Tear stitching for inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and
tear stitching for interconnecting portions of the protection device, the tear stitching comprising;
a first end portion;
a second end portion; and
a central portion extending between the end portions, the central portion comprising leg portions that converge at an angle and intersect a break point;
the first end portion extending from the first leg portion along a path that diverges from the path of the first leg portion;
the second end portion extending from the second leg portion along a path that diverges from the path of the second leg portion;
the protection device and the tear stitching being constructed and arranged such that initial tension can be applied to either the break point or the end portions in response to at least one of vehicle and occupant conditions at the time of inflation of the protection device;
the tear stitching exhibiting a comparatively high rupture strength in response to the initial tension being applied to the end portions of the tear stitching;
the tear stitching exhibiting a comparatively low rupture strength in response to the initial tension being applied to the break point of the tear stitching.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Tear stitching (100) for interconnecting portions (130, 140) of an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (14) includes first and second end portions (102, 104) having curled configurations and a central portion (110) extending between the end portions. The central portion (110) includes leg portions (112, 114) that converge at an angle and intersect a break point (116). The tear stitching (100) exhibits a comparatively high rupture strength in response to tension forces applied to the interconnected portions (130, 140) that act on the end portions (102, 104) of the tear stitching (100). The tear stitching (100) exhibits a comparatively low rupture strength in response to tension forces applied to the interconnected portions (130, 140) that act on the break point (116) of the tear stitching (100).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and tear stitching for interconnecting portions of the protection device, the tear stitching comprising; a first end portion; a second end portion; and a central portion extending between the end portions, the central portion comprising leg portions that converge at an angle and intersect a break point; the first end portion extending from the first leg portion along a path that diverges from the path of the first leg portion; the second end portion extending from the second leg portion along a path that diverges from the path of the second leg portion; the protection device and the tear stitching being constructed and arranged such that initial tension can be applied to either the break point or the end portions in response to at least one of vehicle and occupant conditions at the time of inflation of the protection device; the tear stitching exhibiting a comparatively high rupture strength in response to the initial tension being applied to the end portions of the tear stitching; the tear stitching exhibiting a comparatively low rupture strength in response to the initial tension being applied to the break point of the tear stitching. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and tear stitching for interconnecting portions of the protection device, the tear stitching comprising; a first end portion; a second end portion; and a central portion extending between the end portions, the central portion comprising leg portions that converge at an angle and intersect a break point; the first end portion extending from the first leg portion along a curled path that diverges from the path of the first leg portion; the second end portion extending from the second leg portion along a curled path that diverges from the path of the second leg portion; the tear stitching exhibiting a comparatively high rupture strength in response to tension forces applied to the interconnected portions that act on the end portions of the tear stitching; the tear stitching exhibiting a comparatively low rupture strength in response to tension forces applied to the interconnected portions that act on the break point of the tear stitching. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition; and tear stitching for interconnecting portions of the protection device, the tear stitching comprising; a first end portion; a second end portion; and a central portion extending between the end portions, the central portion comprising leg portions that converge at an angle and intersect a break point, the leg portions being curved convexly away from each other; the first end portion extending from the first leg portion along a path that diverges from the path of the first leg portion; the second end portion extending from the second leg portion along a path that diverges from the path of the second leg portion; the tear stitching exhibiting a comparatively high rupture strength in response to tension forces applied to the interconnected portions that act on the end portions of the tear stitching; the tear stitching exhibiting a comparatively low rupture strength in response to tension forces applied to the interconnected portions that act on the break point of the tear stitching. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification