Inflatable airbag assembly with an airbag housing vent panel
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
- an airbag housing having a vent aperture; and
an inflatable airbag coupled to the airbag housing, wherein the inflatable airbag has a vent aperture that is at least partially aligned with the vent aperture in the airbag housing; and
,an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable airbag, wherein the inflator is configured to be activated by a vehicle sensor; and
,a vent panel coupled to the airbag at a first location on an upper portion of the vent panel, wherein in a packaged configuration, the vent panel covers the vent aperture in the inflatable airbag, and wherein the vent panel is located between the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the housing vent aperture, andwherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, inflation gas causes at least a portion of the vent panel to be pushed away from the inflatable airbag vent aperture such that the vent panel is pushed partially through the vent aperture in the airbag housing to enable inflation gas to exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the vent apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, andwherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to be pushed away from the inflatable airbag vent aperture and partially through the vent aperture in the airbag housing, such that inflation gas continues to exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, andwherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel is pulled back through the housing vent aperture and pressed against a portion of the housing such that an amount inflation gas exiting the inflatable airbag assembly is reduced.
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Abstract
Vents in inflatable airbags can be used to soften airbags during deployment by allowing inflation gas to exit from the interior of the airbag. Airbag vents can be used in conjunction with vents in an airbag housing and a vent panel that can align with airbag vent with the housing vent and cover the aperture of the housing vent.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an airbag housing having a vent aperture; and an inflatable airbag coupled to the airbag housing, wherein the inflatable airbag has a vent aperture that is at least partially aligned with the vent aperture in the airbag housing; and
,an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable airbag, wherein the inflator is configured to be activated by a vehicle sensor; and
,a vent panel coupled to the airbag at a first location on an upper portion of the vent panel, wherein in a packaged configuration, the vent panel covers the vent aperture in the inflatable airbag, and wherein the vent panel is located between the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the housing vent aperture, and wherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, inflation gas causes at least a portion of the vent panel to be pushed away from the inflatable airbag vent aperture such that the vent panel is pushed partially through the vent aperture in the airbag housing to enable inflation gas to exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the vent apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to be pushed away from the inflatable airbag vent aperture and partially through the vent aperture in the airbag housing, such that inflation gas continues to exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel is pulled back through the housing vent aperture and pressed against a portion of the housing such that an amount inflation gas exiting the inflatable airbag assembly is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an airbag housing having a vent aperture; and an inflatable airbag coupled to the airbag housing, wherein the inflatable airbag has a vent aperture that is at least partially aligned with the vent aperture in the airbag housing; and
,an inflator in fluid communication with the inflatable airbag, wherein the inflator is configured to be activated by a vehicle sensor; and
,a vent panel coupled to the airbag at a first location on an upper portion of the vent panel, wherein in a packaged configuration, the vent panel covers the vent aperture in the inflatable airbag, and wherein the vent panel is located between the inflatable airbag vent aperture and the housing vent aperture, and wherein the vent panel comprises a plurality of extensions that extend away from the upper portion of the vent panel and are coupled to the housing such that the vent panel retains the airbag vent aperture in alignment with the housing vent aperture, and wherein during initial inflatable airbag deployment, inflation gas causes a second portion of vent panel, that is opposite the upper portion, to be pushed away from the inflatable airbag vent aperture such that the vent panel is pushed partially through the vent aperture in the airbag housing to permit inflation gas to exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the vent apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the vent panel continues to be pushed away from the inflatable airbag vent aperture and partially through the vent aperture in the airbag housing, such that inflation gas continues to exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, and wherein during inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the vent panel is pulled back through the housing vent aperture pressed against a portion of the housing such that an amount inflation gas exiting the inflatable airbag assembly is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An inflatable airbag assembly, comprising:
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an airbag housing having a vent aperture; and
,an inflatable airbag coupled to the airbag housing, wherein the inflatable airbag comprises a folded throat portion and a vent aperture, and wherein the throat portion is retained in a folded configuration via tear stitching, and wherein upon inflatable airbag deployment with obstruction, the tear stitching does not rupture and inflation gas can exit the inflatable airbag assembly via the vent apertures in the inflatable airbag and the housing, and wherein upon inflatable airbag deployment without obstruction, the tear stitching ruptures and the vent aperture of the inflatable airbag and the vent aperture of the housing become misaligned. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification