Patent ID: 7445237
Filing Date: 2008-11-04
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An air bag, comprising: a wall defining an interior in which a gas is received to inflate the air bag, and at least one vent opening through the wall; and a vent valve carried by the wall and having a valve panel including at least one valve opening, the vent valve being moveable between a first position where the at least one valve opening is in registration with the at least one vent opening and a second position where the at least one valve opening is at least partially misaligned with the at least one vent opening to at least partially close the at least one vent opening, and wherein the vent valve is in its first position until deployment of the air bag beyond a threshold which moves the vent valve to its second position; wherein the valve panel is folded within the interior of the air bag when the vent valve is in its first position, and movement of the air bag when deployed beyond the threshold at least partially unfolds the valve panel to move the vent valve to its second position; wherein the valve panel folded onto itself provides a first leg and a second leg with a bight between them, the first leg and second leg each being connected to the wall, and at least one of the first and second legs including the at least one valve opening that is aligned with the at least one vent opening when the vent valve is in its first position, and wherein the valve panel is extended and increasingly unfolds when the air bag is deployed beyond the threshold to lengthen the second leg and shorten the first leg so that the at least one valve opening is moved relative to and at least partially out of registry with the at least one vent opening, which reduces extrusion of the valve panel therethrough under force of pressurized gas.