With Confinement Deflation Means Patents (Class 280/739)
  • Publication number: 20130119645
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: TAKATA AG
    Inventor: TAKATA AG
  • Patent number: 8434786
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Sung Geun Jang, Ho Yong Lee
  • Patent number: 8424907
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akitoshi Naganawa, Naohiko Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 8419055
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Chida, Makoto Nagai, Hiroyuki Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8419054
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Abe
  • Patent number: 8419058
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould, Simon Kramer, Daniele Aranzulla, Martin Burkhardtsmaier, Jochen Weiss, Bernd Issler
  • Patent number: 8419056
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
  • Patent number: 8414023
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akitoshi Naganawa, Naohiko Ishiguro
  • Patent number: 8403362
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Karl-Heinz Baumann, Andreas Hirth, Lutz Quarg, Friedrich Reiter, Clark Ruedebusch
  • Patent number: 8382154
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Suzuki, Hiroyuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8374752
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Breuninger, Josef Kolatschek
  • Publication number: 20130033024
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Mark Marable, Tim Scott, Allen Charles Bosio
  • Patent number: 8353532
    Abstract: [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: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Masayoshi Kumagai
  • Patent number: 8342570
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8328232
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensaku Honda, Yuji Sato, Koji Shibayama, Atsushi Nagata
  • Patent number: 8328233
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Raymond E. Kalisz
  • Patent number: 8322748
    Abstract: [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: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Abe, Yasuhito Miyata, Masayoshi Kumagai
  • Publication number: 20120299277
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould, Roy C. Turnbull, John Klakulak
  • Publication number: 20120280477
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Larry D. Young, Jeffrey D. Williams, John C. Newkirk
  • Publication number: 20120274054
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
  • Patent number: 8297651
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Hyock In Kwon, Hyeong Ho Choi, Seung Woo Lee, Jae Ho Choi, Jun Yeol Choi
  • Patent number: 8292325
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Karsten Hallbauer, Martin Schwann
  • Patent number: 8282122
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Paul Mark Marable, Timothy Scott, Allen C. Bosio
  • Patent number: 8276940
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventor: Jens Feller
  • Patent number: 8276939
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Klaus-Peter Kühne, Karl-Heinz Sommer, Thomas Reiter, Marcus Weber, Marc Schock, Jörg Albert, Tomas Ågren, David Jacobsson, Jonas H. Gustafsson, Ulrika Fredriksson
  • Patent number: 8267425
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Chida, Makoto Nagai, Hiroyuki Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8267426
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Uwe Klaiber, Michael Knoblauch
  • Patent number: 8262129
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Shuji Yamada
  • Patent number: 8262130
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, John Klakulak, Heather R. Kramer, Alberto Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8251398
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert A. Parks, David L. Geyer, Peter L. Vigeant, Joseph Mannino
  • Publication number: 20120193900
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI., LTD.
    Inventors: Akitoshi NAGANAWA, Naohiko ISHIGURO
  • Patent number: 8226116
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corp.
    Inventor: Jae Haeng Yoo
  • Patent number: 8215669
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Alan Bradburn
  • Patent number: 8215668
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong Gi Cho, Yeon Kyeong Kim, Gun Woo Kim
  • Publication number: 20120153603
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Heather Mallinger, Mary Raska, Derrick Ledford
  • Patent number: 8191925
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Williams
  • Patent number: 8191926
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 8186713
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Heather Kramer, Alberto Rodriguez, Amit Sharma, John Bauer
  • Patent number: 8186714
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 8172260
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Douglas M. Gould
  • Patent number: 8172261
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Annmarie McMillan, Mary C. Raska
  • Patent number: 8152199
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 8146943
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Yasushi Itou, Tomoko Kurata
  • Publication number: 20120074677
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Teruhiko Hiruta, Mitsuo Maruoka, Makoto Ogawa, Yoshihiro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8142534
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: David S. Whang, Kousuke Nishigaki
  • Patent number: 8141902
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignees: Mazda Motor Corporation, Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ishikawa, Naoki Yamaji, Tomoki Hashizume, Kazuhiko Soemoto, Keisuke Moritani
  • Publication number: 20120068444
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: NIHON PLAST CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Suzuki, Hiroyuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8135510
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8128124
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Abe
  • Patent number: 8123248
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuya Yamane