Patent ID: 8226119
Filing Date: 2012-07-24
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An occupant restraint device, comprising: an inflatable airbag cushion; a tether including a first end connected to the airbag cushion and a second end connected to a tether control mechanism; the tether control mechanism including a tether payout mechanism and a tether length adjustment mechanism; the tether length adjustment mechanism configured to control a length of tether available for payout by the tether payout mechanism; and the tether payout mechanism operationally decoupled from the tether length adjustment mechanism; wherein the tether payout mechanism comprises the tether pre-wound onto a threaded drum nut spool assembled on a threaded stationary bolt, the threaded drum nut spool configured to translate linearly along a longitudinal axis of the threaded stationary bolt when rotated thereon; and wherein the tether length adjustment mechanism comprises a preset nut assembled on the threaded stationary bolt, the preset nut configured to translate linearly along the longitudinal axis of the threaded stationary bolt when rotated thereon, and an actuator configured to rotate the preset nut to linearly translate the preset nut along the longitudinal axis of the threaded stationary bolt.