Retractable tethering device for curtain airbag
First Claim
1. An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
- an inflatable element, comprising;
an inflatable part, and an edge part;
connectors to secure the edge part of the inflatable element to the motor vehicle; and
a tether arrangement comprising;
a first tether of elongated form having opposed ends thereof secured to the inflatable element, outside the inflatable part, such that the opposed ends adjacent each other when the inflatable element is un-inflated and spaced apart when the inflatable element is inflated, and a second tether having a first and second end thereof, wherein the first end comprises a loop that embraces the first tether intermediate its ends, and the second end is secured to the motor vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, secured to the vehicle at points along a non-linear line 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 invention also incorporates a tether arrangement including a first and second tether. The first tether has opposed ends secured to the inflatable element. The second tether has a first end associated with the first tether intermediate its ends and a second end secured to the motor vehicle. When the inflatable element is inflated, a lower region of the inflatable element and the tethers extend between two opposed ends of the non-linear line and are substantially taut.
60 Citations
20 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, and an edge part;
connectors to secure the edge part of the inflatable element to the motor vehicle; and
a tether arrangement comprising;
a first tether of elongated form having opposed ends thereof secured to the inflatable element, outside the inflatable part, such that the opposed ends adjacent each other when the inflatable element is un-inflated and spaced apart when the inflatable element is inflated, and a second tether having a first and second end thereof, wherein the first end comprises a loop that embraces the first tether intermediate its ends, and the second end is secured to the motor vehicle. - 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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a non-linear recess spanning at least one opening in the motor vehicle, the recess containing an initially folded inflatable element having one edge secured to the recess, and a tether arrangement, the arrangement comprising;
a first elongated tether having opposed ends thereof secured to the inflatable element, such that the opposed ends may be adjacent each other when the inflatable element is initially in a folded state and spaced apart when the inflatable element is inflated, and a second tether having a first and second end thereof, wherein the first end comprises a loop that embraces the first tether intermediate the opposed ends thereof, and wherein the second end of the second tether is secured to the motor vehicle at one end of the non-linear recess;
wherein the air-bag arrangement is configured such that, on inflation of the inflatable element, a lower region of the inflatable element, substantially aligned with a line inter-connecting two ends of the non-linear recess, is substantially taut. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An air-bag arrangement for use in a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
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an inflatable element securable to the motor vehicle; and
a tether arrangement comprising;
a first tether of elongated form having opposed ends thereof secured to the inflatable element, outside the inflatable element, such that the opposed ends are adjacent each other when the inflatable element is un-inflated and spaced apart when the inflatable element is inflated, and a second tether having a first and second end thereof, wherein the first end comprises a loop that embraces the first tether intermediate its ends, and the second end is securable to the motor vehicle.
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Specification