Side restraint assembly for an automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. A side restraint assembly disposed between a front pillar and a rear pillar within a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
- an inflatable side air bag having a tubular portion and an enlarged main portion, said tubular portion extending from said main portion to an inflator, said inflator adapted to inflate said inflatable side air bag;
a first tether connecting said inflatable side air bag to said front pillar of said vehicle; and
a braided tube substantially enclosing said tubular portion of said inflatable side air bag, said braided tube secured to said rear pillar, wherein when said inflatable side air bag is inflated, said braided tube decreases its length thereby inducing tension to positively position and retain said side restraint assembly relative to said vehicle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side restraint assembly includes a side air bag having a main portion secured to the vehicle roof rail, a tubular portion extending from the main portion and a neck portion connected to an inflator for inflating the side air bag. A braided tube encircles the tubular portion and is secured to the rear pillar. The front of the main portion of the side air bag is secured to the front pillar. When the side air bag is inflated, the braided tube increases in diameter and significantly decreases in length. The decreased length induces tension along the bottom edge of the side air bag thereby positively positioning and retaining the air bag relative to the vehicle. The braided tube has an enlarged bulged portion to enhance the constriction of the braided tube during inflation. A fabric shield may be secured to the braided tube to provide an additional barrier for a rear-seated occupant.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A side restraint assembly disposed between a front pillar and a rear pillar within a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
-
an inflatable side air bag having a tubular portion and an enlarged main portion, said tubular portion extending from said main portion to an inflator, said inflator adapted to inflate said inflatable side air bag;
a first tether connecting said inflatable side air bag to said front pillar of said vehicle; and
a braided tube substantially enclosing said tubular portion of said inflatable side air bag, said braided tube secured to said rear pillar, wherein when said inflatable side air bag is inflated, said braided tube decreases its length thereby inducing tension to positively position and retain said side restraint assembly relative to said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19)
-
-
16. A side restraint assembly disposed between a front and rear pillar within a vehicle for protecting a front and rear seated occupant, said assembly comprising:
-
a single inflatable side air bag having;
a main portion disposed adjacent a front window and having a top edge secured to a roof rail of said vehicle, said main portion having at least one substantially horizontally extending zero length tether connecting opposite sides of said main portion and a first tether connecting a lower front portion of said main portion to said front pillar;
a tubular portion extending from said main portion toward said rear pillar adjacent said rear window of said vehicle;
a neck portion extending from said tubular portion to an inflator mounted in said rear pillar;
said neck portion and said inflator adapted to facilitate egress of discharging air to inflate said tubular portion and said main portion of said single inflatable side air bag;
a braided tube substantially enclosing said tubular portion and extending from said main portion to said rear pillar and being positively secured to said rear pillar, said braided tube having an enlarged bulged portion adjacent a rear end thereof;
a shield member made of fabric secured to said braided tube and said roof rail adjacent said rear window to provide an additional barrier between said rear occupant and said rear window;
wherein when said single inflatable side air bag is inflated, said braided tube substantially decreases in length thereby inducing tension along a bottom edge of said single inflatable side air bag to positively position and retain said side restraint assembly relative to said vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
-
-
20. A side restraint assembly disposed within a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
-
an inflator for generating inflation gas;
an inflatable side air bag having a tubular portion and an enlarged main portion, said tubular portion extending from said main portion towards said inflator, said inflator for inflating said side air bag;
a braided tube substantially enclosing said tubular portion, said braided tube having one end secured to said enlarged main portion and another end secured to the vehicle, whereby upon side air bag inflation, the braided tube decreases in length to produce tension for positioning the side air bag relative to the vehicle.
-
Specification