Actuatable fastener for air bag module vent

• US 6,746,044 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Inc. (Northrop Grumman Corporation), TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Elqadah, Wael S., Lynch, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US10/034,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20020043790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3, 280/736, 280/742, 280/740
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• 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 protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source (18) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the protection device (14). A housing (16) directs inflation fluid from the inflation fluid source (18) toward the protection device (14). The apparatus (10) includes a vent opening (30) in the housing (16) for selectively venting inflation fluid from the housing. The apparatus (10) also includes a member (50) movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from the housing (16) and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from the housing. The apparatus (10) further includes an actuatable fastener (12) for holding the member (70) in the closed position. The actuatable fastener (12) comprises an air bag inflator initiator (100).

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 inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate said protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member pivotally movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position wherein said member is pivoted away from said vent opening, the open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing; and

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuatable fastener comprises a retainer securing said initiator in said actuatable fastener.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuatable fastener comprises a bolt and a nut.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said initiator comprises a pair of terminal pins, a heating element electrically connected across said terminal pins, and an ignitable material ignitable by said heating element.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said initiator is crimped into said actuatable fastener.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle.

7. An apparatus as set forth in an claim 6 comprising an opening and a member movable between a closed position covering said opening and an open position enabling fluid flow through said opening, said actuatable fastener holding said member in the closed position.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said actuatable fastener comprises a retainer securing said initiator in said actuatable fastener.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said actuatable fastener comprises a bolt and a nut.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said initiator is crimped into said actuatable fastener.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said initiator comprises a pair of terminal pins, a heating element electrically connected across said terminal pins, and an ignitable material ignitable by said heating element.

12. 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 protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator; and

a sealing member for helping to block flow of combustion products of said initiator out of said fastener.

13. 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 protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing; and

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator,

said bolt comprising a retainer crimped on said initiator, said bolt including said initiator being screwed into said nut.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein said nut is screwed into a threaded portion on said housing to secure said actuatable fastener to said housing.

15. 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 protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;

a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle; and

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator,

said flash cup comprising a member movable within said fastener from a first position to a second position in sealing engagement with a portion of said fastener, said member, when moving from the first position to the second position, causing rupturing of a portion of said fastener.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a sealing member for helping to block flow of combustion products of said initiator out of said fastener.

17. 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 protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing;

a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle; and

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator,

said flash cup comprising a member movable within said fastener from a first position to a second position in sealing engagement with a portion of said fastener, said member, when moving from the first position to the second position, causing rupturing of a portion of said fastener,

said opening being a vent opening in a housing of said apparatus.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said nut is screwed into a threaded portion on said housing to secure said actuatable fastener to said housing.

19. 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 protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing; and

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator, a bolt, and a nut,

said bolt comprising a retainer crimped on said initiator, said bolt including said initiator being screwed into said nut.

20. 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 protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said Inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing; and

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator,

said one of said movable member and said housing having a threaded portion, said nut of said fastener being screwed into said threaded portion to secure said fastener to said movable member.

21. 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 protection device from the deflated condition to the inflated condition;

a housing for directing inflation fluid from said inflation fluid source toward said protection device upon actuation of said inflation fluid source;

a vent opening in said housing for selectively venting inflation fluid from said housing;

a member movable between a closed position blocking venting of inflation fluid from said housing and an open position enabling venting of inflation fluid from said housing; and

an actuatable fastener for holding said member in the closed position, said actuatable fastener comprising an air bag inflator initiator, a bolt, and a nut,

one of said member and said housing having a threaded portion, said nut of said fastener being screwed into said threaded portion to secure said fastener to said movable member.

22. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

an actuatable fastener having an air bag inflator initiator; and

a flash cup for helping to block visibility of combustion products of said initiator by an occupant of the vehicle,

said flash cup comprising a member movable within said fastener from a first position to a second position in sealing engagement with a portion of said fastener, said member when moving from the first position to the second position causing rupturing of a portion of said fastener, and further comprising a sealing member for helping to block flow of combustion products of said initiator out of said fastener.