Air bag system

• US 20070252370A1
• Filed: 04/26/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,681,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

An air bag system includes an inflator operable to release inflation fluid, a cushion inflatable upon release of inflation fluid, and an air bag housing having a vent substantially surrounding the cushion. A first plate includes a first portion defining a first opening and a second portion defining a second opening. The first plate is movable from a first position, wherein the first opening is aligned with the vent, to a second position, wherein the second opening is aligned with the vent. A second plate including a first portion defining a first opening and a second portion defining a second opening may also be provided. The second plate is preferably movable from a first position, wherein the first opening is aligned with the vent, to a second position, wherein the second opening is aligned with the vent. The first and second plates preferably interact to define four distinct vent areas.

Claims

1. An air bag system comprising:

an inflator operable to release inflation fluid;

an inflatable cushion, said cushion being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator;

an air bag housing substantially surrounding said cushion, said housing having a vent for venting inflation fluid released by said inflator; and

a first plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening;

wherein said first plate is movable from a first position, wherein said first opening is aligned with said vent, to a second position, wherein said second opening is aligned with said vent.

2. The air bag system of claim 1, wherein said first opening is larger than said second opening, such that said first plate blocks more of said vent when in said second position than when in said first position.

3. The air bag system of claim 1, wherein said second opening defines a zero area.

4. The air bag system of claim 1, further including a tether operable to move said first plate from said first position to said second position.

5. The air bag system of claim 4, wherein said tether extends between said first plate and said cushion, such that inflation of said cushion beyond a predetermined distance moves said first plate from said first position to said second position.

6. The air bag system of claim 5, wherein said tether detaches from at least one of said first plate and said cushion following movement of said first plate from said first position to said second position.

7. The air bag system of claim 6, further including an anchor strap secured to said tether.

8. The air bag system of claim 1 wherein said first plate has at least one of a retention feature, a travel stop, and a reverse travel feature.

9. The air bag system of claim 1, further including a switch changeable from a first state to a second state, with movement of said first plate from said first position to said second position changing said switch from one of said first state and said second state to the other of said first state and said second state.

10. The air bag system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening;

wherein said second plate is movable from a first position, wherein said first opening is aligned with said vent, to a second position, wherein said second opening is aligned with said vent.

11. The air bag system of claim 10, further including a movement prevention feature extending through said first plate and said second plate to prevent movement of said second plate prior to movement of said first plate, wherein movement of said first plate from said first position to said second position disengages said movement prevention feature.

12. The air bag system of claim 10, further including:

a movable member at least partially defining a pressurizable chamber; and

an actuator operable to selectively release actuation fluid into said pressurizable chamber, thereby pressurizing said pressurizable chamber to move said movable member from an undeployed state to a deployed state;

wherein said movable member attaches to said second plate, such that movement of the movable member from said undeployed state to said deployed state moves said second plate from said first position to said second position.

13. The air bag system of claim 10, further including a restraining tether securable to a portion of said air bag system, wherein said restraining tether restricts inflation of said cushion when secured to said portion of said air bag system.

14. The air bag system of claim 13, wherein movement of said second plate from said first position to said second position releases said restraining tether, thereby allowing inflation of said cushion to a deeper profile than when said restraining tether is secured to said portion of said air bag system.

15. An air bag system comprising:

an inflator operable to release inflation fluid;

an inflatable cushion, said cushion being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator;

an air bag housing substantially surrounding said cushion, said housing having a vent for venting inflation fluid released by said inflator;

a first plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening, said first plate being movable from a first position wherein said first opening is aligned with said vent to a second position wherein said second opening is aligned with said vent;

a second plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening, said second plate being movable from a first position wherein said first opening is aligned with said vent to a second position wherein said second opening is aligned with said vent;

wherein said first plate and said second plate interact to define at least four distinct vent areas.

16. The air bag system of claim 15, further including a tether operable to move said first plate from said first position to said second position.

17. The air bag system of claim 16, wherein said tether extends between one of said first and second plates and said cushion, said tether operable to move said one of said first and second plates from said first position to said second position.

18. The air bag system of claim 17, wherein said tether detaches from at least one of said one of said first and second plates and said cushion following movement of said one of said first and second plates from said first position to said second position.

19. The air bag system of claim 15, further comprising:

a movable member at least partially defining a pressurizable chamber; and

an actuator operable to selectively release actuation fluid into said pressurizable chamber, thereby pressurizing said pressurizable chamber to move said movable member from an undeployed state to a deployed state;

wherein said movable member attaches to said second plate, such that movement of the movable member from said undeployed state to said deployed state moves said second plate from said first position to said second position.

20. An air bag system comprising:

an inflator operable to release inflation fluid;

an inflatable cushion, said cushion being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator;

an air bag housing substantially surrounding said cushion, said housing having a vent for venting inflation fluid released by said inflator;

a first plate movable from a first position to a second position to selectively vary the area of said vent; and

a tether extending between said first plate and said cushion, said tether operable to move said first plate from said first position to said second position;

wherein said tether detaches from at least one of said first plate and said cushion following movement of said first plate from said first position to said second position.