# US 11,027,690 B2 · Inflatable restraint device for a vehicle

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- Number: US 11,027,690 B2
- Document ID: US11027690B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/555,228
- Filed: 2019-08-29
- Published: 2020-03-05
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-30
- Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
- Inventors: Philipp Kuepper; Jamel E. Belwafa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027690B2

## CPC

- B60R 21/2338: Tethers
- B60R 21/207: in vehicle seats
- B60R 21/2171: {specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters (B60R21/2176 takes precedence)}
- B60R 21/23138: {specially adapted for side protection (B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence)}
- B60R 2021/23146: {seat mounted}
- B60R 2021/23386: {External tether means}
- B60R 2021/23388: {having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An inflatable restraint device for fastening to a seat of a vehicle includes at least one inflatable cushion with an outer surface and a plurality of tethers. Each tether includes a first end and a second end. The tethers are fastened at the first ends to the outer surface of the cushion and the second ends of the tethers are designed to be fastened to a seat. The tethers are designed to be releasably fastened on at least one of the ends.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly comprising:
a seat;
an inflatable cushion supported by the seat, the inflatable cushion having an outer surface and a plurality of tethers;
each tether including a first end and a second end, the tethers being fastened at the first ends to the outer surface of the cushion and at the second ends to the seat;
the tethers are designed to be releasably fastened on at least one of the ends; and
a sidepiece rotatably fastened to the seat, at least some of the second ends of the tethers being fastened to the sidepiece.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the inflatable cushion is designed to envelope at least partially the head and the front of the upper body of a vehicle occupant.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a second sidepiece rotatably fastened to the seat, at least some of the second ends of the tethers being fastened to the second sidepiece.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein the seat having a seatback having a first side and a second side, the sidepiece being rotatably fastened to the first side of the seatback and the second sidepiece being rotatably fastened to the second side of the seatback.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the seat has an armrest and the sidepiece is rotatably fastened to the armrest.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the seat has a head restraint and the sidepiece is rotatably fastened to the head restraint.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tethers are designed to be releasable manually and/or pyrotechnically from the seat.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a pyrotechnic device between the seat and the tethers to release the tethers from the seat.

### Claim 9

An assembly comprising:
a seat;
an inflatable cushion supported by the seat, the inflatable cushion having an outer surface and a plurality of tethers;
each tether including a first end and a second end, the tethers being fastened at the first ends to the outer surface of the cushion and at the second ends to the seat;
the tethers are designed to be releasably fastened on at least one of the ends with a rip cord or pull tape.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein the inflatable cushion is designed to envelope at least partially the head and the front of the upper body of a vehicle occupant.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The assembly as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a sidepiece rotatably fastened to the seat, at least some of the second ends of the tethers being fastened to the sidepiece.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The assembly as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a second sidepiece rotatably fastened to the seat, at least some of the second ends of the tethers being fastened to the second sidepiece.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The assembly as set forth in claim 12, wherein the seat having a seatback having a first side and a second side, the sidepiece being rotatably fastened to the first side of the seatback and the second sidepiece being rotatably fastened to the second side of the seatback.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein the seat has an armrest and the sidepiece is rotatably fastened to the armrest.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein the seat has a head restraint and the sidepiece is rotatably fastened to the head restraint.