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Safety device for protecting the passenger of a motor vehicle from injury in a collision

  • US 5,388,860 A
  • Filed: 02/28/1994
  • Issued: 02/14/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A safety device for protecting a passenger of a motor vehicle from injury in a collision, which comprises:

  • a gas cushion able to be inflated by gas;

    a housing connected to the gas cushion and open on one side;

    a gas generator arranged in the housing for generating gas under pressure for filling the gas cushion; and

    at least one escape opening for allowing the gas under pressure to escape from the housing, when the passenger pitches into the gas cushion, characterized in that the at least one escape opening is provided in a wall of the housing and a controllable escape opening-adjusting device is provided which adjusts the total cross-sectional area of the at least one escape opening such that the size of the total cross-sectional area of the at least one escape opening is altered in proportion to the internal pressure in the filled gas cushion and in that the escape opening-adjusting device is controlled depending upon the temperature so that, with a rate of generation of gas under pressure proportional to the temperature, the size of the total cross-section of the at least one escape opening is altered proportionally to the temperature;

    said escape opening-adjusting device comprising a displaceable control slide valve for opening and closing the at least one escape opening and a drive device for the control slide valve which moves the control slide valve for altering the proportion of the total cross-sectional area of the at least one escape opening closed by the control slide valve and the drive device comprising a bimetallic bar which is fastened at one of its ends to the housing and which is coupled to the valve, in one section of a freely displaceable region extending from the other end, in order to displace the control slide valve.

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