Inflatable vehicle occupant restraint with dynamic burn vents
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint fabricated of substantially gas impermeable material and which inflatable restraint is inflated by the flow of a hot gas under pressure, said inflatable restraint comprising:
- at least one vent hole formed in the substantially gas impermeable material with a vent hole cover material in covering relation to said at least one vent hole, said vent hole cover material comprising a fabric which is only slightly permeable to the hot gas at a pressure below a critical pressure, thereby initially minimizing the amount of hot gas vented through said at least one vent hole and wherein the flow of the hot gas through said vent hole cover material causes the fabric to melt permitting an increased amount of the hot gas to vent through said at least one vent hole.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint having a dynamic burn vent wherethrough inflation gas can be appropriately vented therefrom. Such an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint has particular application for side impact restraint systems wherein increased venting by the dynamic vents occurs subsequent to full deployment of the inflatable restraint.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An inflatable vehicle occupant restraint fabricated of substantially gas impermeable material and which inflatable restraint is inflated by the flow of a hot gas under pressure, said inflatable restraint comprising:
at least one vent hole formed in the substantially gas impermeable material with a vent hole cover material in covering relation to said at least one vent hole, said vent hole cover material comprising a fabric which is only slightly permeable to the hot gas at a pressure below a critical pressure, thereby initially minimizing the amount of hot gas vented through said at least one vent hole and wherein the flow of the hot gas through said vent hole cover material causes the fabric to melt permitting an increased amount of the hot gas to vent through said at least one vent hole. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A side impact inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said side impact inflatable restraint being fabricated of a substantially gas impermeable material and which side impact inflatable restraint is inflated by the flow of a hot gas under pressure, said side impact inflatable restraint comprising:
at least one vent hole formed in the substantially gas impermeable material and having a vent hole cover material in covering relation with said at least one vent hole, said vent hole cover material comprising a fabric which is only slightly permeable to the hot gas at a pressure below a critical pressure, thereby initially minimizing the amount of hot gas vented through said at least one vent hole and wherein the flow of the hot gas through said vent hole cover material causes the fabric to melt permitting an increased amount of the hot gas to vent through said at least one vent hole. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A side impact inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, said side impact inflatable restraint being fabricated of a substantially gas impermeable material and which side impact inflatable restraint is inflated by the flow of a hot gas under pressure, said side impact inflatable restraint comprising:
at least one vent hole formed in the substantially gas impermeable material and having a vent hole cover material in covering relation with said at least one hole to form the primary pressure relief means of said side impact inflatable restraint, said vent hole cover material comprising a fabric which is only slightly permeable to the hot gas at a pressure below a critical pressure, thereby initially minimizing the amount of hot gas vented through said at least one vent hole and wherein, after full deployment of said side impact inflatable restraint, the flow of the hot gas through said vent hole cover material causes the fabric to melt permitting an increased amount of the hot gas to vent through said at least one vent hole prior to contact with said side impact inflatable restraint by an occupant protected by said side impact inflatable restraint. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification