Temperature compensating elastic cone

• US 4,394,033 A
• Filed: 02/26/1981
• Issued: 07/19/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Firestone Tire & Rubber Company (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Goetz, George W., LaLonde, Gary R., Santti, Arne J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US06/238,318
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/737, 280/738, 280/739, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742, 422/113, 422/166, 422/167, 137/854
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• 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

Abstract

In an inflatable occupant-restraint system in a vehicle, a generator for producing fluid under pressure is so placed that a portion of the generator is outside the cushion and has a resilient venting means for dumping increasing fractions of gas volume outside the cushion at increasing operating temperatures.

Claims

1. A passive occupant-restraint system comprising

(a) an inflatable cushion,

(b) a fluid generator operatively connected to said cushion,

(c) means to fire said generator and create inflation fluid,

(d) discharge ports in said generator directing flow of inflation fluid into said cushion, and

(e) means coaxial with said generator to vent fluid directly therefrom and beyond said cushion and responsive to an increase in operating temperature, said venting means having a flexible web terminating in an axially extending rib fitting within the end of said generator and moveable substantially axially from that position closing the end of said generator to an open position in response to said increase.