Passive air bag with slack creator
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device configured to inflate between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant, the protection device comprising a front panel having a portion configured to be presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition;
a vent having at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and having an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition;
a tether having a first end connected to the vent for actuating the vent and a second end connected to the protection device; and
a guide member connected to the front panel for slidably receiving a portion of the tether between the first and second ends, first and second portions of the guide member being releasably connected together to define a slackened portion, the first and second portions remaining connected together in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree to prevent the tether from tensioning such that the vent is in the non-actuated condition, further deployment of the protection device to the predetermined degree releasing the connection between the first and second portions to allow the tether to tension and act on the vent to place the vent in the actuated condition based on a position of the occupant in the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first end connected to the vent for actuating the vent and a second end connected to the protection device. A guide member connected to the front panel slidably receives a portion of the tether between the first and second ends. First and second portions of the guide member are releasably connected together to define a slackened portion. The first and second portions remain connected together in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree to prevent the tether from tensioning such that the vent is in the non-actuated condition. Further deployment of the protection device to the predetermined degree releases the connection between the first and second portions to allow the tether to tension and act on the vent to place the vent in the actuated condition based on the position of the occupant in the vehicle.
53 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 configured to inflate between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant, the protection device comprising a front panel having a portion configured to be presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition; a vent having at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and having an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition; a tether having a first end connected to the vent for actuating the vent and a second end connected to the protection device; and a guide member connected to the front panel for slidably receiving a portion of the tether between the first and second ends, first and second portions of the guide member being releasably connected together to define a slackened portion, the first and second portions remaining connected together in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree to prevent the tether from tensioning such that the vent is in the non-actuated condition, further deployment of the protection device to the predetermined degree releasing the connection between the first and second portions to allow the tether to tension and act on the vent to place the vent in the actuated condition based on a position of the occupant in the vehicle. - 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, 24)
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25. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device configured to inflate between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant, the protection device comprising a front panel having a portion configured to be presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition; a vent having at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and having an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition; a tether having a first end connected to the vent for actuating the vent and a second end connected to the protection device, a resilient stop being provided on the first end of the tether for providing slack in the first end of the tether; a first guide member connected to the front panel, a portion of the tether between the first and second ends extending through the first guide member; and a second guide member connected to the protection device through which the first end of the tether extends for actuating the vent, the tether being slidable relative to the second guide member, the stop being positioned between the vent and the second guide member and being prevented from passing through an aperture in the second guide member in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree to prevent the tether from tensioning such that the vent is in the non-actuated condition, further deployment of the protection device to the predetermined degree causing the stop to pass through the second guide member to allow the tether to tension and act on the vent to place the vent in the actuated condition based on a position of the occupant in the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification