Air bag module with vent

• US 6,406,055 B1
• Filed: 02/13/2001
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Faigle, Ernst M., Sparks, Tracy S.
• Primary Examiner(s): ENGLISH, PETER C
• Application Number:
  US09/782,332
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 280/739, 280/736, 280/742, 280/728.2, 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• 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) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) and an actuatable inflator (14). A retainer (40) is connected with the protection device (12). The retainer (40) has a fixed portion (46) and a movable portion (48). The movable portion (48) is movable between a first condition and a second condition to vent inflation fluid from the protection device (12). The apparatus (10) includes an electrically energizable mechanism (80) to release the movable portion (48) of the retainer (40) for movement from the first condition to the second condition. The apparatus (10) also includes vehicle electric circuitry (120) including a sensor (132) for sensing at least one occupant condition or vehicle condition and a controller (130) responsive to the sensor for controlling the electrically energizable mechanism (80).

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 a vehicle occupant;

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

a mounting member for supporting said inflator and said protection device on a vehicle;

a retainer connecting said protection device to said mounting member;

said retainer having a fixed portion and a movable portion, said movable portion being movable between a first condition and a second condition to vent inflation fluid from said protection device;

an electrically energizable mechanism to release said movable portion of said retainer for movement from the first condition to the second condition; and

vehicle electric circuitry including a sensor for sensing at least one occupant condition or vehicle condition and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said electrically energizable mechanism.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fixed portion of said retainer is connected with said movable portion of said retainer by at least one hinge.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable portion of said retainer is supported for movement between the first and second conditions in response to force applied by a spring.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor is an occupant position sensor or a buckle switch or a sensor that senses the presence of a rearward-facing child seat or a weight sensor or a belt tension sensor or an occupant size sensor or a module temperature sensor or a crash severity sensor.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said release mechanism comprises an explosive bolt.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said retainer comprises a retaining ring.

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 inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a mounting member for supporting said inflator and said protection device on a vehicle;

a retainer connecting said protection device to said mounting member, said retainer having a first portion and a second portion connected by a predetermined weakened portion, said second portion being movable between a first condition and a second condition to vent inflation fluid from said protection device;

an electrically energizable mechanism to release said second portion of said retainer for movement from the first condition to the second condition; and

vehicle electric circuitry including a sensor for sensing at least one occupant condition or vehicle condition and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said electrically energizable mechanism.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said predetermined weakened portion comprises at least one hinge.

9. 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 inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a retainer connected with said protection device;

said retainer having a fixed portion and a movable portion, said movable portion being movable between a first condition and a second condition to vent inflation fluid from said protection device;

an electrically energizable mechanism to release said movable portion of said retainer for movement from the first condition to the second condition; and

vehicle electric circuitry including a sensor for sensing at least one occupant condition or vehicle condition and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said electrically energizable mechanism;

said retainer having first and second end portions, and wherein said movable portion of said retainer comprises said first and second end portions interconnected by said release mechanism in an overlapping condition.

10. 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 inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a retainer connected with said protection device;

said retainer having a fixed portion and a movable portion, said movable portion being movable between a first condition and a second condition to vent inflation fluid from said protection device;

an electrically energizable mechanism to release said movable portion of said retainer for movement from the first condition to the second condition; and

vehicle electric circuitry including a sensor for sensing at least one occupant condition or vehicle condition and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said electrically energizable mechanism;

said retainer having an endless configuration and said movable portion of said retainer comprising a single segment of said retainer held in the first condition by said release mechanism.

11. 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 inflator actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said inflatable device;

a retainer connected with said protection device;

said retainer having a fixed portion and a movable portion, said movable portion being movable between a first condition and a second condition to vent inflation fluid from said protection device;

an electrically energizable mechanism to release said movable portion of said retainer for movement from the first condition to the second condition; and

vehicle electric circuitry including a sensor for sensing at least one occupant condition or vehicle condition and a controller responsive to said sensor for controlling said electrically energizable mechanism;

said movable portion of said retainer being supported for movement between the first and second conditions in response to force applied to said retainer by said protection device when said protection device is inflating.