Patent ID: 6213502
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An air bag module for restraint of an occupant in a vehicle, the air bag module comprising:an air bag cushion;an inflator being activatable to discharge inflator gas for inflating the air bag cushion by a first fluid path, the inflator having at least one discharge port through which inflator gas is discharged;a plate having a cavity disposed adjacent the inflator, wherein the cavity opens to the exterior of the air bag module, the plate having a vent opening to provide a second fluid path from the inflator through the cavity and the vent opening to the exterior of the air bag module for expelling inflator gas from the air bag module, wherein at least a portion of the inflator gas flowing according to the second fluid path is expelled from the air bag module without communicating with the air bag cushion, andan actuator assembly including a moveable member being movable relative to the vent opening for restricting fluid flow through the vent opening at a predetermined time during inflation of the air bag cushion to control the volume of inflator gas discharged into the air bag cushion and the volume of the inflator gas expelled out through the vent opening of the plate; and an actuator for moving the movable member at a predetermined time, wherein the movable member is disposed between the plate and the inflator so that movement of the movable member prevents fluid communication between the at least one discharge port and the vent opening, the at least one discharge port and the vent opening being at least partially in axial alignment with one another.