US 11,702,029 B1
Deployable restraints with tensioning mechanisms
Adam J. Golman, San Jose, CA (US); Jesse T. Buehler, Portola Valley, CA (US); and Nathaniel J. Dennis, Saratoga, CA (US)
Assigned to APPLE INC., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Adam J. Golman, San Jose, CA (US); Jesse T. Buehler, Portola Valley, CA (US); and Nathaniel J. Dennis, Saratoga, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/552,891.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/174,265, filed on Apr. 13, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/166,308, filed on Mar. 26, 2021.
Int. Cl. B60R 21/2338 (2011.01); B60R 21/233 (2006.01); B60R 21/232 (2011.01)
CPC B60R 21/2338 (2013.01) [B60R 21/232 (2013.01); B60R 21/233 (2013.01); B60R 2021/23388 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A safety system for a vehicle, comprising:
an airbag configured to:
deploy from an interior surface of the vehicle; and
restrain motion of an occupant relative to the vehicle;
a tether coupled to a top of the airbag via an anchor, the tether configured to:
guide the anchor from a stowed position proximate to the interior surface to a deployed position spaced from the interior surface of the vehicle; and
maintain the anchor in the deployed position while the airbag restrains motion of the occupant relative to the vehicle; and
a tensioning mechanism configured to apply force to the tether to reduce a length of the tether during deployment of the airbag,
wherein the airbag comprises a main chamber coupled to the anchor and one or more auxiliary chambers coupled to and sealed with respect to the main chamber, and wherein the one or more auxiliary chambers are configured to be inflated to a pressure level that differs from a pressure level of the main chamber.