Patent ID: 6869103
Filing Date: 2005-03-22
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
1. An airbag module, comprising: a housing; an inflatable cushion being stored in an un-deployed position in said housing; an inflator for inflating said inflatable cushion, said inflator being in fluid communication with said inflatable cushion; a tension device; a tether element being secured to said inflatable cushion at one end and said tension device at the other, said tension device comprising: a shaft portion having end portions disposed on either end of said shaft, said end portions being configured to be rotatably received within a receiving area of a pair of end caps; and a fluid disposed between said end portions and said receiving areas, said fluid having a shear stress that increases as said end portions are rotated within said receiving areas, wherein a portion of said tether is wound about said shaft when said inflatable cushion is in said un-deployed position and said tether allows the inflatable cushion to expand freely until said portion of said tether is unwound from said shaft; wherein said tension device applies tension to said tether after said inflatable cushion is inflated to a first configuration by said inflator.