Dynamic airbag venting

• US 7,883,109 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 02/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Parks, Robert A., Mannino, Joseph, Vigeant, Peter L., Geyer, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US11/961,465
• Publication Number:
  US 20090160169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 280/739
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An example airbag assembly includes an airbag and a duct having an opening for venting gas. The duct moves between a first position where the opening is outside the airbag and a second position where the opening is inside the airbag. Inflating the airbag moves the duct between the first position and the second position.

Claims

1. An airbag assembly, comprising:

an airbag; and

a duct adjacent an airbag opening in said airbag and having a duct vent for venting gas from said duct, said duct moveable between a first arrangement that provides a first flow from said duct through the airbag opening and a second arrangement that provides a second flow from said duct through the airbag opening, said first flow greater than said second flow, wherein inflating said airbag with gas moving outside of said duct moves said duct between the first arrangement and the second arrangement, wherein said duct further comprises a mouth at an end of the duct opposite the duct vent, said mouth configured to communicate gas directly to an interior of said airbag such that the gas bypasses said duct.

2. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein said mouth is configured to communicate gas directly to an interior of said airbag when said duct is positioned in the first arrangement and the second arrangement.

3. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first arrangement of said duct includes a portion of said duct outside said airbag, and the second arrangement of said duct includes said portion of said duct within said airbag.

4. The airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the second flow comprises no flow.