Method and apparatus for air bag venting

• US 20040056459A1
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Shah, Suresh D., Ashtiani, Mansour, Kassman, Mark E., Abu-Isa, Ismat A., Vendely, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,945,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An apparatus and method for customizing the pressure within an inflatable cushion of an air bag module is provided. The method comprises determining whether additional venting of an air bag is required. A sensing and diagnostic module will receive its relative inputs from a plurality of sensors and will determine whether vents in an inflatable cushion should be opened to allow diffusion of an inflation gas. The apparatus allowing vents to open at specified times to allow for diffusion of the inflation gas.

Claims

1. A venting mechanism disposed on an inflatable cushion for use in an air bag module, comprising:

a membrane being attached to the inflatable cushion to cover a vent opening in the cushion; and

a plurality of electrodes or high resistive heating elements disposed in a pre-arranged pattern on said membrane, said plurality of electrodes being adapted to receive an electrical charge wherein said electrical charge causes an area of said membrane to weaken causing a vent aperture to be formed in the inflatable cushion.

2. The venting mechanism as in claim 1, wherein said electrodes or high resistive heating elements are arranged to overlap each other creating an arcing point.

3. The venting mechanism as in claim 1, wherein said electrodes or high resistive heating elements increase the temperature of said membrane when said electrical charge is received.

4. The venting mechanism as in claim 3, wherein said electrodes or high resistive heating elements are arranged to overlap each other creating an arcing point.

6. The venting mechanism as in claim 1, wherein said electrical charge is provided when a sensing and diagnostic module adapted to determine whether deployment of the airbag is necessary receives an input corresponding to a condition requiring said vent aperture.

7. The venting mechanism as in claim 6, wherein said air bag module is disposed with a vehicle and said condition includes the weight of an occupant of the vehicle.

8. The venting mechanism as in claim 7, wherein said condition includes an input indicative of whether the occupant'"'"'s seat belt is latched.

5. The venting mechanism as in claim 5, wherein said arcing point increases the temperature of said membrane at a higher rate than other areas of said membrane.

9. A venting mechanism disposed on an inflatable cushion for use in an air bag module, comprising:

a membrane being sealed to the inflatable cushion to cover a vent opening in the cushion; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy springs or wires disposed in a pre-arranged pattern on said membrane, said plurality of shape memory alloy springs or wires being secured to an elastic member disposed about an opening in said inflatable cushion and being adapted to receive an electrical charge wherein said electrical charge causes said plurality of shape memory alloy springs or wires to enlarge said elastic member and said opening.

11. The venting mechanism as in claim 9, wherein said electrodes or high resistive heating elements are arranged to overlap each other creating an arcing point.

12. The venting mechanism as in claim 9, wherein said electrodes or high resistive heating elements increase the temperature of said membrane when said electrical charge is received.

13. The venting mechanism as in claim 12, wherein said electrodes or high resistive heating elements are arranged to overlap each other creating an arcing point.

14. The venting mechanism as in claim 13, wherein said arcing point increases the temperature of said membrane at a higher rate than other areas of said membrane.

10. A venting mechanism disposed on an inflatable cushion for use in an air bag module, comprising:

a membrane being sealed to the inflatable cushion to cover a vent opening in the cushion;

a plurality of electrodes or high resistive heating elements being disposed in a pre-arranged pattern on said membrane, said plurality of electrodes or high resistive heating elements being adapted to receive an electrical charge wherein said electrical charge causes an area of said membrane to weaken causing a vent aperture to be formed in the inflatable cushion; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy springs disposed in a pre-arranged pattern on said membrane, said plurality of shape memory alloy springs being secured to said membrane and being adapted to receive an electrical charge wherein said electrical charge causes said plurality of shape memory alloy springs to enlarge said area.

15. A method for providing active venting in an inflatable air bag cushion of an airbag module comprising:

supplying an electrical current to a plurality of high resistive heating elements disposed on a surface of a membrane positioned over an opening in the air bag cushion, said electrical current causing said plurality of high resistive heating elements to weaken an area of said membrane causing a vent aperture to be formed in the inflatable cushion.

16. A method for providing active venting in an inflatable air bag cushion of an airbag module comprising:

determining if an additional vent opening is required; and

supplying an electrical current to a plurality of high resistive heating elements disposed on a surface of a membrane positioned over an opening in the air bag cushion, said electrical current causing said plurality of high resistive heating elements to weaken an area of said membrane causing a vent aperture to be formed in the inflatable cushion.

17. A method for providing active venting in an inflatable air bag cushion of an airbag module comprising:

determining if an additional vent opening is required; and

manipulating a means for proving an opening in the inflatable air bag cushion.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein said means for proving an opening comprises a vent member slidably received within a vent housing, said vent member having at least one opening for aligning with an opening in the inflatable air bag cushion.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein said means for proving an opening comprises:

a membrane being attached to the inflatable air bag cushion to cover a vent opening in the cushion; and

a plurality of electrodes or high resistive heating elements disposed in a pre-arranged pattern on said membrane, said plurality of electrodes being adapted to receive an electrical charge wherein said electrical charge causes an area of said membrane to weaken causing a vent aperture to be formed in the inflatable cushion.

20. The method as in claim 17, wherein said means for proving an opening comprises:

a membrane being sealed to the inflatable air bag cushion to cover a vent opening in the cushion; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy springs or wires disposed in a pre-arranged pattern on said membrane, said plurality of shape memory alloy springs or wires being secured to an elastic member disposed about an opening in said inflatable cushion and being adapted to receive an electrical charge wherein said electrical charge causes said plurality of shape memory alloy springs or wires to enlarge said elastic member and said opening.

21. The method as in claim 17, wherein said means for proving an opening comprises:

a membrane being sealed to the inflatable air bag cushion to cover a vent opening in the cushion;

a plurality of electrodes or high resistive heating elements being disposed in a pre-arranged pattern on said membrane, said plurality of electrodes or high resistive heating elements being adapted to receive an electrical charge wherein said electrical charge causes an area of said membrane to weaken causing a vent aperture to be formed in the inflatable cushion; and

a plurality of shape memory alloy springs disposed in a pre-arranged pattern on said membrane, said plurality of shape memory alloy springs being secured to said membrane and being adapted to receive an electrical charge wherein said electrical charge causes said plurality of shape memory alloy springs to enlarge said area.