US 11,858,454 B2
Tether design for airbag assemblies
Anthony Young, Brigham City, UT (US); Xiahong Wang, Farmington, UT (US); Devin Steve Silverwood, Clinton, UT (US); and HongSeok Kim, North Salt Lake, UT (US)
Assigned to Autoliv ASP, Inc., Ogden, UT (US)
Filed by Autoliv ASP, Inc., Ogden, UT (US)
Filed on May 3, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/735,987.
Prior Publication US 2023/0356686 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 21/239 (2006.01); B60R 21/00 (2006.01); B60R 21/2338 (2011.01)
CPC B60R 21/239 (2013.01) [B60R 2021/0051 (2013.01); B60R 2021/23382 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A knee airbag cushion assembly, comprising:
an inflatable cushion configured to be deployed to provide protection to an occupant's lower extremities during an impact event, wherein the inflatable cushion comprises:
an internal tether positioned within the inflatable cushion and coupled to the inflatable cushion such that a first end of the internal tether is configured to be positioned adjacent to a left knee of an occupant during deployment and a second end of the internal tether opposite from the first end is configured to be positioned adjacent to a right knee of the occupant during deployment, wherein the internal tether comprises an upper end extending between the first end and the second end that defines a concave shape that is positioned and configured to increase a thickness of the inflatable cushion at regions configured to deploy adjacent to and at the occupant's knees and decrease a thickness of the inflatable cushion at a region configured to deploy adjacent to a space between the occupant's knees; and
one or more additional internal tethers positioned distally of the internal tether relative to the occupant, wherein the internal tether comprises one or more vent openings formed therein, wherein at least one of the one or more additional internal tethers comprises one or more vent openings formed therein, and wherein the one or more vent openings of the internal tether differ from the one or more vent openings of the one or more vent openings of the one or more additional internal tethers so as to reinforce the effect of the concave shape by directing inflation gases towards the regions configured to deploy adjacent to and at the occupant's knees.