Constrained airbag deployment using an external tether
First Claim
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1. An airbag arrangement, comprising:
- an airbag moveable between a expansion-constrained position and an expanded position, wherein a contact face of said airbag has a concave exterior profile when said airbag is in said expansion-constrained position; and
a tether adjacent and contacting an exterior surface of said airbag and moveable between a shorter intact position and a longer intact position, wherein said tether in said shorter intact position holds said airbag in said expansion-constrained position.
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Abstract
An example airbag arrangement includes an airbag that moves between an expansion-constrained position and an expanded position. A tether adjacent an exterior surface of the airbag moves with the airbag between a shorter position and a longer position. The tether remains intact in the shorter position and the longer position. When the tether is in the shorter position, the tether holds the airbag in the expansion-constrained position.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An airbag arrangement, comprising:
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an airbag moveable between a expansion-constrained position and an expanded position, wherein a contact face of said airbag has a concave exterior profile when said airbag is in said expansion-constrained position; and a tether adjacent and contacting an exterior surface of said airbag and moveable between a shorter intact position and a longer intact position, wherein said tether in said shorter intact position holds said airbag in said expansion-constrained position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An airbag arrangement, comprising:
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an airbag moveable between a expansion-constrained position and an expanded position, the airbag having an airbag interior; and a tether for constraining expansion of said airbag, said tether surrounding a portion of said airbag to maintain a generally vertical airbag contact face when the airbag is in both the expansion-constrained position and the expanded position, said tether surrounding said portion of said airbag to maintain a concave exterior profile of said contact face when said airbag is in said expansion-constrained position, said tether being located outside the airbag interior. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of constraining an airbag comprising:
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(a) expanding a contact face of an airbag against a tether, an outer surface of the airbag contacting the tether during expanding; (b) expanding outer contact areas of the airbag past the tether toward an occupant, such that the contact face has a concave exterior profile, the tether positioned between the expanded outer contact areas; (c) increasing the tether length after said step (b); and (d) expanding the airbag further after said step (b). - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification