CONSTRAINED AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT USING AN EXTERNAL TETHER

• US 20090189376A1
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Company Limited (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Parks, Robert A., Niwa, Minoru, Schneider, Stephanie, Vigeant, Peter L., Geyer, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,793,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• 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: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

An example airbag arrangement includes an airbag that moves between an expansion-constrained position and an expanded position. A tether adjacent an exterior surface of the airbag moves with the airbag between a shorter position and a longer position. The tether remains intact in the shorter position and the longer position. When the tether is in the shorter position, the tether holds the airbag in the expansion-constrained position.

Claims

1. An airbag arrangement, comprising:

an airbag moveable between a expansion-constrained position and an expanded position; and

a tether adjacent an exterior surface of said airbag and moveable between a shorter intact position and a longer intact position, wherein said tether in said shorter intact position holds said airbag in said expansion-constrained position.

2. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein said airbag moves said tether between said shorter intact position and said longer intact position.

3. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein expanding said airbag does not break said tether.

4. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein said airbag includes an airbag contact face having a central contact area positioned between outer contact areas, said tether adjacent said central contact area.

5. The airbag arrangement of claim 4, wherein said tether limits expansion of said central contact area when said airbag is in said expansion-constrained position.

6. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein stitching holds said tether in said shorter position, and expanding said airbag breaks said stitching permitting movement of said tether to said longer position.

7. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein portions of said airbag include a vent for controlling movement of said airbag toward said expanded position.

8. The airbag arrangement of claim 7, wherein said tether at least partially covers said vent.

9. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein said tether encircles a portion of said airbag.

10. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, including a second tether having a longer intact position and a shorter intact position, wherein said second tether holds said airbag in said expansion-constrained position.

11. An airbag arrangement, comprising:

an airbag moveable between a expansion-constrained position and an expanded position; and

a tether for constraining expansion of said airbag, said tether surrounding a portion of said airbag to maintain a generally vertical airbag contact face when the airbag is in both the expansion-constrained position and the expanded position.

12. The airbag arrangement of claim 11, wherein said tether is adjacent an exterior surface of said airbag and moveable between a shorter intact position and a longer intact position, wherein said tether in said shorter intact position holds said airbag in said expansion-constrained position.

13. The airbag arrangement of claim 11, wherein said tether is adjacent an exterior surface of said airbag and moveable between a intact position and a broken position, wherein said tether in said intact position holds said airbag in said expansion-constrained position.

14. A method of constraining an airbag comprising:

(a) expanding an airbag against a tether;

(b) increasing the tether length; and

(c) expanding the airbag further.

15. The method of claim 14, including the step of encircling the airbag with the tether.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein expanding the airbag increases the tether length.

17. The method of claim 14, including the step of anchoring the tether adjacent a base of the airbag.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said tether mounts against an exterior surface of said airbag.