Airbag vent

Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide an airbag having a vent that can adaptively release gas from the airbag upon impact with an occupant. The vent may include a membrane and/or diaphragm that can control the amount of gas released from the airbag based on the pressure in the airbag. During a collision, the airbag can be filled with gas and absorb the energy from an occupant causing the pressure in the airbag to increase. The adaptive vent can release gas from the airbag by opening when the occupant impacts the airbag. In some embodiments, the size of the vents changes depending on the pressure existing in the airbag.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to airbags and more particularly to airbags having an adaptive vent.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, an airbag is a structure that includes an inflatable safety bag, such as a flexible bag, that can be inflated to contain air or some other gas. Airbags are commonly used to rapidly inflate and provide cushioning during a vehicle collision. For example, an airbag can be installed in a steering wheel of a vehicle and associated with a sensor that, upon sensing a collision with force exceeding a certain threshold, triggers the airbag to expel a gas and deploy the safety bag to provide cushioning for the individual in the vehicle. The inflatable safety bag can include one or more vents that allow the gas to be released relatively slowly from the safety bag when the individual pushes against the safety bag.

Depending on factors associated with a crash, including the weight of an occupant, the vents of a deployed airbag may not release the gas at a rate to protect the occupant from sustaining injuries due to the crash or, although generally less severe, injuries from the occupant's impact with the airbag. For example, the vents may be too small to release gas at a rate necessary to adequately cushion an occupant's impact with the airbag, thereby causing the occupant to sustain injuries.

Accordingly, a need exists for an airbag that can adaptively release gas to cushion an impact from an occupant. A need further exists for an airbag having vents that can adaptively release gas depending on a variety of factors associated with a crash and/or an occupant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention provide an airbag having one or more vents that can adaptively release gas from the airbag upon impact with an occupant. The airbag may contain one or more holes associated with a structure such as a membrane and/or a diaphragm. The membrane and/or diaphragm may be adapted to control the amount of gas released from the airbag. During a collision, the airbag can be filled with gas and absorb the energy from an occupant. The adaptive vent can release gas from the airbag by opening when the occupant impacts the airbag. The amount of gas released can be dependent on the pressure in the airbag. In some embodiments, the size of the vents changes depending on the pressure existing in the airbag when the occupant contacts the airbag. For example, the vent size increases if the pressure in the airbag increases due to the impact.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the airbag includes a membrane covering the airbag opening and connected to the airbag by one or more membrane support members. The membrane may be a resilient membrane, such as, for example, a silicone membrane. The membrane can cover the airbag opening before the occupant impacts the airbag and can allow gas to escape from the airbag through the opening when the airbag experiences pressure at a preset level from the impact with the occupant. In some embodiments, a diaphragm may be attached to the airbag alternatively or in addition to the membrane. The membrane and/or diaphragm may regulate the size of the opening during deceleration when the occupant impacts the airbag.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the membrane support members may be resilient and adapted to elongate when pressure in the airbag increases. When the membrane support members elongate, the membrane can break or otherwise uncover the airbag opening and allow the gas within the airbag to be released. The greater the airbag pressure, the more the membrane support members elongate. As the membrane support members elongate, the more the airbag opening is uncovered and the more gas is released from the airbag. The amount of elongation of the membrane support members may be adjusted based at least in part on one or more of the thickness or modulus of the membrane support members, shape of the membrane and membrane support members, number of membrane support members, and size of the membrane support members.

A diaphragm may be attached to the airbag alternatively or in addition to the membrane to provide an adaptive vent that releases gas from the airbag based on pressure in the airbag. The diaphragm may be connected to the airbag with diaphragm support members that may be similar to the membrane support members. When the pressure in the airbag meets or exceeds a preset level, the diaphragm support members may elongate or otherwise expand and the diaphragm contracts to exert a pressure on the airbag near the opening to release more gas from the airbag.

Optional, non-exclusive objects of the present invention thus include an airbag having an adaptive vent that can release more or less gas from the airbag depending on the pressure within the airbag.

Another optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention includes an airbag that can adaptively release gas depending on the severity of a collision and/or the size of the occupant.

An additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention is to provide an airbag having a vent that releases gas from the airbag at a rate depending on at least one of the speed, weight, and position of an occupant.

An additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention is to provide an airbag that links the pressure inside the airbag to the vent diameter to adaptively release gas by adjusting the diameter of the vent based on the pressure inside the bag.

An additional optional, non-exclusive object of the present invention is to provide a membrane having a high efficiency and adaptive vent size.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the remainder of the text and the drawings of this application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Airbags according to some embodiments of the present invention include an adaptive vent that can release gas based, at least in part, on the pressure in the airbag. The pressure in the airbag may be based on at least one of the severity of a collision or size and position of an occupant. When a collision occurs, an airbag absorbs energy from the occupant. When the energy is absorbed, the pressure of the gas within the airbag increases. The airbag may include one or more vents in which the size or shape of the vent changes based, at least in part, on the amount of pressure in the airbag. For example, as the pressure in the airbag increases, the size of the one or more vents may increase and allow more gas to escape the airbag and provide the occupant with a cushioned support.

The airbag vent may include a membrane and/or diaphragm that are adapted to change size or shape of an opening that allows gas to exit the airbag, depending on the pressure within the airbag.FIG. 1illustrates one embodiment of an airbag100with a vent102. The vent102includes a membrane104covering an opening (not shown) in the airbag100. The membrane104is connected to the airbag100by membrane support members106. In some embodiments, the membrane support members106are glued to the airbag100. When the airbag100deploys, the membrane covers the airbag opening and prevents gas from exiting the airbag100. Upon impact with the occupant, the membrane support members106may be adapted to elongate or stretch as the pressure in the airbag increases.

When the membrane support members106elongate, they cause the membrane104to change position and allow gas to exit the airbag through the opening. In some embodiments of the present invention, the membrane support members106may be adapted to break apart from the membrane104and allow gas to exit the airbag100. The more pressure in the airbag100, the more the membrane support members106elongate. The more the membrane support members106elongate, the more the membrane104allows gas to exit the airbag100.

The membrane104and/or membrane support members106may be a silicone material and shaped in any desirable shape. For example, the vent102may include any number of membrane support members106. The amount of gas released from the airbag100can be controlled by changing attributes of the vent102. For example, the amount of gas released due to pressure in the airbag may depend on the number, size, shape, thickness or modulus of membrane support members106and/or membrane104.

FIG. 2illustrates one embodiment of an airbag portion200around an opening (not shown) in the airbag and an adaptive vent202. The adaptive vent202includes a membrane204connected to the airbag by membrane support members206.FIG. 2shows the airbag portion200being inflated, but not experiencing an impact with an occupant. The membrane204prevents gas from leaving the airbag through the opening. In some embodiments, the membrane204may allow some gas, such as a relatively small portion, to leave the airbag before the occupant impacts the airbag.

FIG. 3illustrates the airbag portion200and adaptive vent202when an occupant impacts the airbag. The pressure in the airbag increases when the occupant impacts the airbag due to the force exerted on the airbag by the occupant. The force exerted on the airbag by the occupant can be related to the severity of the crash (i.e. the force of the crash) and/or the weight and position of the occupant. When the occupant impacts the airbag, the pressure in the airbag increases and causes the membrane support members206to elongate and/or expand. As the membrane support members206elongate or expand, the membrane204opens to allow gas to exit the airbag. As the pressure in the airbag increases, the membrane206allows more gas to exit the airbag to absorb the energy from the occupant during, or just after, the collision.

FIG. 4illustrates a side view of an adaptive vent300before the occupant impacts the airbag. The adaptive vent300includes a membrane302and membrane support members304connecting the membrane302to airbag fabric306. As the pressure in the airbag increases, the membrane support members304can elongate or otherwise expand and the membrane302allows gas within the airbag to exit an airbag opening308.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the adaptive vent may include a diaphragm connected to an airbag using diaphragm support members that can adaptively vent the gas in the airbag.FIGS. 5-6illustrate one embodiment of an airbag portion400with an adaptive vent402. The adaptive vent402includes a diaphragm (not shown) connected to the airbag portion400by diaphragm support members406.FIG. 5shows the adaptive vent402before the occupant impacts the airbag. During this phase, the diaphragm opens the vent and allows gas to exit the airbag at a normal or constant rate. When the occupant impacts the airbag causing the pressure in the airbag to increase, the diaphragm support members406expand, as shown inFIG. 6, and cause the diaphragm to contract and change the size and shape of the airbag opening to allow gas to exit the airbag at a faster rate.

The rate at which the gas exits the airbag may be based in part on the size, shape and quantity of the diaphragm support members406. For example, as the number of diaphragm support members406increases, the more pressure in the airbag is needed to elongate or expand the diaphragm support members406and more pressure is needed to cause the diaphragm to contract. The diaphragm and diaphragm support members406may be made from any expandable material, an example of which is a silicone material.

