Air bag module with vent
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;
a housing having walls for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;
means for defining a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing; and
closure means for closing said vent opening, said closure means comprising a door movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing, said door when in the closed position being biased toward the open position;
said door comprising a resiliently deformable door panel movable between the closed position covering said vent opening and the open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing, said door panel being resiliently deformed when in the closed position and being resiliently biased toward the open position, said closure means further comprising holding means for holding said door panel in the closed position, said door panel moving from the closed position to the open position at least partially due to the bias of said door panel.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module (12) includes an inflator (18) that is actuatable to supply inflation fluid to inflate an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (16). A housing (14) directs the inflation fluid from the inflator (18) toward the inflatable device (16). At least one vent opening (40) is formed in the housing (14) for selectively venting inflation fluid from the housing. A door panel (70) is movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from the housing (14) and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from the housing. The door panel (70), when in the closed position, is biased toward the open position. In one embodiment, the door panel (70) is resiliently deformable. In another embodiment, a spring (71a) is connected with a door (70a) and biases the door toward the open position.
97 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant; an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; a housing having walls for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; means for defining a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing; and closure means for closing said vent opening, said closure means comprising a door movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing, said door when in the closed position being biased toward the open position; said door comprising a resiliently deformable door panel movable between the closed position covering said vent opening and the open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing, said door panel being resiliently deformed when in the closed position and being resiliently biased toward the open position, said closure means further comprising holding means for holding said door panel in the closed position, said door panel moving from the closed position to the open position at least partially due to the bias of said door panel. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant; an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; a housing having walls for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; means for defining a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing; closure means for closing said vent opening, said closure means comprising a door movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing, said door when in the closed position being biased toward the open position; and vehicle electric circuitry for sensing at least one condition selected from the group consisting of occupant position, occupant size, temperature, and crash severity and for selectively providing a control signal for initiating opening of said door in response to the sensed condition.
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4. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant; an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide an amount of inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; a housing having walls for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; and means for selectively controlling the amount of inflation fluid which flows into the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device by diverting fluid flowing from said inflation fluid source away from said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said means for selectively controlling comprising; means for defining an opening in said housing for directing inflation fluid from said housing; closure means for closing said opening, said closure means comprising a door movable between a closed position blocking flow of inflation fluid from said housing through said opening and an open position enabling flow of inflation fluid from said housing through said opening, said door when in the closed position being biased toward the open position; and actuatable means, actuatable to enable said door to move to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A vehicle occupant safety apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant; an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide an amount of inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition; a housing having walls for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; and means for selectively controlling the amount of inflation fluid which flows into the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device by diverting fluid flowing from said inflation fluid source away from said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, said means for selectively controlling comprising; means for defining an opening in said housing for directing inflation fluid from said housing; closure means for closing said opening, said closure means comprising a door movable due to the pressure of inflation fluid in said housing between a closed position blocking flow of inflation fluid from said housing through said opening and an open position enabling flow of inflation fluid from said housing through said opening, said door when in the open position being biased toward the closed position; and actuatable means, actuatable to enable said door to move to the open position. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification