Holding elements for attaching an element of an airbag assembly to a holding unit comprising such a holding element and an inflating element, along with related methods. In some embodiments, the holding element may be configured for attaching an element of an airbag assembly via at least one tear seam, and the holding element may comprise a first side wall made of a flexible material and a second side wall made of a flexible material. A peripheral connection may couple the first side wall and the second side wall and may extend from a first end to a second end such that the first side wall, the second side wall, and the peripheral connection define a space therebetween and an opening. The holding element may further comprise an inlay comprising a hole and having at least one layer being located between the first side wall and the second side wall.

An airbag apparatus including: a first chamber connected to an inflator; a second chamber connected to the rear of the first chamber and supported by the first chamber, supporting the head of a passenger in case of an oblique collision of a vehicle, and having a first passage through which gas of the first chamber is introduced; a third chamber connected to the rear of the first chamber and supported by the first chamber, disposed at one side of the second chamber, and supporting the head of the passenger in a head-on collision of the vehicle; a connection tether connecting the second and third chambers to limit separation between the second and third chambers; and a shut-off valve closing the first passage to block gas of the second chamber from being discharged to the first chamber through the first passage, when the first chamber is completely deployed.

An airbag apparatus includes an airbag and an airbag controller. The airbag is disposed in a movable member and configured to be able to deploy in different sizes in a front-to-back direction of an automobile. The movable member can move in the front-to-back direction in front of a passenger in the automobile. The airbag controller is configured to control a size of the airbag to be deployed, according to a position to which the movable member is moved.

A center airbag device may include: an inflator positioned between first and second seats, and generating an operating gas; a chamber part receiving the operating gas generated by the inflator, and expanding between the first and second seats; an internal tether part positioned in the chamber part, and connected to one or more of the top and side surfaces of the chamber part so as to control the deployment shape of the chamber part; and a locking release part connected to the internal tether part, and removing a restriction of the internal tether part according to a control signal.

An airbag includes an internal pressure adjusting mechanism: including: a tether arranged in a bag part; a long side part; and a short side part; and adjusting an exhaust of the inflation gas: to be in an exhaust mode in which the exhaust is facilitated when the tether is loosened; and to be in an exhaust suppression mode in which the exhaust is suppressed when the tether is stretched. In a state where the tether is loosened during the exhaust mode, facing edge parts of the long side part and the short side part are separable. In a state where the tether is stretched during the exhaust suppression mode, the facing edge part of the long side part and a root side part are inflated around the short side part and a leading edge side part contacts a back surface side of the short side part.

A pedestrian airbag device includes an airbag and an inflator that supplies an inflating gas to the airbag. The airbag includes a cowl cover portion and two pillar cover portions. The inflator includes a main body portion having a substantially columnar outer shape, and a mounting bolt disposed to protrude from an outer peripheral surface of the main body portion in an axis orthogonal direction of the main body portion. The main body portion is mounted on an accommodation site side by using the mounting bolt in a state where the main body portion is inserted into the cowl cover portion while an axial direction is disposed to substantially extend along a left-right direction. A gas flow regulating member suppressing a rearward outflow of an inflating gas discharged from the main body portion is disposed at a position on a rear side of the main body portion inside the cowl cover portion.

Actuator housings for airbag modules and related assemblies. In some embodiments, an airbag assembly may comprise an electrically conductive piece and an electro-explosive device coupled with the electrically conductive piece and positioned adjacent to the electrically conductive piece. The assembly may further comprise a housing for the electro-explosive device. The housing may be at least partially defined by a conductive plastic material having an electrical conductivity less than that of the electrically conductive piece.

A restraint system includes an instrument panel. The restraint system includes an airbag coupled to the instrument panel and having an impact panel facing away from the instrument panel when the airbag is inflated. The impact panel has a left half and a right half. A left tether is releasably coupled to the instrument panel and to the left half of the impact panel. A right tether is releasably coupled to the instrument panel and to the right half of the impact panel. A controller is programmed to selectively release one of the left and right tethers based on an impact angle.

An airbag apparatus includes an airbag, which is configured to be supplied with gas to be deployed and inflated in front of one of a driver's seat and a front passenger seat. The airbag includes an airbag body and a pocket portion provided on a side of the airbag body. The airbag apparatus includes an outer tether, an inflator, and an actuator. The outer tether is located outside the airbag and is joined to the pocket portion. The inflator supplies gas to the airbag. When a movement of the vehicle in an oblique direction due to a collision is detected, the actuator pulls the outer tether to extract the pocket portion.

In an airbag comprising at least one aperture (14) which is provided in an airbag shell (12) and to which a closure element (16) is attached a tether (34) via which the closure element (16) can be maintained in a closed position acts on the closure element (16). The invention moreover relates to a method of operating a vehicle occupant protection system.