Airbag with slit vent
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An airbag comprising:
- a panel defining at least a portion of an inflatable chamber that is configured to receive inflation gas;
a slit vent comprising an aperture, wherein the aperture is bordered by opposing first and second portions of the panel and is configured to transition from a closed orientation to an open orientation when stresses on the panel move the first and second portions away from each other;
a flap comprising a fixed end and a transitional end, wherein the fixed end is permanently attached to the second portion of the panel, and wherein the transitional end is configured to be unattached to the first portion of the panel to permit inflation gas to exit from the aperture when the slit vent is in the open orientation;
a first reinforcing seam and a second reinforcing seam, wherein the first and second reinforcing seams are configured to maintain the first and second portions of the panel approximated to each other when the slit vent is in the closed orientation, andwherein the flap is attached to the panel by the first reinforcing seam.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag can include a panel that defines at least a portion of an inflatable chamber. The airbag can also include a slit vent that is at least partially defined by the panel. One or more seams can encompass the slit vent and can permit the slit vent to naturally be in a closed orientation.
167 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An airbag comprising:
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a panel defining at least a portion of an inflatable chamber that is configured to receive inflation gas; a slit vent comprising an aperture, wherein the aperture is bordered by opposing first and second portions of the panel and is configured to transition from a closed orientation to an open orientation when stresses on the panel move the first and second portions away from each other; a flap comprising a fixed end and a transitional end, wherein the fixed end is permanently attached to the second portion of the panel, and wherein the transitional end is configured to be unattached to the first portion of the panel to permit inflation gas to exit from the aperture when the slit vent is in the open orientation; a first reinforcing seam and a second reinforcing seam, wherein the first and second reinforcing seams are configured to maintain the first and second portions of the panel approximated to each other when the slit vent is in the closed orientation, and wherein the flap is attached to the panel by the first reinforcing seam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An airbag comprising:
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a panel defining at least a portion of an inflatable chamber that is configured to receive inflation gas from an inflator; a slit vent comprising an elongated aperture, wherein the aperture is bordered by opposing first and second portions of the panel and is configured to transition from a closed orientation to an open orientation when stresses on the panel move the first and second portions away from each other; a flap comprising a fixed end and a transitional end, wherein the fixed end is permanently attached to the second portion of the panel, and wherein the transitional end is configured to be unattached to the first portion of the panel to permit inflation gas to exit from the aperture when the slit vent is in the open orientation; a first reinforcing seam at a first side of the slit vent; and a second reinforcing seam at a second side of the slit vent, wherein the first and second reinforcing seams are configured to maintain the first and second portions of the panel approximated to each other when the slit vent is in the closed orientation, and wherein the flap is attached to the panel via only the first reinforcing seam. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification