T K Holdings, Inc.

Joseph M Ehrke

James Peter Karlow

Jerome Bosch

Barney J Bauer

Amy L Klinkenberger

Paul George Maertens

Jonathan L Clarke

John Paul Ruterbusch

Stephanie Marie McFadden

Michael J Scavnicky

Paul Alan Baker

Moe M Boumarafi

Jamie F Perez Aguilar

Ray John Roberts

Nate Dennis

Vivekananadhan Maripudi

An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide or envelope to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag. The valve sheet includes a tear tab to temporarily retain the valve sheet to the panel.

Passive airbag venting

An occupant protection apparatus comprises an inflatable airbag with a panel, the panel including a first vent opening that permits inflation fluid to escape out of the airbag; and a valve sheet including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet having opposite ends that are each fixed to a surface of the airbag. One end of the valve sheet moves with the panel during inflation of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening. The apparatus also includes a valve guide to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, the valve sheet is capable of sliding between the valve guide and the panel. Both ends of the valve sheet remain fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag.

A duct is operative along and inside an outboard boundary of an air bag is adapted to distribute inflation gas to a distal portion thereof. A proximal second opening in the duct provides for fluid communication between the duct and interior of the air bag, but is normally obstructed by a valve element. A control element provides for opening the valve element when the air bag is sufficiently inflated in the absence of an out-of-position occupant, so as to provide more rapidly inflating the air bag through the second opening. A relatively distal third opening in the duct provides for fluid communication between the duct and the interior of the air bag, and the air bag is vented from the duct through a relatively distal vent along an outboard boundary.

Air bag

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Mt. Clemens, MI, United States of America

Joseph M Ehrke