Rear tether retractor for an inflatable cushion
First Claim
1. An inflatable curtain module configured to provide side impact protection for an occupant of a vehicle, the inflatable curtain module comprising:
- a cushion configured to inflate inward of a lateral surface of the vehicle in an inflation direction;
a front tether attached to the cushion and to a front tether anchoring point positioned forward of the cushion within the vehicle;
a rear tether comprising a first end attached to the cushion and a second end fixedly attached to a rear tether anchoring point positioned rearward of the cushion within the vehicle;
a sliding mechanism slidably capturing the rear tether;
a retractor connected to the sliding mechanism, to exert rearward tension on the sliding mechanism; and
a locking mechanism that restrains motion of the sliding mechanism away from the retractor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tether assembly attachable to an inflatable cushion airbag module is disclosed that is usable in vehicles including trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles with abrupt rear surfaces. The tether assembly does not require that the rear tether be extended back from the rear edge of the airbag. The tether assembly may be used in connection with an inflatable cushion airbag secured to the front portion of the vehicle using a standard front tether system. The tether assembly is attached via a sliding mechanism to a rear tether used to secure an inflatable cushion module airbag to an anchoring point within the vehicle. The sliding mechanism is also connected to a retractor, preferably through a flexible connector made of the webbing material used in seat belts. The tether assembly is configured so that when the inflatable cushion airbag deploys during an accident, the retractor supplies rearward tension on the airbag by causing the sliding mechanism to move along the path of the tether. This tension on the airbag prevents it from shifting from the position designated to give the occupant optimal protection against lateral impact and rollover. Preferably, the retractor does not supply tension to the airbag until after it has deployed. A locking mechanism can be attached to the retractor to prevent a reduction in the tension applied to the inflatable cushion by restraining motion of the sliding mechanism in a direction away from the retractor.
48 Citations
59 Claims
-
1. An inflatable curtain module configured to provide side impact protection for an occupant of a vehicle, the inflatable curtain module comprising:
-
a cushion configured to inflate inward of a lateral surface of the vehicle in an inflation direction;
a front tether attached to the cushion and to a front tether anchoring point positioned forward of the cushion within the vehicle;
a rear tether comprising a first end attached to the cushion and a second end fixedly attached to a rear tether anchoring point positioned rearward of the cushion within the vehicle;
a sliding mechanism slidably capturing the rear tether;
a retractor connected to the sliding mechanism, to exert rearward tension on the sliding mechanism; and
a locking mechanism that restrains motion of the sliding mechanism away from the retractor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An inflatable curtain module having a stowed configuration in which the module is stored in a vehicle, and a deployed configuration in which the module is operable to provide lateral impact protection tending to keep an occupant of the vehicle from passing through a protection plane, the module comprising:
-
a cushion configured to be disposed along a portion of the protection plane in the deployed configuration;
a tether having a first end configured to be attached to the cushion, a second end configured to be attached to a tether anchoring point of the vehicle, displaced from the first end, and an intermediate portion between the first and second ends;
a sliding mechanism slidably attachable to the intermediate portion; and
a retractor that exerts force on the sliding mechanism to produce tension in the tether in the deployed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
-
22. An inflatable curtain module having a stowed configuration in which the module is stored in the vehicle and a deployed configuration in which the module is operable to provide lateral impact protection, the module comprising:
-
a cushion configured to be disposed longitudinally along a lateral surface of the vehicle in the deployed configuration;
a tether extensible along a tether path between a tether anchoring point of the vehicle and the cushion to transmit tension between the tether anchoring point and the cushion, the tether comprising a first end attached to the cushion and a second end fixedly attached to the tether anchoring point; and
a tensioning system configured to exert pressure on an intermediate portion of the tether such that a substantial portion of the tension transmitted by the tether to the cushion is in the longitudinal direction. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
a sliding mechanism positioned proximate the tether and connected to the tether to allow the tether to slide along the sliding mechanism;
a flexible connector connected to the sliding mechanism;
a retractor that exerts tension on the flexible connector; and
a locking mechanism that restrains motion of the sliding mechanism away from the retractor.
-
-
26. An inflatable curtain module as in claim 22, wherein the tensioning system produces tension such that a portion of the tension transmitted by the tether to the cushion in the deployed configuration is directed rearward of the occupant in a horizontal direction at a height proximate a waistline of the occupant.
-
27. An inflatable curtain module as in claim 22, wherein the tensioning system produces tension such that a portion of the tension transmitted by the tether to the cushion in the deployed configuration is directed forward of the occupant in a horizontal direction at a height proximate a waistline of the occupant.
-
28. A tether assembly configured to be attached to a cushion of an air bag system designed to protect an occupant of a vehicle from lateral impact, the assembly comprising:
-
a tether having a first end configured to be attached to the cushion, a second end configured to be attached to a tether anchoring point of the vehicle, displaced from the first end, and an intermediate portion between the first end and the second end;
a sliding mechanism that slidably engages the intermediate portion of the tether; and
a retractor attached to the sliding mechanism, to draw the sliding mechanism away from the cushion. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
-
-
31. A tensioning assembly for a tether having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, the first end attachable to a cushion of an air bag system designed to provide side impact protection of an occupant of a vehicle, the second end attachable to an anchoring point within the vehicle, the tensioning assembly comprising:
-
a sliding mechanism slidably connected to the intermediate portion of the tether;
a flexible connector connected to the sliding mechanism;
a retractor that takes up at least a portion of the flexible connector to exert tension on the flexible connector; and
a locking mechanism that restrains motion of the sliding mechanism away from the retractor. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A tensioning assembly for a tether with a first end attachable to a cushion of an air bag system designed to provide side impact protection of an occupant of a vehicle and a second end attachable to a tether anchoring point within the vehicle, the tensioning assembly comprising:
-
a sliding mechanism slidably attached to the intermediate portion of the tether;
a flexible connector connected to the sliding mechanism; and
a retractor that takes up at least a portion of the flexible connector to exerts tension on the flexible connector, wherein the retractor is positioned in relation to the tether such that motion of the sliding mechanism toward the retractor initiates comparatively more rapid motion of the first end of the tether. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
-
-
41. A method for restraining motion of an occupant of a vehicle through a protection plane, the method comprising:
-
providing a cushion configured to deploy along the protection plane;
providing a tether having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second ends;
affixing the first end to the cushion;
fixedly attaching the second end to a tether anchoring point of the vehicle;
providing a tensioning system; and
connecting the tensioning system to the intermediate portion to actuate the tether such that the tether exerts tension on the cushion, the tension tending to keep the cushion within the protection plane. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. A method for restraining a cushion for an air bag system of a vehicle during deployment, the method comprising:
-
providing a tether having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion;
attaching the first end to the cushion;
fixedly attaching the second end to a tether anchoring point of the vehicle;
providing a sliding mechanism;
providing a retractor;
attaching the sliding mechanism to the intermediate portion in such a way that the intermediate portion is slidable in relation to the sliding mechanism; and
attaching the retractor to the sliding mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
providing a locking mechanism; and
connecting the locking mechanism to the sliding mechanism to restrict withdrawal of the sliding mechanism from the retractor.
-
-
59. A method for restraining a cushion as in claim 58, wherein providing a locking mechanism comprises providing a structure selected from the group consisting of a gear rotationally coupled to the rotationally biased spindle with a blocking member that impedes rotation of the gear in a direction corresponding to withdrawal of the flexible connector from the retractor, and a rotatable engagement member that grips the flexible connector to restrain motion of the flexible connector out of the retractor.
Specification