Tethered air bag cover

• US 5,242,191 A
• Filed: 01/18/1991
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Phillion, Jack A., Faigle, Ernst M., Ziomek, Joseph F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Oberleitner, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DICKSON, PAUL N
• Application Number:
  US07/642,802
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/730, 280/731, 280/732, 280/743
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21525 the lid being fixed on the bag, or forming part of the bag wall, or the bag itself being used as wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment

Abstract

A vehicle air bag module includes a new and useful tether structure for incorporating a cover into the air bag module. The tether structure enables the cover to separate from the remainder of the module but remain tethered to the air bag as the air bag is being deployed from the module.

Claims

1. An air bag module for a vehicle, comprising:

a receptacle;

a folded air bag in the receptacle, said air bag being positioned to be deployed from aid receptacle in an emergency situation;

a cover which closes said receptacle; and

tether structure coupled to said cover and to said air bag, said tether structure enabling said cove to separate from said receptacle and maintaining said cover tethered to said air bag as said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle.

2. An air bag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion which engages said receptacle to couple said cover with said receptacle in a predetermined position relative to aid receptacle when said air bag is in said receptacle, said locator portion separating from said receptacle when said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle.

3. An air bag module as set forth in claim 2, wherein said locator portion comprises a resilient clip which engages a portion of said receptacle to couple said cover with said receptacle.

4. An air bag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tether structure includes at least one flexible tether strap coupled to said cover and to said air bag.

5. An air bag module as set forth in claim 4, wherein said tether strap enables said cover to pivot relative to said air bag over a predetermined range of motion.

6. An air bag module as set forth in claim 5, wherein said tether strap is sewn to said air bag.

7. An air bag module as set forth in claim 6, wherein said tether strap is sewn to said air bag using a "Box X" pattern with no more than ten stitches per inch.

8. An air bag module as set forth in claim 7, wherein said tether strap comprises a nylon fabric strap.

9. An air bag module as set forth in claim 7, wherein said tether strap comprises a bicomponent staple fibrous material which is sewn to said air bag using a "Box X" pattern with no more than five stitches per inch.

10. An air bag module as set forth in claim 9, where said tether structure is integrally formed of the bicomponent staple fibrous material.

11. An air bag module as set forth in claim 10, wherein said tether structure is coupled to said cover by inductive welding.

12. An air bag module for a vehicle, comprising:

a receptacle;

a folded air bag in the receptacle, said air bag being positioned to be deployed from said receptacle in an emergency situation;

a cover which closes said receptacle; and

tether structure coupled to said dover and to said air bag, said tether structure enabling said cover to separate from said receptacle and maintaining said cover tethered to said air bag as said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle;

wherein said locator portion comprises a resilient clip which engages a portion of said receptacle to couple said cover with said receptacle;

wherein said air bag module further includes fastening means for fastening a predetermined portion of said air bag to said receptacle, and said resilient clip engaging a portion of said fastening means to couple said cover with said receptacle.

13. An air bag module for a vehicle, comprising:

a receptacle;

a folded air bag in the receptacle, said air bag being positioned to be deployed from said receptacle in an emergency situation;

a cover which closes said receptacle; and

tether structure coupled to said cover and to said air bag, said tether structure enabling said cover to separate from said receptacle and maintaining said cover tethered to said air bag as said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle;

wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion which engages said receptacle to couple said cover with sad receptacle in a predetermined position relative to said receptacle when said air bag is in said receptacle, said locator portion separating from said receptacle when said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle; and

wherein said tether structure includes (a) at least one flexible tether strap coupled to said cover and to said air bag, and (b) a bicomponent staple fibrous material forming a base and said locator portion, said tether strap being sewn to said bicomponent staple fibrous material to complete said tether structure.

14. An air bag module as set forth in claim 13, wherein said tether strap comprises a nylon fabric strap.

15. Apparatus comprising (a) a cover for a vehicle air bag module and (b) tether structure coupled to said cover and (c) means for coupling said tether structure to a vehicle air bag in a manner which maintains said cover tethered to the air bag as the air bag is being deployed from the vehicle air bag module.

16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion for engaging a selected portion of the vehicle air bag module to couple said cover to said selected portion, said locator portion separating from the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module when the air bag is being deployed therefrom.

17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said locator portion comprises a resilient clip for engaging the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module to couple said cover with the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said tether structure includes at least one flexible tether strap having a first portion coupled to said cover and a second portion for coupling to a vehicle air bag.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said tether strap enables said cover to pivot relative to an air bag to which it is coupled over a predetermined range of motion.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said second portion of said tether strap is to be sewn to an air bag.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said tether strap comprises a nylon fabric strap.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said tether strap comprises a bicomponent staple fibrous material.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said tether structure is integrally formed of the bicomponent staple fibrous material.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said tether structure is coupled to said cover by inductive welding.

25. Apparatus comprising (a) a cover for a vehicle air bag module and (b) tether structure coupled to said cover and (c) means for coupling said tether structure to a vehicle air bag in a manner which maintains said cover tethered to the air bag as the air bag is being deployed from the vehicle air bag module;

wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion for engaging a selected portion of the vehicle air bag module to couple said cover to said selected portion, said locator portion separating from the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module when the air bag is being deployed therefrom; and

wherein said tether structure includes (a) at least one flexible tether strap coupled to aid cover and to said air bag and (b) a bicomponent staple fibrous material forming a base and said locator portion, said tether strap being sewn to said bicomponent staple fibrous material to complete said tether structure.

26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said tether strap is sewn to said base using a "Box X" stitch pattern with no more than five stitches per inch.

27. Apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said tether strap comprises a nylon fabric strap.