Anti-Roll Driver Side Airbag Tether

This invention relates to automotive airbags. More particularly, it relates to an airbag having a novel tether arrangement.

It is not unusual to employ tethers in automotive airbags to retain them in position. A drivers' side airbag is normally positioned within the steering wheel and, when inflated, forms a substantially circular cushion to absorb the impact of a driver's head and chest. Conventionally, airbags of this type include an internal tether or flexible strap. The tether is secured at one end to the bottom layer portion of the airbag in a substantially central position. The other end of the tether is secured to the center of the top layer portion of the airbag. Airbags of this type function relatively successfully in a standard automobile application. However, problems arise when such airbags are installed in vehicles whose steering columns form angles greater than approximately 25.degree. to the horizontal. Examples of such steering columns are those found in vans and trucks. When an unbelted driver makes contact with an inflated bag of this type, there is a tendency for the airbag to roll forward or up around the central tether causing the driver to make contact with the unprotected steering wheel. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a tether having novel attachment points to better restrain the inflated airbag. Other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

In accordance with the present invention, the attachment point of a tether is moved from the top central portion of an airbag to the side seam joining the top and bottom portions. This attachment point is on a forward periphery of the bag relative to the vehicle.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an inflated airbag having a tether in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 also illustrating in phantom the action of a conventional prior art airbag;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating a modified tether; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of a still further modification.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is illustrated a steering wheel 10 within which is mounted an airbag module including an inflator 12. The airbag module is not illustrated in detail because it is conventional and its features are well-known to those skilled in the art.

The airbag 14 is also conventional. It is generally a cushion formed from a basically circular base portion 16 and a similar top portion 18 joined, as by sewing, by an encircling seam 20 around the periphery of the two portions. The base portion 16 is provided with a central opening 17 for receiving an inflator 12. Such an airbag, when inflated, covers a steering wheel from a region extending from forward of the steering wheel to rearward of the steering wheel. In accordance with the present invention, a tether 22 has a first end which is anchored at a point 24 substantially centrally of base portion 16 and a second end which is secured at a point 26 in the encircling seam 20. Anchor point 24 is on a side of the opening 17 opposite seam point 26 so that tether 22 extends across the opening 17 and the inflator 12. It is also important to note that the point to which the tether is secured is forward of the steering wheel in a direction toward the windshield and away from the driver. As a result, when the airbag 14 is inflated as illustrated in FIG. 2, the tether 22 has basically straightened to its full extent, thereby retaining the airbag in the proper position covering the steering wheel 10.

A phantom view on FIG. 2 illustrates the problem with the prior art construction. In this configuration the tether 22' is secured to a point 28 substantially at the center of the top layer portion of the airbag 14'. Accordingly, when this tether straightens out, it does not restrain forward movement of the airbag. Upon impact by the driver, it may be forced forwardly into the illustrated position, exposing the steering wheel.

Modifications of this invention are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The modification of FIG. 3 illustrates a Y-shaped tether 30. The two arms of the Y terminate in the seam at spaced locations 32, 34. It has been found that, for optimum results, these spaced locations should not be much greater than 90.degree. apart as measured from the center of the airbag or from the anchored first end of the tether.

FIG. 4 illustrates a still further modification wherein the tether 36 is fan shaped and is embedded in the seam between the two extreme points 38, 40 which similarly define an angle, preferably not substantially in excess of 90.degree..

It is believed that the many advantages of this invention will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will also be apparent that a number of variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, the foregoing description is to be construed as illustrative only, rather than limiting. This invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.