Air-bag arrangement

• US 7,063,351 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Forrester Ketley & Company
• Inventors: Winkler, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C.
• Application Number:
  US10/433,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20040041376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/743.2, 280/743.1, 280/749, 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An airbag arrangement comprises an inflatable element having one edge thereof secured to part of the roof of a vehicle by at least one anchoring point, the inflatable element being adapted, on inflation to be located between an occupant of the vehicle and the side of the vehicle. The inflatable element is configured so that a dimension of the inflatable element reduces on inflation of the inflatable element, the inflatable element being associated with a strap extending from the element though a second anchoring point, the strap comprising a strap adjustably connected to the inflatable element at two points which are spaced apart when the airbag is inflated.

Claims

1. An air-bag arrangement comprising an inflatable element having one edge thereof securable to part of a roof of a vehicle by at least one anchor point, the inflatable element being adapted, on inflation, to be located between an occupant of the vehicle and a side of the vehicle, the inflatable element being configured so that a dimension of the inflatable element reduces on inflation of the inflatable element, the inflatable element being associated with a strap extendable from the inflatable element to a second anchoring point, the strap adjustably connected to the inflatable element at two points which are spaced-apart when the air-bag is inflated, wherein the strap is in the form of a closed loop, part of the loop connectable to the second anchoring point provided on the vehicle, and two parts of the loop passing slidably through means which connect the loop to the air-bag.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the strap is in the form of a loop, part of the loop connectable to the second anchoring point provided on the vehicle, and two parts of the loop passing slidably through means which connect the loop to the air-bag.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the air-bag is mounted in a motor vehicle with the air-bag itself initially being stored above a door opening in the vehicle, and with the anchoring point for the strap being on the “

A”

-Post of the vehicle.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein, on inflation of the inflatable element, at least one line of tension is created by the strap and the inflatable element between two anchoring points.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4 wherein two lines of tension are created.

6. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the strap is in the form of a first loop, a first part of the first loop connectable to an anchoring point provided on the vehicle, and a second and third part of the first loop passing slidably through second and third loops on the inflatable element, thereby connecting the strap to the inflatable element.