Safety arrangement
First Claim
1. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle, the safety arrangement comprising:
- an airbag module having an inflatable airbag in fluid communication with an inflator configured to inflate the airbag, the airbag provided with at least one internal tether having a first end and a second end, a first part of the tether proximate the first end being connected either directly or indirectly to a restrainable part of the airbag, at least part of the airbag being initially folded or rolled to form folds or rolls between which the second end of the tether is trapped, the second end being a terminal end of the tether free from connection with the airbag apart from the folds or rolls which initially trap the second end, the safety arrangement being such that, upon inflation of the airbag, the tether serves to restrain said restrainable part of the airbag until such time as the folded or rolled part of the airbag becomes sufficiently unfolded or unrolled to release the second end of the tether.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle is disclosed which comprises an air-bag module (1) having an inflatable air-bag (5) in fluid communication with an inflator (4). An internal tether (14) is provided having a first end (15) and a second end (16). The first end (15) of the tether is connected to a restrainable part (13) of the air-bag, whilst the second end (16) of the tether is free from connection with the air-bag but is initially trapped between the folds or rolls of an initially folded or rolled part of the air-bag. The arrangement is such that, upon inflation of the air-bag, the tether serves to restrain the restrainable part (13) of the air-bag until such time as the folded or rolled part of the air-bag (9) becomes sufficiently unfolded or unrolled to release the second end (16) of the tether (14).
22 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle, the safety arrangement comprising:
- an airbag module having an inflatable airbag in fluid communication with an inflator configured to inflate the airbag, the airbag provided with at least one internal tether having a first end and a second end, a first part of the tether proximate the first end being connected either directly or indirectly to a restrainable part of the airbag, at least part of the airbag being initially folded or rolled to form folds or rolls between which the second end of the tether is trapped, the second end being a terminal end of the tether free from connection with the airbag apart from the folds or rolls which initially trap the second end, the safety arrangement being such that, upon inflation of the airbag, the tether serves to restrain said restrainable part of the airbag until such time as the folded or rolled part of the airbag becomes sufficiently unfolded or unrolled to release the second end of the tether.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an airbag deployable from a stored condition to a fully inflated condition, the airbag defining folds or rolls in the stored condition, which unfold or unroll as the airbag is inflated; and at least one tether disposed with the airbag, the at least one tether having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected at least indirectly to a restrainable part of the airbag, the second end of the tether being a terminal end of the tether, the folds or rolls of the airbag temporarily retaining the second end of the tether such that the second end of the tether is otherwise not secured to any structure and is automatically released from the folds or rolls of the airbag upon inflation of the airbag from the stored condition to the fully inflated condition. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A safety arrangement for a motor vehicle comprising:
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an inflatable airbag; an inflator in fluid communication for inflating the airbag from a stored condition to a fully inflated condition; and a tether disposed within the airbag, the tether having a secured end and a terminal end, the secured end being connected at least indirectly to a restrainable part of the airbag, the terminal end being temporarily secured relative to the airbag solely through folds or rolls of the airbag in the stored condition such that the terminal end of the tether is otherwise not secured to any structure and is automatically released by the folds or rolls of the airbag upon inflation of the airbag from the stored condition to the fully inflated condition in response to unfolding or unrolling of the folds or rolls.
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Specification