Patent ID: 6361072
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
An inflatable air bag attachable to an inflater for deployment in an automobile for the protection of passengers, said bag comprising:an inflatable envelope having an entry port for admitting gas. a tether means inside said envelope for controlling expansion of said envelope having an elastic member and an inelastic member; said elastic member and inelastic member having a common end secured to an inside surface of said envelope in one area and another common end secured to said inside surface of said envelope in another area; said elastic member having a length that is shorter than a length of said inelastic member providing that when said air bag is deflated, both said inelastic and elastic members are unextended, and when gas initially enters said bag, said elastic member first extends until said elastic member is fully extended, and, as said bag continues to inflate, said elastic member stretches and said inelastic member extends until said inelastic member is fully extended whereby said one area of said bag ceases to unfold while areas of said air bag distal from said another area continue to unfold providing that a concavity is formed in said envelope.