a console having a top surface and configured to provide utility; which includes a cushion stored in the folded configuration and having an inflatable chamber configured to inflate adjacent to an occupant to provide impact restraint to the occupant; an inflator configured to provide gas to inflate the inflatable chamber of the cushion; wherein a bottom portion of the cushion deploys to a position below the top surface of the console and a top portion of the cushion deploys to a position above the top surface of the console; wherein, during occupant loading, a portion of cushion contacts the console to receive lateral support and to react the forces imparted into the cushion induced by the occupant impacting the cushion, wherein the lateral support impedes lateral displacement of the cushion providing additional restraint to the occupant.
An occupant restraint apparatus for a motor vehicle that includes a cushion configured to inflate to provide restraint to an occupant of the vehicle, wherein the cushion includes an inflatable portion and at least one non-inflatable portion; an inflator configured to provide gas for inflating the inflatable portion of the cushion; and a tether having a first end connected to the cushion and a second anchored end. The cushion includes at least one opening in at least one of the non-inflatable portions and the tether passes through the opening.
Richard Andrew Wiik - Fort Gratiot MI, US Andrew Jack Pitonyak - Auburn Hills MI, US
Assignee:
TK Holdings Inc. - Auburn Hills MI
International Classification:
B60R 21/232 B60R 21/233 B60R 21/237
US Classification:
2807302, 280729, 2807431
Abstract:
A side curtain air bag module includes an inflatable cushion and an inflator. The inflatable cushion includes a first panel coupled to a second panel. The inflator is configured to inflate the inflatable cushion. The first panel and the second panel are joined generally continuously at a peripheral edge to form a first inflatable chamber. The first panel and the second panel are joined at a central location to form a second inflatable chamber that is in fluidic communication with the first inflatable chamber. In a stored configuration, the first inflatable chamber is rolled in an outboard direction, and the second inflatable chamber is rolled in an inboard direction generally around the first inflatable chamber.
Richard Andrew Wiik - Fort Gratiot MI, US Andrew Jack Pitonyak - Auburn Hills MI, US Mark Andrew Steinbach - Clawson MI, US
Assignee:
TK Holdings Inc. - Auburn Hills MI
International Classification:
B60R 21/213 B60R 21/2338
US Classification:
2807302, 2807432
Abstract:
A side curtain air bag module for a motor vehicle includes an inflatable cushion, an inflator, and a tether. The inflatable cushion includes an inlet and an inflatable portion, the inflatable portion including an inboard layer and an outboard layer. The inflator is in fluidic communication with the inlet and is configured to inflate the inflatable cushion. The tether includes a first end coupled to the inflatable cushion at a first coupling location on an inboard side of the inflatable cushion. During inflation, the tether is configured to be in tension prior to an upper portion of the inboard layer being in tension, the upper portion of the inboard layer extending generally upward from the first coupling location.
Scott D. Thomas - Novi MI, US Richard Wiik - Fort Gratiot MI, US
Assignee:
TK HOLDINGS INC. - Farmington Hills MI GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC. - Detroit MI
International Classification:
B60R 21/16
US Classification:
2807432, 2807431
Abstract:
A side impact airbag cushion for mounting on a seat in a motor vehicle includes an occupant facing panel and a panel opposite the occupant facing panel, and a mounting portion mounted on the seat back. A cushion upper half portion is positioned near the occupant head, and a cushion lower half lower portion is positioned adjacent the occupant torso and has a central unfilled region surrounded by a tubular inflated ring that extends toward the occupant from the central unfilled region. The cushion upper half portion has a tubular inflated pillow region that extends toward the occupant further than the tubular inflated ring surrounding the central unfilled region, to thereby provide an enlarged pillow surface for supporting the occupant head. An upper tether attached to the cushion is shorter in length than the cushion so that the tether rotates the cushion upper half portion toward the occupant head.
Richard WIIK - Fort Gratiot MI, US Scott D. THOMAS - Novi MI, US
Assignee:
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI TK HOLDINGS INC. - Auburn Hills MI
International Classification:
B31B 1/26
US Classification:
493405
Abstract:
A method is provided for folding an airbag cushion assembly having first and second opposed panels attached to a mounting bracket and sewn together at the panel peripheral edges, and upper and lower tethers attached to the mounting bracket and to the panel peripheral edges, said upper and lower tethers being shorter in length than the distance from the mounting bracket to the panel peripheral edges. The method includes laying the cushion assembly on a table with upper and lower tethers on the bottom and the panel peripheral edges folded underneath due to the tethers being shorter. A fold is made in the first and second panels but not the tethers, to shorten the first and second opposed panels and unfold the peripheral edges that had been folded underneath. Then the cushion is rolled and then folded to obtain a folded airbag cushion lying atop the mounting bracket.