PARTIAL LOW RISK DEPLOYMENT VENT ASSEMBLY FOR AN AIRBAG ASSEMBLY

• US 20150115584A1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Smitterberg, Eric A., Vinton, Jeff S., Abramoski, Edward J.
• Application Number:
  US14/068,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20150115584A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49877 of flexible wall, expansible chamber devices [e.g., bellows]

Abstract

An exemplary vent assembly for an airbag assembly having an airbag cushion may have at least one panel attachable to the airbag cushion. The airbag cushion may be inflatable by a gas, and may define at least one opening that has a first area. The at least one opening may be configured to allow at least a portion of the gas to exit the airbag cushion. The at least one panel may be positionable over the at least one opening to partially obstruct the at least one opening.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly comprising:

an airbag cushion inflatable by a gas from a stowed position to a fully deployed position, the airbag cushion defining at least one opening configured to allow at least a portion of the gas to exit the airbag cushion, the at least one opening having a first area; and

at least one panel attached to the airbag cushion and positioned over at least a portion of the at least one opening such that the at least one panel partially obstructs the at least one opening.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one panel is formed of a non-permeable membrane and reduces the first area of the at least one opening.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 2 wherein the reduction of the first area ranges from 30% to 50%.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one panel defines at least one slot having a second area that is smaller than the first area of the at least one opening.

5. The airbag assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one panel defines at least one aperture having a second area that is smaller than the first area of the at least one opening.

6. The airbag assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one panel is made of a permeable membrane.

7. The airbag assembly of claim 1 further comprising at least one vent cover configured to selectively substantially cover the at least one opening.

8. The airbag assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least one opening and the at least one panel is substantially circular in shape.

9. A vent assembly for an airbag assembly having an airbag cushion inflatable by a gas, the airbag cushion defining at least one opening that has a first area, the at least one opening being configured to allow at least a portion of the gas to exist the airbag cushion, the vent assembly comprising at least one panel attachable to the airbag cushion and positionable over at least a portion of the at least one opening to partially obstruct the at least one opening.

10. The vent assembly of claim 9 wherein the at least one panel is made of a non-permeable membrane and reduces the first area of the at least one opening.

11. The vent assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one panel defines at least one slot having a second area that is smaller than the first area of the at least one opening.

12. The vent assembly of claim 10 wherein the at least one panel defines at least one aperture having a second area that is smaller than the first area of the at least one opening.

13. The vent assembly of claim 9 wherein the at least one panel is made of a permeable membrane.

14. The vent assembly of claim 9 further comprising at least one vent cover configured to selectively substantially cover the at least one opening.

15. A method comprising:

providing at least one first panel in the shape of an airbag cushion;

cutting at least one opening in the at least one first panel, the at least one opening having a first area;

attaching at least one second panel to the at least one first panel, the at least one second panel being positioned over at least a portion of the at least one opening to partially obstruct it; and

forming the airbag cushion from the at least one first panel such that it defines an interior chamber and is inflatable by a gas;

wherein the at least one opening is configured to allow at least a portion of the gas to exit the airbag cushion.

16. The process of claim 15 wherein the at least one second panel is made of a non-permeable membrane.

17. The process of claim 16 further comprising cutting at least one of at least one slot and at least one aperture in the at least one second panel that collectively have a second area smaller than the first area of the at least one opening.

18. The process of claim 17 wherein the second area is 30% to 50% smaller than the first area.

19. The process of claim 15 wherein the at least one second panel is made of a permeable membrane.

20. The process of claim 15 further comprising installing a vent cover to the at least one first panel to selectively cover the at least one opening.