Self-adjusting tether strap for inflatable curtain
First Claim
1. An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
- an inflatable element comprising an inflatable part, an edge part, an upper region, and a lower region;
connectors to secure the edge part of the inflatable element to the motor vehicle;
an inflator adapted to inflate the inflatable part of the inflatable element; and
a tether arrangement comprising;
an elongated tether having first and second ends thereof, wherein the first end is secured to a part of the inflatable element adjacent the upper region of the inflatable element, and wherein the second end is secured to the motor vehicle, a guide located adjacent one end of the inflatable element and adjacent the lower region of the inflatable element, the tether passing movably through the guide; and
a catching portion adapted to permit the tether to move through the guide in one direction and to prevent the tether from moving through the guide in an opposite direction.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle is often secured to the vehicle at points extending along a non-linear line located above an opening in the vehicle. The arrangement incorporates an inflatable element, connectors to secure an edge part of the inflatable element to the vehicle, and an inflator to inflate the inflatable element. The air-bag arrangement also incorporates a tether arrangement including a tether of elongated form having first end secured to the inflatable element adjacent the connectors and the second end secured to the vehicle. The tether movably passes through a guide located adjacent one end and the lower region of the inflatable element. Advantageously, when the inflatable element is inflated, a lower region of the inflatable element is taut and, together with the tether, extends between the two opposed ends of the non-linear line.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
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an inflatable element comprising an inflatable part, an edge part, an upper region, and a lower region;
connectors to secure the edge part of the inflatable element to the motor vehicle;
an inflator adapted to inflate the inflatable part of the inflatable element; and
a tether arrangement comprising;
an elongated tether having first and second ends thereof, wherein the first end is secured to a part of the inflatable element adjacent the upper region of the inflatable element, and wherein the second end is secured to the motor vehicle, a guide located adjacent one end of the inflatable element and adjacent the lower region of the inflatable element, the tether passing movably through the guide; and
a catching portion adapted to permit the tether to move through the guide in one direction and to prevent the tether from moving through the guide in an opposite direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An air-bag arrangement provided in a motor vehicle, the air-bag arrangement comprising:
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an initially folded inflatable element having an edge secured to said motor vehicle, an inflatable part, an upper region, and a lower region;
an inflator adapted to inflate the inflatable part of the inflatable element; and
a tether, the tether having first and second ends thereof, wherein the first end is secured to the inflatable element at a point adjacent the upper region of the inflatable element and the second end is secured to the motor vehicle, wherein the tether passes movably through a guide mounted adjacent the lower region of the inflatable element, and wherein the tether comprises a catching portion adapted to permit the tether to move through the guide in one direction and to prevent the tether from moving through the guide in an opposite direction;
wherein the air-bag arrangement is such that, on inflation of the inflatable element, the guide adjacent the lower region of the inflatable element will move to a position that pulls the tether into a non-linear condition, thereby stretching the tether taut, so that the lower region of the inflatable element is substantially taut. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
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an inflatable element comprising a guide, a first inflatable cell, a second inflatable cell, and a non-inflatable portion;
connectors for securing the inflatable element to the motor vehicle;
an elongated tether comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is secured to an upper portion of the non-inflatable portion of the inflatable element between the first inflatable cell and the second inflatable cell, wherein the second end is secured to the motor vehicle, and wherein the tether passes movably through the guide;
wherein, following inflation of the inflatable element, a portion of the tether extends in a downward diagonal manner from the first end to the guide, and a lower region of the inflatable element is substantially taut.
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Specification