Automotive vehicle air bag system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air bag system comprising:
- a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas from said inflator to inflate said air bag to a deployed state upon the occurrence of said first predetermined condition;
a housing substantially surrounding said air bag and said inflator prior to inflation of said air bag, said housing including a vent opening;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position, said member including an opening in alignment with said vent opening of said housing when said moveable member is in its first position and out of alignment when said moveable member is in said second position;
an actuator capable of selectively actuating said moveable member from said first position to said second position; and
a release mechanism having a rotatable member supported by said moveable member prior to actuation of said member, said rotatable member rotating to release said tether element upon actuation of said moveable member.
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Abstract
An air bag system for an automotive vehicle is disclosed. The air bag system includes a housing substantially enclosing a gas emitting inflator and a compact undeployed air bag. The system further includes a moveable member that controls flow of gas into the air bag by controlling items such as tether elements and venting openings that, in turn, control the amount of gas released into the bag and the shape of the bag upon deployment.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An air bag system comprising:
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a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas from said inflator to inflate said air bag to a deployed state upon the occurrence of said first predetermined condition;
a housing substantially surrounding said air bag and said inflator prior to inflation of said air bag, said housing including a vent opening;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position, said member including an opening in alignment with said vent opening of said housing when said moveable member is in its first position and out of alignment when said moveable member is in said second position;
an actuator capable of selectively actuating said moveable member from said first position to said second position; and
a release mechanism having a rotatable member supported by said moveable member prior to actuation of said member, said rotatable member rotating to release said tether element upon actuation of said moveable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An air bag system comprising:
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a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas from said inflator to inflate said air bag to a deployed state upon the occurrence of said first predetermined condition;
a housing substantially surrounding said air bag and said inflator prior to inflation of said air bag, said housing including a vent opening and a rod;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and looped about said rod of said housing;
a scraper;
a moveable member in driving relationship with said scraper, said moveable member being moveable from a first position to a second position, said member including a member opening; and
an actuator capable of selectively actuating said moveable member from said first position to said second position;
wherein said tether element is releasable from said rod by said scraper upon actuation of said moveable member. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An air bag system comprising:
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a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas from said inflator to inflate said air bag to a deployed state upon the occurrence of said first predetermined condition;
a housing substantially surrounding said air bag and said inflator prior to inflation of said air bag, said housing including a vent opening;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position, said member including an opening with a first portion in alignment with said vent opening of said housing when said moveable member is in its first position and a second portion in alignment with said vent opening of said housing when said housing is in said second position;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releaseably retained by said moveable member;
an actuator capable of selectively actuating said Tolerable remember from said first position to said second position; and
a scraper wherein said tether element is releaseable from said moveable member by said scraper upon actuation of said moveable member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An air bag system comprising:
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a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas from said inflator to inflate said air bag to a deployed state upon the occurrence of said first predetermined condition;
a housing substantially surrounding said air bag and said inflator prior to inflation of said air bag, said housing including a vent opening;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position, said member including an opening in alignment with said vent opening of said housing when said moveable member is in its first position and out of alignment when said housing is in said second position;
an actuator capable of selectively actuating said moveable member from said first position to said second position;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releaseably retained by a portion of said air bag system whereupon actuation of said moveable member, said tether element is released; and
a gas director adjacent said opening of said moveable member, said gas director guiding gas from said inflator through said opening in said moveable member and said vent opening in said housing when said moveable member is in a position selected from said first position and said second position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification