Vented air bag
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising a panel of material that helps define an inflatable volume of the protection device;
a vent opening for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume; and
a pleat folded in the panel, the pleat being positioned against a vehicle surface while the protection device is in a normally deployed condition to help block inflation fluid from venting through the vent opening.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that includes panel (100) of material that helps define an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent opening (104) vents inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). A pleat (120) is folded in the panel (100). The pleat (120) is positioned against a vehicle surface (62) while the protection device (14) is in a normally deployed condition to help block inflation fluid from venting through the vent opening (104).
19 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising a panel of material that helps define an inflatable volume of the protection device;
a vent opening for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume; and
a pleat folded in the panel, the pleat being positioned against a vehicle surface while the protection device is in a normally deployed condition to help block inflation fluid from venting through the vent opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising a panel of material that helps define an inflatable volume of the protection device;
a vent opening in the panel, the panel comprising first and second edge portions extending along opposite sides of the vent opening;
a pleat folded in the panel across the vent opening such that the edge portions have pleated configurations; and
a connection interconnecting overlying folded portions of the panel along the first edge portion to help maintain the pleated configuration of the first edge portion, the second edge portion being capable of unfolding from the pleated configuration to place the vent opening in an open condition for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume.
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18. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device comprising a panel of material that helps define an inflatable volume of the protection device;
a vent opening comprising a notch in the panel, the panel comprising opposite end portions extending along opposite ends of the notch and an edge portion extending along the length of the notch between the end portions;
a pleat folded in the panel, the edge portion being folded in the pleat thus positioning the end portions relative to each other a distance shorter than the length of the edge portion; and
a connection interconnecting the end portions with adjacent panel portions of the protection device, the connection fixing the relative positions of the end portions, the edge portion being capable of unfolding from the pleated condition to place the vent opening in an open condition for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume.
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19. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable to an inflated position for helping to protect an occupant of the vehicle, the protection device including at least one vent opening;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device; and
a pleat folded in the protection device, the pleat being positioned against a vehicle surface while the protection device is in the inflated position, the vehicle surface helping to maintain the folded pleat to help block inflation fluid from venting through the at least one vent opening, the pleat being spaced away from the vehicle surface when the protection device is obstructed from deploying to the inflated position, the pleat when spaced away from the vehicle surface unfolding and allowing inflation fluid to vent through the at least one vent opening.
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Specification