Frontal air bag system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an air bag module having a housing, said housing having at least one vent extending therethrough;
an air bag operatively connected to said air bag module;
an inflator disposed in said air bag module for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas; and
at least one tether interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through the at least one vent of said housing to atmosphere outside of said air bag, wherein the at least one tether is configured to only allow venting during an initial deployment of the air bag and thereafter the tether is pulled by the air bag to a position wherein the tether no longer allows venting through the at least one vent of the housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A frontal air bag system for a vehicle includes an air bag module having a housing for mounting to vehicle structure of the vehicle and an air bag operatively connected to the air bag module. The frontal air bag system also includes an inflator disposed in the housing for inflating the air bag with an inflation gas. The frontal air bag system further includes at least one tether interconnecting the air bag and either one of the housing and the inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through the housing to atmosphere.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing, said housing having at least one vent extending therethrough;
an air bag operatively connected to said air bag module;
an inflator disposed in said air bag module for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas; and
at least one tether interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through the at least one vent of said housing to atmosphere outside of said air bag, wherein the at least one tether is configured to only allow venting during an initial deployment of the air bag and thereafter the tether is pulled by the air bag to a position wherein the tether no longer allows venting through the at least one vent of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing;
an air bag operatively connected to said air bag module;
an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas;
at least one tether interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said housing to atmosphere; and
said housing comprising an outer housing having a plurality of walls and a plurality of vents extending through at least one of said side walls and an inner housing disposed within said outer housing and having a plurality of vents extending therethrough and aligned with said vents of said outer housing when said inner housing is in an initial position relative to said outer housing.
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11. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing;
an air bag operatively connected to said air bag module;
an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas;
at least one tether interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said housing to atmosphere; and
wherein said at least one tether has a first end connected to said inflator and a second end connected to said air bag to rotate said inflator upon inflation of said air bag by said inflator. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing;
an air bag operatively connected to said air bag module;
an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas;
at least one tether interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said housing to atmosphere;
said housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough; and
wherein said at least one tether has a plurality of vents extending therethrough and aligned with said vents of said outer housing when at least one tether is in an initial position relative to said outer housing.
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14. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing, said housing comprising an inner housing and an outer housing, said outer housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough;
an air bag operatively connected to said housing;
an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas; and
a plurality of tethers interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said vents in said outer housing to atmosphere outside of said air bag, wherein said outer housing has a base wall and a plurality of side walls extending generally perpendicularly from said base wall, said plurality of vents extending through said side walls.
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15. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing, said housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough;
an air bag operatively connected to said housing;
an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas;
a plurality of tethers interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said vents in said housing to atmosphere;
said housing comprising an outer housing having a plurality of walls with said vents extending through at least one of said walls; and
wherein said housing includes an inner housing disposed within said outer housing and having a plurality of vents extending therethrough and aligned with said vents of said outer housing when said inner housing is in an initial position relative to said outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing, said housing comprising an inner housing and an outer housing, said outer housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough;
an air bag operatively connected to said housing;
an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas; and
a plurality of tethers interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said vents in said outer housing to atmosphere outside of said air bag, wherein said outer housing has a base wall and a side wall and a corner portion interconnecting said base wall and said side wall, said plurality of vents extending through said corner portion.
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18. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing, said housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough;
an air bag operatively connected to said housing;
an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas;
a plurality of tethers interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said vents in said housing to atmosphere; and
wherein each of said tethers has a first end connected to said inflator and a second end connected to said air bag to rotate said inflator upon deployment.
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19. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having a housing, said housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough;
an air bag operatively connected to said housing;
an inflator disposed in said housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas;
a plurality of tethers interconnecting said air bag and either one of said housing and said inflator to cause some of the inflation gas to vent through said vents in said housing to atmosphere;
said housing comprising an outer housing having a plurality of walls with said vents extending through at least one of said walls; and
wherein said at least one tether has a plurality of vents extending therethrough and aligned with said vents of said outer housing when at least one tether is in an initial position relative to said outer housing.
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20. A frontal air bag system for a vehicle comprising:
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an air bag module having an outer housing, said outer housing having a plurality of vents extending therethrough;
an air bag operatively connected to said outer housing;
an inflator disposed in said outer housing for inflating said air bag with an inflation gas; and
a plurality of tethers having a first end connected to said air bag and a second end operatively connected to either one of said outer housing and said inflator, wherein said tethers allow some of the inflation gas to vent through said vents in said outer housing to atmosphere outside of said air bag and said tethers move to close said vents to prevent inflation gas from venting through said vents.
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Specification