Airbag cushion with vent tube
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag module, comprising:
- an airbag module housing, wherein the airbag module housing comprises at least one housing opening;
an inflatable airbag cushion disposed inside the airbag module housing,at least one vent tube protruding outwardly through the housing opening such that the at least one vent tube is open and can move relative to the at least one housing opening;
a protrusion stop coupled to the at least one vent tube and the inflatable airbag cushion,wherein the protrusion stop is positioned to engage an inner surface of the airbag module housing around the housing opening to limit the outward protrusion of the vent tube through the at least one housing opening and prevent more than a predetermined amount of the vent tube from protruding through the housing opening during and after packaging of the inflatable airbag cushion and prior to deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion;
whereby during deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the at least one vent tube remains open, continues to extend outwardly through the at least one housing opening, and vent inflation gas; and
during inflatable airbag cushion deployment without obstruction, inflation gas causes the inflatable airbag cushion to become tensioned to inwardly null at least a section of the at least one vent tube through the at least one housing opening and against the one housing opening so that the at least one vent tube at least partially closes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module comprising a housing with an inflatable airbag cushion disposed therein and at least one vent tube attached to the inflatable airbag cushion, wherein during inflatable airbag cushion deployment with an obstruction, the at least one vent tube remains open, and during inflatable airbag cushion deployment without an obstruction, the at least one vent tube at least partially closes.
34 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An airbag module, comprising:
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an airbag module housing, wherein the airbag module housing comprises at least one housing opening; an inflatable airbag cushion disposed inside the airbag module housing, at least one vent tube protruding outwardly through the housing opening such that the at least one vent tube is open and can move relative to the at least one housing opening; a protrusion stop coupled to the at least one vent tube and the inflatable airbag cushion, wherein the protrusion stop is positioned to engage an inner surface of the airbag module housing around the housing opening to limit the outward protrusion of the vent tube through the at least one housing opening and prevent more than a predetermined amount of the vent tube from protruding through the housing opening during and after packaging of the inflatable airbag cushion and prior to deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion; whereby during deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the at least one vent tube remains open, continues to extend outwardly through the at least one housing opening, and vent inflation gas; and
during inflatable airbag cushion deployment without obstruction, inflation gas causes the inflatable airbag cushion to become tensioned to inwardly null at least a section of the at least one vent tube through the at least one housing opening and against the one housing opening so that the at least one vent tube at least partially closes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An airbag module, comprising:
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an airbag module housing comprising at least one housing opening; an inflatable airbag cushion disposed within the airbag module housing; at least one vent tube attached to the inflatable airbag cushion and configured to extend from inside the airbag module housing and through the at least one housing opening and protrude outside of the airbag module housing; at least one member coupled to the vent tube such that when the vent tube protrudes through the opening in the housing up to and including a predetermined distance, the member is stopped by an interior surface of the housing such that further protrusion of the tube vent through the opening is limited; at least one diffuser disposed within the inflatable airbag cushion configured to re-direct inflation gas to the at least one vent tube from an inflator such that the gas exits the inflatable airbag cushion by way of the at least one vent tube when deployment of the airbag is obstructed; wherein during deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the at least one vent tube remains open; and wherein during inflatable airbag cushion deployment without obstruction, the at least one vent tube at least partially closes as the inflatable airbag cushion fully expands during deployment. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An airbag module, comprising:
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an airbag module housing, wherein the airbag module housing comprises at least one housing opening; an inflatable airbag cushion disposed inside the airbag module housing; at least one vent tube protruding outwardly through the housing opening such that the at least one vent tube is open and can move relative to the at least one housing opening; wherein the outward protrusion of the vent tube through the at least one housing opening is limited such that no more than a predetermined amount of the vent tube protrudes through the housing opening during and after packaging of the inflatable airbag cushion and prior to deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion; whereby during deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion with obstruction, the at least one vent tube remains open, continues to extend outwardly through the at least one housing opening, and vent inflation gas; and
during inflatable airbag cushion deployment without obstruction, inflation gas causes the inflatable airbag cushion to become tensioned to inwardly pull at least a section of the at least one vent tube through the at least one housing opening and against the one housing opening so that the at least one vent tube at least partially closes. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification