Driver airbag module and bag with passively vented cushion

1. An airbag ( 50 ) comprising: a rear panel ( 52 ) and a front or face panel ( 54 ) connected to the rear panel to form an inflatable cushion, the front or face panel facing toward the occupant to be protected as the airbag deploys, the rear panel including a first vent hole ( 90 ) of fixed size, the rear panel also includes an inlet or opening ( 34 ) adapted to receive inflation ( 32 ) gas or a gas generator, wherein upon filling of the airbag with inflation gas the front or face panel ( 54 ) moves in a generally first direction;

an adaptive vent ( 200 ) located on and formed by a portion of the rear panel, the adaptive vent including at least one panel hole ( 212 ) in the rear panel and a sliding vane ( 210 ) movable relative to the one panel hole ( 212 ) and having at least one vane hole ( 214 ) and configured to be moved from an initial position in which the at least one vane hole ( 214 ) and the panel hole ( 212 ) are substantially in alignment or substantially not in alignment with each other, toward a final position in which the at least one vane hole ( 214 ) and the panel hole ( 212 ) are in substantially the opposite condition;

a cover ( 202 ) secured to the rear panel under which the sliding vane ( 210 ) slides, the cover ( 202 ) including one or more openings aligned with the opening on the rear panel ( 52 );

a main tether ( 100 ) having a first end ( 102 ) fixedly connected in the vicinity of the inlet ( 34 ) and a second end ( 104 ) connected to the front panel ( 54 ), the length of the main tether being shorter than the maximum distance the face can move away to restrict the motion of the front or face panel ( 54 );

the main tether ( 100 ) having an opening ( 130 ) preferably located closer to the first end than the second end; and

a vane control tether ( 80 ) having a first end ( 82 ), a medial portion ( 86 ) and second end ( 84 ), the first end secured to the sliding vane ( 210 ), the medial end extending through the opening on the main tether ( 100 ) and the second end ( 84 ) secured to one of the main tether ( 100 ) or to the front or face panel ( 54 ), the medial portion extending from the sliding vane ( 210 ) to the location of the opening ( 130 ) in the main tether ( 100 ) so the vane control tether ( 80 ) is moved in a second direction substantially different from the first direction to move the sliding vane ( 210 ) along the rear panel ( 52 ), the vane control tether ( 80 ) near the first end ( 82 ) is formed into a hook or latch ( 300 ) configured to prevent the sliding vane ( 210 ) from regressing to its initial condition after being moved to an opposite direction, wherein the main tether ( 100 ) includes at least one fold or pleat ( 108 ), the pleat ( 108 ) having two folded sections ( 108 ) and wherein the folded sections are secured by a breakable line of stitches or pattern of stitches ( 110 ), and wherein the stitches ( 110 ) also extend through the rear panel ( 52 ).

2. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein the opening ( 130 ) in the main tether ( 100 ) is located as close to the rear panel ( 52 ) as possible.

3. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein the length of the vane control tether ( 80 ) is shorter than that of the main tether ( 100 ).

4. The airbag according to claim 3 wherein the length of the vane control tether ( 80 ) is shorter than or equal to the distance the second end of the sliding vane ( 210 ) is moved by the main tether ( 100 ) as the airbag inflates.

5. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein the vane control tether ( 80 ) includes a “catch” ( 202 , 209 ) which is configured to interfere with a portion of the sliding vane ( 210 ) to prevent the sliding vane ( 210 ) from moving back to its initial condition.

6. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein the initial position of the one panel hole ( 212 ) relative to the at least one vane hole ( 214 ) in the sliding vane ( 210 ) are out of alignment.

7. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein the initial position of the one panel hole ( 212 ) relative to the at least one vane hole ( 214 ) in the sliding vane ( 210 ) are in alignment.

8. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein the stitch or pattern of stitches ( 110 ) runs generally along a length of the main tether or perpendicular ( 110 a ) to the length of the main tether ( 100 ).

9. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein the stitch or pattern of stitches ( 110 ) runs generally perpendicular to the length of the main tether ( 100 ) and wherein a second stitch or second stitch pattern runs in a direction along the length of the main tether ( 100 ).

10. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein during filling of the air bag ( 50 ) with inflation gas the front panel ( 54 ) moves in the first direction urging the second end ( 104 ) of the main tether ( 100 ) and the second end ( 84 ) and a first portion ( 82 ) of the medial portion ( 86 ) of the vane control tether ( 80 ) to also move in this first direction; wherein motion of the first portion ( 82 ) of the medial tether ( 86 ) pulls at the first end ( 82 ) the sliding vane ( 210 ) in substantially the second direction to change the physical state of the sliding vane ( 210 ) from open to closed or from closed to open.

11. The airbag according to claim 1 wherein the hook or latch ( 300 ) includes an extending loop ( 302 ) secured by a first set of stitches ( 304 ), the first set of stitches do not extend through to the rear panel ( 52 ).

12. The airbag according to claim 11 wherein the extending loop ( 302 ) is formed by folding the vane control tether ( 80 ) twice.

13. A driver airbag module having an airbag ( 50 ) configured to be inflated, the airbag including:

a rear panel ( 52 ) and a front or face panel ( 54 ) connected to the rear panel ( 52 ) to form an airbag cushion;

an adaptive vent ( 200 ) located on a portion of a rear panel ( 52 a ), the adaptive vent ( 200 ) including at least one panel hole ( 212 ) shared with and located in a portion of the rear panel ( 52 a ) and a sliding vane ( 210 ) movable relative to the rear panel ( 52 ), the sliding vane ( 210 ) having at least one vane hole ( 214 ) and configured to be moved from an initial position in which the at least one vane hole ( 214 ) and the panel hole ( 212 ) are substantially in alignment or substantially not in alignment with each other, toward a fixed position in which the at least one vane hole ( 214 ) and the panel hole ( 212 ) are in substantially the reverse conditions;

a main tether ( 100 ) having a first end ( 102 ) generally fixedly connected in the vicinity of the inlet ( 34 ) and a second end ( 104 ) connected to the front or face panel ( 54 ), the length of the main tether ( 100 ) being shorter than the maximum distance the front or face panel ( 54 ) can move as it inflates;

the main tether ( 100 ) having an opening ( 130 ) located closer to the first end ( 102 ) than the second end ( 104 );

a vane control tether ( 80 ) having a first end ( 82 ), a medial portion ( 86 ) and second end ( 84 ), the first end secured to the sliding vane ( 210 ) of the adaptive vent ( 200 ), the medial portion ( 86 ) slidingly extending through the opening ( 130 ) in the main tether ( 100 ) and the second end ( 84 ) secured to one of the main tether ( 100 ) or to the front or face panel ( 54 ), the medial portion extending from the sliding vane ( 210 ) to the front or face panel ( 54 ) so that as the main tether ( 100 ) extends the vane control tether ( 80 ) is moved a second direction substantially different from the first direction to move the sliding vane ( 210 ), the vane control tether ( 80 ) near the first end ( 82 ) is formed into a hook or latch ( 300 ) configured to prevent the sliding vane ( 210 ) from regressing to its initial condition after being moved to an opposite direction, wherein the main tether ( 100 ) includes at least one fold or pleat ( 108 ), the pleat ( 108 ) having two folded sections ( 108 ) and wherein the folded sections are secured by a breakable line of stitches or pattern of stitches ( 110 ), and wherein the stitches ( 110 ) also extend through the rear panel ( 52 ).

14. The airbag according to claim 13 wherein the hook or latch ( 300 ) includes an extending loop ( 302 ) secured by a first set of stitches ( 304 ), the first set of stitches do not extend through to the rear panel ( 52 ).

15. The airbag according to claim 14 wherein the extending loop ( 302 ) is formed by folding the vane control tether ( 80 ) twice.

16. An airbag module comprising an airbag ( 50 ) having a passive adaptive vent ( 200 ) on a rear panel ( 52 ) of the airbag, the vent having a sliding vane ( 210 ) which when moved causes the vent to change state from open to closed or from closed to open, the airbag further including a main tether ( 100 ) secured to a front or face panel ( 54 ) of the airbag, the main tether moving with the front or face panel, the main tether having an opening ( 130 ) into which is threaded a portion of a vane control tether ( 80 ), the vane control tether is connected to the sliding vane ( 210 ) and to the front or face panel, wherein movement of the end ( 84 ) of the vane control tether ( 80 ) in a first direction generally that of the inflating air bag causes the other end ( 82 ) of the vane control tether ( 80 ) secured to the sliding vane ( 210 ) to be moved in a direction different than the first direction, the vane control tether ( 80 ) near the first end ( 82 ) is formed into a hook or latch ( 300 ) configured to prevent the sliding vane ( 210 ) from regressing to its initial condition after being moved to an opposite direction, wherein the main tether ( 100 ) includes at least one fold or pleat ( 108 ), the pleat ( 108 ) having two folded sections ( 108 ) and wherein the folded sections are secured by a breakable line of stitches or pattern of stitches ( 110 ), and wherein the stitches ( 110 ) also extend through the rear panel ( 52 ).

17. The airbag according to claim 16 wherein the hook or latch ( 300 ) includes an extending loop ( 302 ) secured by a first set of stitches ( 304 ), the first set of stitches do not extend through to the rear panel ( 52 ).