Dual-Chambered Passenger Airbag
First Claim
1. An airbag comprising:
- an outer shell defining an interior;
at least one vent opening structured to enable fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the airbag;
a divider dividing the airbag interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber separate from, and in fluid communication with, the upper chamber,the divider being deflectable in a first direction toward the lower chamber and in a second direction toward the upper chamber; and
a vent cover operatively coupled to the at least one vent opening and to the divider so as to close over and restrict a flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the first direction, and so as to permit the vent cover to open so as to enable an unobstructed flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the second direction.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag includes an outer shell defining an interior, at least one vent opening structured to enable fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the airbag, and a divider dividing the airbag interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The divider is deflectable in a first direction toward the lower chamber and in a second direction toward the upper chamber. A vent cover is coupled to the at least one vent opening and to the divider so as to close over and restrict a flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the first direction, and so as to permit the vent cover to open so as to enable an unobstructed flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the second direction.
20 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An airbag comprising:
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an outer shell defining an interior; at least one vent opening structured to enable fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the airbag; a divider dividing the airbag interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber separate from, and in fluid communication with, the upper chamber, the divider being deflectable in a first direction toward the lower chamber and in a second direction toward the upper chamber; and a vent cover operatively coupled to the at least one vent opening and to the divider so as to close over and restrict a flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the first direction, and so as to permit the vent cover to open so as to enable an unobstructed flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An airbag comprising:
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an outer shell defining an interior; at least one vent opening structured to enable fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the airbag; a divider dividing the airbag interior into a first chamber and a second chamber separate from, and in fluid communication with, the first chamber, the divider being structured to deflect toward the second chamber when a pressure in the first chamber is greater than a pressure in the second chamber, the divider being structured to deflect toward the first chamber when a pressure in the second chamber is greater than a pressure in the first chamber; a vent cover closable over the at least one vent opening so as to restrict a flow of gas through the at least one vent opening, the vent cover also being openable so as to permit an unobstructed flow of gas through the at least one vent opening; an inter-chamber venting system operatively coupled to the divider, the venting system being openable to permit gas to flow unobstructed from the first chamber through the divider into the second chamber, when a pressure in the first chamber is greater than a pressure in the second chamber, the venting system being closable to restrict gas backflow from the second chamber into the first chamber when the pressure in the second chamber is greater than a pressure in the first chamber; and a tether operatively connecting the vent cover to the divider such that the vent cover is closed when the divider is deflected toward the second chamber, and such that the vent cover is open when the divider is deflected toward the first chamber. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. An airbag comprising:
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an outer shell defining an interior; a divider dividing the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber separate from, and in fluid communication with, the upper chamber, the divider being deflectable toward the lower chamber and also toward the upper chamber; at least one vent opening structured to enable fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the airbag; a vent cover closable to restrict a flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the first direction, and openable so as to permit an unobstructed flow of gas through the at least one vent opening, the vent cover being operatively coupled to the divider such that the vent cover is openable when the divider is deflected in a direction toward the first chamber and closed when the divider is deflected toward the second chamber, wherein the divider is structured to deflect in a direction toward the first chamber responsive to pressure exerted on the airbag exterior by contact with a torso of a vehicle occupant, prior to contact between a head of the occupant and the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An airbag comprising:
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at least one panel defining an interior of the airbag; at least one vent opening structured to enable fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the airbag; a divider positioned in the interior so as to divide the interior into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, the divider having at least one opening formed therealong, the at least one opening being positioned such that all edges of the at least one opening reside within a zone (Z3) bounded by a first vertical plane (P15) residing a predetermined distance (1000f) from an inflator side (22) of the airbag toward an occupant contact side of the airbag, and a second vertical plane (P14) passing through a predetermined location (701) defined through a shoulder bolt (701) of a Hybrid III 6-year old anthropomorphic test device in Position 1 defined by FMVSS208 Out of Position testing, the divider being deflectable in a first direction toward the lower chamber and in a second direction toward the upper chamber; and a vent cover operatively coupled to the at least one vent opening and to the divider so as to close over and restrict a flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the first direction, and so as to permit the vent cover to open so as to enable an unobstructed flow of gas through the at least one vent opening when the divider is deflected in the second direction.
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Specification