Air bag restraint including selectively operable venting elements
First Claim
Patent Images
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;
a gas emitting inflator disposed within a walled housing, wherein said walled housing includes at least one vent opening; and
a displaceable vent blocking cover element of substantially pliable material supported at a surface of said walled housing, 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 at least 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 is operatively attached to at least one elongate tensioning stray extending in operative relation between the cover element and a shape defining tethering element operatively connected to a surface of the air bag cushion.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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 inflated by a gas emitting inflator within an inflator housing. A cover element of substantially pliable material is located in adjustable relation to a vent opening across a wall of the housing. 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 across the housing.
-
Citations
15 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;
a gas emitting inflator disposed within a walled housing, wherein said walled housing includes at least one vent opening; and
a displaceable vent blocking cover element of substantially pliable material supported at a surface of said walled housing, 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 at least 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 is operatively attached to at least one elongate tensioning stray extending in operative relation between the cover element and a shape defining tethering element operatively connected to a surface of the air bag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. 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;
a gas emitting inflator disposed within a walled housing, wherein said walled housing includes at least one vent opening; and
a cover element of substantially pliable material disposed in sliding relation relative to the vent opening, the cover element including a vent blocking portion normally disposed within a first folded pleat structure outboard of the vent opening, the cover element further including an aperture normally disposed within a second folded pleat structure outboard of the first folded pleat structure such that the first folded pleat structure is normally disposed between the second folded pleat structure and the vent opening, the cover element being operatively connected to the air bag cushion such that when the air bag cushion is uninflated or is restrained to an inflation depth less than said first depth, the cover element remains in its normal position with the blocking portion disposed within the first folded pleat structure outboard of the vent opening and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to the first depth the cover element is placed into tension thereby shifting the vent blocking portion at least partially over the vent opening without collapsing the second folded pleat structure and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to the second depth the aperture within the second folded pleat structure is moved at least partially over the vent opening. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. 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;
a gas emitting inflator disposed within a walled housing, wherein the inflator is adapted to release a volume of inflation gas upon activation of a first initiator;
an actuatable variable inflation device adapted to vary the volume of inflation gas discharged into the air bag cushion, wherein the variable inflation device comprises a moveable member alignable with a first vent opening within the housing, the moveable member being moveable relative to the vent opening upon activation of a second initiator thereby adjusting the effective venting area of the first vent opening; and
a cover element of substantially pliable material disposed in sliding relation relative to a second vent opening, the cover element including a cut out portion defining an opening normally disposed in at least partial alignment with said second vent opening, the cover element further including a vent blocking portion normally disposed within a first folded pleat structure outboard of said second vent opening, the cover element being operatively connected to the air bag cushion such that when the air bag cushion is uninflated or is restrained to an inflation depth less than said first depth, the cover element remains in its normal position with the cut out portion disposed in at least partial alignment with said second vent opening and the vent blocking portion disposed within the first folded pleat structure outboard of the vent opening and such that upon inflation of the air bag cushion to the first depth the cover element is placed into tension thereby shifting the vent blocking portion at least partially over said second vent opening. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification