Airbag tether release mechanism
First Claim
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1. An airbag tether release mechanism, comprising:
- a housing;
an initiator positioned within the housing, wherein the initiator comprises an output cup having a redrawn end that unrolls and expands during deployment, and wherein the initiator is configured such that it provides an inherent seal to prevent the external release of pyrotechnic residues upon deployment;
a cutter operatively connected with the initiator such that deployment of the initiator actuates the cutter; and
a tether restraint structure configured to secure a tether until the tether is released by actuation of the cutter.
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Abstract
Disclosed are embodiments of an airbag tether release mechanism for use with airbag inflation systems. In one embodiment, the mechanism includes an initiator positioned within a housing. The initiator is configured such that it provides an inherent seal to prevent the external release of pyrotechnic residues upon deployment. The device may also include a cutter operatively connected with the initiator such that deployment of the initiator actuates the cutter and a tether restraint structure configured to secure a tether until the tether is released by actuation of the cutter.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An airbag tether release mechanism, comprising:
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a housing; an initiator positioned within the housing, wherein the initiator comprises an output cup having a redrawn end that unrolls and expands during deployment, and wherein the initiator is configured such that it provides an inherent seal to prevent the external release of pyrotechnic residues upon deployment; a cutter operatively connected with the initiator such that deployment of the initiator actuates the cutter; and a tether restraint structure configured to secure a tether until the tether is released by actuation of the cutter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for releasing an airbag tether, comprising:
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restraining a tether, wherein the tether is connected to an airbag cushion; deploying an initiator, wherein the initiator is deployed without externally releasing pyrotechnic residues; actuating a cutter, wherein the deployment of the initiator actuates the cutter; and cutting the tether, wherein the actuation of the cutter causes the cutting of the tether. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An airbag tether release mechanism, comprising:
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a housing; restraining means for restraining an airbag tether; an initiator positioned within the housing, wherein the initiator comprises an output cup having a redrawn end that unrolls and expands during deployment, and wherein the initiator is configured such that it provides an inherent seal to prevent the external release of pyrotechnic residues upon deployment; and releasing means for releasing the tether from the restraining means, wherein the releasing means is actuated by the initiator. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An airbag tether release mechanism, comprising:
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a housing; an initiator positioned within the housing, wherein the initiator is configured such that it provides an inherent seal to prevent the external release of pyrotechnic residues upon deployment; a piston comprising a cutter, wherein the piston is operatively connected with the initiator such that deployment of the initiator actuates the piston; a tether restraint structure configured to secure a tether until the tether is released by actuation of the piston; and a vent actuator configured to alter the status of a vent opening in response to the deployment of the initiator. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification