Cinch ring for tightening tethers of an inflatable airbag

• US 20080106083A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Walston, Bryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An airbag device for use in a motor vehicle. The airbag device includes an inflatable curtain and a cinch ring for tightening a tether during the inflation of the inflatable curtain.

Claims

1. An airbag device for use in a motor vehicle, the airbag device comprising:

at least one inflatable curtain comprising at least one guide strap and at least one cinch ring, wherein the cinch ring is configured to slide along the guide strap; and

at least one tether threaded through the at least one cinch ring.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the inflation of the at least one inflatable curtain causes the at least one cinch ring to slide along the at least one guide strap.

3. The airbag device of claim 2, wherein causing the cinch ring to slide along the at least one guide strap tightens the at least one tether.

4. The airbag device of claim 3, wherein tightening the at least one tether prevents the at least one inflatable curtain from moving outside motor vehicle.

5. The airbag device of claim 3, wherein tightening the at least one tether results in deploying an ejection mitigation panel.

6. The airbag device of claim 5, wherein the at least one ejection mitigation panel is directly attached to the at least one inflatable curtain.

7. An airbag device for use in a motor vehicle comprising:

at least one inflatable curtain comprising at least one cinch ring, wherein the cinch ring is moved by inflation of the at least one inflatable curtain;

at least one tether threaded through the at least one cinch ring, wherein the at least one tether is tightened by moving the least one cinch ring.

8. The airbag system of claim 7, wherein the at least one cinch ring moves along at least one guide strap attached to the at least one inflatable curtain.

9. The airbag system of claim 7, wherein tightening the at least one tether deploys at least one ejection mitigation panel.

10. The airbag system of claim 9, wherein the at lest one tether comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached above the at least one inflatable curtain and the second end is attached to the at least one ejection mitigation panel.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one ejection mitigation panel is attached directly to the at least one inflatable curtain.

12. An airbag device for use in a motor vehicle, the airbag device comprising:

at least one inflatable curtain, wherein the at least one inflatable curtain comprises at least one cinch ring;

at least one tether that is threaded through the at least one cinch ring, wherein the at least one tether is tightened by moving the at least one cinch ring;

at least one ejection mitigation panel attached to the at least one tether; and

wherein tightening the at least one tether deploys the at least one ejection mitigation panel.

13. The airbag device of claim 12, wherein the at lest one tether comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached above the at least one inflatable curtain and the second end is attached to the motor vehicle below the at least one inflatable curtain.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one cinch ring moves along at least one guide strap attached to the at least one inflatable curtain.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one cinch ring is directly attached to the at least one inflatable curtain.

18. An airbag device for use in a motor vehicle, the airbag device comprising:

at least one inflatable curtain comprising a cinch ring;

at least one tether threaded through the cinch ring;

an ejection mitigation panel; and

means for deploying the ejection mitigation panel.

19. An airbag device for use in a motor vehicle, the airbag device comprising:

at least one inflatable curtain mounted on the roof rail of the motor vehicle, wherein the at least one inflatable curtain comprises a cinch ring;

at least one tether threaded through the cinch ring; and

means for tethering the at least one inflatable curtain so that the bottom edge of the at least one inflatable curtain will not swing through the window.