Air bag with internal tether

• US 6,241,283 B1
• Filed: 02/15/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2000
• 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: Zarazua, Hector J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/504,481
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.2, 280/743.1, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal 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

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises an inflator (12) and an air bag (20). The air bag (20) comprises a front panel (50) and a back panel (52) having generally circular outer peripheral portions (54, 56) sewn to each other. The front panel (50) of the air bag (20) has a retainer portion (60) defining a central opening (62) through which the inflator extends. The retainer portion (60) of the air bag (20) has a plurality of fastener openings (66) spaced apart around the central opening (62) of the retainer portion. A tether (70) extends inside the air bag (20) between the front panel (50) and the back panel (52). The tether (70) has opposite front and back end portions (76, 96). The front end portion (76) of the tether (70) has a configuration extending around the central opening (62) of the front panel (50) and around the inflator (12). The front end portion (76) of the tether (70) has an opening (78) through which the inflator (12) extends. The apparatus (10) further comprises a plurality of fasteners (48) extending through the fastener openings (66) in the retainer portion (60) of the front panel (50) to secure the front panel of the air bag (20) to the inflator (12). The fasteners (48) secure the front end portion (76) of the tether (70) to the retainer portion (60) of the front panel (50) without sewing, so that the retainer portion of the front panel is free of stitching openings.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection apparatus comprising:

an inflator;

an air bag comprising a front panel and a back panel having generally circular outer peripheral portions sewn to each other;

said front panel of said air bag having a retainer portion defining a central opening through which said inflator extends, said retainer portion of said air bag having a plurality of fastener openings spaced apart around said central opening of said retainer portion;

said air bag further comprising a tether extending inside said air bag between said front panel and said back panel, said tether having opposite front and back end portions;

said front end portion of said tether having a configuration extending around said central opening of said front panel and around said inflator, said front end portion of said tether having an opening through which said inflator extends;

said apparatus further comprising a plurality of fasteners extending through said fastener openings in said retainer portion of said front panel to secure said front panel of said air bag to said inflator;

said fasteners securing said front end portion of said tether to said retainer portion of said front panel without sewing, said retainer portion of said front panel being free of stitching openings.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tether is made from a first piece of flexible fabric material having an elongate configuration including first and second opposite end portions and an intermediate portion;

said first and second end portions of said first piece of fabric material being joined to said back panel adjacent each other to form said back end portion of said tether;

said intermediate portion of said piece of material forming said front end portion of said tether and having said opening through which said inflator extends.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said front end portion of said tether overlies and is in abutting engagement with said retainer portion of said front panel.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fasteners are mounting studs on a retainer that extends around said inflator.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tether has an elongate, strap-like configuration including first and second end portions, said front end portion of said tether being disposed between said first and second end portions, said front end portion comprising one continuous piece of fabric material that extends completely and uninterruptedly around said inflator.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein said front end portion of said tether has a major side surface that overlies and is in abutting engagement with a major side surface of said retainer portion of said front panel of said air bag.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fasteners clamp said front end portion of said tether to said retainer portion of said front panel of said air bag.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fasteners clamp said front end portion of said tether to said retainer portion of said front panel of said air bag.