Air bag with externally mounted tether

The device as defined in 2 wherein the external tether means includes a single piece of material.

A vehicle occupant safety device comprising:

• an air bag (50) initially in a folded configuration and when inflated by inflation gas expands to an inflated configuration to protect the occupant;
• inflator means (40) for providing inflation gas to inflate the air bag;
• external tether means (70) initially about a portion of the exterior of the folded air bag, for initially retarding the forward motion of the inflating air bag toward an occupant and for permitting the inflating air bag to inflate laterally or sideways while its forward motion is retarded, wherein the tether means is off-set (81) from the air bag to provide an open sided loop to permit the air bag to expand laterally outwardly.

A vehicle occupant safety device comprising:

• an air bag module (22) comprising:
• external tether means (70) comprising at least one open sided, breakable band loosely positioned about the exterior of the folded air bag for permitting the air bag to inflate forwardly a predetermined distance and thereafter after the air bag has contacted a forward portion of the band for sequentially tearing to slow the forward motion of the inflating air bag toward an occupant while permitting the inflating air bag to inflate laterally or sideways while its forward motion is slowed and thereafter after the band is fully opened, to permit the air bag to inflate forwardly without retardation.

A vehicle occupant safety device comprising:

• an air bag (50) initially in a folded configuration and when inflatable by inflation gas expands to an inflated configuration to protect the occupant;
• external tether means (70) initially about a portion of the exterior of the folded air bag, comprising at least one open sided, breakable band for initially retarding the forward motion of the inflating air bag toward an occupant and for permitting the inflating air bag to inflate laterally or sideways while its forward motion is retarded and thereafter after the band is fully opened, to permit the air bag to inflate forwardly without retardation, wherein the external tether means comprises:
• at least one piece of material formed into a loop portion (90) about the air bag (50) and a frangible portion (91) extending a substantial distance from the loop portion and openable in a sequential or serial manner by the forward motion of the air bag.

A vehicle occupant safety device comprising:

• air bag (50) initially in a folded configuration and when inflated by inflation gas expanding to an inflated configuration to protect the occupant;
• external tether means (70) initially about a portion of the exterior of the folded air bag, for initially retarding the forward motion of the inflating air bag toward an occupant and for permitting the inflating air bag to inflate laterally or sideways while its forward motion is retarded, wherein the external tether means comprises:
• a first portion including a piece of material positioned forwardly of the folded air bag forming a loop portion thereabout and a frangible portion (91) extending substantially from the loop portion and openable in a sequential or serial manner as the air bag inflates in a forward direction.