Air bag system
First Claim
1. An air bag system housed within a cavity, said air bag system comprising:
- an inflator operable to release inflation fluid;
an inflatable air bag, said air bag being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator;
an air bag housing substantially surrounding said air bag, said housing defining a vent for venting inflation fluid from said air bag;
a deployment door at least partially covering said cavity, said deployment door being movable between a closed position and an open position; and
a vent restrictor movable between a first position and a second position, said vent restrictor at least partially blocking said vent to restrict venting of inflation fluid therethrough when in one of said first and second positions, and leaving said vent substantially open to allow inflation fluid flow therethrough when in the other of said first and second positions;
said vent restrictor operatively connected to said deployment door such that movement of said deployment door from said closed position to said open position moves said vent restrictor from said first position to said second position.
12 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag system housed within a cavity includes an inflator, an inflatable air bag, and an air bag housing defining a vent. A deployment door movable between a closed position and an open position at least partially covers the cavity. A vent restrictor is movable between a first position and a second position. In one of the first and second positions, the vent restrictor at least partially blocks the vent to restrict venting of inflation fluid therethrough. In the other of the positions, the vent restrictor leaves the vent substantially open. The vent restrictor is operatively connected to the deployment door or the air bag. When connected to the deployment door, movement of the deployment door from the closed position to the open position moves the vent restrictor. When connected to the air bag, inflation of the air bag moves the vent restrictor.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An air bag system housed within a cavity, said air bag system comprising:
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an inflator operable to release inflation fluid;
an inflatable air bag, said air bag being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator;
an air bag housing substantially surrounding said air bag, said housing defining a vent for venting inflation fluid from said air bag;
a deployment door at least partially covering said cavity, said deployment door being movable between a closed position and an open position; and
a vent restrictor movable between a first position and a second position, said vent restrictor at least partially blocking said vent to restrict venting of inflation fluid therethrough when in one of said first and second positions, and leaving said vent substantially open to allow inflation fluid flow therethrough when in the other of said first and second positions;
said vent restrictor operatively connected to said deployment door such that movement of said deployment door from said closed position to said open position moves said vent restrictor from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An air bag system housed within a cavity, said air bag system comprising:
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an inflator operable to release inflation fluid;
an inflatable air bag, said air bag being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator;
an air bag housing substantially surrounding said air bag, said housing defining a vent for venting inflation fluid from said air bag; and
a vent restrictor movable between a first position and a second position, said vent restrictor at least partially blocking said vent to restrict venting of inflation fluid therethrough when in one of said first and second positions, and leaving said vent substantially open to allow inflation fluid flow therethrough when in the other of said first and second positions;
said vent restrictor operatively connected to said air bag such that inflation of said air bag moves said vent restrictor from said first position 15 to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An air bag system housed within a cavity, said air bag system comprising:
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an inflator operable to release inflation fluid;
an inflatable air bag, said air bag being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator;
an air bag housing substantially surrounding said air bag, said housing defining a vent for venting inflation fluid from said air bag;
a deployment door at least partially covering said cavity, said deployment door being movable between a closed position and an open position;
a vent restrictor movable between a first position and a second position, said vent restrictor at least partially blocking said vent to restrict venting of inflation fluid therethrough when in one of said first and second positions, and leaving said vent substantially open to allow inflation fluid flow therethrough when in the other of said first and second positions; and
a tether operatively connecting said vent restrictor with one of said deployment door and said air bag, said tether pulling said vent restrictor from said first position to said second position during inflation of said air bag. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification