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US 6,428,041 B1Granted
Airbag system for a motor vehicle
AssigneeVolkswagen Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsThomas Wohllebe, Ruprecht Sinnhuber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An airbag system includes a contact sensing element acted on by a gas generator to extend in the direction of airbag deployment. The contact sensing element carries a sleeve which initially covers gas openings on the generator and when the contact element is fully extended uncovers the openings to enable rapid airbag deployment. Deployment is slowed in the event the contact element encounters an obstacle, such as an out-of-position passenger.
Claims23
An airbag system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a gas generator having gas discharge openings;
- a contact sensing element having a sleeve covering said discharge openings in a non-activated condition, said contact sensing element and said sleeve being arranged to extend in a direction of air bag deployment in response to gas discharge through said discharge openings;
- and
- an airbag arranged to receive gas discharge from said discharge openings when said sleeve is fully extended to provide unhindered inflation of said airbag in said direction of air bag deployment;
- wherein said contact sensing element is arranged to stop extension of said sleeve, if it encounters an obstacles in said direction of airbag deployment, with said sleeve covering at least some of said discharge openings, thereby hindering inflation of said airbag.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.