Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

An airbag cushion for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from an impact is presented. The airbag cushion has an inflatable region which inflates upon the reception of an inflation gas from an inflator. The airbag cushion is secured to a housing by a retaining member. The retaining member is configured to secure an attachment region of the airbag cushion to the housing by the use of fasteners which create a clamping force. The clamping force is highest adjacent the fasteners and is lowest at positions between the fasteners. Thus, a high clamp region is created adjacent the fasteners and a low clamp region is created at positions distant from the fasteners. As the airbag cushion is inflated, a load force puts tension on the attachment region of the airbag cushion potentially ripping the airbag cushion out from the low clamp regions. A load controlling cutout is positioned within the attachment region and between the fasteners. The load controlling cutout is configured to shift the load force the low clamp region to the high clamp region during inflation of the inflatable region.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim