Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Ken B Taggart

Kurt F Fischer

John P Wallner

Jeffrey A Jenkins

An air bag () includes at least one tether () and an inflation fluid source () having two modes of operation. In the first mode of operation, the inflation fluid source () is activated to provide a first inflation fluid pressure in the air bag (). In the second mode of operation, the inflation fluid source () is activated to provide a second inflation fluid pressure in the air bag () higher than the first pressure. The tether (), which helps to control the shape of the air bag (), tears in response to the second inflation fluid pressure in the air bag.

Air bag with active tear stitch tethers

An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () is located on a steering wheel () and includes a lower portion () and an upper portion (). The upper portion () is rolled folded and the lower portion () is folded in a star pattern. The roll folded portion () has an outside surface formed by a front panel () of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () that is intended to face the occupant when the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device is inflated. During inflation, the roll folded portion () unrolls such that at least a portion of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device inflates forward of the steering wheel if the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, while inflating, encounters an obstruction located too far forward relative to the steering wheel. A method of folding the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device () includes folding at least a lower portion () in a star pattern and rolling an upper portion () to form a roll having an outside surface formed by a front surface () of the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ().

Air bag and a method of folding the air bag

A vehicle safety apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (80) for, when inflated, restraining an occupant of a vehicle. A housing (12) has a chamber (32) for receiving the inflatable restraint (80) when the inflatable restraint is in an uninflated condition. The housing (12) has a plurality of openings (40, 42, 44, 50, 52, 54) extending between the interior and the exterior of the housing. A plurality of tethers (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124) are connected with the inflatable restraint (80). The tethers extend from the inflatable restraint (80) through the openings in the housing (12) from the interior to the exterior of the housing. The tethers (110, 112, 114, 120, 122, 124) are connected to the exterior of the housing (12) to secure the tethers to the housing and thereby to secure the inflatable restraint (80) to the housing.

Tethered attachment for an air bag

A vehicle air bag includes a length of fabric. The length of fabric is folded at predetermined locations to form a central portion and two end portions. When folded, the end portions partially overlap the central portion. One end portion partially overlaps the other end portion. The edges of the end portions are aligned with the edges of the central portions. The partially overlapping end portions and aligned edges of the central and end portions are joined together to form an inflatable air bag adapted to form a predetermined configuration inflated with gas.

Growing community of inventors

St. Clair Shores, MI, United States of America

Ken B Taggart