Automotive vehicle air bag system

• US 20020135166A1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Published: 09/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Thomas, Scott David
• Granted Patent: US 6,513,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

There is disclosed an air bag system for an automotive vehicle. The air bag system includes a moveable member that may be selectively actuated to assist in the controlling of venting openings and tether elements of the system. In turn, the moveable member offers control over the manner of deployment of an air bag of the system.

Claims

1. An air bag system comprising:

a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a first sensing device for sensing a first predetermined condition;

an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas to inflate said air bag to a deployed state upon the occurrence of said first predetermined condition;

a housing substantially surrounding said air bag and said inflator prior to inflation of said air bag said housing including a plurality of walls;

a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releasably attached to a portion of said air bag system;

a generally elongated moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position for releasing said tether element from said portion of said air bag system, said moveable member having a cap portion with dimensions corresponding to one or more of said plurality of walls of said housing for cooperatively forming a chamber; and

a gas emission component in communication with a second sensing device, said gas emission component capable of releasing gas into said chamber to expand said chamber by moving said cap portion for moving said moveable member from said first position to said second position, said second sensing device capable of sending signals that, based upon a second predetermined condition, assist in determining when said emission component releases gas into said chamber to move said moveable member.

2. An air bag system as in claim 1, wherein said first sensing device and said second sensing device are integrated into a single system.

3. An air bag system as in claim 1, wherein said first sensing device and said second sensing device are separate from each other.

4. An air bag system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of walls is formed of a metal stamping.

5. An air bag system as in claim 1, wherein a seal substantially surrounds said cap portion for sealing between said cap portion and said at least one of said plurality of walls.

6. An air bag system as in claim 1, wherein said portion of said air bag system to which said tether element is attached to is a portion of said moveable member.

7. An air bag system comprising:

a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a first sensing device for sensing a first predetermined condition;

an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas to inflate said air bag to a deployed state upon the occurrence of said first predetermined condition;

a housing substantially surrounding said air bag and said inflator prior to inflation of said air bag said housing including a vent opening and a plurality of walls;

a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releasably attached to a portion of said air bag system;

a generally elongated moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position for releasing said tether element from said portion of said air bag system, said moveable member having a cap portion with dimensions corresponding to one or more of said plurality of walls of said housing for cooperatively forming a chamber and a portion for covering said vent opening when said moveable member is in said second position; and

a gas emission component in communication with a second sensing device, said gas emission component capable of releasing gas into said chamber to expand said chamber by moving said cap portion for moving said moveable member from said first position to said second position, said second sensing device capable of sending signals that, based upon a second predetermined condition, assist in determining when said emission component releases gas into said chamber to move said moveable member.

8. An air bag system as in claim 7, wherein said first sensing device and said second sensing device are integrated into a single system.

9. An air bag system as in claim 7, wherein said first sensing device and said second sensing device are separate from each other.

10. An air bag system as in claim 7, wherein at least one of said plurality of walls is formed of a metal stamping.

11. An air bag system as in claim 7, wherein a seal substantially surrounds said cap portion for sealing between said cap portion and said at least one of said plurality of walls.

12. An air bag system as in claim 7, wherein said portion of said air bag system to which said tether element is attached to is a portion of said moveable member.

13. An air bag system as in claim 7, wherein said moveable member prevents a substantial amount of gas from being vented through said vent opening when said moveable member is in said second position.

15. An air bag system as in claim 14, wherein said first sensing device and said second sensing device are integrated into a single system.

16. An air bag system as in claim 14, wherein said first sensing device and said second sensing device are separate from each other.

17. An air bag system as in claim 14, wherein at least one of said plurality of walls is formed of a metal stamping.

18. An air bag system as in claim 14, wherein a seal substantially surrounds said cap portion for sealing between said cap portion and said at least one of said plurality of walls.

19. An air bag system as in claim 14, wherein said portion of said air bag system to which said tether element is attached to a portion of said moveable member.

20. An air bag system as in claim 14, wherein said moveable member prevents a substantial amount of gas from being vented through said vent opening when said moveable member is in said second position.

14. An air bag system comprising:

a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a first sensing device for sensing a first predetermined condition;

an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas to inflate said air bag to a deployed state upon the occurrence of said first predetermined condition;

a housing substantially surrounding said air bag and said inflator prior to inflation of said air bag said housing including a high pressure vent opening, a low pressure vent opening and a plurality of walls;

a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releasably attached to a portion of said air bag system;

a generally elongated moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position for releasing said tether element from said portion of said air bag system, said moveable member having a cap portion with dimensions corresponding to one or more of said plurality of walls of said housing for cooperatively forming a chamber and a broad portion for covering said high pressure vent opening when said moveable member is in said second position and covering said low pressure vent opening when said moveable member is in said first position; and

a gas emission component in communication with a second sensing device, said gas emission component capable of releasing gas into said chamber to expand said chamber by moving said cap portion for moving said moveable member from said first position to said second position, said second sensing device capable of sending signals that, based upon a second predetermined condition, assist in determining when said emission component releases gas into said chamber to move said moveable member.