FIG. 7illustrates a side view of an airbag portion500with an adaptive vent502associated with an airbag opening504before the occupant impacts the airbag. The adaptive vent502includes a diaphragm506and diaphragm support members508connecting the diaphragm506to airbag fabric510. As the pressure in the airbag increases, the diaphragm support members508may elongate or otherwise expand and cause the diaphragm506to contract. When the diaphragm506contracts, it causes the opening504to increase in size and allows more gas to exit the airbag.

Adaptive vents according to some embodiments of the present invention may include a membrane and a diaphragm connected to an airbag by support members.FIGS. 8-10illustrate embodiments of adaptive vents with a membrane and a diaphragm to adaptively release gas from the airbag based on the pressure in the airbag. For example,FIG. 8shows an airbag portion600with an opening602and a membrane604covering the opening602. A diaphragm606may be associated with the membrane604. The membrane604and diaphragm606can be connected to airbag fabric608by support members610. In some embodiments, the diaphragm606and membrane604may be reinforced to prevent the diaphragm606and/or membrane604from detaching from the airbag by reinforcement member612.

As the pressure in the airbag increases, the support members610may elongate or expand and cause the membrane604to open and allow gas to exit the opening602. The diaphragm606may also contract and cause more gas to exit the opening602. The amount and/or rate of gas released may depend on the pressure in the airbag and may also depend on the quantity, size, shape, thickness, and modulus or the support members610.

Adaptive vents having a membrane and a diaphragm may be provided in a variety of configurations. For example,FIG. 8shows the diaphragm606between the membrane604and support members610with a reinforcement member612.FIG. 9shows a membrane700between a diaphragm702and support members704with a reinforcement member706.FIG. 10shows a diaphragm800between a membrane802and support members804without a reinforcement member.

As stated above, the amount or rate of gas released from an airbag when and after an occupant impacts the airbag may depend, at least in part, on the thickness of support members associated with a membrane and/or diaphragm.FIG. 11shows an airbag portion900with an adaptive vent902that includes a membrane904and support members906. The support members906may include a first area908having a first thickness and a second area910having a second thickness. The membrane904may have a third thickness that is less than the first thickness. The thickness of the membrane904may be designed such that the membrane904breaks open when the pressure in the airbag elongates or otherwise expands the support members906. The thickness of the first area908may be selected to prevent the membrane904break from affecting the second area910. The thickness of the second area910may be selected based on the desired elongation attributes of the support members906.

In other embodiments, an example of which is shown inFIG. 12, an adaptive vent1000may be provided having a membrane1002with a first thickness and support members1004having a second thickness. The thickness of the support members1004can be greater than the thickness of the membrane1002and selected based on the desired elongation attributes of the support members1004.

The amount and/or rate at which gas is released from airbags of certain embodiments of the present invention may be based, at least in part, on the shape or size of adaptive vent. For example, a membrane and support members may be shaped in a desirable fashion to provide the number of support members and membrane shape necessary to release gas at a desired level when an occupant impacts the airbag.FIGS. 13A-Eillustrate a variety of adaptive valves according to various embodiments of the prevent invention. The adaptive valves shown inFIGS. 13A-Emay include a silicone membrane that has been cut to a desired shape and having a desired number of support members. The embodiments shown inFIGS. 13A-Emay be included in adaptive vents with or without diaphragms.

Support members according to some embodiments of the present invention may be shaped to provide a desired performance.FIGS. 14A-Dillustrate various embodiments of support members that have been cut to various shapes. The support members may have different elongation attributes depending, in part, on the shape of the support member and provide the system with variable gas release performance, as desired.

Embodiments of the present invention including an adaptive vent having a diaphragm may include multiple diaphragms.FIG. 15illustrates an airbag portion1100with an adaptive vent1102containing a plurality of diaphragms and support members1104connecting the diaphragms1102to airbag fabric1106. The plurality of diaphragms are adapted to contract at different airbag pressures, providing an adaptive vent that can release gas at different stages depending on the pressure in the airbag and can be used in systems with or without membranes.FIG. 18illustrates a side view of a portion of the adaptive vent1102with a plurality of diaphragms1108a-dand a membrane1110. The diaphragms1108a-dare connected to airbag fabric1106with support members1104a-d. A membrane support member1112may be provided to connect the membrane1110to the airbag fabric1106.

The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Further modifications, adaptations and additional components added to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.