Air bag tether system comprising multi-segment tethers

• US 20020056978A1
• Filed: 08/22/2001
• Published: 05/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Original Assignee: Milliken & Company
• Inventors: Keshavaraj, Ramesh
• Granted Patent: US 6,796,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23504 characterised by material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/322 Warp differs from weft

Abstract

The present invention relates to air bag tethers formed from multiple bias-cut tether segments. Groups of tether segments are attached to the front and rear air bag panels and are then connected to one another to form a functional tether system. This multiple-segment construction, with its bias-cut segments, decreases the amount of fabric that is used in the manufacture of the air bag and tethers, while providing sufficient elongation for the tether system to be functional.

Claims

1. An air bag comprising a front bag panel and a rear bag panel, said bag panels having a central area and a periphery area,

said air bag further comprising a tether system positioned between said front bag panel and said rear bag panel, said tether system comprising a first group of tether segments and a second group of tether segments,

wherein each of said first group of tether segments has a bag attachment end portion that is attached to the center area of said front bag panel and a tether attachment end portion that is positioned toward the periphery of said front bag panel, and

wherein each of said second group of tether segments has a bag attachment end portion that is attached to the center area of said rear bag panel and a tether attachment end portion that is positioned toward the periphery of said rear bag panel,

and wherein the tether attachment end portions of said first group of tether segments are attached to the tether attachment end portions of said second group of tether segments,

each of said first and second groups of tether segments being cut from a textile fabric having a group of warp yarns and a group of fill yarns, said tether segments being cut substantially on a bias with respect to said groups of yarns.

2. The air bag of claim 1 wherein said first group of tether segments has a first and a second tether segment, the bag attachment end portion of said first tether segment being positioned around the central area of said front bag panel in opposed relation to the bag attachment end portion of said second tether segment, the bag attachment end portions of said first and second tether segments being attached to said front bag panel,

and wherein said second group of tether segments has a third and a fourth tether segment, the bag attachment end portion of said third tether segment being positioned around the central area of said rear bag panel in opposed relation to the bag attachment end portion of said fourth tether segment, the bag attachment end portions of said third and fourth tether segments being attached to said rear bag panel.

3. The air bag of claim 1 wherein said first group of tether segments has three tether segments that are positioned around the central area of said front bag panel such that the tether attachment end portions of said tether segments form the vertices of a triangle

and wherein said second group of tether segments has three tether segments that are positioned around the central area of said rear bag panel such that the tether attachment end portions of said tether segments form the vertices of a triangle.

4. The air bag of claim 3 wherein the tether attachment end portions of said tether segments form the vertices of an equilateral triangle.

5. The air bag of claim 1 wherein said first group of tether segments has four tether segments, said four tether segments having bag attachment end portions that are positioned as opposed pairs around the central area of said front bag panel, the bag attachment end portions of said first group of tether segments being attached to said front bag panel,

and wherein said second group of tether segments has four tether segments, said four tether segments having bag attachment end portions that are positioned as opposed pairs around the central area of said rear bag panel, the bag attachment end portions of said second group of tether segments being attached to said rear bag panel.

6. The air bag of claim 1 wherein said tether segments are cut at a 45 degree bias.

7. The air bag of claim 1 wherein said tether segments are substantially rectangular in shape.

8. The air bag of claim 1 wherein the bag attachment end portions of said tether segments are attached to said bag panels by sewn seams.

9. The air bag of claim 1 wherein the periphery end portions of said first group of tether segments are attached to the tether attachment end portions of said second group of tether segments by sewn seams.

10. The air bag of claim 1 wherein said tether system further comprises at least one reinforcement positioned at the central area of said bag panels, said reinforcement being attached to the bag attachment end portions of said tether segments.

11. The air bag of claim 10 wherein said tether system comprises two to five reinforcements attached to the central area of said rear bag panel.

12. The air bag of claim 10 wherein said reinforcements are substantially circular in shape.

13. The air bag of claim 1 wherein said tether segments are cut from said textile fabric that is coated.

14. The air bag of claim 1 wherein said tether segments are cut from said textile fabric that is laminated.

16. The tether group of claim 15 wherein said tether segments are substantially rectangular in shape.

17. The tether group of claim 15 wherein said tether group comprises two tether segments whose bag attachment end portions are positioned in opposed relation to one another.

18. The tether group of claim 15 wherein said tether group comprises three tether segments whose bag attachment end portions form the vertices of a triangle.

19. The tether group of claim 15 wherein said tether group comprises four tether segments whose bag attachment end portions are positioned as opposed pairs.

20. The tether group of claim 15 further comprising a reinforcement positioned between and attached to the bag attachment end portions of said tether segments.

21. The tether group of claim 20 wherein said reinforcement is substantially circular in shape.

22. The tether group of claim 20 wherein said reinforcement is substantially polygonal in shape.

15. A tether group to be used in a tether system of an air bag, said tether group comprising at least two tether segments, wherein each of said tether segments has a bag attachment end portion and a tether attachment end portion, the bag attachment end portions being positioned in opposed relation to one another, and

wherein each of said tether segments is cut from a textile fabric having a group of warp yarns and a group of fill yarns, said tether segments being cut substantially on a bias with respect to said groups of yarns.