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AssigneeDalphi Metal Espana S.A.
InventorsAntonio Navarro Arranz, Ramon Ramos Agustin
Estimating the term…
A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an airbag module (12) including an inflator (18) and a frontally acting airbag (16), wherein the airbag (16) includes an inflator-side inflation end (46) as well as a first free end (56) located in the inflated state of the airbag (16) within a vehicle interior. In a first period during deployment of the airbag (16), the first free end (56) is still connected via a tether (74) to the airbag module (12), wherein the tether (74) becomes detached upon reaching a predetermined tensile force. When folding the airbag (16), the non-inflated airbag (16) is spread so that a second free end (58) is maximally distant from the inflation end (46) and a first outer wall portion is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the airbag (16), and the first free end (56) is located in the vicinity of the inflation end (46) and a second outer wall portion is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the airbag (16), wherein a third outer wall portion of the airbag (16) is folded back onto itself at least in a portion. The two lateral areas of the spread airbag (16) are folded toward the center, and subsequently the airbag (16) is rolled up from the second free end (58).
A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising an airbag module mounted to a vehicle roof beneath a roof liner of a vehicle, the airbag module including an inflator and a frontally acting airbag, wherein the airbag includes an inflator-side inflation end as well as a restraint part comprising a first free end connected to the airbag module via a tether, with the restraint part being folded to delimit an inner leg and an outer leg, the fold being maintained by the tether, wherein during a first period of deployment of the airbag, the first free end is still connected to the airbag module via the tether in the area of the inflation end, which causes the outer leg to deploy forward and downward from the roof liner first along a vehicle windshield and occupy the space between the vehicle roof and an instrument panel of the vehicle, and wherein after the outer leg is deployed and substantially inflated, and upon reaching a predetermined tensile force the tether becomes detached and releases the first free end, which allows the restraint part to unfold so that the inner leg deploys rearward and downward along an occupant facing surface of the instrument panel.
A method of folding an airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.