Air bag restraint including selectively operable venting elements
First Claim
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1. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:
- a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to one of a first depth and at least a second depth greater than the first depth, wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and
a displaceable vent blocking cover element of substantially pliable material supported at a surface of the air bag cushion and disposed in opposing relation to said at least one vent opening, wherein the cover element is adjustable from a first operative position relative to the vent opening when the air bag cushion is inflated to said first depth and to a second different operative position relative to the vent opening when the air bag cushion is inflated to said second depth so as to vary emission of inflation gas through said at least one vent opening in a predefined manner based upon the depth of inflation of the air bag cushion.
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Abstract
An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event. The safety system includes a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion having at least one vent opening. A cover element of substantially pliable material is located in overlying relation to the vent opening. The cover element is selectively displaceable relative to the vent opening in response to the inflation depth of the air bag cushion so as to adjust venting characteristics.
108 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:
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a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to one of a first depth and at least a second depth greater than the first depth, wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and
a displaceable vent blocking cover element of substantially pliable material supported at a surface of the air bag cushion and disposed in opposing relation to said at least one vent opening, wherein the cover element is adjustable from a first operative position relative to the vent opening when the air bag cushion is inflated to said first depth and to a second different operative position relative to the vent opening when the air bag cushion is inflated to said second depth so as to vary emission of inflation gas through said at least one vent opening in a predefined manner based upon the depth of inflation of the air bag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:
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a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to one of a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and
a cover element of substantially pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening, the cover element including a blocking portion normally disposed in blocking relation across the vent opening and an aperture normally disposed within a folded pleat structure disposed outboard of the vent opening, wherein the cover element is operatively connected to the air bag cushion such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said first depth the blocking portion and the pleat structure remain in their normal positions and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said second depth the cover element is placed into tension thereby pulling the blocking portion away from the vent opening while at least partially collapsing the pleat structure such that the aperture is moved into alignment over the vent opening so as to increase venting across the air bag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:
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at least one sensor for measuring at least one occupant specific condition during the impact event;
a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to one of a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth based upon a measurement from said at least one sensor, wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening;
a cover element of substantially pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening at the interior of the air bag cushion, the cover element including a blocking portion normally disposed in blocking relation across the vent opening and an aperture normally disposed within a folded pleat structure disposed outboard of the vent opening, wherein the cover element is operatively connected to at least one shape defining tethering element supported at a surface of the air bag cushion such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said first depth the blocking portion and the pleat structure remain in their normal positions and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said second depth the cover element is placed into tension by movement of the tethering element thereby pulling the blocking portion away from the vent opening while at least partially collapsing the pleat structure such that the aperture is moved into alignment over the vent opening so as to increase venting across the air bag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:
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a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and
a cover element of substantially pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening, the cover element including an aperture normally disposed in substantial alignment with the vent opening and a blocking portion normally disposed within a folded pleat structure disposed outboard of the vent opening, wherein the cover element is operatively connected to the air bag cushion such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said first depth the blocking portion and the aperture remain in their normal positions and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said second depth the cover element is placed into tension thereby pulling the aperture away from the vent opening while at least partially collapsing the pleat structure such that the blocking portion is moved into alignment over the vent opening so as to decrease venting across the air bag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:
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a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and
a cover element comprising a substantially two dimensional patch of pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening, wherein the cover element is attached to a surface of the air bag cushion by an arrangement of intermittent perimeter seams such that spaces between said intermittent perimeter seams define gas passages around the cover element, and wherein at least one elongate tensioning strap extends between the cover element and a dynamic attachment location remote from the cover element, wherein said dynamic attachment location moves away from the cover element when the air bag cushion is inflated thereby pulling the cover element towards the interior of the air bag cushion so as to adjust venting characteristics across the air bag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:
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a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening ; and
a cover element comprising a substantially two dimensional patch of pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening, wherein the cover element is attached to a surface of the air bag cushion by an arrangement of intermittent perimeter seams such that spaces between said intermittent perimeter seams define gas passages around the cover element, and wherein at least one elongate tensioning strap extends between the cover element and an anchor element remote from the cover element, wherein said at least one elongate tensioning strap is characterized by an operative length such that when the air bag cushion is inflated to the first depth said at least one elongate tensioning strap is placed into tension thereby pulling the cover element towards the interior of the air bag cushion and wherein said at least one elongate tensioning strap is adapted to disengage from the anchor element when the air bag cushion is inflated to the second depth thereby releasing the tension within said at least one elongate tensioning strap so as to adjust venting characteristics across the air bag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification