Air bag module with tether

• US 5,730,464 A
• Filed: 08/11/1995
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Hill, Timothy Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/514,360
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/728.1, 280/729, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An air bag module has an inflator for generating gas and an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator. The air bag includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The module also includes a tether being external to the air bag. The tether includes an upper end connected to the upper portion of the air bag and a lower end connected to the lower portion of the air bag. The tether is also located adjacent a vehicle occupant when the air bag is deployed. Upon air bag deployment, the occupant engages the tether and the tether pulls the air bag towards the occupant.

Claims

1. An air bag module for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising:

an inflator for generating inflator gas;

an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator, the air bag having an upper portion having an uppermost edge and a lower edge, the air bag having a lower portion having a lowermost edge and an upper edge, the lower edge of the upper portion of the air bag being connected to the upper edge of the lower portion of the air bag, the air bag having an air bag height defined between the uppermost edge and the lowermost edge;

a tether being external to the air bag and being positionable adjacent the vehicle occupant when the air bag is deployed, the tether having an upper end connected to the upper portion of the air bag and a lower end connected to the lower portion of the air bag, the tether having a tether height being less than the air bag height; and

the air bag including a bendable hinge portion joining the upper portion to the lower portion;

the hinge portion being formed by a seam sewn partially across the lower edge of the upper portion and the upper edge of the lower portion;

whereby upon air bag deployment the upper and lower ends of the tether pull the upper portion and the lower portion of the air bag towards each other and bend the air bag about the hinge portion.

2. An air bag module in a vehicle for side impact protection of a vehicle occupant having a torso portion and a head portion, the air bag module comprising:

an inflator for generating, inflator gas;

an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator, the air bag having an upper portion for alignment with the head portion of the occupant and having an uppermost edge, the air bag having a lower portion for alignment with the torso portion of the occupant and having a lowermost edge, the air bag having an air bag height defined between the uppermost edge and the lowermost edge, the air bag including a bendable hinge portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion;

a tether being external to the air bag and positionable adjacent the occupant when the air bag is deployed, the tether having an upper end connected to the upper portion of the air bag, a lower end connected to the lower portion of the air bag, and a middle portion extending between the upper end and the lower end and being detached from the air bag, the tether having a tether height less than the air bag height; and

the air bag having an air bag width and the hinge portion being formed by a seam sewn partially across the width of the air bag between the upper portion and the lower portion;

whereby upon air bag deployment, the torso portion of the occupant engages the middle portion of the tether and pushes the middle portion of the tether towards the air bag whereby the upper end of the tether pulls the upper portion of the air bag towards the head portion of the occupant whereby the air bag is bent into a C-shape about the hinge portion.

3. An air bag module in a vehicle for side impact protection of a vehicle occupant having a torso portion including a shoulder portion, and a head portion, the air bag module comprising:

an inflator for generating inflator gas;

an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator, the air bag having an upper portion positionable laterally outboard of the head portion of the occupant, the air bag having a lower portion positionable laterally outboard of the torso portion of the occupant;

the upper portion of the air bag being smaller than the lower portion of the air bag; and

a tether being external to the air bag and positionable laterally outboard and adjacent the occupant when the air bag is deployed, the tether having an upper end connected to the upper portion of the air bag, a lower end connected to the lower portion of the air bag, and a middle portion extending between the upper end and the lower end and being detached from the air bag, the tether having a tether height less than the air bag height;

whereby upon air bag deployment, the torso portion of the occupant engages the middle portion of the tether and pushes the middle portion of the tether towards the air bag whereby the upper end of the tether pulls the upper portion of the air bag laterally inboard towards the head portion of the occupant such that the head portion is caught by the upper portion of the air bag.

4. An air bag module in a vehicle for side impact protection of a vehicle occupant having a torso portion including a shoulder portion, and a head portion, the air bag module comprising:

an inflator for generating inflator gas;

an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator, the air bag having an upper portion positionable laterally outboard of the head portion of the occupant, the air bag having a lower portion positionable laterally outboard of the torso portion of the occupant;

the upper portion of the air bag being sized for engagement with the head portion of the occupant and the lower portion of the air bag being larger than the upper portion and sized for engagement with the torso portion of the occupant; and

a tether being external to the air bag and positionable laterally outboard and adjacent the occupant when the air bag is deployed, the tether having an upper end connected to the upper portion of the air bag, a lower end connected to the lower portion of the air bag, and a middle portion extending between the upper end and the lower end and being detached from the air bag, the tether having a tether height less than the air bag height;

whereby upon air bag deployment, the torso portion of the occupant engages the middle portion of the tether and pushes the middle portion of the tether towards the air bag whereby the upper end of the tether pulls the upper portion of the air bag laterally inboard towards the head portion of the occupant such that the head portion is caught by the upper portion of the air bag.

5. An air bag module in a vehicle for side impact protection of a vehicle occupant having a torso portion including a shoulder portion, and a head portion, the air bag module comprising;

an inflator for generating inflator gas;

an air bag deployable upon generation of gas by the inflator, the air bag having an upper portion positionable laterally outboard of the head portion of the occupant, the air bag having a lower portion positionable laterally outboard of the torso portion of the occupant; and

a tether being external to the air bag and positionable laterally outboard and adjacent the occupant when the air bag is deployed, the tether having an upper end connected to the upper portion of the air bag, a lower end connected to the lower portion of the air bag, and a middle portion extending between the upper end and the lower end and being detached from the air bag, the tether having a tether height less than the air bag height;

whereby upon air bag deployment, the torso portion of the occupant engages the middle portion of the tether and pushes the middle portion of the tether towards the air bag whereby the upper end of the tether pulls the upper portion of the air bag laterally inboard towards the head portion of the occupant such that the head portion is caught by the upper portion of the air bag; and

the air bag including an uppermost end on the upper portion of the air bag and a lowermost end on the lower portion of the air bag and the air bag including a bendable hinge portion located between the upper portion and the lower portion, the hinge portion being positionable laterally outboard of the middle portion of the tether and laterally outboard of the shoulder portion of the occupant when the air bag is deployed, and wherein the hinge portion is located closer to the uppermost end of the air bag than to the lowermost end of the air bag whereby upon air bag deployment the shoulder portion of the occupant engages the middle portion of the tether and pushes the middle portion of the tether towards the hinge portion such that the upper end of the tether pulls the upper portion of the air bag laterally inboard towards the head portion of the occupant for catching the head portion.