Air bag with variable venting
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant;
a vent for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device, the vent comprising a vent opening with a flow area that can be adjusted to throttle inflation fluid flow through the vent;
a tether having a first connection with the vent and a second connection with the protection device, the second connection of the tether being positioned on the protection device such that deployment of the protection device throttles the vent toward an actuated condition, and occupant penetration into the protection device throttles the vent toward a non-actuated condition, anda guide connected to the protection device, the tether extending through the guide, wherein the guide is positioned on the protection device to move with the protection device in response to occupant penetration into the protection device, and wherein this guide movement causes the tether to slide through the guide and thereby throttle the vent;
wherein one of the non-actuated and actuated conditions is a closed condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) inflatable between a vehicle surface (36) and the vehicle occupant. A vent (160) releases inflation fluid from the protection device (14). The vent (160) includes a vent opening with a flow area that can be adjusted to throttle inflation fluid flow through the vent. A tether (150) has a first connection with the vent (160) and a second connection with the protection device (14). Tension on the tether (150) throttles the vent (160). The second connection of the tether is positioned on the protection device (14) such that deployment of the protection device throttles the vent (160) toward an actuated condition, and occupant (20) penetration into the protection device throttles the vent toward a non-actuated condition.
153 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant; a vent for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device, the vent comprising a vent opening with a flow area that can be adjusted to throttle inflation fluid flow through the vent; a tether having a first connection with the vent and a second connection with the protection device, the second connection of the tether being positioned on the protection device such that deployment of the protection device throttles the vent toward an actuated condition, and occupant penetration into the protection device throttles the vent toward a non-actuated condition, and a guide connected to the protection device, the tether extending through the guide, wherein the guide is positioned on the protection device to move with the protection device in response to occupant penetration into the protection device, and wherein this guide movement causes the tether to slide through the guide and thereby throttle the vent; wherein one of the non-actuated and actuated conditions is a closed condition blocking inflation fluid flow through the vent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant; a vent for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device; and a tether having a first connection with the vent and a second connection with the protection device, the second connection being positioned on the protection device such that initial large occupant penetration into the protection device at the location of the second connection throttles the vent due to displacement of the second connection upon initial penetration, and initial small occupant penetration into the protection device below the second connection does not throttle the vent due to displacement of the second connection upon initial penetration;
the apparatus further comprising at least one guide connected to the protection device, the tether extending through the guide, wherein the guide is positioned on the protection device to move with the protection device in response to occupant penetration into the protection device, and wherein this guide movement causes the tether to slide through the guide and thereby throttle the vent, wherein the guide is positioned on the protection device such that each of initial large and small occupant penetration causes the guide to move and thereby throttle the vent. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant; a vent for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device, the vent comprising a vent opening with a flow area that can be adjusted to throttle inflation fluid flow through the vent, wherein the vent has a condition that blocks inflation fluid flow through the vent; a tether having a first connection with the vent and a second connection with the protection device, tension on the tether throttling the vent; and a guide connected to the protection device, the tether extending through the guide, wherein the guide is positioned on the protection device to move with the protection device in response to occupant penetration into the protection device, and wherein this guide movement causes the tether to slide through the guide and thereby throttle the vent.
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Specification