Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Chris John Short

Marshall Lawrence Quade

Fred Leslie Sole

Robert Philip Fransioli

An air bag module for venting inflation gas if an out-of-position vehicle occupant is too close to the module for proper air bag deployment. The module has an air bag canister having a gas channel port, an inflator, an air bag cushion, a deployment door, a structural gas channel, and a venting system. The venting system connects the structural gas channel to the gas channel port and includes a plug and a plug pulling system for controlling the venting of gas.

Air bag inflator gas venting system

An air bag module comprising an air bag retainer, an air bag cushion, an inflator, and a cover having a front wall and a side wall connected to the air bag retainer, wherein the air bag cushion normally deploys through the front wall of the air bag cover and wherein the side wall has a weakened area to allow a portion of the side wall to open and allow the air bag cushion to deploy therethrough along a lateral deployment path if an out-of-position occupant exerts an external force against the front wall sufficient to impede normal deployment of the air bag cushion through the front wall. The side wall may include an extendable section that is in a retracted position when the air bag cushion is folded and is movable to an extended position by inflation of the cushion.

Air bag cushion energy diverter

An air bag module for venting inflation gas if an out-of-position vehicle occupant is too close to the module for proper air bag deployment. The module has an air bag canister comprising a side wall having gas channel port to communicate with the ambient air, an inflator, an air bag cushion, a deployment door, a structural gas channel, and a venting system connecting the structural gas channel to the at least one gas channel port. The venting system permits venting of gas through the gas channel port when the out-of-position occupant applies sufficient force on the deployment door to prevent the air bag cushion from reaching a fully deployed condition.

An energy absorbing steering wheel is provided which reduces a vehicle occupant's injury in a collision. The energy absorbing steering wheel includes an armature, an inner foam member, a first plurality of exterior layers, and optionally a second plurality of exterior layers. The armature is mounted onto a steering column and is operative to provide a rigid steering wheel structure. The inner foam member surrounds the armature and has a first side and a second side. The first plurality of exterior layers is disposed on the first side of the inner foam member. The second plurality of exterior layers disposed on the second side of the inner foam member. The second plurality of exterior layers may be slidably engaged to the first plurality of exterior layers. Moreover, the first and second plurality of exterior layers define a plurality of apertures for disengaging the exterior layers upon impact with a vehicle occupant.

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Dexter, MI, United States of America

Chris John Short