Air-bag

• US 20060138755A1
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lockwood, Andrew P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,839 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• 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

Abstract

An air-bag is disclosed which takes the form of an inflatable curtain, having a gas inlet neck to receive gas from a gas generator. The air-bag has a tether which extends from the exterior of the air-bag at a point adjacent to the gas inlet neck. Part of the tether is at least initially secured to a mount by a mounting arrangement, and the tether is yieldable such that, on deployment of the air-bag, the point from which the tether extends from the air-bag may move away from the mount so that the tether yields with the absorption of energy.

Claims

1. An air-bag for a motor vehicle in the form of an inflatable curtain comprising the inflatable curtain having a gas inlet neck to receive a gas from a gas generator, the air-bag having a tether extending from the exterior of the air-bag at a point of attachment adjacent to the gas inlet neck, part of the tether being at least initially secured to a mounting arrangement, the tether being yieldable such that, on deployment of the air-bag, the said point may move away from the mounting arrangement so that the tether yields with the absorption of energy.

2. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the mounting arrangement is a mounting ring surrounding the inlet neck and clamping the neck to part of the gas generator, the tether passing through the mounting ring so to be clamped in position.

3. An air-bag according to claim 2 wherein the tether is configured to be withdrawn from the clamping ring, with the absorption of energy, on the deployment of the air-bag.

4. An air-bag according to any one of claim 1 wherein the tether is provided with an area of mechanical weakness.

5. An air-bag according to claim 4 wherein the area of mechanical weakness is provided by a notch or slit cut in the tether.

6. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the tether is provided with a terminal aperture for a connector to connect the end of the tether to a mount of the motor vehicle.

7. An air-bag according to claim 6 wherein the mount mounts the gas generator.

8. An air-bag according to claim 6 wherein the connector is a yieldable connector.

9. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the tether is formed integrally with the air-bag.

10. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the tether is stitched, glued or otherwise secured to the air-bag.

11. An air-bag according to claim 10 wherein the stitching, gluing or other securing of the tether to the air-bag is yieldable and yields, with the absorption of energy, on deployment of the air-bag.

12. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the neck is provided at one end of the air-bag.

13. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the neck is provided on the upper edge of the air-bag intermediate ends of an upper edge of the air-bag.