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 first sensing device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas 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 plurality of walls;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releasably retained by a portion of said air bag system;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position for releasing said tether element from said portion of said air bag system, said moveable member having a cap portion and a generally elongated portion extending from an underside of said cap portion, said cap portion having dimensions corresponding to one or more of said plurality of walls of said housing for cooperatively forming a pressurizeable chamber between said housing and said underside of said cap portion; and
a gas emission component capable of releasing gas into said pressurizeable chamber to expand said chamber by applying force to said underside of said cap portion and moving said moveable member from said first position to said second position.
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Abstract
There is disclosed an air bag system for an automotive vehicle. The air bag system includes a moveable member that may be selectively actuated to assist in the controlling of venting openings and tether elements of the system. In turn, the moveable member offers control over the manner of deployment of an air bag of the system.
95 Citations
31 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 first sensing device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas 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 plurality of walls;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releasably retained by a portion of said air bag system;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position for releasing said tether element from said portion of said air bag system, said moveable member having a cap portion and a generally elongated portion extending from an underside of said cap portion, said cap portion having dimensions corresponding to one or more of said plurality of walls of said housing for cooperatively forming a pressurizeable chamber between said housing and said underside of said cap portion; and
a gas emission component capable of releasing gas into said pressurizeable chamber to expand said chamber by applying force to said underside of said cap portion and moving said moveable member from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13)
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7. An air bag system comprising:
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a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a first sensing device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas 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 plurality of walls;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releasably retained by a portion of said air bag system;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position for releasing said tether element from said portion of said air bag system, said moveable member having a cap portion and a generally elongated portion extending from an underside of said cap portion, said cap portion having dimensions corresponding to one or more of said plurality of walls of said housing for cooperatively forming a pressurizeable chamber between said housing and said underside of said cap portion, and said elongated portion covering said vent opening in said housing when said moveable member is in said second position; and
a gas emission component of releasing gas into said pressurizeable chamber to expand said chamber by applying force to said underside of said cap portion and moving said moveable member from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An air bag system comprising:
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a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gasp said inflator in signaling communication with a first sensing device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas 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 high pressure vent opening, a low pressure vent opening and a plurality of walls;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releasably retained by a portion of said air bag system;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position for releasing said tether element from said portion of said air bag system, said moveable member having a cap portion and a generally elongated portion extending from an underside of said cap portion, said cap portion having dimensions corresponding to one or more of said plurality of walls of said housing for cooperatively forming a pressurizeable chamber between said housing and said underside of said cap portion, and said elongated potion for covering said high pressure vent opening when said moveable member is in said second position and covering said low pressure vent opening when said moveable member is in said first position; and
a gas emission component capable of releasing gas into said pressurizeable chamber to expand said chamber by applying force to said underside of said cap portion and moving said moveable member from said first position to said second position. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An air bag system comprising:
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a gas emitting inflator for emitting inflation gas, said inflator in signaling communication with a first sensing device for sensing a first predetermined condition;
an air bag in fluid communication with said inflator for receiving said inflation gas 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 plurality of walls and a vent door operable to open and close a vent opening in said housing;
a profile restraining tether element attached to a portion of said air bag and releasably retained by a portion of said air bag system;
a moveable member that is moveable from a first position to a second position for releasing said tether element from said portion of said air bag system, said moveable member having a cap portion and a generally elongated portion extending from an underside of said cap portion, said cap portion having dimensions corresponding to one or more of said plurality of walls of said housing for cooperatively forming a pressurizeable chamber between said housing and said underside of said cap portion, and said elongated portion operates to maintain said vent door closed when said moveable member is in said first position and to open said vent door when said moveable member is in said second position; and
a gas emission component in communication with a second sensing device, said gas emission component capable of releasing gas into said pressurizeable chamber to expand said chamber by applying force to said underside of said cap portion and moving said moveable member from said first position to said second position, said second sensing device capable of sending signals that, based upon a second predetermined condition, assist in determining when said emission component releases gas into said chamber to move said moveable member.
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Specification