US-12617363-B1 - Vehicle airbag assembly with tethered airbag

Abstract

An assembly includes a dash, an inflator supported by the dash, and an airbag supported by the dash. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag in the inflated position is selectively deployable to one of a first position or a second position spaced away from the dash relative to the first position. An inflation tube fluidly connects the inflator and the airbag. An airbag tether connects the airbag to the dash in the first position and the second position. The airbag tether is selectively extendable from a first length when the airbag is in the first position and a second length longer than the first length when the airbag is in the second position.

Inventors

• Mohammad Omar Faruque
• S. M. Iskander Farooq
• Dean M. Jaradi

Assignees

• FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20250320

Claims (18)

1. 1 . An assembly comprising: a dash; an inflator supported by the dash; an airbag supported by the dash and inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag in the inflated position being selectively deployable to one of a first position or a second position spaced away from the dash relative to the first position; an inflation tube fluidly connecting the inflator and the airbag; an airbag tether connecting the airbag to the dash in the first position and the second position, the airbag tether being selectively extendable from a first length when the airbag is in the first position and a second length longer than the first length when the airbag is in the second position; and a tether release supported by the dash and operable to selectively release the airbag tether from the first length to the second length.
2. 2 . The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to activate the tether release in response to detection of certain vehicle impacts and detection of a vehicle seat in a reclined position.
3. 3 . The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a panel extending from the dash to the airbag, the inflation tube being on the panel.
4. 4 . The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a retractable tether fixed to the airbag and a tether retractor operatively connected to the retractable tether to retract the retractable tether.
5. 5 . The assembly as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to activate the tether retractor in response to detection of certain vehicle impacts and detection of a vehicle seat in a reclined position.
6. 6 . The assembly as set forth in claim 5 , further comprising a vehicle body, the tether retractor being anchored to the vehicle body vehicle rearward of the airbag in the inflated position.
7. 7 . The assembly as set forth in claim 6 , further comprising a trim panel supported by the vehicle body between the dash and the tether retractor, the retractable tether being concealed by the trim panel when the airbag is in an uninflated position.
8. 8 . The assembly as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the airbag tether is fixed to the dash vehicle forward of the airbag.
9. 9 . The assembly as set forth in claim 5 , further comprising a vehicle seat between the tether retractor and the dash.
10. 10 . The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the airbag has a rear panel, the rear panel being spaced from the dash and facing the dash when the airbag is in the second position.
11. 11 . The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising: a vehicle seat movable between an upright position and a reclined position; a retractable tether fixed to the airbag and a tether retractor operatively connected to the retractable tether to retract the retractable tether; and a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to activate the tether release and the tether retractor in response to detection of certain vehicle impacts and detection of the seat in the reclined position.
12. 12 . The assembly as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to activate the inflator in response to detection of certain vehicle impacts.
13. 13 . The assembly as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising: a vehicle seat movable between an upright position and a reclined position; and a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to activate the tether release in response to detection of certain vehicle impacts and detection of the seat in the reclined position.
14. 14 . The assembly as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to: A activate the inflator in a first inflation mode in response to detection of a certain vehicle impact and detection of the seat in an upright position; and A activate the inflator in a second inflation mode in response to detection of a certain vehicle impact and detection of the seat in a reclined position, the airbag releasing a greater amount of inflation medium to the airbag in the second inflation mode than in the first inflation mode.
15. 15 . An assembly comprising: a dash; an inflator supported by the dash; an airbag supported by the dash and inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag in the inflated position being selectively deployable to one of a first position or a second position spaced away from the dash relative to the first position; an inflation tube fluidly connecting the inflator and the airbag; an airbag tether connecting the airbag to the dash in the first position and the second position, the airbag tether being selectively extendable from a first length when the airbag is in the first position and a second length longer than the first length when the airbag is in the second position; and a retractable tether fixed to the airbag and a tether retractor operatively connected to the retractable tether to retract the retractable tether.
16. 16 . The assembly as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising: a vehicle seat movable between an upright position and a reclined position; and a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to activate the tether retractor in response to detection of certain vehicle impacts and detection of the seat in the reclined position.
17. 17 . The assembly as set forth in claim 16 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to: A activate the inflator in a first inflation mode in response to detection of a certain vehicle impact and detection of the seat in an upright position; and A activate the inflator in a second inflation mode in response to detection of a certain vehicle impact and detection of the seat in a reclined position, the airbag releasing a greater amount of inflation medium to the airbag in the second inflation mode than in the first inflation mode.
18. 18 . An assembly comprising: a dash; an inflator supported by the dash; an airbag supported by the dash and inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag in the inflated position being selectively deployable to one of a first position or a second position spaced away from the dash relative to the first position; an inflation tube fluidly connecting the inflator and the airbag; an airbag tether connecting the airbag to the dash in the first position and the second position, the airbag tether being selectively extendable from a first length when the airbag is in the first position and a second length longer than the first length when the airbag is in the second position; and a panel extending from the dash to the airbag, the inflation tube being on the panel.

