Patent ID: 6045154
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
A vehicle airbag assembly including an airbag door arranged to be opened on airbag deployment, and which is tethered to a fixed anchor point by a tether assembly, the tether assembly comprising a substantially flexible strap member formed from a single flat flexible sheet, the flexible strap member extending between the fixed anchor point and the airbag door such that a longitudinal axis defined by the length of the strap extends substantially perpendicular to an edge of the airbag door, each of the airbag door and the anchor point defining a mounting area to which an end of the tether is secured, the tether assembly arranged such that a first one of the mounting areas on the fixed anchor point comprises an elongate unitary zone arranged along a single longitudinal axis, and the second one of the mounting areas on the airbag door comprises at least two zones whose respective longitudinal axes are non-collinear whereby the tether assembly absorbs energy as the airbag door is deployed to control movement thereof and wherein the first mounting area is on the fixed anchor point and the second mounting area is on the airbag door and is comprised of two zones arranged in a V configuration, the strap member formed from a single flat flexible sheet including one fold affixed to a tip of the V configuration.