Air bag module with vent controlled by tether
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a support member having a vent opening;
a vent member associated with the vent opening and having a first condition in which the vent member closes the vent opening and a second condition in which the vent member is spaced apart from the vent opening enabling fluid flow through the vent opening; and
a fastener for attaching the vent member to the support member, the fastener including structure for securing the vent member in the first condition prior to initial inflation of the protection device and for enabling the vent member to move from the first condition to the second condition upon initial inflation of the protection device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10d) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (300), a support member (336) having a vent opening (364), and a vent member (440) that is associated with the vent opening (364). The vent member (440) has a first condition in which the vent member (440) closes the vent opening (364) and a second condition in which the vent member (440) is spaced apart from the vent opening (364) enabling fluid flow through the vent opening (364). A fastener (470) attaches the vent member (440) to the support member (336). The fastener (470) includes structure (482) for securing the vent member (440) in the first condition prior to initial inflation of the protection device (300) and for enabling the vent member (440) to move from the first condition to the second condition upon initial inflation of the protection device (300).
102 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a support member having a vent opening;
a vent member associated with the vent opening and having a first condition in which the vent member closes the vent opening and a second condition in which the vent member is spaced apart from the vent opening enabling fluid flow through the vent opening; and
a fastener for attaching the vent member to the support member, the fastener including structure for securing the vent member in the first condition prior to initial inflation of the protection device and for enabling the vent member to move from the first condition to the second condition upon initial inflation of the protection device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
an inflator that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device;
a support member supporting the inflator, first and second vent openings extending through the support member on opposite sides of the inflator;
a vent member having a first portion associated with the first vent opening and a second portion associated with the second vent opening, the vent member being spaced away from the support member for enabling fluid flow through the first and second vent openings and moving toward the support member for restricting fluid flow through the first and second vent openings; and
a tether associated with the vent member and, in response to inflation of the protection device relative to the support member beyond a predetermined amount, moving the vent member toward the support member for restricting fluid flow through the first and second vent openings. - View Dependent Claims (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 vehicle occupant protection device;
an inflator that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device;
a support member for supporting the inflator, a plurality of vent openings extending through the support member, the vent openings being formed in an array about the inflator;
a vent member associated with the plurality of vent openings and extending circumferentially around the inflator, the vent member being spaced away from the support member for enabling fluid flow through the plurality of vent openings and moving toward the support member for restricting fluid flow through the plurality of vent openings; and
a tether associated with the vent member and responsive to inflation of the protection device away from the support member by more than a predetermined amount for moving the vent member toward the support member for restricting fluid flow through the plurality of vent openings. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification