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US 2008/0258447 A1Published application
Tether venting system for airbag module
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsIan Hall, Sean Ryan, Jeff Vinton, Nial Wykes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for venting an airbag is provided. The system includes a set of vent doors, thereby reducing the overall package spaced that would otherwise be required to allow the doors to swing open. The vent doors are connected by a single tether or by multiple tethers to the primary surface of the airbag cushion.
Claims20
An airbag module for use in a vehicle, the airbag module comprising:
- an airbag housing having a vent area formed therein;
- an airbag attached to said airbag housing;
- a vent door assembly, said vent door assembly including a first vent door hingedly attached adjacent said vent area by a first hinge, a second vent door hingedly attached adjacent said vent area by a second hinge, said second hinge being spaced apart from and opposed to said first hinge, and a tether connecting said vent door assembly to said airbag, said first vent door and said second vent door being positioned on said airbag housing adjacent one another.
An airbag module for use in a vehicle, the airbag module comprising:
- an airbag housing having a vent area formed therein;
- an airbag attached to said airbag housing;
- a vent door assembly, said vent door assembly including a first vent door hingedly attached adjacent said vent area by a first hinge, a second vent door hingedly attached adjacent said vent area by a second hinge, said first vent door being movable between an open position and a closed position and said second vent door being movable between an open position and a closed position, and wherein said first vent door has a hinge end for hinged attachment and a free end opposite said hinge end and wherein said second vent door has a hinge end for hinged attachment and a free end opposite said hinge end, said free end of said first vent door and said free end of said second vent door being positioned adjacent one another when said doors are in their closed positions.
A method of providing venting in an inflatable cushion of an airbag module, comprising the steps of:
- forming an airbag module comprising an airbag housing having a vent area formed therein, an airbag attached to said airbag housing, and a vent door assembly comprising a pair of adjacent vent doors hingedly attached to said vent area and a tether attaching said vent doors to said airbag, said pair of adjacent vent doors being movable between a closed position and an open position;
- causing said airbag to be inflated with a gas;
- forcing said pair of vent doors to move to their open positions;
- and
- forcing said pair of vent doors to move to their closed positions by movement of said tether.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.