DYNAMIC SAFETY VENT

• US 20090256338A1
• Filed: 04/14/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Williams, Jeffrey D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,191,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An inflatable airbag cushion assembly with a release device, at least one vehicle sensor, at least one vent strap, and at lest one dynamic vent. The vent strap, release device, and dynamic vent operate together such that the vent can adopt at least two configurations, with one of the configurations venting less inflation gas than the other.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly, comprising:

a cushion membrane which defines an interior of an inflatable airbag cushion, wherein the membrane is coupled to a housing;

a release device coupled adjacent to the housing, wherein the release device is in electronic communication with at least one sensor;

wherein the cushion comprises at least one dynamic vent that is configured to vent inflation gas out of the interior of the inflatable airbag cushion, and wherein the dynamic vent may adopt one or more configurations such that the capacity of the vent to release inflation gas may be altered; and

,

at least one vent strap coupled to the dynamic vent and extending to and coupled to the release device.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the vent is configured such that it may be in a constricted or an open state, wherein in the constricted state the vent comprises a first aperture diameter and in the open state, the aperture comprises a second diameter aperture that is greater than the first aperture diameter.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor detects at least one predetermined occupant characteristic and does not signal to the release device to release the at least one vent strap such that upon deployment of the airbag cushion membrane, the at least one dynamic vent is in a constricted state.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor detects at least one predetermined occupant characteristic and signals to the release device to release the at least one vent strap such that upon deployment of the airbag cushion membrane, the at least one dynamic vent comprises an open state.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a seat rail sensor such that if the occupant'"'"'s seat is within a predetermined distance from an airbag deployment panel of the vehicle, upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion, the release device releases the at least one vent strap such that the dynamic vent may be in the open state, and wherein if the sensor determines that the occupant'"'"'s seat is further than a predetermined distance from the front panel of the vehicle, upon inflatable airbag cushion deployment, the release device does not release the at least one vent strap, and the dynamic vent may be in the constricted state.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a seat scale that detects an occupant'"'"'s weight such that if the occupant'"'"'s weight is less than a predetermined amount, upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion, the release device releases the at least one vent strap such that the dynamic vent may be the open state, and wherein if the sensor determines that the occupant'"'"'s weight is greater than a predetermined amount, upon inflatable airbag cushion deployment, the release device does not release the at least one vent strap, and the dynamic vent may be in the constricted state.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the at least one sensor detects a surface area of an occupant such that if the occupant'"'"'s surface area is less than a predetermined magnitude, upon deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion, the release device releases the at least one vent strap such that the dynamic vent may be in the open state, and wherein if the sensor determines that the occupant'"'"'s surface area is greater than a predetermined magnitude, upon inflatable airbag cushion deployment, the release device does not release the at least one vent strap, and the dynamic vent may be in the constricted state.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein in the constricted state, the first aperture diameter is about 15 mm.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein in the open state the second aperture diameter is approximately equal to a diameter of a base portion of the side panel.

10. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the dynamic vent comprises a tubular side panel, wherein in the constricted state, the side panel is gathered partially together by the vent strap due to tension applied to the vent strap.

11. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein the tubular side panel has a conical shape.

12. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein in the open state, the side panel is disposed outside the cushion membrane.

13. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the release device comprises a vent strap cutter.

14. The airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the vent strap comprises a third portion that is releasably coupled to the release device.

15. The airbag assembly of claim 14, wherein the third portion comprises a loop that is coupled to a release portion of the release device.

16. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic vent is coupled to more than one vent strap, each vent strap being independently coupled to the release device such that the vent may adopt a plurality of states that define a plurality of capacities for venting inflation gas.

17. An airbag assembly, comprising:

a cushion membrane which defines an interior of an inflatable airbag cushion, wherein the membrane is coupled to a housing;

a release device coupled adjacent to the housing, wherein the release device is in electronic communication with at least one sensor;

wherein the cushion membrane comprises at least one dynamic that is configured such that it may be in a constricted state or an open state, the vent comprising;

a tubular side panel comprising two layers of material, wherein the side panel comprises a base portion coupled to the cushion membrane, and a rim portion,

an aperture defined by the side panel, wherein in the constricted state the aperture has a first diameter and in the open state, the aperture has a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is less than the second diameter; and

,

at least one vent strap coupled to the vent and extending to a release device, wherein the vent strap is configured to transmit tension generated by inflation gas pressing on the cushion membrane to the dynamic vent such that the dynamic vent is in the constricted state, the vent strap is further configured such that upon release by the release device, the vent strap no longer applies tension to the tubular side panel and the vent strap slides within the two layers of the tubular side panel, such that the vent side panel may adopt the open state.

18. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein in the constricted state, the vent side panel is approximately flush with the cushion membrane.

19. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein in the constricted state, the vent side panel is within an inflatable void of the cushion membrane.

20. The airbag assembly of claim 19, wherein in the open state, the vent side panel is outside the cushion membrane.

21. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein the vent strap comprises a first portion disposed between the layers of the vent side panel near the rim portion such that the strap at least partially circumnavigates the vent side panel and in the vent constricted state, the strap gathers the rim portion of the vent side panel such that the capacity of the vent to release inflation gas is reduced.

22. The airbag assembly of claim 21, wherein the vent side panel comprises a conical shape.

23. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein the cushion membrane aperture is smaller than the diameter of the base portion of the dynamic vent side panel.

24. The airbag assembly of claim 17, wherein the cushion membrane aperture is approximately equal to the diameter of the base portion of the dynamic vent side panel.