Air bag system
First Claim
1. An air bag system comprising:
- an inflator operable to release inflation fluid;
an inflatable cushion, said cushion being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator;
an air bag housing substantially surrounding said cushion, said housing having a vent for venting inflation fluid released by said inflator;
a first plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening with a nonzero area and a second portion defining at least a second opening with a nonzero area; and
a second plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening;
wherein said first plate is movable from a first position, wherein said first opening of said first plate is aligned with said vent, to a second position, wherein said second opening of said first plate is aligned with said vent; and
wherein said second plate is movable from a first position in which said first opening of said second plate is aligned with said vent, to a second position in which said second opening of said second plate is aligned with said vent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag system includes an inflator operable to release inflation fluid, a cushion inflatable upon release of inflation fluid, and an air bag housing having a vent substantially surrounding the cushion. A first plate includes a first portion defining a first opening and a second portion defining a second opening. The first plate is movable from a first position, wherein the first opening is aligned with the vent, to a second position, wherein the second opening is aligned with the vent. A second plate including a first portion defining a first opening and a second portion defining a second opening may also be provided. The second plate is preferably movable from a first position, wherein the first opening is aligned with the vent, to a second position, wherein the second opening is aligned with the vent. The first and second plates preferably interact to define four distinct vent areas.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An air bag system comprising:
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an inflator operable to release inflation fluid; an inflatable cushion, said cushion being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator; an air bag housing substantially surrounding said cushion, said housing having a vent for venting inflation fluid released by said inflator; a first plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening with a nonzero area and a second portion defining at least a second opening with a nonzero area; and a second plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening; wherein said first plate is movable from a first position, wherein said first opening of said first plate is aligned with said vent, to a second position, wherein said second opening of said first plate is aligned with said vent; and wherein said second plate is movable from a first position in which said first opening of said second plate is aligned with said vent, to a second position in which said second opening of said second plate is aligned with said vent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An air bag system, comprising:
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an inflator operable to release inflation fluid; an inflatable cushion, said cushion being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator; an air bag housing substantially surrounding said cushion, said housing having a vent for venting inflation fluid released by said inflator; a first plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening; and a switch changeable from a first state to a second state; wherein said first plate is movable from a first position, wherein said first opening is aligned with said vent, to a second position, wherein said second opening is aligned with said vent; and wherein movement of said first plate from said first position to said second position changes said switch from one of said first state and said second state to the other of said first state and said second state.
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12. An air bag system, comprising:
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an inflator operable to release inflation fluid; an inflatable cushion, said cushion being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator; an air bag housing substantially surrounding said cushion, said housing having a vent for venting inflation fluid released by said inflator; a first plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening; a second plate including a first portion defining at least a first opening and a second portion defining at least a second opening; and a movement prevention feature extending through said first plate and said second plate to prevent movement of said second plate prior to movement of said first plate, wherein said first plate is movable from a first position, wherein said first opening of said first plate is aligned with said vent, to a second position, wherein said second opening of said first plate is aligned with said vent; wherein said second plate is movable from a first position, wherein said first opening of said second plate is aligned with said vent, to a second position, wherein said second opening of said second plate is aligned with said vent; and wherein movement of said first plate from said first position of said first plate to said second position of said first plate disengages said movement prevention feature.
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13. An air bag system comprising:
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an inflator operable to release inflation fluid; an inflatable cushion, said cushion being inflatable upon release of inflation fluid from said inflator; an air bag housing substantially surrounding said cushion, said housing having a vent for venting inflation fluid released by said inflator; a first plate moveable relative to said air bag housing and including a first portion defining at least a first opening with a nonzero area and a second portion defining at least a second opening with a nonzero area, said first plate being movable from a first position wherein said first opening of said first plate is aligned with said vent to a second position wherein said second opening of said first plate is aligned with said vent; a second plate moveable relative to said air bag housing and including a first portion defining at least a first opening with a nonzero area and a second portion defining at least a second opening with a nonzero area, said second plate being movable from a first position wherein said first opening of said second plate is aligned with said vent to a second position wherein said second opening of said second plate is aligned with said vent;
wherein said first plate and said second plate interact to define at least four distinct vent areas. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification