With Confinement Deflation Means Patents (Class 280/739)
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Publication number: 20130119645Abstract: An airbag module for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag module comprising a gas bag, which is inflatable by means of a gas generator for the protection of a person, and a vent opening through which gas originating from the airbag module can escape, and a device for controlling the outlet cross-section of the vent opening, which comprises at least one covering member with which the vent opening can be covered, in order to at least partly close the same, and which furthermore comprises an actuating mechanism which cooperates with the covering member, in order to vary the outlet cross-section of the vent opening. The actuating mechanism includes a gas source and an element inflatable by means of the gas source, which during inflation cooperates with the covering member such that it effects a change in the outlet cross-section of the vent opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2012Publication date: May 16, 2013Applicant: TAKATA AGInventor: TAKATA AG
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Patent number: 8434786Abstract: A front airbag including a sub-string and a vent. The front airbag attenuates impact in order to provide protection to a child or an occupant in an abnormal position on a passenger seat. Upon a vehicle collision, the front airbag discharges internal air through a vent provided at the lateral surface of the front airbag, if the front airbag is not inflated at the front, but is instead laterally inflated. The front airbag includes a main tether provided at a central portion of an airbag cushion, a vent selectively discharging air to an outside from the front airbag, and a sub-string, connected to and between the main tether, to control opening/closing of the vent part.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Sung Geun Jang, Ho Yong Lee
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Patent number: 8424907Abstract: An airbag is provided with a vent hole and a patch closing the vent hole. The airbag has a conically-shaped protrusion with the front narrowed when inflation is finished. The vent hole and patch are at the vehicle body side wall of the protrusion. The airbag has the reaction force-receiving contact portion that is partially recessed toward an occupant by receiving a reaction force substantially opposite to the approach direction of the occupant from the reaction force-applying support portion of the vehicle body structure when the occupant is cushioned, at the vehicle body side wall of the protrusion. The patch is positioned where the vent hole can keep closed when the airbag finishes inflating. The patch is not pressed against the reaction force-applying support portion but is spaced from the circumferential edge portion of the vent hole that moves when the reaction force-receiving contact portion is recessed.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2012Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akitoshi Naganawa, Naohiko Ishiguro
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Patent number: 8419055Abstract: An airbag, wherein gas is appropriately discharged from a vent hole by preventing a vent hole cover from being positionally displaced relative to the vent hole. An airbag (30) is provided with a cover guide member (70) which allows a vent hole cover (60) to move at a predetermined bag inner pressure to open a vent hole (34). The cover guide member has an opening (77) formed at a position corresponding to the vent hole.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2009Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yusuke Chida, Makoto Nagai, Hiroyuki Nozaki
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Patent number: 8419054Abstract: An airbag that can inflate without using a high-power inflator, and an airbag apparatus provided with such an airbag are disclosed. In one form, the airbag, when inflating, has a normally open vent hole disposed in a rear panel in a region extending toward the center of a steering wheel from the rim of the steering wheel and an openable vent hole disposed in a region extending toward the outside of the steering wheel from the rim. The openable vent hole is covered by a cover. The cover and a strap inside the airbag are connected to each other with a tether. From the commencement of inflation of the airbag, the cover is placed over the openable vent hole to close the openable vent hole.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2008Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Kazuhiro Abe
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Patent number: 8419058Abstract: An air bag module (30) includes an air bag (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition and a structure (34) for supporting the air bag. A first tether (106) has a first end connected to the structure via an actuatable fastener (122) and an opposite second end connected to the air bag (14). A second tether (104) having a first end secured to the first tether (106) by a releasable connection (132) at a location between the first and second ends of the first tether. The second tether has a second end connected to a deployable portion of the air bag (14).Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould, Simon Kramer, Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier, Jochen Weiss, Bernd Issler
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Patent number: 8419056Abstract: An example airbag assembly an airbag, a duct having an duct opening for venting gas outside the airbag, and a flap moveable from a first position to a second position. The duct is configured to direct more gas outside the airbag when the flap is in the first position than when the flap is in the second position. A tether is configured to move the flap from the first position to the second position.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2012Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Patent number: 8414023Abstract: An airbag includes a tuck that is formed by tucking a part of the outer circumferential wall toward an interior of the airbag. The tuck includes two opposing walls, a turn-round region that forms a bottom of the tuck and outermost ends of the opposing walls adjacent to and continuing to an outer surface of the airbag. The airbag further includes a temporary joint that joins the opposing walls of the tuck together in such a manner as to disjoint when an inner pressure of the airbag at inflation is increased. The temporary joint is formed into such a line that extends toward the turn-round region and has a first end proximate the outermost ends and a second end in the vicinity of the turn-round region.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akitoshi Naganawa, Naohiko Ishiguro
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Patent number: 8403362Abstract: A restraint system having support elements can be transferred from a storage position to a restraint position. Flexible casing elements are disposed between the support elements and have air flow openings, such that the support elements having the flexible casing elements enclose a restraint volume in the restraint position. A resistance element is disposed at each of the air flow openings in order to impede or prevent the escape of air from the restraint volume compared to the inflow at the respective air flow opening. Such resistance elements may be formed by a second layer, displaced fabric threads, flexible fabric web sections and other elements such that a check valve function is provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2008Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Daimler AGInventors: Karl-Heinz Baumann, Andreas Hirth, Lutz Quarg, Friedrich Reiter, Clark Ruedebusch
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Patent number: 8382154Abstract: The present invention provides an airbag device that is capable of restraining a rectification cloth that switches a vent hole to an opened or closed state so as not to be twisted, and that is capable of switching the vent hole from an opened state to a closed state, and further, switching to the opened state. At an initial stage at which an airbag main body inflates and expands, the vent hole 8 is arranged between the leg portions 5, and when the airbag main body is in a predetermined internal pressure state, the vent hole is closed by means of the band-shaped portion 4. If an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag main body, a tense state of each of the leg portions is released, the rectification cloth is established in a slackened state, and the vent hole 8 is established in an opened state.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2011Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masato Suzuki, Hiroyuki Iwamoto
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Patent number: 8374752Abstract: A device and a method for activating a personal protection device are provided, in which a feature vector with at least two features is formed by an evaluation circuit from at least one signal of an accident sensor system. The evaluation circuit classifies the feature vector in the corresponding dimension using at least one class boundary. The activation circuit generates an activation signal which activates the personal protection device.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2007Date of Patent: February 12, 2013Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Joerg Breuninger, Josef Kolatschek
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Publication number: 20130033024Abstract: An airbag has a fabric enclosure, a vent in the fabric enclosure, and a flow control device made up of a flexible membrane fastened around part of a periphery thereof to the fabric enclosure adjacent to the vent. The membrane defines a flow passage having a free end through which inflation gas is vented to atmosphere and has a tongue extending away from the free end. The tongue has a pre-deployment position in which it overlies an inner surface of the fabric enclosure and a distal end of the tongue extends past an end of the vent closest to the free end. A first distance from the distal end of the tongue to a closest end of the vent may be shorter than a second distance from the distal end of the tongue to a closest end of fastening between the periphery of the membrane and the fabric enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2012Publication date: February 7, 2013Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: Paul Mark Marable, Tim Scott, Allen Charles Bosio
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Patent number: 8353532Abstract: [Subject] To provide an airbag and an airbag apparatus which are able to absorb an impact of an occupant even when a gas inflator is downsized and to fulfill demands such as downsizing, cost reduction, weight reduction, and the like of the airbag apparatus. [Solving Means] A airbag apparatus in the present invention includes an inflator (gas generator) 1 configured to generate gas under predetermined conditions, an airbag 2 being connected to the inflator 1 and configured to be inflated and deployed, and a retainer (not shown) configured to store the airbag 2, the airbag 2 includes a vent hole 3 formed on an outer shell of the airbag 2 and opening and closing means 4 configured to open and close the vent hole 3, the opening and closing means 4 is configured to maintain the vent hole 3 in a substantially closed state until inflation and deployment of the airbag 2 are completed and bring the vent hole 3 into a fully-opened state before a flattening amount of the airbag 2 reaches a predetermined reference value.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2008Date of Patent: January 15, 2013Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Masayoshi Kumagai
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Patent number: 8342570Abstract: An air bag system for a vehicle includes an air bag body formed by stitching base fabric material, an inflator that charges the air bag body with gas, and a vent hole that is a through hole provided in the air bag body so as to communicate the inside with the outside of the air bag body. The vent hole of the air bag body is formed to be slit-like and longer in a longitudinal direction thereof. The air bag body includes two base fabric pieces having overlapping side ends that are joined together, a tensile-force applying mechanism that applies tensile-force in the longitudinal direction of the vent hole, including a pair of V-shaped stitched lines bent in a sharply angled V-shape and formed on the side ends of the two base fabric pieces with a predetermined distance therebetween that defines the slit-like vent hole, and portions of the side ends aligned with vent hole along the gas discharge direction form a flow-passage restriction membrane.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2011Date of Patent: January 1, 2013Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hitoshi Higuchi
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Patent number: 8328232Abstract: An airbag apparatus includes an airbag. The airbag includes a gas releasing valve having first and second valve body portions each have a flexible portion. The flexible portions are flexible toward a released gas downstream side of inflation gas. An auxiliary joint portion joins the first and second valve body portions to each other and extending, from a position in the vicinity of and on a released gas upstream side of the flexible portion, further toward the released gas upstream side. A flex-resistant portion that extends in the gas releasing direction and is less flexible than the flexible portion is arranged on the auxiliary joint portion of the gas releasing valve or in the vicinity of the auxiliary joint portion.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kensaku Honda, Yuji Sato, Koji Shibayama, Atsushi Nagata
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Patent number: 8328233Abstract: An active bolster for an automotive vehicle includes a bladder that inflates an interior trim area of the vehicle to provide a cushion to an occupant during a crash. The bladder has a front panel and a back panel joined to the front panel defining an inflatable cavity. The back panel has a variable vent for venting inflation gas supplied into the cavity during a crash event. The vent has a first predetermined flow coefficient when a pressure difference across the vent is substantially zero and a greater flow coefficient when there is a predetermined pressure difference across the vent. Little gas is lost during an inflation phase while sufficient venting is obtained during an impact phase.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2011Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: Raymond E. Kalisz
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Patent number: 8322748Abstract: [Object] To provide an airbag, an airbag apparatus, and an air-discharging method of the airbag which are able to reduce the pressure loss during inflation and deployment of the airbag, or is able to demonstrate the impact absorbing capability of the airbag apparatus efficiently depending on the physical structure of an occupant.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2008Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Takata CorporationInventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Yasuhito Miyata, Masayoshi Kumagai
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Publication number: 20120299277Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) comprising a panel (114) that at least partially defines an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent (100) includes a sidewall that extends through the panel (114) and defines a passage (134) for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). The vent (100) includes a first portion (102) extendable inside the inflatable volume (54) and an opposite second portion (104) extendable outside the inflatable volume. The vent (100) has an open condition in which the first portion (102) is maintained inside the inflatable volume (54) and thereby permits venting of inflation fluid through the passage (134), and a closed condition in which the first portion (102) is inverted and positioned in the second portion (104) thereby blocking inflation fluid from venting through the passage (134).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: November 29, 2012Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould, Roy C. Turnbull, John Klakulak
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Publication number: 20120280477Abstract: The airbag cushion has a passive venting system that remains open or transitions to a closed position depending on the impact of the airbag with an occupant and the position of the occupant. The venting system self closes upon deployment when an occupant is not out of position but remains open when an occupant is out of position. The venting system self closes due to cushion membrane tension.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.Inventors: Larry D. Young, Jeffrey D. Williams, John C. Newkirk
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Publication number: 20120274054Abstract: An example airbag assembly an airbag, a duct having an duct opening for venting gas outside the airbag, and a flap moveable from a first position to a second position. The duct is configured to direct more gas outside the airbag when the flap is in the first position than when the flap is in the second position. A tether is configured to move the flap from the first position to the second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Patent number: 8297651Abstract: A pre-crash side airbag device includes a side collision detection sensor, a pre-crash sensor, a main airbag, an auxiliary airbag, and a control unit. The side collision detection sensor detects a collision occurring at the side of a vehicle. The pre-crash sensor detects physical quantities related to the speed of an approaching object. The main airbag is deployed when a control signal is input. The auxiliary airbag is coupled to one side of the main airbag. The control unit controls the deployment of the main airbag and the auxiliary airbag depending on a pre-crash case where a high-speed side collision is expected and a normal case where a low-speed side collision is expected or the measurement value is erroneous.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Hyock In Kwon, Hyeong Ho Choi, Seung Woo Lee, Jae Ho Choi, Jun Yeol Choi
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Patent number: 8292325Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a gas bag inflatable with gas, which includes at least one first fabric layer and one second fabric layer, which are connected with each other along their edge by means of a peripheral seam, and at least one outflow opening via which gas can flow out of the gas bag, wherein the outflow opening is formed by an interruption of the peripheral seam, wherein the peripheral seam is interrupted such that it comprises on both sides of the outflow opening a portion extending substantially vertical to the adjoining edge of the gas bag and ending at the edge of the gas bag, and at least one additional seam formed in the region of the outflow opening is provided, which at least partly closes the outflow opening, wherein the additional seam is designed such that it opens during the inflation process.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2011Date of Patent: October 23, 2012Assignee: Takata AGInventors: Karsten Hallbauer, Martin Schwann
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Patent number: 8282122Abstract: An airbag assembly for a motor vehicle is disclosed having an airbag 110 that is inflated by an inflator when the airbag 110 is deployed in accordance with a control signal from an electronic controller. The airbag 110 has a main chamber 114 and at least one subsidiary chamber 116 fluidly connected to the main chamber 114 by a transfer vent 117. The main and subsidiary chambers 114 and 116 are vented to atmosphere by respective vents 115, 118 and the pressure in the subsidiary chamber 116 is arranged to be equal to or lower than the pressure in the main chamber 114. The subsidiary chamber 116 is produced in a simple manner by forming a depression in the main chamber 114 using a tether 124 and covering the depression so formed with a cover 125.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Paul Mark Marable, Timothy Scott, Allen C. Bosio
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Patent number: 8276940Abstract: An airbag arrangement includes an airbag with at least one inflatable chamber and a first opening; and a cover that at least partially covers the first opening of the airbag and that comprises a second opening. The first and second openings are designed such that the chamber of the airbag is accessible through the first and second openings. The first opening is designed in a first layer of an airbag material and the second opening is designed in a second layer of an airbag material. At least one part projects into the airbag through the first and the second opening, whereby the first and the second layer are restrained by the part projecting into the airbag in the area of the openings such that a section of the rim of the first and a section of the rim of the second opening rest closely against the part.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2011Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Takata AGInventor: Jens Feller
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Patent number: 8276939Abstract: An airbag for a vehicle occupant protective system comprises an inflatable cushion, a cinch tube circumventing a vent aperture disposed in the cushion, and a draw element guided in a circumventing channel of said cinch tube and being coupled to a surface of said cushion such that deployment of said cushion causes said draw element to contract said cinch tube. The airbag comprises a contraction limiting arrangement adapted to limit the contraction of said cinch tube by said draw element to a predetermined minimum free diameter d of at least 20% relative to the free diameter D of the open cinch tube.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2009Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventors: Klaus-Peter Kühne, Karl-Heinz Sommer, Thomas Reiter, Marcus Weber, Marc Schock, Jörg Albert, Tomas Ågren, David Jacobsson, Jonas H. Gustafsson, Ulrika Fredriksson
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Patent number: 8267425Abstract: An air bag system for a vehicle including an air bag in a folded state and installed in a vehicle. The air bag is inflated and expanded by gas from an inflator, which introduces gas into the air bag. A vent hole is formed in at least one base fabric piece of the air bag so as to establish a communication path between an inside and an outside of the air bag through which gas may be discharged from the inside toward the outside of the air bag. A blocking member is supported on the base fabric piece to block up the vent hole. A guide portion is provided to slidably support the blocking member and to restrict the position of the blocking member relative to the vent hole. A sliding resistance increasing portion is provided on at least either one of the guide portion and the blocking member, so as to increase a sliding resistance between the guide portion and the blocking member when the blocking member slides.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2010Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yusuke Chida, Makoto Nagai, Hiroyuki Nozaki
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Patent number: 8267426Abstract: An airbag for a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag includes two covering sections of an airbag covering facing each other, a discharge opening formed in one of the two covering sections for discharging gas, a connecting means for forming a releasable connection between the two covering sections, wherein upon inflation of the airbag the connection counters an escape of gas, and wherein upon inflation of the airbag the connecting means interacts with the airbag covering so that the connection is released and gas can escape out of the discharge opening. The two covering sections each form an airbag layer which are connected to each other for forming the airbag covering and which upon inflation of the airbag move away from each other. The airbag layers moving away from each other introduce a force into the connecting means so that the connections between the two covering sections are released.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2011Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Takata AGInventors: Uwe Klaiber, Michael Knoblauch
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Patent number: 8262129Abstract: An occupant protection device includes a plurality of gas generators that actuate respective mechanisms, and a control portion that actuates the gas generators. If a condition for actuating at least one of the gas generators is fulfilled and a condition for actuating the other gas generators are unfulfilled, the other gas generators are controlled by the control portion at a timing that is uninfluential on an actuation state of one of the mechanism actuated by the one of the gas generators and that is different from a preset timing for actuating the other mechanisms actuated by the other gas generators.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Shuji Yamada
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Patent number: 8262130Abstract: An apparatus (10) for helping to protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. Tear stitching (200) interconnects portions (220 and 230) of the protection device (14) and is rupturable to permit the interconnected portions to move relative to each other. The tear stitching (200) includes a break point (210) and first and second segments (212) that extend away from the break point. The tear stitching (200) is arranged on the protection device (14) such that tension forces acting to rupture the tear stitching act primarily on the break point (210) so that the tear stitching ruptures first at the break point and then along the first and second segments (212) of the tear stitching.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2008Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, John Klakulak, Heather R. Kramer, Alberto Rodriguez
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Patent number: 8251398Abstract: An exemplary airbag assembly includes an airbag and a duct having an duct opening for venting gas. The duct has a first position and a second position. The duct is configured to direct less gas out of the airbag when in the second position than when in the first position. A tether kinks about the duct to move the duct from the first position to the second position. The inflating causes the tether to kink about the duct.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2011Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
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Publication number: 20120193900Abstract: An airbag is provided with a vent hole and a patch closing the vent hole. The airbag has a conically-shaped protrusion with the front narrowed when inflation is finished. The vent hole and patch are at the vehicle body side wall of the protrusion. The airbag has the reaction force-receiving contact portion that is partially recessed toward an occupant by receiving a reaction force substantially opposite to the approach direction of the occupant from the reaction force-applying support portion of the vehicle body structure when the occupant is cushioned, at the vehicle body side wall of the protrusion. The patch is positioned where the vent hole can keep closed when the airbag finishes inflating. The patch is not pressed against the reaction force-applying support portion but is spaced from the circumferential edge portion of the vent hole that moves when the reaction force-receiving contact portion is recessed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2012Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI., LTD.Inventors: Akitoshi NAGANAWA, Naohiko ISHIGURO
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Patent number: 8226116Abstract: A vehicle airbag system may include an inflator supplying a gas to an airbag cushion, an airbag housing coupled with the inflator and having a housing vent hole to discharge a part of the gas supplied from the inflator, a retainer mounted in the airbag housing and coupled to the inflator, wherein the airbag cushion covers an opening of the retainer to supply the gas in the airbag cushion, the retainer including a guide hole and a retainer vent hole, and a tether connected to the airbag cushion at a first end portion thereof and fixed to the airbag housing at a second end portion thereof by passing through the guide hole of the retainer, wherein the tether includes a communication portion at the second portion thereof to form a hole therein so as to selectively permit an gas commutation between the airbag cushion and the outside through the retainer vent hole, the housing vent hole, and the hole of the communication portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.Inventor: Jae Haeng Yoo
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Patent number: 8215669Abstract: An airbag has a skin enclosing a gas chamber and the skin has a vent which is closed in the resting state of the airbag and which opens when the pressure in the gas chamber exceeds a pre-determined value is described. The vent includes a vent hole in the skin and a tearable connection closing the vent hole in the resting state of the airbag. The airbag is folded to a package at least along a first direction and the tearable connection connects the skin around the vent hole directly to itself such that the tearable connection extends from a first point to a second point. In order to ensure that the vent remains closed during deployment and that the vent opens after the pressure inside the gas chamber exceeds a predetermined value within a rather small tolerance of the pressure, the line connecting the two points encloses an angle between 30° and 60° with the first direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2009Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Autoliv Development ABInventor: Alan Bradburn
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Patent number: 8215668Abstract: Disclosed is a vehicle including a seat on which a passenger may be seated; an airbag cushion that is expanded according to an inflow of a gas to protect the passenger seated on the seat; an inflator that introduces the gas into the airbag cushion; a first vent hole provided at the airbag cushion to exhaust therethrough the gas introduced from the inflator; a second vent hole provided at the airbag cushion to face the passenger to exhaust therethrough the gas introduced from the inflator; and a vent amount adjustment member connected to the second vent hole to adjust the amount of the gas exhausted through the second vent hole depending on whether an adult is seated on the seat or a child restraint system is installed on the seat.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2009Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yeong Gi Cho, Yeon Kyeong Kim, Gun Woo Kim
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Publication number: 20120153603Abstract: An airbag cushion of flexible sheet material has a vent opening therein with a vent cover of flexible sheet material stitched to an interior surface of the airbag cushion aligned with the vent opening in the airbag cushion to form a pocket. The vent cover has a vent opening therein that allows airbag inflation gas to escape from the airbag cushion via the vent opening in the airbag cushion. A vent flap of flexible sheet material is disposed at least partially within the pocket and inboard of the vent openings in the airbag cushion and vent cover. The vent flap is fixed to at least one tether that extends outboard from the vent flap through an opening in the vent cover to a tether end that is permanently attached to the airbag cushion outboard of the vent cover. A tether extends inboard from vent flap to a tether end that is fixed in a releasable manner to a tether end securing device fixed to a module housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2010Publication date: June 21, 2012Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Heather Mallinger, Mary Raska, Derrick Ledford
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Patent number: 8191925Abstract: An inflatable airbag cushion assembly with a release device, at least one vehicle sensor, at least one vent strap, and at lest one dynamic vent. The vent strap, release device, and dynamic vent operate together such that the vent can adopt at least two configurations, with one of the configurations venting less inflation gas than the other.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2008Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey D. Williams
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Patent number: 8191926Abstract: Vents in inflatable airbags can be used to soften airbags during deployment by allowing inflation gas to exit from the interior of the airbag. Airbag vents can be used in conjunction with vents in an airbag housing and a vent panel that can align with airbag vent with the housing vent and cover the aperture of the housing vent.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2010Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: David W. Schneider
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Patent number: 8186713Abstract: An apparatus (10) helps protect an occupant (20) of a vehicle (12). The apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) that includes panel (100) of material that helps define an inflatable volume (54) of the protection device. A vent opening (104) vents inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (54). A pleat (120) is folded in the panel (100). The pleat (120) is positioned against a vehicle surface (62) while the protection device (14) is in a normally deployed condition to help block inflation fluid from venting through the vent opening (104).Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2006Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Heather Kramer, Alberto Rodriguez, Amit Sharma, John Bauer
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Patent number: 8186714Abstract: Vents in inflatable airbags can be used to soften airbags during deployment by allowing inflation gas to exit from the interior of the airbag. Airbag vents can be used in conjunction with vents in an airbag housing and a vent panel that can align with the airbag vent with the housing vent and cover the aperture of the housing vent.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2009Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.Inventor: David W. Schneider
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Patent number: 8172260Abstract: An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes a vertically extending central recess (200) and first and second lobes (202 and 204) positioned on opposite sides of the central recess. The central recess (200) and the first and second lobes (202 and 204) are defined at least partially by an elongated center panel (210) of the protection device (14). The center panel (210) includes first and second longitudinal edges (250 and 252) that are spaced apart from each other and that extend along the length of opposite edge portions of the center panel. The center panel (210) also includes first and second end portions (260 and 280) that are spaced apart and that are positioned opposite each other along the length of the center panel.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould
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Patent number: 8172261Abstract: An apparatus (10b) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14b). An inflation fluid source provides inflation fluid for inflating the protection device (14b). A structure (320) for supporting the protection device (14b) includes a vent opening (40b) for venting inflation fluid from the protection device. A vent member (300) is connectable to the structure (320) to block inflation fluid flow through the vent opening (40b). An actuatable device (120b) when actuated breaks the connection between the vent member (80b) and the structure (320) and moves the vent member away from the vent opening (40b) to permit inflation fluid venting. A flexible elongated member (350) has a first end (352) connected to the vent member (300) and a second end (354) connected to the structure (320). The member (350) secures the vent member (300) to the structure (320) after the connection between the vent member and the structure is broken.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Annmarie McMillan, Mary C. Raska
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Patent number: 8152199Abstract: An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide or envelope to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag. The valve sheet includes a tear tab to temporarily retain the valve sheet to the panel.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.Inventors: Barney J. Bauer, Moe M. Boumarafi, Jerome Bosch, Jonathan L. Clarke, Nate Dennis, James P. Karlow, Amy L. Klinkenberger, Vivekananadhan Maripudi, Michael J. Scavnicky, Jamie F. Perez Aguilar, Stephanie M. McFadden, Paul A. Baker, Paul G. Maertens, John Paul Ruterbusch, Ray John Roberts, Joseph M. Ehrke
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Patent number: 8146943Abstract: It is an object to ensure that, even when knee regions of an occupant are in a near state with respect to a storage section of a knee airbag at the time of a frontal collision of a vehicle, the knee regions can be restrained appropriately by the knee airbag. A knee airbag 14 stored in a folded state in a glove box door 22 (a storage section) receives a supply of a gas at the time of a frontal collision of a vehicle 18 and inflates and deploys toward knee regions 36K of an occupant 36 seated in a front passenger seat 12 (a vehicle seat). At this time, when the knee regions 36K of the occupant 36 are in a near state with respect to the glove box door 22, the gas inside the knee airbag 14 becomes ventable to the outside from a vent hole 16, The vent hole 16 appropriately vents this gas from the inside, of the knee airbag 14, and the reaction force of the knee airbag 14 with respect to the knee regions 36K are reduced.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Yasushi Itou, Tomoko Kurata
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Publication number: 20120074677Abstract: Provided are an airbag, an airbag device, and a method for sewing a lid member of an airbag that can make it easier to maintain the internal pressure until inflation and deployment of the airbag are completed and to quickly release gas after an occupant contacts the airbag. An airbag includes a vent hole for releasing gas supplied in the airbag, a lid member for making the vent hole openable and closable, and a tether for applying tension to the lid member. A seam formed by sewing the lid member to the airbag is disposed in a sewing region defined by a straight line shape spaced a predetermined distance from the vent hole, and a curved shape (most curved shape) formed by bringing both ends of the straight line shape close to a center line of the vent hole parallel to the straight line shape. The curvature of the seam can be regulated in view of the lap width between the lid member and the outer edge of the vent hole.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 29, 2012Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Mitsuo Maruoka, Makoto Ogawa, Yoshihiro Kobayashi
