Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-21
2003-04-22
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3616)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S736000, C280S742000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06550807
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a vehicle occupant protection apparatus including an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, such as an air bag. In particular, the present invention relates to an air bag module in which inflation fluid is selectively vented from the module in order to control the speed and force of deployment of the air bag.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is known to inflate an air bag to help protect a vehicle occupant in the event of sudden deceleration such as occurs in a vehicle collision. The air bag is stored in a deflated condition, together with an inflator, in a housing adjacent to the vehicle seat in which the occupant sits. The inflator, when actuated, provides a large volume of inflation fluid to inflate the air bag into a position to help protect the vehicle occupant.
Under normal circumstances, substantially all of the inflation fluid from the inflator is directed into the air bag to inflate the air bag. In some circumstances, however, it may be desirable to control or limit the amount of inflation fluid directed into the air bag. For example, if the vehicle occupant is smaller than a predetermined size or is closer to the vehicle instrument panel than a predetermined distance, then it may be desirable to reduce the speed and force with which the air bag inflates. It is known to vent inflation fluid from the housing of an air bag module in such circumstances, so that less inflation fluid is directed into the air bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition for helping to protect a vehicle occupant. An inflation fluid source is actuatable to provide inflation fluid to inflate the inflatable device. The apparatus includes a structure having a vent opening for enabling flow of inflation fluid away from the inflatable device. The apparatus also includes a member movable between a closed condition closing the vent opening and an open condition enabling flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening. The apparatus includes an electrically energizable mechanism to move the member from the closed condition to the open condition to vent inflation fluid through the vent opening. The mechanism also moves the member from the open condition to the closed condition to inhibit venting of inflation fluid through the vent opening.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5184845 (1993-02-01), Omura
patent: 5366242 (1994-11-01), Faigle et al.
patent: 5489117 (1996-02-01), Huber
patent: 5664802 (1997-09-01), Harris et al.
patent: 5695214 (1997-12-01), Faigle et al.
patent: 5709405 (1998-01-01), Saderholm et al.
patent: 5743558 (1998-04-01), Seymour
patent: 5853192 (1998-12-01), Sikorski et al.
patent: 6241279 (2001-06-01), Ochiai
Faigle Ernst M.
Sparks Tracy S.
Culbreth Eric
Tarolli, Sundheim Covell & Tummino L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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