Description

BACKGROUND Vehicles are equipped with airbag assemblies that include an airbag and an inflator. In the event of certain vehicle impacts, the inflator activates and provides inflation medium to the airbag. This pressurizes the airbag to control the kinematics of an occupant during the vehicle impact. The airbag assemblies may be located at various positions in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of a vehicle with an airbag in an uninflated position. FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the vehicle with a seat in a reclined position and the airbag in an inflated position. FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a top view of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of the vehicle with the seat in an upright position and the airbag in an inflated position. FIG. 6 is a side view of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a system of the vehicle. FIG. 8 is a flow chart of an example method. DETAILED DESCRIPTION With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, an assembly for a vehicle 10 includes a dash 12, an inflator 14 supported by the dash 12, and an airbag 16 supported by the dash 12. The airbag 16 is inflatable from an uninflated position (FIG. 1) to an inflated position (FIGS. 2-6). The airbag 16 in the inflated position is selectively deployable to one of a first position (FIGS. 5-6) or a second position (FIGS. 2-4) spaced away from the dash 12 relative to the first position. An inflation tube 18 fluidly connects the inflator 14 and the airbag 16. An airbag tether 20 connects the airbag 16 to the dash 12 in the first position and the second position. The airbag tether 20 is selectively extendable from a first length L1 when the airbag 16 is in the first position and a second length L2 longer than the first length L1 when the airbag 16 is in the second position. The airbag 16 in the inflated position can be selectively positioned in the first position or the second position. In other words, the airbag 16 when inflated is deployed to either the first position or the second position. A computer 22 of the vehicle 10, e.g., a restraints control module, determines the selection of the first position or the second position based on detected inputs, e.g., recline position of a seat 30 of a vehicle 10, as described further below. The inflation tube 18 provides fluid communication between the airbag 16 and the inflator 14 in the first position and in the second position and allows for movement of the airbag 16 from the first position to the second position while maintaining fluid communication between the inflator 14 and the airbag 16. The vehicle 10 may be any suitable type of automobile, e.g., a passenger or commercial automobile such as a sedan, a coupe, a truck, a sport utility, a crossover, a van, a minivan, a taxi, a bus, etc. The vehicle 10 defines an occupant cabin. With reference to FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 defines a vehicle fore-and-aft axis L extending between a front end (not numbered) and a rear-end (not numbered) of the vehicle 10. In some examples, the vehicle 10 is elongated along the vehicle fore-and-aft axis. The vehicle 10 defines a cross-vehicle axis A extending cross-vehicle from one side to the other side of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 defines a vertical axis V extending through a floor and roof of the vehicle 10. The vehicle fore-and-aft axis L, the cross-vehicle axis C, and the vertical axis V are perpendicular relative to each other. The vehicle 10 includes a frame and the body. The body may be of unitary construction, in which the frame is unitary with the body including frame rails, rockers, pillars, roof rails, etc. As another example, the body and frame may have a body-on-frame construction (also referred to as a cab-on-frame construction) in which the body (including rockers, pillars, roof rails, etc.) and frame are separate components, i.e., are modular, and the body is supported on and affixed to the frame. Alternatively, the frame and body may have any suitable construction. The frame and the body may be of any suitable material, for example, steel, aluminum, and/or fiber-reinforced plastic, etc. The body defines the passenger cabin to house occupants, if any, of the vehicle 10. The passenger cabin may extend across the vehicle 10, i.e., from one side to the other side of the vehicle 10. The vehicle body includes a floor and may include a roof. The roof may define the upper boundary of the passenger compartment and may extend from the front end of the passenger compartment to the rear end of the passenger compartment. The floor is below the roof. The floor may define the lower boundary of the passenger compartment and may extend from the front end of the passenger compartment to the rear end of the passenger compartment. The vehicle 10 may include a trim panel 28 on the floor, e.g., carpet, an applique (such as a rigid plastic applique), a seal (such as a rubber seal), etc. The trim