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Patent number: 8142534Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a filter is provided including a first layer of sheet material having a first base portion, and a plurality of first raised portions extending from the first base portion and defining a corresponding plurality of first openings through the first layer. A second layer of sheet material also has a second base portion and a plurality of second raised portions extending from the second base portion and defining a corresponding plurality of second openings through the sheet material. The second layer of sheet material is positioned adjacent the first layer of sheet material such that the first raised portions extend from the first base portion toward the second layer, and the second raised portions extend from the second base portion toward the first layer. A gas generating system and a vehicle occupant protection system utilizing the filter are also described.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2007Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.Inventors: David S. Whang, Kousuke Nishigaki
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Patent number: 8141902Abstract: An airbag (10) has a vent hole (18) in one side end portion. One end of a third base fabric (20) is sewn to the airbag (10) through a first sewn portion (23) that closes the vent hole (18), and the other end of the third base fabric 20 is sewn to the other side end portion of the airbag (10) through a second sewn portion (24). The first sewn portion (23) has weaker binding force by sewing than the second sewn portion (24) so that the first sewn portion (23) is separated to open the vent hole (18) when tension force is applied from the third base fabric (20) to the first and second sewn portions (23) and (24).Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2011Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation, Ashimori Industry Co., LtdInventors: Toshihiro Ishikawa, Naoki Yamaji, Tomoki Hashizume, Kazuhiko Soemoto, Keisuke Moritani
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Publication number: 20120068444Abstract: The present invention provides an airbag device that is capable of restraining a rectification cloth that switches a vent hole to an opened or closed state so as not to be twisted, and that is capable of switching the vent hole from an opened state to a closed state, and further, switching to the opened state. At an initial stage at which an airbag main body inflates and expands, the vent hole 8 is arranged between the leg portions 5, and when the airbag main body is in a predetermined internal pressure state, the vent hole is closed by means of the band-shaped portion 4. If an occupant or the like comes into contact with the airbag main body, a tense state of each of the leg portions is released, the rectification cloth is established in a slackened state, and the vent hole 8 is established in an opened state.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.Inventors: Masato Suzuki, Hiroyuki Iwamoto
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Patent number: 8135510Abstract: An on-board emergency reporting apparatus includes a collision detection sensor, an airbag inflator for inflating an airbag in the event of collision detection, an airbag deflator for deflating the inflated airbag, a camera for capturing an image of an occupant seated on a seat provided with the airbag, a controller for transmitting the captured image to an emergency reporting center through a communication device, and a deflation sensor for detecting whether the volume of the inflated airbag is reduced to a predetermined threshold value. The controller causes the camera to start capturing upon detection of a reduction in the volume of the inflated airbag to the predetermined threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Denso CorporationInventor: Kazuo Nakamura
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Patent number: 8128124Abstract: There is provided an airbag cushion which is configured to allow the joint between a distal end portion of a lid member and the airbag cushion by a separable joint member to be released easily and rapidly as a whole, and is able to be inflatable rapidly and substantially uniformly as a whole, and an airbag apparatus having the airbag cushion. A rear panel 14 of an airbag cushion 10 is provided with a vent hole 18 which communicates the interior and the exterior of the airbag cushion 10, and the vent hole 18 is covered with a lid member 60 from the inside of the airbag cushion 10. A distal end portion of the lid member 60 and portions of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14 of the airbag cushion 10 overlapped with the distal end portion of the lid member 60 are releasably joined by a tear seam 70.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Takata CorporationInventor: Kazuhiro Abe
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Patent number: 8123248Abstract: A plurality of vent holes are formed on an airbag body and each vent hole is blocked by an elongate blocking member. An end of the blocking member is fixed to the airbag body and other portions are temporarily fixed to an opposite inner surface of the airbag body. When the airbag body is inflated, at a portion abutting a shoulder of an occupant, the connecting member is loose, the blocking member blocks the vent hole, and thereby gas is not discharged. At portions other than the portion abutting the shoulder of the occupant, a temporary joint portion of the blocking member is pulled and peeled off, the vent holes are opened, and thereby the gas is discharged forward.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2010Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kazuya Yamane