Patent ID: 8020889
Filing Date: 2011-09-20
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An occupant protection apparatus comprising: an inflatable airbag including a panel, wherein the panel includes a first vent opening through which inflation fluid may escape out of the airbag; a moveable valve sheet overlying the first vent opening and including a second vent opening movable relative to the first vent opening, the valve sheet being fixed to a surface of the panel at opposite ends; a valve guide to guide movement of the valve sheet relative to the panel, wherein the valve sheet is configured to slide between the valve guide and the panel, the valve guide including a third vent opening alignable with the first vent opening; and a tear tab configured to maintain the initial configuration of the valve sheet prior to inflation, wherein one end of the valve sheet moves with a leading end portion of the panel during deployment of the airbag to move the second vent opening relative to the first vent opening, wherein the first and a second end of the valve sheet are fixed to the panel during and after inflation of the airbag, wherein the tear tab is configured to break during inflation of the airbag to release a portion of the valve sheet to allow the valve sheet to move relative to the vent opening, wherein the second vent opening comprises a plurality of openings in a region of the valve sheet, and wherein in an initial, uninflated state, the second vent opening is aligned with the first and third vent openings, and after deployment of the airbag, the second vent opening is misaligned with the first and third vent openings to close the first vent opening.