Apparatus and methods of venting gas in an airbag module

Abstract

An airbag module is provided. The module includes a housing, an inflator, an inflatable cushion, a vent aperture defined in the housing, and a gas deflecting member. The vent aperture places the interior of the housing in fluid communication with the exterior of the housing. The vent aperture is offset from exhaust ports of the inflator. The gas deflecting member is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, a first portion of the deflecting member deflects a first amount of the inflation gas to the exterior of the housing. In the second position, a second portion of the deflecting member deflects the inflation gas towards the inflatable cushion. A second amount of the inflation gas is ventable from the housing through the vent aperture when the deflecting member is in the second position.

1 . An airbag module, comprising: 
 a housing;    an inflator having one or more exhaust ports in fluid communication with an interior of said housing, said inflator being configured to provide a quantity of inflation gas from said exhaust ports;    an inflatable cushion in fluid communication with said interior such that said quantity of inflation gas causes said inflatable cushion to inflate and deploy from said housing;    a vent aperture defined in said housing, said vent aperture placing said interior of said housing in fluid communication with an exterior of said housing, said vent aperture being offset from said exhaust ports such that said quantity of inflation gas is not directed from said exhaust ports towards said vent aperture;    a gas deflecting member being movable between a first position and a second position, said gas deflecting member being positioned such that said quantity of inflation gas is directed from said exhaust ports towards said gas deflecting member, a first portion of said gas deflecting member being configured to deflect a first amount of said quantity of inflation gas to said exterior of said housing through said vent aperture when said gas deflecting member is in said first position, a second portion of said gas deflecting member being configured to deflect said quantity of inflation gas towards said inflatable cushion when said gas deflecting member is in said second position, a second amount of said quantity of inflation gas being ventable from said housing through said vent aperture when said gas deflecting member is in said second position, wherein said second amount is less than said first amount; and    wherein said gas deflecting member is initially in either said first position or said second position.    
     
     
         2 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         3 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         4 . A method of venting gas in an airbag module, comprising: 
 deflecting an inflation gas by moving a gas deflecting member between a first position and a second position, a first portion of said gas deflecting member deflecting a first amount of said inflation gas from the airbag module through a vent aperture when said gas deflecting member is in said first position, a second portion of said gas deflecting member deflecting said inflation gas towards an inflatable cushion when said gas deflecting member is in said second position, a second amount of said inflation gas being ventable through said vent aperture when said gas deflecting member is in said second position, wherein said first amount is greater than said second amount.    
     
     
         5 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 4 , wherein said gas deflecting member is slidably mounted to said housing such that it slides between said first and second positions  
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 4 , wherein said gas deflecting member is pivotally mounted to said housing such that it pivots between said first and second positions.