IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,500,163
Granted Patent B2
US 8,500,163 · App. 12/974,398 · Granted Aug 6, 2013

Airbag vent assembly

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,500,163
App. No.
12/974,398
Granted
Aug 6, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An airbag cushion of flexible sheet material has a vent opening 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 allowing inflation gas to escape from the cushion via the vent opening. 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. 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. The tether end is released in response to a sensor signal.

Claims (11)

1. An airbag for restraining a vehicle occupant comprising an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a flexible sheet material that has at least one vent opening therein, a vent cover comprising a flexible sheet material is fixed to an interior surface of the airbag cushion aligned with the vent opening in the airbag cushion to form a pocket, the vent cover having at least one vent opening therein that allows an airbag inflation gas to escape from the airbag cushion via the vent opening in the airbag cushion, a vent flap comprising a 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 being fixed to a tether that extends outboard from the vent flap through an opening in the vent cover to a first end of the tether that is attached directly to the airbag cushion outboard of the vent cover in a permanent manner, the tether also extending inboard from the vent flap to a second end of the tether that is fixed in a releasable manner to a device that releases the second end of the tether when a sensor senses a predetermined parameter and a signal is sent to the device instructing the device to release the second end of the tether during a deployment of the airbag whereby the vent flap is pulled in an outboard direction by the tether to become interposed between the vent openings in the airbag cushion and the vent cover and prevent the escape of inflation gas from the airbag cushion through the vent openings in the airbag cushion and the vent cover; and wherein the vent flap has two pairs of parallel slots therein, each slot having an inboard end and an outboard end, the airbag cushion having two pairs of raised features extending from an interior surface thereof with one of the raised features disposed in each slot to guide the vent flap in an outboard direction inside the pocket when the vent flap is deployed.

2. The airbag for restraining a vehicle occupant according to claim 1 wherein each raised feature comprises stitching.

3. An airbag for restraining a vehicle occupant comprising an inflatable airbag cushion comprising a flexible sheet material that has at least one vent opening therein, a vent cover comprising a flexible sheet material is fixed to an interior surface of the airbag cushion aligned with the vent opening in the airbag cushion to form a pocket, the vent cover having at least one vent opening therein that allows an airbag inflation gas to escape from the airbag cushion via the vent opening in the airbag cushion, a vent flap comprising a 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 being fixed to at least one vent flap pulling tether that extends outboard from the vent flap through an opening in the vent cover to an end of the vent flap pulling tether that is attached directly to the airbag cushion outboard of the vent cover in a permanent manner, the vent flap is also fixed to a vent flap restraining tether that extends inboard from the vent flap to an end of the vent flap restraining tether that is fixed in a releasable manner to a device that releases a second end of the tether when a sensor senses a predetermined parameter and a signal is sent to the device instructing the device to release a second end of the vent flap restraining tether during a deployment of the airbag whereby the end of the vent flap restraining tether is released and the vent flap is pulled in an outboard direction by the at least one vent flap pulling tether to become interposed between the vent openings in the airbag cushion and the vent cover and prevent the escape of inflation gas from the airbag cushion through the vent openings in the airbag cushion and the vent cover; and wherein the vent flap has two pairs of parallel slots therein, each slot having an inboard end and an outboard end, the airbag cushion having two pairs of raised features extending from an interior surface thereof with one of the raised features disposed in each slot to guide the vent flap in an outboard direction inside the pocket when the vent flap is deployed.

4. The airbag for restraining a vehicle occupant according to claim 3 wherein each raised feature comprises stitching.

5. An airbag module for restraining a vehicle occupant comprising:

(a) a module housing;

(b) an inflator located in the module housing for providing an inflation gas to an inflatable airbag cushion that is fixed to the module housing;

(c) the inflatable airbag cushion comprising a flexible sheet material that has at least one vent opening therein;

(d) a vent cover comprising a flexible sheet material is 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 having at least one vent opening therein that allows an airbag inflation gas to escape from the airbag cushion via the vent opening in the airbag cushion, a vent flap comprising a flexible sheet material is disposed at least partially within the pocket and inboard of the vent openings in the airbag cushion and vent cover that is aligned with the vent openings in the airbag and the vent cover when the vent flap is in a stored configuration, the vent flap being fixed to at least one tether, wherein a tether extends outboard from the vent flap through an opening in the vent cover to a tether end that is attached directly to the airbag cushion outboard of the vent cover in a permanent manner, and wherein a tether extends inboard from the vent flap to a tether end that is fixed in a releasable manner to a tether end securing device that is fixed directly or indirectly to the module housing and that releases the releasable tether end when a sensor senses a predetermined parameter and a signal is sent to the device instructing the device to release the releasable tether end during a deployment of the airbag whereby the vent flap is pulled in an outboard direction by a tether to close the vent openings in the airbag cushion and the vent cover and prevent the escape of inflation gas through the vent openings in the airbag cushion and the vent cover when the vent flap is deployed; and wherein the vent flap has two pairs of parallel slots therein, each slot having an inboard end and an outboard end, the airbag cushion having two pairs of raised features extending from an interior surface thereof with one of the raised features disposed in each slot to guide the vent flap in an outboard direction inside the pocket when the vent flap is deployed.

6. The airbag module for restraining a vehicle occupant according to claim 5 wherein the vent openings in the airbag cushion and the vent cover are aligned with one another.

7. The airbag module for restraining a vehicle occupant according to claim 5 wherein each raised feature comprises stitching.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 057828/0461 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS SECURITY AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 057775/0771 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENTS- RELEASE OF REEL/FRAME 033673/0524 Recorded Apr 12, 2018
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE OF FLORIDA, LLC; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 045933/0563 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT SUPPLEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 045927/0330 →
RELEASE OF INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE WEST, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033666/0605 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 2, 2014
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 033673/0524 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NATURE OF CONVEYANCE TO RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL AND THE RECEIVING PARTY NAMES PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 031327 FRAME 676. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN INTEREST IN PATENT COLLATERAL. SEE ALSO THE ATTACHED DECLARATION. Recorded Aug 12, 2014
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.; KSS HOLDINGS, INC.; KSS ACQUISITION COMPANY; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.; HAMLIN INCORPORATED; KEY ASIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE ACCESSORIES, INC.; KEY AUTOMOTIVE, LP; KEY CAYMAN GP LLC; KEY ELECTRONICS OF NEVADA, INC.; KEY INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; KEY SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEMS, INC.; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS FOREIGN HOLDCO, LLC; KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS OF TEXAS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033521/0223 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2013
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 031327/0676 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 4, 2013
From: KEY SAFETY SYSTEM, INC.; BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
Reel/Frame 029565/0193 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 21, 2010
From: MALLINGER, HEATHER; RASKA, MARY; LEDFORD, DERRICK; CURRY, LYLE
To: KEY SAFETY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025547/0966 →