Air bag module with actuatable vent part

• US 20080119992A1
• Filed: 01/22/2008
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Raska, Mary, Fischer, Kurt, McMillan, Annmarie
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,261 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• 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 apparatus (10b) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14b). An inflation fluid source is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14b). A structure (320) for supporting the protection device (14b) in the vehicle includes a vent opening (40b) for venting inflation fluid from the protection device. A vent member (300) is connectable to the structure (320) to block inflation fluid flow through the vent opening (40b). Actuatable means (120b) is actuatable to break the connection between the vent member (80b) and the structure (320) and move the vent member away from the vent opening (40b) to permit inflation fluid flow through the vent opening. A flexible elongated member (350) has a first end (352) connected to the vent member (300) and a second end (354) connected to the structure (320). The flexible elongated member (350) secures the vent member (300) to the structure (320) after the connection between the vent member and the structure is broken.

Claims

1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating the protection device;

a structure for supporting the protection device in the vehicle, the structure comprising a vent opening for venting inflation fluid from the protection device;

a vent member connectable to the structure to block inflation fluid flow through the vent opening;

actuatable means for breaking the connection between the vent member and the structure and moving the vent member away from the vent opening to permit inflation fluid flow through the vent opening; and

a flexible elongated member having a first end connected to the vent member and a second end connected to the structure, the flexible elongated member securing the vent member to the structure after the connection between the vent member and the structure is broken.

2. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the vent member comprises a component separate from the structure that is connected to the structure by the actuatable means.

3. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the second end of the tether is connected to the structure by a fastener that also secures a retainer to the structure, the retainer being for securing the protection device to the structure.

4. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the actuatable means comprises an actuatable fastener.

5. The apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein the actuatable fastener comprises a head and a shank comprising first and second threaded shank portions, the vent member being secured to one of the first and second shank portions via a first threaded connection, the structure being secured to the other of the first and second shank portions via second threaded connection.

6. The apparatus recited in claim 5, wherein the actuatable fastener is actuatable to rupture the shank and thereby separate the first and second shank portions to disconnect the vent member from the structure.

7. The apparatus recited in claim 1, further comprising a controller operatively connected with the inflation fluid source and the actuatable means and at least one sensor operatively connected with the controller, the controller being operative selectively to actuate the inflation fluid source and the actuator based on at least one signal supplied to the controller from the at least one sensor.

8. The apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a vehicle collision sensor, a vehicle rollover sensor, an occupant position sensor, a seat position sensor, a seat belt latch sensor, a seat weight sensor, and a seat belt tension sensor.

9. The apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein the controller is operative to actuate the actuatable means in response to a signal indicative of a seat belt latched determination.

10. The apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein the controller is operative to maintain the actuatable means in the unactuated condition in response to a signal indicative of a seat belt unlatched determination.

11. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the vent member when moved away from the vent opening is positioned within an inflatable volume of the protection device.

12. The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the vent member when moved away from the vent opening is positioned outside an inflatable volume of the protection device.

13. An air bag module comprising:

an air bag;

a reaction plate including at least one vent opening;

a retainer connectable with the reaction plate to clamp the air bag between the reaction plate and the retainer;

a vent part;

an actuatable fastener having a first portion secured to the reaction plate and a second portion secured to the vent part to thereby connect the vent part to the reaction plate, the actuatable fastener being actuatable to move the vent part away from the at least one vent opening; and

a tether having a first end portion connected to the vent part and a second end portion connected to the reaction plate, the tether maintaining a flexible connection between the vent member and the reaction plate after the actuatable fastener is actuated.

14. The air bag module recited in claim 13, wherein the first end portion of the tether is secured to the vent part by the second portion of the actuatable fastener.

15. An air bag module comprising:

an air bag;

a canister including at least one vent opening;

a retainer connectable with the canister;

a vent part;

an actuatable fastener having a first portion secured to the vent part and a second portion secured to the canister to thereby connect the vent part to the canister, the actuatable fastener being actuatable to move the vent part away from the at least one vent opening; and

a tether having a first end portion connected to the vent part and a second end portion connected to the canister, the tether maintaining a flexible connection between the vent member and the canister after the actuatable fastener is actuated.

16. The air bag module recited in claim 15, wherein the first end portion of the tether is secured to the vent part by looping the first end portion through a tether receiving opening in the vent member.