Air bag module with actuatable vent part
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;
a reaction plate including at least one vent opening;
a retainer connectable with said reaction plate to clamp said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device between said reaction plate and said retainer;
a vent part having a first condition blocking inflation fluid flow through said at least one vent opening and a second condition permitting inflation fluid flow through said at least one vent opening; and
actuatable means for moving said vent part from one of said first and second conditions to the other of said first and second conditions, said vent part, when moved to the other of said first and second conditions, being maintained in the other of said first and second conditions by a plastically deformed portion of said vent part.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14). An inflation fluid source (18) is actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable volume (16) of the protection device (14). The apparatus (10) also includes a reaction plate (20) that includes at least one vent opening (40) and a retainer (60) that is connectable with the reaction plate (20). A vent part (80) has a first condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the at least one vent opening (40) and a second condition permitting inflation fluid flow through the at least one vent opening. The apparatus (10) further includes an actuator (120) for moving the vent part (80) from one of the first and second conditions to the other of the first and second conditions. The vent part (80) has a portion (104) that maintains the vent part in the other of the first and second conditions when moved to the other of the first and second conditions.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; an inflation fluid source actuatable to provide inflation fluid for inflating an inflatable volume of said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device; a reaction plate including at least one vent opening; a retainer connectable with said reaction plate to clamp said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device between said reaction plate and said retainer; a vent part having a first condition blocking inflation fluid flow through said at least one vent opening and a second condition permitting inflation fluid flow through said at least one vent opening; and actuatable means for moving said vent part from one of said first and second conditions to the other of said first and second conditions, said vent part, when moved to the other of said first and second conditions, being maintained in the other of said first and second conditions by a plastically deformed portion of said vent part. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An air bag module comprising:
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an air bag; a reaction plate including at least one vent opening; a retainer connectable with said reaction plate to clamp said air bag between said reaction plate and said retainer; a vent part having a first condition blocking inflation fluid flow through said at least one vent opening and a second condition permitting inflation fluid flow through said at least one vent opening; and an actuatable fastener having a first portion secured to said reaction plate and a second portion secured to said vent part, said actuatable fastener being actuatable to move said vent part from one of said first and second conditions to the other of said first and second conditions. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An air bag module comprising:
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an air bag; a reaction plate including at least one vent opening; and a retainer connectable with said reaction plate to secure said air bag to said reaction plate, said retainer including a vent part formed as a single piece of material with said retainer, said vent part being at least partially defined by a slit extending through said retainer, said vent part having a first condition blocking inflation fluid flow through said at least one vent opening and a second condition permitting inflation fluid flow through said at least one vent opening.
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Specification