Air bag module with vent controlled by tether
First Claim
1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition to which said vehicle occupant protection device is deployed by inflation fluid;
a support member having a first vent opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device;
a vent member movable relative to said first vent opening between a first condition in which said vent member does not close said first vent opening that enables flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device and a second condition in which said vent member at least partially blocks said flow of inflation fluid through said first vent opening and away from said protection device;
a tether having a first portion connected for movement with said protection device as said protection device is deployed;
said tether being associated with said vent member and causing said vent member to move relative to said first vent opening from the first condition to the second condition as said protection device is deployed,wherein said vent member is a door supported for pivotal movement relative to said first vent opening between the first and second conditions.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag (12) is inflatable by inflation fluid. A support member (20) has a first vent opening (44) for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from the bag (12). A vent member (46) is movable relative to the first vent opening (44) between a first condition in which the vent member does not close the opening that enables flow of inflation fluid away from the bag (12) and a second condition in which the vent member at least partially blocks the flow of inflation fluid through the opening and away from the bag. A tether (50) has a first portion (52) connected for movement with the bag (12) as the bag is deployed. The tether (50) is associated with the vent member (46) and causes it to move relative to the opening (44) from the first condition to the second condition as the bag (12) is deployed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition to which said vehicle occupant protection device is deployed by inflation fluid; a support member having a first vent opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device; a vent member movable relative to said first vent opening between a first condition in which said vent member does not close said first vent opening that enables flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device and a second condition in which said vent member at least partially blocks said flow of inflation fluid through said first vent opening and away from said protection device; a tether having a first portion connected for movement with said protection device as said protection device is deployed; said tether being associated with said vent member and causing said vent member to move relative to said first vent opening from the first condition to the second condition as said protection device is deployed, wherein said vent member is a door supported for pivotal movement relative to said first vent opening between the first and second conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition to which said vehicle occupant protection device is deployed by inflation fluid; a support member having a first vent opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device; a vent member movable relative to said first vent opening between a first condition in which said vent member does not close said first vent opening that enables flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device and a second condition in which said vent member at least partially blocks said flow of inflation fluid through said first vent opening and away from said protection device; a tether having a first portion connected for movement with said protection device as said protection device is deployed; said tether being associated with said vent member and causing said vent member to move relative to said first vent opening from the first condition to the second condition as said protection device is deployed, wherein said vent member is a door supported for pivotal movement relative to said first vent opening between the first and second conditions, a latch cooperating with said door for maintaining said door in the second condition when said protection device is deployed.
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7. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition to which said vehicle occupant protection device is deployed by inflation fluid; a support member having a first vent opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device; a vent member movable relative to said first vent opening between a first condition in which said vent member does not close said first vent opening that enables flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device and a second condition in which said vent member at least partially blocks said flow of inflation fluid through said first vent opening and away from said protection device; a tether having a first portion connected for movement with said protection device as said protection device is deployed; said tether being associated with said vent member and causing said vent member to move relative to said first vent opening from the first condition to the second condition as said protection device is deployed, wherein said tether and said vent member are portions of a single fabric strap. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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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 to which said vehicle occupant protection device is deployed by inflation fluid; a support member having a first vent opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device; a vent member movable relative to said first vent opening between a first condition in which said vent member does not close said first vent opening that enables flow of inflation fluid away from said protection device and a second condition in which said vent member at least partially blocks said flow of inflation fluid through said first vent opening and away from said protection device; a tether having a first portion connected for movement with said protection device as said protection device is deployed; said tether being associated with said vent member and causing said vent member to move relative to said first vent opening from the first condition to the second condition as said protection device is deployed, wherein said first portion of said tether includes a first part of said tether connected for movement with said protection device at a first location and a second part of said tether connected for movement with said protection device at a second location spaced apart from said first location; said first and second parts of said tether moving away from said vent member upon inflation of said protection device, said tether causing said vent member to move relative to said first vent opening from the first condition to the second condition when said protection device is deployed in a manner that the combined distances between said first part of said tether and said vent member and between said second part of said tether and said vent member substantially equal the length of said tether between said first and second parts. - 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; an inflator that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device; a support member for supporting the inflator and the protection device, the support member having first and second vent openings; a first mechanism associated with the first vent opening and including a first vent member and a first tether, the first tether extending between the protection device and the first vent member and, when tensioned during inflation of the protection device, moving the first vent member from a first condition, in which inflation fluid may flow through the first vent opening, toward a second condition, in which the first vent member prevents inflation fluid from flowing through the first vent opening; and a second mechanism associated with the second vent opening and including a second vent member and a second tether, the second tether extending between the protection device and the second vent member and, when tensioned during inflation of the protection device, moving the second vent member from a first condition, in which inflation fluid may flow through the second vent opening, toward a second condition, in which the second vent member prevents inflation fluid from flowing through the second vent opening, the first and second mechanisms operating independently of one another. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; an inflator that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device; a support member for supporting the inflator and the protection device, the support member having first and second vent openings; a first mechanism associated with the first vent opening and including a first vent member and a first tether, the first tether extending between the protection device and the first vent member and, when tensioned during inflation of the protection device, moving the first vent member from a first condition, in which inflation fluid may flow through the first vent opening, toward a second condition, in which the first vent member prevents inflation fluid from flowing through the first vent opening; and a second mechanism associated with the second vent opening and including a second vent member and a second tether, the second tether extending between the protection device and the second vent member and, when tensioned during inflation of the protection device, moving the second vent member from a first condition, in which inflation fluid may flow through the second vent opening, toward a second condition, in which the second vent member prevents inflation fluid from flowing through the second vent opening, the first and second mechanisms operating independently of one another, wherein the first and second vent openings are located on a common surface of the support member.
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15. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; an inflator that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device; a support member having a vent opening; a vent member having a first portion that is fixed relative to the support member and a rigid second portion that is movable relative to the support member between a first condition in which inflation fluid may flow through the vent opening and a second condition in which the rigid second portion of the vent member closes the vent opening for blocking a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening; a tether extending between the protection device and the rigid second portion of the vent member and causing the rigid second portion of the vent member to move from the first condition toward the second condition as the protection device is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; an inflator that is actuatable for providing inflation fluid for inflating the protection device; a support member for supporting the inflator and the protection device, the support member having a vent opening through which inflation fluid may flow, a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening being in a first direction relative to the support member, the support member also having a wall that is located between the inflator and the vent opening, the wall directing inflation fluid provided by the inflator toward the protection device, a flow of inflation fluid from the inflator toward the protection device being in a second direction opposite the first direction and generally parallel to the first direction; a vent member located on an opposite side of the support member from the protection device when the protection device is in the deflated condition and being associated with the vent opening, the vent member having a first condition in which inflation fluid may flow through the vent opening and a second condition in which the vent member blocks a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening; and a tether extending between the protection device and the vent member, tension in the tether caused by inflation of the protection device moving the vent member from the first condition toward the second condition. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification