Claims
- 1. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
an inflator configured to provide pressurized inflation gas upon receipt of an inflation activation signal; a cushion configured to receive the inflation gas, the cushion having a venting portion with an open configuration in which inflation gas is able to exit the cushion through the venting portion, and a closed configuration in which the venting portion substantially blocks inflation gas flow through the venting portion; and a pyrotechnic configured to ignite in response to receipt of a venting activation signal to move the venting portion from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
- 2. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the cushion is incorporated in an airbag module selected from the group consisting of a driver's side front impact airbag module and a passenger's side front impact airbag module.
- 3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the cushion is incorporated in an airbag module selected from the group consisting of a side impact airbag module, a knee bolster module, and an overhead airbag module.
- 4. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnic is positioned proximate the venting portion so that ignition of the pyrotechnic forms an exit port in the venting portion.
- 5. The airbag module of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to at least partially contain the cushion prior to inflation, the housing having an exit port, wherein the venting portion comprises a flap positioned to cover the exit port in the closed configuration, wherein the pyrotechnic is positioned proximate the flap so that ignition of the pyrotechnic moves the flap to at least partially uncover the exit port.
- 6. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnic is coupled to an activation device configured to trigger ignition of the pyrotechnic after the cushion has substantially inflated to facilitate rapid inflation of the cushion.
- 7. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein in the open configuration, the venting portion comprises an exit port through which inflation gas is able to exit the cushion, the exit port having an area ranging from about 30 millimeters to about 40 millimeters.
- 8. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
a cushion configured to receive inflation gas, the cushion having a venting portion with an open configuration in which inflation gas is able to exit the cushion through the venting portion, and a closed configuration in which the venting portion substantially blocks inflation gas flow through the venting portion; and a pyrotechnic positioned proximate the venting portion, wherein the pyrotechnic is configured to ignite in response to receipt of a venting activation signal to form an exit port in the venting portion, thereby moving the venting portion from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
- 9. The airbag module of claim 8, further comprising a housing configured to at least partially contain the cushion prior to inflation.
- 10. The airbag module of claim 9, wherein the venting portion is disposed outside the housing when the cushion is inflated, wherein the venting portion is oriented to release inflation gas in a direction generally away from an occupant of the vehicle.
- 11. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the cushion is generally formed of a flexible material, wherein the venting portion comprises a frangible region of the flexible material.
- 12. The airbag module of claim 11, wherein the frangible region comprises at least one weakened section positioned to control a shape of the exit port.
- 13. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the cushion is generally formed of a flexible material, wherein the venting portion comprises a membrane attached to an opening of the flexible material, wherein ignition of the pyrotechnic forms the exit port in the membrane.
- 14. The airbag module of claim 13, wherein the membrane is retained by a pocket constructed substantially of the flexible material.
- 15. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the pyrotechnic is disposed within an initiator attached to the venting portion to mechanically rupture the venting portion as a result of ignition of the pyrotechnic.
- 16. The airbag module of claim 15, wherein the initiator is attached to the venting portion through the use of an attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of chemical bonding, adhesive bonding, sewing, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, and thermal welding.
- 17. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the pyrotechnic comprises a length of rapid deflagration cord attached to the venting portion to burn through the venting portion as a result of ignition of the rapid deflagration cord.
- 18. The airbag module of claim 17, wherein the length of rapid deflagration cord is coupled to a fuse so that the fuse is able to ignite the rapid deflagration cord.
- 19. The airbag module of claim 17, wherein the length of rapid deflagration cord is disposed in a generally circular pattern to form the exit port with a generally circular shape.
- 20. The airbag module of claim 17, wherein the length of rapid deflagration cord is attached to the venting portion through the use of an attachment mechanism selected from the group consisting of chemical bonding, adhesive bonding, sewing, and threading the rapid deflagration cord directly into the venting portion.
- 21. The airbag module of claim 8, further comprising a second pyrotechnic positioned proximate a second venting portion, wherein the second pyrotechnic is configured to ignite in response to receipt of a second venting activation signal to form a second exit port in a second venting portion, wherein the first and second pyrotechnics are configured to be ignited independently of each other to provide a plurality of venting options.
- 22. An airbag module for protecting an occupant of a vehicle from impact, the airbag module comprising:
a cushion configured to receive inflation gas, the cushion having a venting portion with an open configuration in which inflation gas is able to exit the cushion through the venting portion, and a closed configuration in which the venting portion substantially blocks inflation gas flow through the venting portion; and a pyrotechnic configured to ignite in response to receipt of a venting activation signal to release a flap of the venting portion, thereby moving the venting portion from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
- 23. The airbag module of claim 22, further comprising a housing configured to at least partially contain the cushion prior to inflation, the housing having an exit port.
- 24. The airbag module of claim 23, wherein the venting portion is disposed adjacent to the exit port so that the flap is able to uncover the exit port to move the venting portion from the closed configuration to the open configuration.
- 25. The airbag module of claim 24, wherein the flap comprises an anchoring end attached to the housing in such a manner that ignition of the pyrotechnic releases the anchoring end from the housing to permit motion of the flap to uncover the exit port.
