Tether venting system for airbag module

• US 7,618,059 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2007
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wykes, Nial, Vinton, Jeff, Hall, Ian, Ryan, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US11/737,808
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/736, 280/739, 280/740, 280/742, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A system and method for venting an airbag is provided. The system includes a set of vent doors, thereby reducing the overall package spaced that would otherwise be required to allow the doors to swing open. The vent doors are connected by a single tether or by multiple tethers to the primary surface of the airbag cushion.

Claims

1. An airbag module for use in a vehicle, the airbag module comprising:

an airbag housing having a vent area formed therein, said vent area having at least one vent opening;

an airbag attached to said airbag housing;

a vent door assembly, said vent door assembly including a first vent door hingedly attached adjacent said vent area, a second vent door hingedly attached adjacent said vent area, said second hinge being spaced apart from and opposed to said first hinge, and a single tether having a first end connected to said airbag and a second end operatively associated with each of said doors, said first vent door and said second vent door being positioned adjacent one another over the same vent opening.

2. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein said first vent door includes an aperture formed therein, said second end of said tether being connected to said second vent door and being passed through said aperture of said first vent door.

3. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein said first vent door has a width and said second vent door has a width, said widths being substantially the same.

4. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein said first vent door has a width and said second vent door has a width, said widths being dissimilar.

5. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein said first vent door is movable between an open position and a closed position and said second vent door is movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said first vent door has a hinge end for hinged attachment and a free end opposite said hinge end and wherein said second vent door has a hinge end for hinged attachment and a free end opposite said hinge end, said free end of said first vent door and said free end of said second vent door being positioned adjacent one another when said doors are in their closed positions.

6. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein said second end of said tether includes a first tether portion connected to said first vent door and a second tether portion connected to said second vent door.

7. An airbag module for use in a vehicle, the airbag module comprising:

an airbag housing having a vent area formed therein, said vent area having at least one vent opening;

an airbag attached to said airbag housing;

a vent door assembly, said vent door assembly including a first vent door hingedly attached adjacent said vent area by a first hinge, a second vent door hingedly attached adjacent said vent area by a second hinge, said first vent door being movable between an open position and a closed position and said second vent door being movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said first vent door has a hinge end for hinged attachment and a free end opposite said hinge end and wherein said second vent door has a hinge end for hinged attachment and a free end opposite said hinge end, said free end of said first vent door and said free end of said second vent door being positioned adjacent one another when said doors are in their closed positions, said first vent door and said second vent door being positioned adjacent one another over the same vent opening, said vent door assembly further including a single tether having an airbag connecting end connected to said airbag and a vent door connecting end operatively associated with each of said doors.

8. The airbag module of claim 7 wherein said vent area is defired by a single vent and wherein said vent door connecting end of said tether includes a first tether portion connected to said first vent door and a second tether portion connected to said second vent door.

9. The airbag module of claim 7 wherein said first vent door includes an aperture formed therein, said vent door connecting end of said tether being connected to said second vent door and being passed through said aperture of said first vent door.

10. The airbag module of claim 7 wherein said first vent door has a width and said second vent door has a width, said widths being dissimilar.

12. The airbag module of claim 7 wherein said first vent door has a width and said second vent door has a width, said widths being substantially the same.

11. A method of providing venting in an inflatable cushion of an airbag module, comprising the steps of:

forming an airbag module comprising an airbag housing having a vent area formed therein, said vent area having at least one vent opening, an airbag attached to said airbag housing, and a vent door assembly comprising a pair of adjacent vent doors hingedly attached to said vent area, said vent doors being positioned adjacent one another over the same vent opening, and a single tether attaching said vent doors to said airbag, said single tether having an airbag connecting end connected to said airbag and a vent door connecting end operatively associated with each of said doors, said pair of adjacent vent doors being movable between a closed position and an open position;

causing said airbag to be inflated with a gas;

forcing said pair of vent doors to move to their open positions; and

forcing said pair of vent doors to move to their closed positions by movement of said tether.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said pair of vent doors includes a first vent door and a second vent door, said first vent door having an aperture formed therein, said vent door connecting end of said tether being connected to said second vent door and being passed through said aperture of said first vent door.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said pair of vent doors includes a first vent door and a second vent door and wherein said first vent door has a width and said second vent door has a width, said widths being substantially the same.

15. The airbag module of claim 11 wherein said pair of vent doors includes a first vent door and a second vent door and wherein said first vent door has a width and said second vent door has a width, said widths being dissimilar.

16. The airbag module of claim 11 wherein said pair of vent doors includes a first vent door and a second vent door and wherein said vent door connecting end of said tether includes a first tether portion connected to said first vent door and a second tether portion connected to said second vent door.