Driver side air bag
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An air bag (20) usable to protect the driver of the vehicle comprising:
- a face panel (22);
a rear panel (30) of generally the same shape as the face panel and secured to the face panel along its periphery;
the rear panel including a centrally located opening (32) configured to receive an air bag inflator that introduces gas into the space formed by the face and rear panels;
a tether (70) of elongated shape having first (74) and second (76) ends and a center region (78), the center region is secured to the face panel proximate a geometric center of the face panel;
wherein the center region of the tether is formed into a Z-shaped configuration, portions of which are secured to the face panel.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An air bag usable to protect the driver of the vehicle comprising: a face panel; a rear panel of generally the same shape as the face panel and secured to the face panel along its periphery; the rear panel including a centrally located opening configured to receive an air bag inflator that introduces gas into the space formed by the face and rear panels; a tether of elongated shape having first and second ends and a center region, the center region is positioned into a Z-shaped configuration and secured to the face panel proximate a geometric center of the face panel.
51 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An air bag (20) usable to protect the driver of the vehicle comprising:
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a face panel (22); a rear panel (30) of generally the same shape as the face panel and secured to the face panel along its periphery; the rear panel including a centrally located opening (32) configured to receive an air bag inflator that introduces gas into the space formed by the face and rear panels; a tether (70) of elongated shape having first (74) and second (76) ends and a center region (78), the center region is secured to the face panel proximate a geometric center of the face panel; wherein the center region of the tether is formed into a Z-shaped configuration, portions of which are secured to the face panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An air bag (20) usable to protect the driver of the vehicle comprising:
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a face panel (22); a rear panel (30) of generally the same shape as the face panel and secured to the face panel along its periphery; the rear panel including a centrally located opening (32) configured to receive an air bag inflator that introduces gas into the space formed by the face and rear panels; a tether (70) of elongated shape having first (74) and second (76) ends secured about the centrally located opening to the rear panel and a center region (78), the center region is configured into a Z-shaped configuration via access through the centrally located opening and secured to the face panel proximate a geometric center of the face panel. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A method of assembling an air bag of the type having a face panel, a rear panel, a tether of elongated shape having a first and a second end and a center region, the steps comprising:
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a) securing the first and second ends of the tether to the rear panel opposite one another about the centrally located opening; b) joining the face and rear panels together along a joint or seam at their aligned peripheries; c) inverting the air bag by pulling the face panel through the centrally located opening; d) manipulating the tether so it is positioned beneath the centrally located opening; e) securing the center region of the tether to the face panel; and f) manipulating the center region of the tether into a Z-shaped configuration; g) accessing the Z-shaped configuration below the centrally located opening and h) securing the Z-shaped configuration to the face panel.
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Specification