- 26. The airbag module of claim 25, wherein the pyrotechnic is disposed within a pyrotechnically releasable bolt that attaches the anchoring end to the housing, wherein ignition of the pyrotechnic fractures the bolt to release the anchoring end from the housing.
- 27. The airbag module of claim 26, further comprising a second pyrotechnic disposed within a second pyrotechnically releasable bolt, wherein the first and second pyrotechnically releasable bolts attach the anchoring end to the housing through the use of a retaining rod that extends through an enclosure of the anchoring end.
- 28. The airbag module of claim 27, wherein the first and second pyrotechnics are configured to be independently ignited to permit selection between fracture of a single pyrotechnically releasable bolt to partially uncover the exit port and fracture of both pyrotechnically releasable bolts to substantially fully uncover the exit port.
- 29. A method for providing impact protection for an occupant of a vehicle with an airbag module comprising a cushion with a venting portion having an open configuration in which inflation gas is able to exit the cushion through the venting portion, and a closed configuration in which the venting portion substantially blocks inflation gas flow through the venting portion, the airbag module further comprising a pyrotechnic disposed proximate the venting portion, the method comprising:
inflating the cushion; and igniting the pyrotechnic to move the venting portion from the closed configuration to the open configuration to permit inflation gas to escape from the cushion via the venting portion.
- 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the cushion is incorporated in an airbag module selected from the group consisting of a driver's side front impact airbag module and a passenger's side front impact airbag module, wherein inflating the cushion comprises positioning the cushion to provide front impact protection.
- 31. The method of claim 29, wherein the cushion is incorporated in an airbag module selected from the group consisting of a side impact airbag module, a knee bolster module, and an overhead airbag module, wherein inflating the cushion comprises positioning the cushion to provide a type of protection selected from the group consisting of side impact protection, knee protection, and overhead protection.
- 32. The method of claim 29, wherein moving the venting portion from the closed configuration to the open configuration comprises forming an exit port in the venting portion in response to ignition of the pyrotechnic
- 33. The method of claim 29, wherein the airbag module further comprises a housing configured to at least partially contain the cushion prior to inflation, the housing having an exit port, the venting portion comprising a flap, wherein moving the venting portion from the closed configuration to the open configuration comprises moving the flap to at least partially uncover the exit port.
- 34. The method of claim 29, wherein igniting the pyrotechnic comprises transmitting a venting activation signal from an activation device to the pyrotechnic after the cushion has substantially inflated to facilitate rapid inflation of the cushion.
- 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the venting activation signal is transmitted when a pre-established time has elapsed since transmission of an inflation activation signal that triggers inflation of the cushion, wherein the pre-established time ranges from about 40 milliseconds to about 50 milliseconds.
- 36. The method of claim 29, wherein, when the vehicle occupant is determined to be out-of-position, ignition of the pyrotechnic is triggered by a venting activation signal transmitted substantially simultaneously with transmission of an inflation activation signal that triggers inflation of the cushion.
- 37. The method of claim 29, wherein moving the venting portion from the closed configuration to the open configuration comprises permitting passage of inflation gas through an exit port having an area ranging from about 30 millimeters to about 40 millimeters.
- 38. A method for moving a venting portion of a cushion from a closed configuration, in which the venting portion substantially blocks inflation gas flow through the venting portion, to an open configuration, in which inflation gas is able to exit the cushion through the venting portion, the method comprising:
transmitting a venting activation signal to ignite the pyrotechnic; and forming an exit port in the venting portion in response to ignition of the pyrotechnic to permit inflation gas to exit the cushion via the exit port.
- 39. The method of claim 38, wherein the pyrotechnic is disposed within an initiator attached to the venting portion, wherein forming the exit port comprises mechanically rupturing the venting portion.
- 40. The method of claim 38, wherein the pyrotechnic comprises a length of rapid deflagration cord attached to the venting portion, wherein forming the exit port comprises burning through the venting portion.
- 41. A method for moving a venting portion of a cushion from a closed configuration, in which the venting portion substantially blocks inflation gas flow through an exit port of a housing configured to at least partially contain the cushion prior to inflation of the cushion, to an open configuration, in which inflation gas is able to exit the cushion through the exit port, the method comprising:
transmitting a venting activation signal to ignite a pyrotechnic; and unfastening a fastener in response to ignition of the pyrotechnic to release a flap of the venting portion, thereby permitting motion of the flap to at least partially uncover the exit port.
- 42. The method of claim 41, wherein the flap comprises an anchoring end attached to the housing by the fastener, wherein unfastening the fastener comprises fracturing the fastener to release the anchoring end from the housing.
- 43. The method of claim 42, wherein the fastener comprises a pyrotechnically releasable bolt having a head and a shank, the shank containing the pyrotechnic, wherein fracturing the fastener comprises breaking the shank into multiple pieces.
1. RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Ser. No. 10/150,873, filed May 17, 2002 and entitled ACTIVE VENTING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AIRBAG SYSTEMS, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
10150873 |
May 2002 |
US |
Child |
10298492 |
Nov 2002 |
US |