Active venting apparatus and method for airbag systems
First Claim
1. An airbag module for providing impact protection for a vehicle occupant, the airbag module comprising:
- an inflatable protection zone;
a flexible venting tube in gaseous communication with the inflatable protection zone, the flexible venting tube having an exit port configured to permit gas to escape from the inflatable protection zone via the flexible venting tube; and
a closure mechanism configured to restrict gas flow through the exit port and to decrease restriction of gas flow through the exit port in response to receipt of an activation signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Enhanced airbag modules and associated methods are provided. An airbag module according to the invention may have a cushion with an inflatable protection zone and a flexible venting tube coupled to the inflatable protection zone. A closure mechanism may be used to compress the flexible venting tube against an anchoring member, such as a housing of the airbag module or a vehicle feature, until venting through the flexible venting tube is needed. The closure mechanism may then be actuated, for example, by igniting a pyrotechnic within a specially designed bolt of the closure mechanism. The bolt may, for example, have a bore with a pyrotechnic initiator molded-in-place within the bore. The bolt may fracture to open the closure mechanism, thereby permitting inflation gas to flow out of the inflatable protection zone via the flexible venting tube.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. An airbag module for providing impact protection for a vehicle occupant, the airbag module comprising:
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an inflatable protection zone;
a flexible venting tube in gaseous communication with the inflatable protection zone, the flexible venting tube having an exit port configured to permit gas to escape from the inflatable protection zone via the flexible venting tube; and
a closure mechanism configured to restrict gas flow through the exit port and to decrease restriction of gas flow through the exit port in response to receipt of an activation signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A closure mechanism for controlling venting from an inflatable protection zone of an airbag module via a flexible venting tube in gaseous communication with the inflatable protection zone, the closure mechanism comprising:
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an anchoring member; and
a fastener coupled to the anchoring member to compress the flexible venting tube, thereby restricting gas flow through an exit port of the flexible venting tube, wherein the fastener is configured to unfasten in response to receipt of an activation signal to decrease restriction of gas flow through the exit port. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fastener configured to permit separation of fastened objects in response to receipt of an activation signal, the fastener comprising:
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an initiator configured to fracture in response to receipt of the activation signal; and
an integrally formed casing having a bore with an initiator portion containing the initiator, wherein the initiator portion is shaped to keep the initiator within the bore. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for providing impact protection for an occupant of a vehicle with an airbag module comprising a cushion having an inflatable protection zone in gaseous communication with a flexible venting tube, the flexible venting tube having an exit port configured to permit gas to escape from the inflatable protection zone via the flexible venting tube, the airbag module further comprising a closure mechanism for controlling gas flow through the flexible venting tube, the method comprising:
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inflating the cushion; and
actuating the closure mechanism to reduce restriction of gas flow through the exit port of the flexible venting tube to permit gas to escape from the inflatable protection zone of the cushion via the flexible venting tube. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method for actuating a closure mechanism to control venting from an inflatable protection zone of an airbag module via a flexible venting tube in gaseous communication with the inflatable protection zone, the closure mechanism comprising a fastener, the method comprising:
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transmitting an activation signal to ignite a pyrotechnic; and
unfastening the fastener in response to ignition of the pyrotechnic to decrease restriction of gas flow through an exit port of the flexible venting tube. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for manufacturing a pyrotechnically releasable fastener, the method comprising:
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providing an initiator configured to fracture in response to receipt of an activation signal;
inserting the initiator into a mold;
inserting flowable plastic into the mold; and
solidifying the plastic to form a casing having a bore with an initiator portion containing the initiator, wherein the initiator portion is shaped to keep the initiator within the bore. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification