Air-bag

• US 7,213,839 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lockwood, Andrew P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gooden, Jr.; Barry
• Application Number:
  US11/024,273
• Publication Number:
  US 20060138755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.2, 280/749
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

An air-bag is disclosed which takes the form of an inflatable curtain, having a gas inlet neck to receive gas from a gas generator. The air-bag has a tether which extends from the exterior of the air-bag at a point adjacent to the gas inlet neck. Part of the tether is at least initially secured to a mount by a mounting arrangement, and the tether is yieldable such that, on deployment of the air-bag, the point from which the tether extends from the air-bag may move away from the mount so that the tether yields with the absorption of energy.

Claims

1. An air-bag for a motor vehicle in the form of an inflatable curtain comprising the inflatable curtain having a gas inlet neck to receive a gas from a gas generator, the air-bag having a tether extending from an exterior of the air-bag at a point of attachment adjacent to the gas inlet neck, part of the tether being at least initially secured to a mounting arrangement including a mounting ring surrounding the inlet neck and clamping the neck to part of the gas generator, the tether passing through the mounting ring so to be clamped in position, the tether being yieldable and configured to be withdrawn from the mounting ring such that, on deployment of the air-bag, the point may move away from the mounting arrangement so that the tether yields and is withdrawn from the mounting ring with the absorption of energy.

2. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the tether is provided with an area of mechanical weakness.

3. An air-bag according to claim 2 wherein the area of mechanical weakness is provided by a notch or slit cut in the tether.

4. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the tether is provided with a terminal aperture for a connector to connect the end of the tether to a mounting bracket attached to the motor vehicle.

5. An air-bag according to claim 4 wherein the mounting bracket mounts the gas generator.

6. An air-bag according to claim 4 wherein the connector is a yieldable connector.

7. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the tether is formed integrally with the air-bag.

8. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the tether is stitched, glued or otherwise secured to the air-bag.

9. An air-bag according to claim 8 wherein the stitching, gluing or other securing of the tether to the air-bag is yieldable and yields, with the absorption of energy, on deployment of the air-bag.

10. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the neck is provided at one end of the air-bag.

11. An air-bag according to claim 1 wherein the neck is provided on the upper edge of the air-bag intermediate ends of an upper edge of the air-bag.

12. An air-bag for a motor vehicle in the form of an inflatable curtain comprising:

a gas inlet neck extending from the inflatable curtain of the air-bag, the gas inlet neck being configured to receive a gas from a gas generator, a tether extending from an exterior of the air-bag at a point of attachment adjacent to the gas inlet neck, wherein part of the tether is at least initially secured to a mounting ring surrounding the inlet neck to clamp the neck to part of the gas generator, the tether passing through the mounting ring to clamp the tether in position, the tether being yieldable and configured to be withdrawn from the mounting ring such that, on deployment of the air-bag, the point may move away from the mounting ring so that the tether yields and withdraws from the mounting ring in order to absorb energy.

13. An air-bag for a motor vehicle in the form of an inflatable curtain comprising:

a gas inlet neck extending from the inflatable curtain of the air-bag, the gas inlet neck being configured to receive a gas from a gas generator, a tether is stitched, glued or otherwise secured to an exterior of the air-bag at a point of attachment adjacent to the gas inlet neck, part of the tether is at least initially secured to a mounting arrangement, wherein the tether and the stitching, gluing or other securing of the tether to the air-bag are yieldable such that, on deployment of the air-bag, the point may move away from the mounting arrangement so that both the tether and the stitching, gluing or other securing of the tether to the air-bag yields in order to absorb energy.

14. An air-bag for a motor vehicle in the form of an inflatable curtain comprising the inflatable curtain having a gas inlet neck to receive a gas from a gas generator, the air-bag having a tether extending from an exterior of the air-bag at a point of attachment adjacent to the gas inlet neck, part of the tether being at least initially secured to a mounting arrangement, the tether being yieldable, and the tether being stitched, glued or otherwise secured to the air-bag such that the stitching, gluing or other securing of the tether to the air-bag is also yieldable, such that on deployment of the air-bag the point may move away from the mounting arrangement so that the tether and tether stitching, glue or other securing yields to absorb energy.

15. An air-bag according to claim 14 wherein the tether is provided with an area of mechanical weakness.

16. An air-bag according to claim 15 wherein the area of mechanical weakness is provided by a notch or slit cut in the tether.

17. An air-bag according to claim 14 wherein the tether is provided with a terminal aperture for a connector to connect the end of the tether to a mounting bracket attached to the motor vehicle.

18. An air-bag according to claim 17 wherein the mounting bracket mounts the gas generator.

19. An air-bag according to claim 17 wherein the connector is a yieldable connector.

20. An air-bag according to claim 14 wherein the tether is formed integrally with the air-bag.

21. An air-bag according to claim 14 wherein the neck is provided at one end of the air-bag.

22. An air-bag according to claim 14 wherein the neck is provided on the upper edge of the air-bag intermediate ends of an upper edge of the air-bag.