INFLATABLE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY WITH AN AIRBAG HOUSING VENT PANEL
First Claim
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1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
- an airbag housing having a vent aperture;
a vent panel coupled to the airbag housing, wherein the vent panel covers the vent aperture of the airbag housing; and
an inflatable airbag coupled to the vent panel, wherein the inflatable airbag has a vent aperture,wherein the vent panel aligns the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture and wherein in a packaged configuration, the vent panel retains the vent apertures in the aligned configuration, andwherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, andwherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, andwherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel ceases to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration.
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Abstract
Vents in inflatable airbags can be used to soften airbags during deployment by allowing inflation gas to exit from the interior of the airbag. Airbag vents can be used in conjunction with vents in an airbag housing and a vent panel that can align with the airbag vent with the housing vent and cover the aperture of the housing vent.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an airbag housing having a vent aperture; a vent panel coupled to the airbag housing, wherein the vent panel covers the vent aperture of the airbag housing; and an inflatable airbag coupled to the vent panel, wherein the inflatable airbag has a vent aperture, wherein the vent panel aligns the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture and wherein in a packaged configuration, the vent panel retains the vent apertures in the aligned configuration, and wherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel ceases to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an airbag housing having a vent aperture; a plurality of mounting stems coupled to the bottom wall of the airbag housing; an inflator coupled to the bottom wall of the airbag housing via the mounting stems; a vent panel coupled to the bottom wall of the airbag housing via the mounting stems, wherein the vent panel covers the vent aperture of the airbag housing on an exterior side of the airbag housing vent aperture; and
,an inflatable airbag coupled to the vent panel, wherein the inflatable airbag has a vent aperture, wherein the vent panel aligns the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture and wherein in a packaged configuration, the vent panel retains the vent apertures in the aligned configuration, and wherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel ceases to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an airbag housing having opposing lateral sidewalls, opposing longitudinal sidewalls, and a bottom wall, wherein the lateral sidewalls comprise a vent aperture; a plurality of mounting stems coupled to the bottom wall of the airbag housing; an inflatable airbag coupled to the bottom wall of the airbag housing, the inflatable airbag having a vent aperture; and
,a vent panel, comprising; a first side comprising a vent aperture, wherein the first side is coupled to the mounting stems at an exterior of the bottom wall of the airbag housing, extends through the vent aperture of the airbag housing, and is coupled to the inflatable airbag at a perimeter of the inflatable airbag vent aperture, such that the vent aperture of the first side is at least partially aligned with the vent aperture of the inflatable airbag vent aperture; a middle portion adjacent to the first side, wherein the middle portion is partially wrapped around a rim of the lateral sidewall; and
,a second side adjacent to the middle portion and opposite the first side, wherein the second side is coupled to the mounting stems at the exterior of the bottom wall of the airbag housing, the second side comprising a body that covers an exterior side of the vent aperture of the airbag housing, wherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel ceases to retain the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the airbag housing vent aperture in the aligned configuration. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification