The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 23, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 28, 2000
Ryan Todd Pinsenschaum, Vandalia, OH (US);
Laura Adelle Hawthorn, Tipp City, OH (US);
Stephanie L Dunkle, Springboro, OH (US);
Mark Thomas Winters, Troy, OH (US);
Shawn Gregory Ryan, Dayton, OH (US);
Gary R Greib, Lake Orion, MI (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An air bag assembly for cushioning restraint of an occupant in a vehicle during an impact event. The air bag assembly includes an inflator activatable to discharge inflation gas upon the occurrence of predetermined vehicle conditions and an air bag cushion including an interior surface in fluid communication with the inflator such that upon discharge of inflation gas from the inflator the air bag cushion is inflated to a deployed state. At least one profile restraining tether element is operatively connected to the air bag cushion such that the profile restraining tether element restrains the expansion of the air bag cushion upon introduction of the inflation gas to the air bag cushion. The profile restraining tether element is also releasably anchored to a substantially stationary retaining member so as to shorten the operative length of the profile restraining tether element such that the air bag cushion is inflatable to a first restrained depth when the profile restraining tether element is anchored to the retaining member. The profile restraining tether element is releasable from the retaining member upon the occurrence of predetermined occupant conditions at the time the air bag cushion is deployed such that the air bag cushion is inflatable to a second depth which is greater than the first restrained depth.