Tether mechanism for an airbag module

Inventors: Tim Schiesser (Irschenberg, DE); Christoph Grundheber (Gaimersheim, DE); Andre Gajek (Norderstedt, DE); Jens Ehlers (Horst, DE); Johann Unger (Rohrbach, DE)

Assignee: Autoliv Development AB

B60R21/2338 B60R21/207 B60R2021/23388

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12697936
App. No.: 18/848,452
Granted: Aug 4, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A tether mechanism for an airbag module including an airbag, the mechanism comprising: at least one tether arrangement, wherein one end of a tether arrangement can be attached to the airbag; and a tautening device for the tether arrangement.

Claims (25)

1 . A tether mechanism for an airbag module having an airbag, comprising

at least one tether arrangement, wherein one end of a tether arrangement is attachable to the airbag, and

a tautening device for the tether arrangement,

wherein

the tautening device comprises a tautening element, wherein the tautening element diverts the tether arrangement approximately 180° before and after, and the tautening device comprises a traction cable by means of which the tautening element is drivable.

2 . A tether mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the tautening element is linearly accelerable.

3 . A tether mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the tautening element is pyrotechnically accelerable.

4 . A tether mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the tether mechanism comprises a guide with which the tautening element is guided during a tautening process.

5 . A tether mechanism according to any of the preceding claims , wherein the tether mechanism comprises a bracket to which another end of the tether arrangement is securable.

6 . A tether mechanism according to claim 5 , wherein the bracket comprises a guide for a portion of the tether arrangement moving during a tautening movement.

7 . A tether mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the tautening element comprises a diverter pulley, in particular one which is mounted rotatably.

8 . A tether mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the tautening device comprises a piston connected to the traction cable, the piston being arranged in a tautening tube and being drivable by compressed gas generated by a gas generator.

9 . A tether mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein the traction cable is guided through a diversion block in which a receptacle for a gas generator is formed.

10 . An airbag apparatus for a vehicle seat, comprising

at least one airbag module, wherein the at least one airbag module comprises at least one airbag and is designed for attachment to the vehicle seat,

a tether mechanism according to claim 1 , wherein one end of the tether arrangement is attached to the airbag.

11 . An airbag apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the airbag apparatus comprises two airbag modules, and the two airbag modules are arrangeable on opposite sides of the backrest, wherein a tether mechanism is associated with each airbag module.

12 . A vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, comprising

a backrest,

a seat cushion, and

an airbag apparatus according to the preceding claim 10 .

13 . The tether mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the tautening element diverts the tether arrangement approximately 180° prior to actuation of the tautening device and after actuation of the tautening device.

14 . The tether mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a second end of the tether arrangement is fixed.

15 . The tether mechanism of claim 14 , wherein the second end of the tether arrangement is fixed to a guide device enclosing the tautening element.

16 . The tether mechanism of claim 15 , the tautening element is linearly accelerated within the guide device during actuation of the tautening device.