Externally vented airbag assembly
US5351977A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1992 |
| Grant date | Oct 4, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R21/237
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An airbag assembly (12/112) is incorporated into a vehicle (10) that includes a steering assembly (16/116) and a firewall (18). The firewall (18) at least partially defines an occupant compartment (20) and separates the occupant compartment (20) from an external environment (22). In one embodiment, the steering assembly (16) includes a steering column (50) defining an inlet passageway (71) and a separate exhaust passageway (73). The passageways (71) and (73) communicate separately with an airbag (30) through a mouth portion (32) of the airbag. The inlet passageway (71) communicates with an inflator (40), and the exhaust passageway (73) communicates with the external environment (22). Inflation fluid travels through the inlet passageway (71) into the airbag (30), and inflation fluid is vented through the outlet passageway (73) to the external environment (22). In another embodiment, the airbag (130) includes a mouth portion (132) which defines a fluid inlet opening and another portion (134) which defines one or more separate exhaust vents (136). Each exhaust vent (136) communicates with an exhaust passageway (173) in a steering column (150) to vent inflation fluid to the external en…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.