T K Holdings, Inc.

Stephanie Marie McFadden

Paul Alan Baker

James Peter Karlow

Jerome Bosch

Barney J Bauer

Amy L Klinkenberger

Paul George Maertens

Jonathan L Clarke

John Paul Ruterbusch

Michael J Scavnicky

Moe M Boumarafi

Joseph M Ehrke

Jamie F Perez Aguilar

Ray John Roberts

Nate Dennis

Vivekananadhan Maripudi

Kyle J Kakstis

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.

An airbag apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle comprises an inflatable chamber formed by at least one fabric panel and configured to be filled with an inflation gas and deploy into position to protect the occupant; and a tether connected to the panel to restrain deployment of the airbag. During the initial deployment sequence of the airbag, the tether fully extends to a first length. The tether unfolds in order to fully extend to a second length when a sufficient force is applied to the tether by the deploying airbag.

Airbag apparatus

The application relates to an airbag with a venting assembly. An air bag cushion can include at least one panel and a tether that forms the venting assembly. The tether can include an attachment portion to attach the tether to a panel of the air bag cushion, an opening, at least one passive vent, and a discrete vent. The passive venting system can be formed by folding the tether over upon itself so that the opening and vents substantially lie above and below one another.

Low risk deployment airbag cushion

An airbag assembly for protecting a vehicle occupant includes an airbag and a deployment control device provided adjacent at least a portion of the airbag. The device includes a tear seam and is configured to restrain deployment of the airbag toward the occupant thereby causing the airbag to inflate laterally with respect to the occupant until the tear seam is torn by the force of the inflating airbag.

Deployment control device for airbag

Growing community of inventors

Oxford, MI, United States of America

Stephanie Marie McFadden