CURTAIN AIRBAG ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. An airbag tether connector assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a first connector to which a first tether is attached and a second connector to which a second tether is attached, the first and second connectors comprising a retaining mechanism holding the two connectors coupled together and providing a visible indication that the first and second connectors are not correctly coupled together; and
a mounting means releasably attaching the first and second connectors to the vehicle when the first and second connectors are in engagement with one another.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A curtain airbag assembly is provided having a number of airbags 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d arranged in a side by side relationship. Lower ends of the airbags 7a, 7b, 7c and 7d are linked to the adjacent airbag by an airbag tether connector assembly 10. Each of the tether connector assemblies includes first and second connectors 20, 30 that engage with one another and snap together to fasten together two tethers 26, 36. In the event that the first and second connectors 20, 30 are not correctly coupled together an indication of this fact is providing in one of a number of manners thereby reducing the risk that a vehicle 5 fitted with such a curtain airbag assembly can enter service with one or more tethers 26, 36 not connected.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An airbag tether connector assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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a first connector to which a first tether is attached and a second connector to which a second tether is attached, the first and second connectors comprising a retaining mechanism holding the two connectors coupled together and providing a visible indication that the first and second connectors are not correctly coupled together; and a mounting means releasably attaching the first and second connectors to the vehicle when the first and second connectors are in engagement with one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A curtain airbag assembly for a vehicle comprising:
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at least a first and a second inflatable airbag arranged in a side by side relationship with one another, each airbag being secured to a structural part of the vehicle at an upper end thereof; a first tether attached to the first airbag; a second tether attached to the second airbag; a first connector attached to the first tether; a second connector attached to the second tether, the first and second connectors comprising a retaining mechanism holding the two connectors coupled together and providing a visible indication that the first and second connectors are not correctly coupled together; and a mounting means releasably attaching the first and second connectors to the vehicle when the first and second connectors are in engagement with one another. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for assembling a curtain airbag assembly having at least a first airbag and a second airbag within a vehicle comprising:
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providing a first tether attached to the first airbag and a second tether attached to the second airbag; providing a first connector attached to the first tether and a second connector attached to the second tether; joining the first and second connectors together in a correctly coupled condition; and placing the correctly coupled first and second connectors into mating engagement with a mounting means to releasably attach the first and second connectors to the vehicle, the mounting means being unable to retain the first and second connectors in said releasable attachment to the vehicle if the first and second connectors are not in the correctly coupled condition.
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Specification