US005609363A
`5,609,363
`(11) Patent Number:
`United States Patent 15
`Finelli
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Mar. 11, 1997
`
`
`ATMATANOAT
`
`[54] PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WITH TETHER
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: ThomasA.Finelli, Ypsilanti, Mich.
`
`[73] Assignee: Chrysler Corporation, Auburn Hills,
`Mich.
`
`5,205,584
`5,310,214
`5,364,124
`5,380,038
`
`4/1993 Honda vesssscsscscsssssesssssseeseeese 280/743.2
`5/1994 Cuevas vessssesesssssssssessseesseee: 280/743.2
`11/1994 Donegan et al. owe 280/730.1
`1/1995 Hawthorn et al. essen 280/743.2
`
`Primary Examiner—Kenneth R. Rice
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Edward A. Craig
`
`{21] Appl. No.: 559,898
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`{22]
`Filed:
`Nov. 17, 1995
`ESE] Unt. C19 acceccsssssssesnsessnsesnnesvensssnseens BOOR 21/16|At.air bag having a mainsac portion anda lateral extension
`[52] US. Ch. cacceccenesee 280/743.2; 280/732; 280/730.1
`°F the main sac portion, which together provide a broad
`[58] Field of Search
`280/730.1, 732
`cushion to protect the right front occupant and the center
`ee 80/743.2
`occupant of the front seat of an automotive vehicle. An
`.
`external tether is attached to the lateral extension to restrict
`air bag rotation, when the air bag is inflated.
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,262,931
`
`4/1981 Strasser et al. wuss 280/730.1
`
`5 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`Page 1 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`Page 1 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`

`

`5,609,363
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Page 2 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`

`

`Mar. 11, 1997
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`5,609,363
`
`Page 3 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`Page 3 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 11, 1997
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`5,609,363
`ROTATION 42
`
`OCCUPANT LOADING
`
`CUSHION
`
`Page 4 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`Page 4 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`

