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Tethers with tearseams for air bag cushion

  • US 5,489,119 A
  • Filed: 04/21/1995
  • Issued: 02/06/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In an automotive air bag assembly comprising a gas generator actuable to generate a gas under pressure, actuation means to actuate said gas generator, an air bag cushion having a first portion with a front surface and a back surface, a second portion attached to said first portion and terminating in a third portion, said third portion defining a gas inlet opening in said air bag cushion for receiving said gas from said gas generator, and at least one tether attached to said air bag cushion to restrain and direct its deployment;

  • the improvement comprising said at least one tether having a first end attached to the back surface of said first portion of said airbag cushion and a second end attached adjacent said third portion of said air bag cushion, each of said at least one tethers being folded upon itself to form a first tether section and a second tether section, each of said first tether sections being joined to the corresponding said second tether section at at least one contact point by releasable attachment means to thereby form a truncated tether having a releasable shortened length, a first end of said tether being attached to the back surface of said first portion of said air bag cushion and a second end of said tether being attached adjacent said third portion of said air bag cushion such that, upon actuation of said gas generator, said air bag cushion is free to deploy until said tether is extended to said releasable shortened length, said tether then restraining expansion of said air bag cushion and causing said air bag to pivot about said second end of said tether until said releasable attachment means release allowing said air bag cushion to further expand.

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