Airbag tether cutter and vent closer
First Claim
1. A method for releasing an airbag tether, the method comprising:
- positioning a tether through a tether opening, wherein the tether is connected to an airbag cushion;
actuating a cutter to cut the tether and thereby allow for full expansion of the airbag cushion, wherein the cutter comprises an opening in a sliding door, and wherein, prior to actuation of the cutter, the sliding door opening at least partially overlaps with the tether opening; and
closing at least one vent opening in fluid communication with the airbag cushion, wherein the actuation of the cutter causes the at least one vent opening to close.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are embodiments of apparatus, methods, and systems for cutting one or more tethers connected with an airbag cushion and simultaneously, or sequentially, closing one or more vent openings. In one embodiment, an airbag module is provided that includes a tether opening and at least one vent opening. The tether may extend through the tether opening adjacent to a cutter. The cutter may be configured to cut the tether upon deployment of an actuator. A vent door configured to block the vent opening(s) upon deployment of the actuator may also be provided. This embodiment may therefore provided for simultaneous, or sequential, cutting of the tether and closing of the vent opening(s) with a single actuator.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for releasing an airbag tether, the method comprising:
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positioning a tether through a tether opening, wherein the tether is connected to an airbag cushion; actuating a cutter to cut the tether and thereby allow for full expansion of the airbag cushion, wherein the cutter comprises an opening in a sliding door, and wherein, prior to actuation of the cutter, the sliding door opening at least partially overlaps with the tether opening; and closing at least one vent opening in fluid communication with the airbag cushion, wherein the actuation of the cutter causes the at least one vent opening to close. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11)
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9. (canceled)
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12. An airbag module, comprising:
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a housing comprising a tether opening and at least one vent opening; an airbag cushion, wherein the airbag cushion comprises a tether for restraining the inflation size of the airbag cushion, and wherein the tether extends through the tether opening; a cutter positioned adjacent to the tether opening and configured to cut the tether upon actuation of an actuator, wherein the cutter comprises a cutting blade, wherein the tether opening comprises a sharpened edge, and wherein the cutter is configured to cut the tether by shearing the cutting blade against the sharpened edge; and a vent door configured to block the at least one vent opening upon actuation of the actuator. - View Dependent Claims (13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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14. (canceled)
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17. (canceled)
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22. An airbag module, comprising:
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a housing comprising a tether opening and at least one vent opening; an airbag cushion, wherein the airbag cushion comprises a tether for restraining the inflation size of the airbag cushion, and wherein the tether extends through the tether opening; means for cutting the tether, wherein the cutting means comprises a cutter opening at least partially aligned with the tether opening, wherein the tether extends through the cutter opening and the tether opening, and wherein the cutting means is positioned adjacent to the tether opening; and means for selectively blocking the at least one vent opening, wherein the selective blocking means is configured to block the at least one vent opening upon actuation of the cutting means.
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23. A method for releasing an airbag tether, the method comprising:
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positioning a tether through a tether opening, wherein the tether is connected to an airbag cushion; actuating a cutter comprising a cutting blade to cut the tether and thereby allow for full expansion of the airbag cushion, wherein the cutting blade is connected with a sliding door having at least one opening corresponding with the at least one vent opening, and wherein, prior to actuation of the cutter, the at least one opening at least partially overlaps with the at least one vent opening, and wherein, following actuation of the cutter, the at least one opening is misaligned with the at least one vent opening so as to block inflation gas from exiting the at least one vent opening; and closing at least one vent opening in fluid communication with the airbag cushion, wherein the actuation of the cutter causes the at least one vent opening to close.
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Specification