Air bag restraint including selectively operable venting elements

• US 6,832,778 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Issued: 12/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Heard, Keith C, Winters, Mark Thomas, Pinsenschaum, Ryan Todd, Hawthorn, Laura Adelle, Dunkle, Stephanie L
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/199,573
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: B60/R 2.128, 280/739, 280/743.2, 280/740
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• 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

An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event. The safety system includes a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion having at least one vent opening. A cover element of substantially pliable material is located in overlying relation to the vent opening. The cover element is selectively displaceable relative to the vent opening in response to the inflation depth of the air bag cushion so as to adjust venting characteristics.

Claims

1. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:

a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to one of a first depth and at least a second depth greater than the first depth, wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and

a displaceable vent blocking cover element of substantially pliable material supported at a surface of the air bag cushion and disposed in opposing relation to said at least one vent opening, wherein the cover element is adjustable from a first operative position relative to the vent opening when the air bag cushion is inflated to said first depth and to a second different operative position relative to the vent opening when the air bag cushion is inflated to said second depth so as to vary emission of inflation gas through said at least one vent opening in a predefined manner based upon the depth of inflation of the air bag cushion, wherein the cover element comprises a panel of pliable material including a collapsible pleat structure normally disposed outboard of said at least one vent opening such that upon the application of tension across the cover element the pleat structure undergoes at least partial collapse and such that a portion of the cover element forming the collapsible pleat structure is shifted over said at least one vent opening and wherein the collapsible pleat structure includes a cut out portion defining an opening in alignment with said at least one vent opening when the collapsible pleat structure is shifted over said at least one vent opening.

2. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:

a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to one of a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and

a cover element of substantially pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening, the cover element including a blocking portion normally disposed in blocking relation across the vent opening and an aperture normally disposed within a folded pleat structure disposed outboard of the vent opening, wherein the cover element is operatively connected to the air bag cushion such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said first depth the blocking portion and the pleat structure remain in their normal positions and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said second depth the cover element is placed into tension thereby pulling the blocking portion away from the vent opening while at least partially collapsing the pleat structure such that the aperture is moved into alignment over the vent opening so as to increase venting across the air bag cushion.

3. The safety system according to claim 2, wherein the cover element is operatively attached to the air bag cushion by at least one elongate tensioning strap extending between the cover element and at least one shape defining tethering element supported at a surface of the air bag cushion.

4. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:

at least one sensor for measuring at least one occupant specific condition during the impact event;

a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to one of a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth based upon a measurement from said at least one sensor, wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening;

a cover element of substantially pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening at the interior of the air bag cushion, the cover element including a blocking portion normally disposed in blocking relation across the vent opening and an aperture normally disposed within a folded pleat structure disposed outboard of the vent opening, wherein the cover element is operatively connected to at least one shape defining tethering element supported at a surface of the air bag cushion such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said first depth the blocking portion and the pleat structure remain in their normal positions and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said second depth the cover element is placed into tension by movement of the tethering element thereby pulling the blocking portion away from the vent opening while at least partially collapsing the pleat structure such that the aperture is moved into alignment over the vent opening so as to increase venting across the air bag cushion.

5. The safety system according to claim 4, wherein the cover element is operatively attached to the tethering element by at least one elongate tensioning strap extending between the cover element and the tethering element.

6. The safety system according to claim 5, wherein said at least one elongate tensioning strap is characterized by an operative length such that said at least one elongate tensioning strap is placed into tension only when the air bag cushion is inflated to said second depth.

7. The safety system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one occupant specific condition is selected from the group consisting of occupant size, occupant position and occupant seat belt utilization.

8. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:

a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and

a cover element of substantially pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening, the cover element including an aperture normally disposed in substantial alignment with the vent opening and a blocking portion normally disposed within a folded pleat structure disposed outboard of the vent opening, wherein the cover element is operatively connected to the air bag cushion such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said first depth the blocking portion and the aperture remain in their normal positions and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to said second depth the cover element is placed into tension thereby pulling the aperture away from the vent opening while at least partially collapsing the pleat structure such that the blocking portion is moved into alignment over the vent opening so as to decrease venting across the air bag cushion, wherein the cover element is operatively attached to the air bag cushion by at least one elongate tensioning strap extending between the cover element and at least one shape defining tethering element supported at a surface of the air bag cushion.

9. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:

a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and

a cover element comprising a substantially two dimensional patch of pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening, wherein the cover element is attached to a surface of the air bag cushion by an arrangement of intermittent perimeter seams such that spaces between said intermittent perimeter seams define gas passages around the cover element, and wherein at least one elongate tensioning strap extends between the cover element and an anchor element remote from the cover element, wherein said at least one elongate tensioning strap is characterized by an operative length such that when the air bag cushion is inflated to the first depth said at least one elongate tensioning strap is placed into tension thereby pulling the cover element towards the interior of the air bag cushion and wherein said at least one elongate tensioning strap is adapted to disengage from the anchor element when the air bag cushion is inflated to the second depth thereby releasing the tension within said at least one elongate tensioning strap so as to adjust venting characteristics across the air bag cushion, wherein the anchor element comprises an elongate strap normally held in sliding relation to said at least one elongate tensioning strap.

10. An air bag safety system for cushioning restraint of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the safety system comprising:

a variable depth inflatable air bag cushion adapted to be selectively inflatable to a first depth or a second depth greater than the first depth wherein the air bag cushion includes at least one vent opening; and

a cover element comprising a substantially two dimensional patch of pliable material disposed in overlying relation to the vent opening, wherein the cover element is attached to a surface of the air bag cushion by an arrangement of intermittent perimeter seams such that spaces between said intermittent perimeter seams define gas passages around the cover element, and wherein at least one elongate tensioning strap extends between the cover element and an anchor element remote from the cover element, wherein said at least one elongate tensioning strap is characterized by an operative length such that when the air bag cushion is inflated to the first depth said at least one elongate tensioning strap is placed into tension thereby pulling the cover element towards the interior of the air bag cushion and wherein said at least one elongate tensioning strap is adapted to disengage from the anchor element when the air bag cushion is inflated to the second depth thereby releasing the tension within said at least one elongate tensioning strap so as to adjust venting characteristics across the air bag cushion, wherein the cover element is disposed across the exterior of the air bag cushion.