Air bag with tear stitched tether
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant, the protection device comprising a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition;
a vent having at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and having an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition;
a tether having a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device; and
tear stitching connecting portions of the second segment of the tether and forming a slackened portion of the tether by extending through the second segment at a location where the second segment is doubled over onto itself, the tear stitching remaining intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent is maintained in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree, further deployment of the protection device to the predetermined degree causing the tear stitching to rupture and release the slackened portion which allows the first segment of the tether to tension and act on the vent to place the vent in the actuated condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant. The protection device includes a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition. A vent includes at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and has an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition. A tether has a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device. Tear stitching connects portions of the second segment of the tether to form a slackened portion of the tether. The tear stitching remains intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree. Further deployment of the protection device to the predetermined degree causes the tear stitching to rupture and release the slackened portion, which allows the first segment of the tether to tension and act on the vent to place the vent in the actuated condition.
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Citations
27 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 inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant, the protection device comprising a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition; a vent having at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and having an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition; a tether having a first segment connected to the vent and the front panel of the protection device for actuating the vent and a second segment connected to the front panel and a rear portion of the protection device; and tear stitching connecting portions of the second segment of the tether and forming a slackened portion of the tether by extending through the second segment at a location where the second segment is doubled over onto itself, the tear stitching remaining intact such that the first segment is slackened and the vent is maintained in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree, further deployment of the protection device to the predetermined degree causing the tear stitching to rupture and release the slackened portion which allows the first segment of the tether to tension and act on the vent to place the vent in the actuated condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflatable between a vehicle surface and the vehicle occupant, the protection device comprising a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition; a vent having at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device and having an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition; a tether connected to the vent and the protection device for actuating the vent; and tear stitching extending through folded over portions of the tether to form a slackened portion of the tether, the tear stitching remaining intact to prevent the tether from fully tensioning such that the vent is in the non-actuated condition in response to initial deployment of the protection device below a predetermined degree, further deployment of the protection device to the predetermined degree causing the tear stitching to rupture and release the slackened portion which allows the tether to act on the vent and place the vent in the actuated condition.
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22. An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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an inflatable vehicle occupant protection comprising a front panel having a portion presented toward the occupant when the protection device is in an inflated condition; a vent having at least one opening for releasing inflation fluid from the protection device, the vent having an actuated condition and a non-actuated condition; a first tether segment that connects the vent to the front panel; a second tether segment that connects the front panel to a rear portion of the protection device; and tear stitching that interconnects overlying portions of the second tether segment and shortens the effective length of the second tether segment, wherein the shortened second tether segment inhibits movement of the front panel away from the rear portion during deployment, which inhibits the front panel from tensioning the first tether segment to actuate the vent, and wherein the tear stitching when ruptured lengthens the second tether segment, which permits the front panel to move away from the rear portion and thereby allows the front panel to tension the first tether segment to actuate the vent. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification