Automotive vehicle air bag system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air bag assembly for use in a vehicle for impact restraint, the air bag assembly comprising:
- an air bag cushion inflatable to first and second amounts of expansion and deployable in an interior space of the vehicle, wherein said second amount of expansion is greater than said first amount of expansion;
at least one tether having a first portion;
wherein said first portion includes a first loop, wherein said first loop is a closed loop and is supported at a first location at the cushion; and
at least one support element at said first location;
wherein said first loop is secured at said at least one support element; and
wherein said at least one tether is releasably restrained such that the cushion is inflatable to the first amount of expansion when said at least one tether is so restrained and the cushion is inflatable to the second amount of expansion after said at least one tether is released.
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Abstract
A vehicle air bag assembly including an inflatable air bag cushion and at least one tether having a first portion is provided. The first portion includes a first loop supported at a first location at the cushion. The tether is releasably restrained such that the cushion inflates to a first amount of expansion when the tether is restrained and to a greater second amount of expansion after the tether is released.
59 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An air bag assembly for use in a vehicle for impact restraint, the air bag assembly comprising:
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an air bag cushion inflatable to first and second amounts of expansion and deployable in an interior space of the vehicle, wherein said second amount of expansion is greater than said first amount of expansion; at least one tether having a first portion; wherein said first portion includes a first loop, wherein said first loop is a closed loop and is supported at a first location at the cushion; and at least one support element at said first location; wherein said first loop is secured at said at least one support element; and wherein said at least one tether is releasably restrained such that the cushion is inflatable to the first amount of expansion when said at least one tether is so restrained and the cushion is inflatable to the second amount of expansion after said at least one tether is released. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An air bag assembly for use in a vehicle for impact restraint, the air bag assembly comprising:
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an air bag cushion inflatable to first and second amounts of expansion and deployable in an interior space of the vehicle, wherein said second amount of expansion is greater than said first amount of expansion; at least one tether having a first portion; wherein said first portion includes a first loop, wherein said first loop is a closed loop and is supported at a first location at the cushion; and wherein said at least one tether is releasably restrained such that the cushion is inflatable to the first amount of expansion when said at least one tether is so restrained and the cushion is inflatable to the second amount of expansion after said at least one tether is released; and at least one lateral tether element supported at opposing lateral locations at the cushion, wherein said opposing lateral locations are substantially laterally disposed with respect to said first portion. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An air bag assembly for use in a vehicle for impact restraint, the air bag assembly comprising:
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an air bag cushion inflatable to first and second amounts of expansion and deployable in an interior space of the vehicle, wherein said second amount of expansion is greater than said first amount of expansion; at least one tether having a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is formed into a first loop, wherein said first loop is supported at a first location at the cushion, and wherein the second portion is supported at a second location substantially opposing said first location; at least one lateral tether element supported at opposing points of attachment at the cushion, wherein said opposing points are substantially laterally disposed with respect to said first portion; wherein said at least one tether includes a second loop disposed between said first and second portion; and wherein said at least one tether is releasably restrained at said second loop such that the cushion is inflatable to the first amount of expansion when said at least one tether is restrained and the cushion is inflatable to the second amount of expansion after said at least one tether is released. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification