Bias apparatus for air bag module
First Claim
1. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising:
- an air bag;
an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag; and
a bias apparatus including first and second bias flaps being separate and independent from each other, the bias flaps cooperatively defining an overlapped portion located atop the air bag prior to inflation such that the inflating air bag is biased when the overlapped portion having a lateral length and the overlapped portion having a width that is varied and uneven along the lateral length of the overlapped portion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module includes an air bag and an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag. The module further includes a bias apparatus including first and second bias flaps being separate and independent from each other. The bias flaps cooperatively define an overlapped portion located atop the air bag prior to inflation such that the inflating air bag is biased when the overlapped portion is restricted and the inflating air bag is unrestrained when the overlapped portion is unrestricted. Preferably, the first and second flaps each have a fixed edge attached to the vehicle and each have a free edge opposite the fixed edge. The free edges of the first and second bias flaps overlap each other to define the overlapped portion.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag; an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag; and a bias apparatus including first and second bias flaps being separate and independent from each other, the bias flaps cooperatively defining an overlapped portion located atop the air bag prior to inflation such that the inflating air bag is biased when the overlapped portion having a lateral length and the overlapped portion having a width that is varied and uneven along the lateral length of the overlapped portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag; an inflator for discharging gas to inflate the air bag; a bias apparatus for biasing deployment of the air bag, the bias apparatus including first and second bias flaps being separate and independent from each other, the first and second bias flaps each having a fixed edge connected to the vehicle and each having an opposite free edge, the free edges of the first and second bias flaps overlapping each other to form an overlapped portion positioned atop the air bag prior to air bag inflation whereby the inflating air bag is biased by the bias flaps when the overlapped portion is restricted and the inflating air bag is unrestrained by the bias flaps when the overlapped portion is unrestricted, the overlapped portion having a lateral length and the overlapped portion having a width that is varied and uneven along the lateral length of the overlapped portion.
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19. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag; an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag; a bias apparatus including first and second bias flaps being separate and independent from each other, the bias flaps cooperatively defining an overlapped portion located atop the air bag prior to inflation such that the inflating air bag is biased when the overlapped portion is restricted and the inflating air bag is unrestrained when the overlapped portion is unrestricted; the first and second flaps each having a fixed edge attached to the vehicle and each having a free edge opposite the fixed edge and the free edges of the first and second bias flaps overlapping each other to define the overlapped portion; and the vehicle including a cover door covering the air bag prior to air bag inflation, and the fixed edges of the bias flaps each being attached to the cover door.
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20. An air bag module in a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag; an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag; and a bias apparatus including first and second bias flaps being separate and independent from each other, the bias flaps cooperatively defining an overlapped portion located atop the air bag prior to inflation, the overlapped portion having a lateral length and the overlapped portion having a width that is varied and uneven along the lateral length of the overlapped portion.
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Specification