Air bag module with vent

• US 6,357,791 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Heilig, Alexander, Faigle, Ernst M.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/599,192
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/739, 280/742, 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (16) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (18) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device (16). A housing (14) directs inflation fluid under pressure from the inflation fluid source (18) toward the inflatable device (16) upon actuation of the inflation fluid source (18). The housing (14) has an opening (38) for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of the housing (14) and away from the inflatable device (16). A door (82) is movable between a closed condition closing the opening (38) and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid out of the housing (14) through the opening (38). An energizable mechanism (100) retains the door (82) in the closed condition and, when energized, enables movement of the door (82) from the closed condition to the open condition in response to fluid pressure in the housing (14). The energizable mechanism (100) comprises an electromagnet (106).

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a housing for directing inflation fluid under pressure from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

said housing having an opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing and away from said inflatable device;

a door movable between a closed condition closing said opening and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing through said opening; and

energizable means for retaining said door in the closed condition and for, when energized, enabling movement of said door from the closed condition to the open condition in response to fluid pressure in said housing, said energizable means comprising an electromagnet;

wherein said energizable means further comprises a permanent magnet which acts on said door to retain said door in the closed condition, said electromagnet when energized acting in opposition to said permanent magnet to enable movement of said door from the closed condition to the open condition in response to the fluid pressure in said housing.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a resilient element for biasing said door into the closed condition.

3. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a housing for directing inflation fluid under pressure from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

said housing having an opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing and away from said inflatable device;

a door movable between a closed condition closing said opening and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing through said opening; and

energizable means for retaining said door in the closed condition and for, when energized, enabling movement of said door from the closed condition to the open condition in response to fluid pressure in said housing, said energizable means comprising an electromagnet;

wherein said energizable means acts to return said door to the closed condition and retain said door in the closed condition after being deenergized.

4. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a housing for directing inflation fluid under pressure from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

said housing having an opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing and away from said inflatable device;

a door movable between a closed condition closing said opening and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing through said opening;

energizable means for retaining said door in the closed condition and for, when energized, enabling movement of said door from the closed condition to the open condition in response to fluid pressure in said housing, said energizable means comprising an electromagnet;

a first support cage for connecting said energizable means to said housing; and

a second support cage for guiding said door between the open condition and the closed condition.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second support cage has a plurality of openings for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing.

6. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a housing for directing inflation fluid under pressure from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

said housing having an opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing and away from said inflatable device;

a door movable between a closed condition closing said opening and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing through said opening; and

energizable means for retaining said door in the closed condition and for, when energized, enabling movement of said door from the closed condition to the open condition in response to fluid pressure in said housing, said energizable means comprising an electromagnet;

wherein said energizable means further comprises a permanent magnet which acts to retain said door in the closed condition.

7. A vehicle occupant protection 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;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source, said housing having an opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing and away from said inflatable device;

a door movable between a closed condition closing said opening and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing through said opening;

a seat belt system for helping to protect the vehicle occupant, said seat belt system including a buckle assembly;

means for generating a control signal indicative of a buckled or unbuckled condition of said buckle assembly; and

energizable means responsive to said control signal for retaining said door in the closed condition and for, when energized, enabling movement of said door from the closed condition to the open condition;

wherein said energizable means comprises an electromagnet and a permanent magnet which acts to retain said door in the closed condition.

8. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant;

an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a housing for directing inflation fluid under pressure from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

said housing having an opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing and away from said inflatable device;

a door movable between a closed condition closing said opening and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid out of said housing through said opening; and

energizable means for controlling movement of said door between the open condition and the closed condition, said energizable means comprising an electromagnet;

wherein said energizable means comprises a permanent magnet which acts to retain said door in the closed condition.