Air bag module with variable inflation
First Claim
1. An air bag module for restraint of an occupant in a vehicle, the air bag module comprising:
- an air bag;
an inflator being activatable to discharge inflator gas for inflating the air bag, the inflator having at least one discharge port through which the inflator gas is discharged;
a housing including at least one inflator vent opening aligned with the discharge port; and
a variable inflation device mounted on the inflator, the variable inflation device including a movable member alignable with the vent opening, the movable member being movable relative to the vent opening for opening and closing the vent opening at a predetermined time during inflator activation to control the amount of inflator gas discharged into the air bag and the amount of inflator gas expelled through the vent opening of the housing, the movable member including a gas impingement surface for directing the inflator gas in such a way that a force is generated which helps maintain the movable member in a closed position.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag module includes an air bag and an inflator being activatable to discharge inflator gas for inflating the air bag. The inflator has at least one discharge port through which the inflator gas is discharged. A housing includes at least one inflator vent opening aligned with the discharge port. A variable inflation device is mounted on the inflator and includes a movable member alignable with the vent opening. The movable member is movable relative to the vent opening for opening and closing the vent opening at a predetermined time during inflator activation to control the amount of inflator gas discharged into the air bag and the amount of inflator gas expelled out through the vent opening of the housing. The movable member includes a gas impingement surface which serves to direct the flow of the inflator gas in such away that the movable member is maintained, after actuation thereof, in a position in which the vent opening is closed by the movable member. The gas impingement surface uses the velocity and flow of the inflator gas as a method of ensuring that the movable member is maintained in the desired closed position.
94 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An air bag module for restraint of an occupant in a vehicle, the air bag module comprising:
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an air bag;
an inflator being activatable to discharge inflator gas for inflating the air bag, the inflator having at least one discharge port through which the inflator gas is discharged;
a housing including at least one inflator vent opening aligned with the discharge port; and
a variable inflation device mounted on the inflator, the variable inflation device including a movable member alignable with the vent opening, the movable member being movable relative to the vent opening for opening and closing the vent opening at a predetermined time during inflator activation to control the amount of inflator gas discharged into the air bag and the amount of inflator gas expelled through the vent opening of the housing, the movable member including a gas impingement surface for directing the inflator gas in such a way that a force is generated which helps maintain the movable member in a closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification