Abstract: An air bag module, having a housing with at least one vent opening; an inflatable cushion being stored in an un-deployed position in the housing; an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion; a deployable member being configured to cover the at least one vent opening; a tether element being secured to the inflatable cushion at one end and the deployable member at the other; an actuator adapted to restrain or release the tether element wherein the deployable member is pulled away from the at least one vent opening when the actuator releases the tether, the at least one vent opening is in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion when the deployable member is pulled away.

Abstract: An air bag module, having a housing with at least one vent opening; an inflatable cushion being stored in an un-deployed position in the housing; an inflator for inflating the inflatable cushion, the inflator being in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion; a deployable member being configured to cover the at least one vent opening; a tether element being secured to the inflatable cushion at one end and the deployable member at the other; an actuator adapted to restrain or release the tether element wherein the deployable member is pulled away from the at least one vent opening when the actuator releases the tether, the at least one vent opening is in fluid communication with the inflatable cushion when the deployable member is pulled away.

Abstract: An air bag module includes an air bag and an inflator for generating gas to inflate the air bag. The module further includes a bias apparatus including first and second bias flaps being separate and independent from each other. The bias flaps cooperatively define an overlapped portion located atop the air bag prior to inflation such that the inflating air bag is biased when the overlapped portion is restricted and the inflating air bag is unrestrained when the overlapped portion is unrestricted. Preferably, the first and second flaps each have a fixed edge attached to the vehicle and each have a free edge opposite the fixed edge. The free edges of the first and second bias flaps overlap each other to define the overlapped portion.

Abstract: A supplemental inflatable restraint is provided including an air bag housing positioned in an instrument panel lower surface with an open end extending toward the seated occupant, the open end having a top and a bottom; and an air bag which has a lower lobe for contact with lower extremities of a seated occupant and an upper lobe for contact with the torso of a seated occupant. The upper and lower lobes are separated by a first tether extending from an area generally adjacent to the top of the housing projecting generally toward the seated occupant. The air bag has a pressure restrictor creating a pressure differential between the upper and lower lobes. The upper lobe is subdivided by a second tether from an area adjacent to the top of the housing to an end of the upper lobe generally opposite the lower lobe.

Abstract: A particulate impingement device is carried by the air bag and has an impingement surface overlying the vent hole at a spaced relationship away from the vent hole so that the inflation gas exiting the air bag through the vent hole impinges on the impingement surface to deposit particulate by-products within the inflation gas upon the impingement surface.

Abstract: A restraint cushion is comprised of first and second fabric panels. Each of the two fabric panels is folded and interleaved with the other to form the restraint cushion. A single continuous seam interconnects the mating edges of the two panels. The restraint cushion has a generally cubic shape defined by top, bottom, forward, rearward, left, and right side. Each of the two fabric panels is a generally elongate continuous strip folded to a U-shape and interleaved with the other to form the cubic shape of the restraint cushion. The restraint cushion minimizes the number of panels used in forming the restraint cushion and minimizes the number of seams sewn to interconnect the panels so that the assembly costs of the restraint cushion are reduced.

Abstract: A new and improved air bag module of lightweight construction includes a rectangular support frame defining an open mouth for the mounting of an air bag and having spaced apart opposing end walls and spaced apart opposing side walls. An inflator support depends from each of the end walls of the rectangular support frame to support the inflator beneath the support frame. A liner of flexible sheet material, such as air bag material, has a rim portion adapted for attached to the support frame and a side wall portion suspended from the support frame and reaching between the spaced apart inflator supports whereby upon actuation of the inflator, the inflation gas is contained by the liner and exhausted through the open mouth. In a preferred embodiment, the liner of flexible sheet material has end walls and side walls which are suspended from the support frame and surround the inflator. A support loop may be provided intermediate the inflator supports to control outward expansion of the liner by the inflation gas.

Abstract: A supplemental inflatable restraint system including a compressed gas storage unit containing a compressed gas at a pressure and a two-state pressure switch attached to the compressed gas storage unit and responsive to the pressure of the compressed gas, the two-state pressure switch having a closed state in which current flows through the switch when the pressure of the compressed gas is above a threshold and an open state in which current does not flow through the switch when the pressure of the compressed gas is below the threshold includes a control circuit wherein a diode is connected in parallel with the pressure switch to form a parallel circuit with the pressure switch, an initiator is coupled in series with the parallel circuit of the diode and the pressure switch, a first electric line is connected to a first end of the series circuit and a second electric line is connected to a second end of the series circuit, wherein the series circuit has a first impedance when the pressure switch is closed, ind

Abstract: An occupant restraining inflatable cushion apparatus includes a gas generator used to inflate an inflatable fabric cushion which is packaged about the gas generator in a deflated condition. The cushion and gas generator are connected with a closed end of a housing having diverging side walls. The side walls of the housing have venting apertures. The side wall of the cushion also has apertures which, upon inflation of the air bag, register with the apertures in the housing, allowing aspiration of the air bag through the side walls of the housing. Therefore, direct venting through the air bag into the vehicle occupant compartment is avoided.