Airbag module
First Claim
1. An airbag system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an airbag including a vent and a vent cover configured to close the vent, an actuator, anda tether;
wherein the tether extends between the actuator and the airbag, the vent cover being positioned outside the airbag and between the tether and the airbag;
wherein during inflation of the airbag but prior to activation of the actuator, the tether is in tension so as to apply a normal force against the vent cover to maintain the vent in a closed state; and
wherein the actuator is configured to be activated to reduce or release tension in the tether to thereby reduce the normal force applied by the tether to the vent cover and allow inflation gas to move the vent cover to place the vent in an open state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag system for a vehicle includes an airbag having a vent and a vent cover configured to close the vent, an actuator, and a tether. The tether is connected between the actuator and the airbag. The vent cover is positioned outside the airbag and between the tether and the airbag. During inflation of the airbag but prior to activation of the actuator, the tether is in tension so as to apply a normal force against the vent cover to maintain the vent in a closed state. The actuator is configured to be activated to reduce or release tension in the tether to reduce the normal force applied by the tether to the vent cover and allow inflation gas to move the vent cover to place the vent in an open state.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An airbag system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an airbag including a vent and a vent cover configured to close the vent, an actuator, and a tether; wherein the tether extends between the actuator and the airbag, the vent cover being positioned outside the airbag and between the tether and the airbag; wherein during inflation of the airbag but prior to activation of the actuator, the tether is in tension so as to apply a normal force against the vent cover to maintain the vent in a closed state; and wherein the actuator is configured to be activated to reduce or release tension in the tether to thereby reduce the normal force applied by the tether to the vent cover and allow inflation gas to move the vent cover to place the vent in an open state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An airbag system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an airbag cushion having an airbag panel including a vent opening; a vent cover coupled to the panel and positioned over the vent opening; and a tether connected at a first end to an actuator and connected at a second end to the panel; wherein the vent cover is positioned between the tether and the airbag panel; wherein during inflation of the airbag cushion, the tether is held in tension between the actuator and the airbag panel so as to apply a normal force against the vent cover to inhibit release of inflation gas from the vent opening; and wherein the actuator is configured to reduce or release tension in the tether to reduce the normal force applied against the vent cover to increase release of inflation gas from the vent opening. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An airbag system for a vehicle, comprising:
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an airbag cushion having a vent; a secondary chamber coupled to the airbag cushion, the secondary chamber being positioned outside the airbag cushion and being in fluid communication with the vent; and a tether connected at a first end to an actuator and connected at a second end to the airbag cushion, a portion of the secondary chamber being positioned between the airbag cushion and the tether; wherein during inflation of the airbag cushion, the tether is held in tension between the actuator and the airbag cushion so as to apply a normal force against the secondary chamber to inhibit release of inflation gas from the airbag cushion. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification