Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

John Klakulak

Kurt F Fischer

Douglas M Gould

Alberto Rodriguez

Heather R Kramer

Roy C Turnbull

Kim Popek

Cathy Reis

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. Tear stitching () interconnects portions () of the protection device (). The tear stitching () includes first and second stitch lines () positioned next to each other. The first stitch line () is adapted to rupture in response to tension of a first magnitude exerted on the interconnected portions () while inflating to an initially deployed condition. The second stitch line () is adapted to remain intact and being capable itself of maintaining the protection device in the initially deployed condition subsequent to rupture of the first stitch line () and throughout inflation and deployment of the protection device ().

Air bag with improved tear stitch

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () comprising a panel () that at least partially defines an inflatable volume () of the protection device. A vent () includes a sidewall that extends through the panel () and defines a passage () for venting inflation fluid from the inflatable volume (). The vent () includes a first portion () extendable inside the inflatable volume () and an opposite second portion () extendable outside the inflatable volume. The vent () has an open condition in which the first portion () is maintained inside the inflatable volume () and thereby permits venting of inflation fluid through the passage (), and a closed condition in which the first portion () is inverted and positioned in the second portion () thereby blocking inflation fluid from venting through the passage ().

Active air bag vent

An apparatus () for helping to protect an occupant () of a vehicle () includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. Tear stitching () interconnects portions (and) of the protection device () and is rupturable to permit the interconnected portions to move relative to each other. The tear stitching () includes a break point () and first and second segments () that extend away from the break point. The tear stitching () is arranged on the protection device () such that tension forces acting to rupture the tear stitching act primarily on the break point () so that the tear stitching ruptures first at the break point and then along the first and second segments () of the tear stitching.

A bi-lobular air bag () has first and second lobes (and) defined at least partially by a central recess (). The air bag () includes a central panel () formed in an endless loop and including a longitudinal slit () that at least partially defines an opening () in the central panel. First and second side panels (and) have peripheries () interconnected with respective edge portions (and) of the central panel (). A recess panel () has a periphery () interconnected with portions of the center panel on opposite sides of the longitudinal slit (). The recess panel () is folded and has overlying portions interconnected to form a pleat () that helps define the first and second lobes (and) of the air bag ().

Growing community of inventors

Clinton Township, MI, United States of America

John Klakulak