Air bag module with locking member for locking the position of a vent member
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable occupant protection device;
a support member having a vent opening through which inflation fluid may flow;
a mechanism for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening, inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device tending to move the mechanism for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening, the mechanism being responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device beyond a predetermined distance for restricting the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening; and
a locking member for blocking the mechanism from increasing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening after the inflatable occupant protection device has inflated beyond the predetermined distance.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an inflatable occupant protection device (12) and a support member (40) having a vent opening (50) through which inflation fluid may flow. The apparatus (10) also includes a mechanism (58) for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). Inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device (12) tends to move the mechanism (58) for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). The mechanism (58) is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device (12) beyond a predetermined distance for restricting the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50). The apparatus (10) further includes a locking member (96) for blocking the mechanism (58) from increasing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (50) after the inflatable occupant protection device (12) has inflated beyond the predetermined distance.
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Citations
52 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable occupant protection device;
a support member having a vent opening through which inflation fluid may flow;
a mechanism for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening, inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device tending to move the mechanism for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening, the mechanism being responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device beyond a predetermined distance for restricting the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening; and
a locking member for blocking the mechanism from increasing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening after the inflatable occupant protection device has inflated beyond the predetermined distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable occupant protection device;
a support member having a vent opening through which inflation fluid may flow;
means for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening for (i) reducing a force that is applied by the inflatable occupant protection device to an occupant prior to the inflatable occupant protection device inflating to a predetermined distance and (ii) helping to maintain pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device after the inflatable occupant protection device has inflated beyond the predetermined distance, inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device tending to move the means for controlling for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable occupant protection device;
a support member having a vent opening through which inflation fluid may flow;
a vent member movable relative to the support member from an open position toward a closed position for restricting fluid flow through the vent opening;
a mechanism responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device beyond a predetermined distance for moving the vent member away from the open position and toward the closed position; and
a locking member for locking the vent member against movement toward the open position after the vent member has been moved away from the open position and toward the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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50. The vehicle occupant protection apparatus of claim 59 wherein the locking member includes a guide member with sides that guide the mechanism during movement of the mechanism for moving the vent member toward the closed position.
Specification