Active airbag venting system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag assembly comprising:
- a housing;
an inflatable airbag disposed within the housing;
a vent formed in the airbag,a flap attached to an exterior of the airbag that covers the vent, the flap being selectively actuatable to open the vent; and
a tether exterior to the airbag having a first end fixed to the flap and a second end detachably fixed to the housing,wherein the vent is opened by the tether when the airbag deploys and the second end of the tether remains fixed to the housing to allow the first end of the tether to pull the flap away from the vent; and
the vent remains closed when the airbag deploys and the second end of the tether is detached from the housing to prevent the first end of the tether from pulling the flap away from the vent; and
wherein the tether is detachable from the housing by a tether detachment device including a movable blade positioned adjacent the housing that is operable to cut the tether.
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Abstract
An airbag assembly including an airbag inflatable from a housing in operation with an occupant classification system is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure. The occupant classification system is incorporated into a vehicle seat and is in communication with the airbag. A selectively actuatable vent formed in the airbag is opened during deployment of the airbag based on a determination from the occupant classification system.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An airbag assembly comprising:
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a housing; an inflatable airbag disposed within the housing; a vent formed in the airbag, a flap attached to an exterior of the airbag that covers the vent, the flap being selectively actuatable to open the vent; and a tether exterior to the airbag having a first end fixed to the flap and a second end detachably fixed to the housing, wherein the vent is opened by the tether when the airbag deploys and the second end of the tether remains fixed to the housing to allow the first end of the tether to pull the flap away from the vent; and
the vent remains closed when the airbag deploys and the second end of the tether is detached from the housing to prevent the first end of the tether from pulling the flap away from the vent; andwherein the tether is detachable from the housing by a tether detachment device including a movable blade positioned adjacent the housing that is operable to cut the tether. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An airbag assembly, comprising:
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an airbag inflatable from a housing; an occupant classification system incorporated into a vehicle seat; a vent formed in the airbag that is opened during deployment of the airbag based on a command received from the occupant classification system; a flap connected to an exterior of the airbag that covers the vent, the flap being selectively actuatable to open the vent; and a tether exterior to the airbag having a first end fixed to the flap and a second end detachably fixed to the housing, wherein the vent is opened by the tether when the airbag deploys by, based on the command received from the occupant classification system, the second end of the tether remaining fixed to the housing to allow the first end of the tether to pull the flap away from the vent; the vent remains closed when the airbag deploys by, based on the command received from the occupant classification system, the second end of the tether being detached from the housing to prevent the first end of the tether from pulling the flap away from the vent; and wherein the tether is detachable from the housing by a tether detachment device including a movable blade disposed proximate the housing that is operable to cut the tether. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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Specification