`

`5,609,363
`
`1
`PASSENGERSIDE AIR BAG WITH TETHER
`
`FIELD OF INVENTION
`
`This invention relates generally to air bag assemblies for
`automotive vehicles and more particularly to a tethered
`passengerside air bag.
`
`BACKGROUND AND SUMMARYOF THE
`INVENTION
`
`Typical driver-side air bag cushions are designed with
`internal tethers that stop the forward motion of the cushion
`at a specific distance during deployment. This reduces the
`amountof“bag slap” experienced by the driver whentheair
`bag deploys and provides better steering wheel coverage.
`Some passenger-side air bags also include such internal
`tethers.
`
`The air bag of the present invention as described herein
`applies particularly to cushions that are designed to provide
`coverage for both right-front and center occupants. In the
`case of an air bag withouta tether, when deployed the center
`occupant’s portion of the bag typically rotates toward the
`right-front passenger. This rotation induces poor occupant
`kinematics and can lead to excessive lateral occupant motion
`against a person located on the right hand side whenthereis
`no center occupant.
`In order to reduce this motion or
`rotation, an anchor is provided for the center occupant’s
`portion of the bag. Preferably, the anchor comprises a short
`tether extending from the neck of the bag to the center
`occupant’s portion of the bag. Thetether is preferably on the
`outside of the bag because an external tether allows for a
`shorter radius and better control over air bag rotation thus,
`in addition to protecting a right side passenger from lateral
`forces, also preventing “bag slap” against a center occupant.
`One object of this invention is to provide an air bag
`assembly having the foregoing features and capabilities.
`Anotherobject is to provide an air bag assembly which is
`composed of a relatively few simple parts, is rugged and
`durable in use, and can be readily manufactured and
`assembled.
`
`These and other objects, features and advantages of the
`invention will become more apparent as the following
`description proceeds, especially when considered with the
`accompanying drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the
`instrument panel within an automotive vehicle as seen from
`the position of a person occupyingthe driver’s seat, with the
`air bag assembly of this invention on the passenger side
`concealed by the instrument panel.
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view looking down on a motor
`vehicle and with a portion of the roofof the vehicle broken
`away, showing the air bag inflated and deployed to provide
`a cushion protecting the right-front passenger and center
`passengerin the front seat of a motor vehicle.
`FIG.3 is a top plan view showingthe right-front passen-
`ger and center passenger being protected by the inflated air
`bag cushion.
`FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 in FIG.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`3.
`
`3.
`
`FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5—5 in FIG.
`
`65
`
`FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the inflated air bag.
`
`2
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now more particularly to the drawings, an
`instrument panel 10 extendsacrossthe front of the passenger
`compartment 12 of an automotive vehicle 14 under the
`windshield 16. Mounted on the right side,
`that
`is,
`the
`passengerside, of the instrument panel is an air bag assem-
`bly 20.
`The instrument panel 10 has a wall 24 formed with an
`opening 26 on the passenger side. A door 28, hinged to the
`instrumentpanel at 30, normally closes the opening 26. The
`door conceals the air bag assembly 20 which is mounted in
`front of the opening 26. The instrument panel 10, including
`door preferably is covered by a decorative layer 32 of vinyl
`or the like so that the outline of the door is not visible. This
`general construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,602
`assigned to the assignee of this application.
`The air bag assembly 20 comprises a canister or housing
`34 having a wall or walls 36 formed with an opening 38 in
`the rear registering with the opening 26 in the instrument
`panel. An air bag 40 made of nylon or like material
`is
`normally stored in the housing 34 and is adapted when
`inflated to deploy through the opening 26 in the instrument
`panel, in the process forcing open the door 28.
`The air bag 40 is of integral, one-piece construction and
`has a main sac portion 42 formed with a front neck 44 which
`is secured within the housing 34 by any suitable means such
`as by the fasteners 46. The neck is open at 48 within the
`housing and surrounds the inflater 50 which is of typical
`construction and is mounted within the housing 34 by any
`suitable means. The main sac portion 42 of the air bag has
`a lateral extension 52 which is in full communication with
`the main sac portion.
`The air bag 40 is a closed receptacle for the gaseous
`medium which inflates the air bag, except for the opening 48
`in the neck 44 through whichthe inflating medium enters the
`air bag. The air bag, when inflated, is generally kidney-
`shaped, or L-shaped, as best seen in FIG. 3. The main sac
`portion 42 of the air bag 40 is directly in front of the right
`front occupant R of the front seat of the vehicle and the
`lateral extension 52 is directly in front of the center occupant
`C. The main sac portion 42 and the lateral extension 52
`provide a single broad cushion to protect both occupants R
`and C.
`
`As previously stated, when deployed the center occu-
`pant’s portion of the air bag, which is the lateral extension
`52, has a tendency to rotate toward the right front passenger
`(See FIG.6). This rotation, unless restricted, can lead to
`excessive lateral occupant motion and is therefore undesir-
`able. In order to reduce this rotation, an anchor 56 is
`provided. Anchor 56 is a tether 60 in the form of an
`elongated flexible liner member or cord. One end of the
`tether 60 is secured to the front wall of the lateral extension
`§2 as indicated at 62. The entire tether 60 is external to the
`air bag 40 and its opposite end is anchored at 64, preferably
`to the neck 44 of the air bag. It could alternately be
`connected to the air bag housing 34. When the air bag
`deploys, this relatively short tether 60 restricts the tendency
`of the air bag to rotate and causes whateverrotation there is
`to be controlled and on a short radius. Placing the tether
`inside the bag would be of some benefit but would require
`a longer radius and therefore less reduction in air bag
`rotation.
`Whatis claimed is:
`1. An air bag assembly for an automotive vehicle com-
`prising a housing having a wall formed with an opening,
`
`Page 5 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`Page 5 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`

`

`5,609,363
`
`3
`an air bag stored in said housing and adapted when
`inflated to deploy through said opening,
`said air bag having a main sac portion and said main sac
`portion having a lateral extension,
`said lateral extension being in full communication with
`said main sac portion and whensaid air bagis inflated
`and deployed said lateral extension cooperating with
`said main sac portion in providing a broad cushion to
`protect two persons seated side by side in the vehicle
`rearwardly of the housing, and
`an anchorattached to said lateral extensionforrestricting
`air bag rotation whenthe air bag is inflated.
`2. An air bag assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said
`anchor comprises a tether connected to said lateral exten-
`sion.
`3. An air bag assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said
`tether is external to said air bag and is in the form of an
`elongated, flexible linear member having one end thereof
`attached to said lateral extension.
`20
`5. An air bag assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said
`4. An air bag assembly adapted to be mounted in the
`tether is an elongated, flexible linear member havingafirst
`instrument panel of an automotive vehicle and comprising
`end connected to said lateral extension and a second end
`an air bag,
`:
`connected to said neck.
`a housing for said air bag having a wall formed with an
`opening,
`
`4
`said air bag being stored in said housing and wheninflated
`being adapted to deploy through said opening,
`said air bag when inflated being kidney-shaped having a
`main sac portion,
`said main sac portion being formed with a front neck
`connected to said housing and having a lateral exten-
`sion,
`said lateral extension being in full communication with
`said main sac portion and whensaidair bag is inflated
`said lateral extension cooperating with said main sac
`portion in providing a broad cushionto protectthe right
`front occupant and center front occupant in the vehicle
`rearwardly of the housing, and
`a tether which is entirely external to said air bag and
`attached to said lateral extension forrestricting air bag
`rotation and excessive travel when the air bag is
`inflated.
`
`© 15
`
`Page 6 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`Page 6 of 6
`
`KSS 1008
`
`