Air bag module with vent
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
- a sensor for sensing a vehicle collision;
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 under pressure from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; and
at least one rupturable burst panel attached to said housing, said burst panel having a unitary structure with opposing surfaces spaced from each other by a surface extending between said opposing surfaces, said burst panel being attached to said housing only at said surface extending between said opposing surfaces; and
initiating means for, when actuated, enabling said at least one burst panel to detach from said housing to a condition in which no portion of said burst panel remains attached to any portion of said housing to enable flow of inflation fluid out of said housing away from said inflatable device through an opening in said housing.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes a sensor (86) for sensing a vehicle crash. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (12) has a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect the vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (38) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device (12). A housing (16) directs inflation fluid under pressure from the inflation fluid source (38) toward the inflatable device (12) upon actuation of the inflation fluid source. The housing (16) has at least one burst panel (44) attached to the housing. Initiating means (76), when actuated, enables the at least one burst panel (44) to detach from the housing (16) to a condition spaced apart from the housing to enable flow of inflation fluid out of the housing through an opening (74) in the housing.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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a sensor for sensing a vehicle collision;
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 under pressure from said inflation fluid source toward said inflatable device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source; and
at least one rupturable burst panel attached to said housing, said burst panel having a unitary structure with opposing surfaces spaced from each other by a surface extending between said opposing surfaces, said burst panel being attached to said housing only at said surface extending between said opposing surfaces; and
initiating means for, when actuated, enabling said at least one burst panel to detach from said housing to a condition in which no portion of said burst panel remains attached to any portion of said housing to enable flow of inflation fluid out of said housing away from said inflatable device through an opening in said housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 24, 25, 26)
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10. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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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 structure for providing an opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from said inflatable device;
said structure having at least one burst panel having a first condition closing said opening and a second condition spaced apart from said structure; and
initiation means for, when actuated, enabling said burst panel to move from the first condition to the second condition;
said structure being 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 burst panel having a disc-like configuration with parallel, circular inner and outer major side surfaces and an outer peripheral portion having a cylindrical outer side surface extending from said outer major side surface of said burst panel in a direction toward said inner major side surface, a groove extending around said burst panel, and a frustoconical surface extending between said groove and said inner major side surface of said burst panel. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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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 structure defining an opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from said inflatable device;
at least one rupturable burst panel attached to said structure and having a first condition in which said burst panel is located in said opening and a second condition in which said burst panel is located spaced apart from said structure; and
initiation means for, when actuated, enabling said burst panel to move from the first condition to the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification