The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 29, 2008
Filed:
Aug. 13, 2004
William P. Braun, Romeo, MI (US);
Kurt F. Fischer, Leonard, MI (US);
Charles E. Steffens, Jr., Washington, MI (US);
Alex G. Meduvsky, Romeo, MI (US);
John N. Clark, Riley, MI (US);
Joseph J. Zwolinski, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Matthew C. Frank, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
William P. Braun, Romeo, MI (US);
Kurt F. Fischer, Leonard, MI (US);
Charles E. Steffens, Jr., Washington, MI (US);
Alex G. Meduvsky, Romeo, MI (US);
John N. Clark, Riley, MI (US);
Joseph J. Zwolinski, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Matthew C. Frank, Rochester Hills, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Washington, MI (US);
Abstract
A vehicle occupant protection apparatus () includes an inflatable occupant protection device () and a support member () having a vent opening () through which inflation fluid may flow. The apparatus () also includes a mechanism () for controlling a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). Inflation fluid pressure within the inflatable occupant protection device () tends to move the mechanism () for increasing a flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). The mechanism () is responsive to inflation of the inflatable occupant protection device () beyond a predetermined distance for restricting the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening (). The apparatus () further includes a locking member () for blocking the mechanism () from increasing the flow of inflation fluid through the vent opening () after the inflatable occupant protection device () has inflated beyond the predetermined distance.