DYNAMIC AIRBAG VENTING

• US 20110025032A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David L. Geyer, Joseph Mannino, Peter L. Vigeant, Robert A. Parks
• Original Assignee: David L. Geyer, Joseph Mannino, Peter L. Vigeant, Robert A. Parks
• Inventors: Mannino, Joseph, Vigeant, Peter L., Geyer, David L., Parks, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,931,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An example airbag assembly includes an airbag and a duct. The duct has a duct opening for venting gas. The duct is moveable between a first position where the duct opening is outside the airbag and a second position where the duct opening is inside the airbag. Inflating the airbag moves the duct between the first position and the second position. The airbag is configured to be inflated by a first stream of gas moving from the duct opening to an interior of the airbag and by a second stream of gas moving from an airbag inflator to the interior of the airbag. The first stream of gas is separate from the second stream of gas.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an airbag; and

a duct having an duct opening for venting gas, said duct moveable between a first position where the duct opening is outside said airbag and a second position where the duct opening is inside said airbag, wherein inflating said airbag moves said duct between the first position and the second position and said airbag is configured to be inflated by a first stream of gas moving from the duct opening to an interior of said airbag and by a second stream of gas moving from an airbag inflator to the interior of said airbag, the first stream of gas separate from the second stream of gas.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first stream of gas moves directly from the duct opening to the interior of said airbag and the second stream of gas moves directly from the airbag inflator to the interior of said airbag.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein said duct moves to said second position when a contact face of said airbag extends away from an airbag inflator for moving gas through said duct to the duct opening.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 3, wherein said airbag inflator moves gas to inflate said airbag.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein said duct extends through an airbag opening when said duct is in the first position.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 5, wherein the airbag opening vents gas.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein an airbag inflator moves gas to inflate said airbag.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein said airbag is inflated by gas moving from said airbag inflator directly to an exterior of said duct.

9. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein said airbag is inflated by gas moving from said airbag inflator to the interior of said airbag when said duct is in said first position, and said airbag is inflated by gas moving from the duct opening to an interior of said airbag and by gas moving from said airbag inflator to the interior of said airbag when said duct is in said second position.

10. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein said duct establishes a duct mouth configured to receive gas from an airbag inflator, said duct mouth configured to direct some of the gas away from an interior of said duct to an interior of said airbag.

11. The airbag assembly of claim 10, wherein said duct mouth is further configured to direct some of the gas toward an interior of said duct to the duct opening.

12. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an airbag; and

a duct adjacent an airbag opening in said airbag and having a duct vent for venting gas from said duct, said duct moveable between a first arrangement that provides a first flow from said duct through the airbag opening and a second arrangement that provides a second flow from said duct through the airbag opening, said first flow greater than said second flow, wherein the airbag is configured to be at least partially inflated with gas that does not move through said duct.

13. The airbag assembly of claim 12, wherein an interior of said airbag is configured to receive gas directly from an inflator, the gas bypassing the duct.

14. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an airbag; and

a duct, wherein at least a portion of said duct is moveable relative to at least a portion of said airbag from a first position to a second position, wherein said duct directs gas out of said airbag in the first position and wherein said duct directs less gas out of said airbag in the second position, wherein an interior of said airbag outside said duct is configured to receive a first flow of gas that does not move through said duct and a second flow of gas that does move through said duct.

15. The airbag of claim 14, wherein said duct extends through an opening in said airbag.

16. The airbag assembly of claim 14, wherein the interior of the airbag receives the first flow of gas directly from an airbag inflator.