Tethered air bag cover

Claim 2

An air bag module for a vehicle, comprising: a receptacle; a folded air bag in the receptacle, said air bag being positioned to be deployed from aid receptacle in an emergency situation; a cover which closes said receptacle; and tether structure coupled to said cover and to said air bag, said tether structure enabling said cove to separate from said receptacle and maintaining said cover tethered to said air bag as said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle.

Claim 3

An air bag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion which engages said receptacle to couple said cover with said receptacle in a predetermined position relative to aid receptacle when said air bag is in said receptacle, said locator portion separating from said receptacle when said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle.

Claim 4

An air bag module as set forth in claim 2, wherein said locator portion comprises a resilient clip which engages a portion of said receptacle to couple said cover with said receptacle.

Claim 5

An air bag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tether structure includes at least one flexible tether strap coupled to said cover and to said air bag.

Claim 6

An air bag module as set forth in claim 4, wherein said tether strap enables said cover to pivot relative to said air bag over a predetermined range of motion.

Claim 7

An air bag module as set forth in claim 5, wherein said tether strap is sewn to said air bag.

Claim 8

An air bag module as set forth in claim 6, wherein said tether strap is sewn to said air bag using a "Box X" pattern with no more than ten stitches per inch.

Claim 9

An air bag module as set forth in claim 7, wherein said tether strap comprises a nylon fabric strap.

Claim 10

An air bag module as set forth in claim 7, wherein said tether strap comprises a bicomponent staple fibrous material which is sewn to said air bag using a "Box X" pattern with no more than five stitches per inch.

Claim 11

An air bag module as set forth in claim 9, where said tether structure is integrally formed of the bicomponent staple fibrous material.

Claim 12

An air bag module as set forth in claim 10, wherein said tether structure is coupled to said cover by inductive welding.

Claim 13

An air bag module for a vehicle, comprising: a receptacle; a folded air bag in the receptacle, said air bag being positioned to be deployed from said receptacle in an emergency situation; a cover which closes said receptacle; and tether structure coupled to said dover and to said air bag, said tether structure enabling said cover to separate from said receptacle and maintaining said cover tethered to said air bag as said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle; wherein said locator portion comprises a resilient clip which engages a portion of said receptacle to couple said cover with said receptacle; wherein said air bag module further includes fastening means for fastening a predetermined portion of said air bag to said receptacle, and said resilient clip engaging a portion of said fastening means to couple said cover with said receptacle.

Claim 14

An air bag module for a vehicle, comprising: a receptacle; a folded air bag in the receptacle, said air bag being positioned to be deployed from said receptacle in an emergency situation; a cover which closes said receptacle; and tether structure coupled to said dover and to said air bag, said tether structure enabling said cover to separate from said receptacle and maintaining said cover tethered to said air bag as said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle; wherein said locator portion comprises a resilient clip which engages a portion of said receptacle to couple said cover with said receptacle; wherein said air bag module further includes fastening means for fastening a predetermined portion of said air bag to said receptacle, and said resilient clip engaging a portion of said fastening means to couple said cover with said receptacle.

Claim 15

An air bag module for a vehicle, comprising: a receptacle; a folded air bag in the receptacle, said air bag being positioned to be deployed from said receptacle in an emergency situation; a cover which closes said receptacle; and tether structure coupled to said cover and to said air bag, said tether structure enabling said cover to separate from said receptacle and maintaining said cover tethered to said air bag as said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle; wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion which engages said receptacle to couple said cover with sad receptacle in a predetermined position relative to said receptacle when said air bag is in said receptacle, said locator portion separating from said receptacle when said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle; and wherein said tether structure includes (a) at least one flexible tether strap coupled to said cover and to said air bag, and (b) a bicomponent staple fibrous material forming a base and said locator portion, said tether strap being sewn to said bicomponent staple fibrous material to complete said tether structure.

Claim 16

An air bag module for a vehicle, comprising: a receptacle; a folded air bag in the receptacle, said air bag being positioned to be deployed from said receptacle in an emergency situation; a cover which closes said receptacle; and tether structure coupled to said cover and to said air bag, said tether structure enabling said cover to separate from said receptacle and maintaining said cover tethered to said air bag as said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle; wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion which engages said receptacle to couple said cover with sad receptacle in a predetermined position relative to said receptacle when said air bag is in said receptacle, said locator portion separating from said receptacle when said air bag is being deployed from said receptacle; and wherein said tether structure includes (a) at least one flexible tether strap coupled to said cover and to said air bag, and (b) a bicomponent staple fibrous material forming a base and said locator portion, said tether strap being sewn to said bicomponent staple fibrous material to complete said tether structure.

Claim 17

An air bag module as set forth in claim 13, wherein said tether strap comprises a nylon fabric strap.

Claim 18

Apparatus comprising (a) a cover for a vehicle air bag module and (b) tether structure coupled to said cover and (c) means for coupling said tether structure to a vehicle air bag in a manner which maintains said cover tethered to the air bag as the air bag is being deployed from the vehicle air bag module.

Claim 19

Apparatus comprising (a) a cover for a vehicle air bag module and (b) tether structure coupled to said cover and (c) means for coupling said tether structure to a vehicle air bag in a manner which maintains said cover tethered to the air bag as the air bag is being deployed from the vehicle air bag module.

Claim 20

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion for engaging a selected portion of the vehicle air bag module to couple said cover to said selected portion, said locator portion separating from the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module when the air bag is being deployed therefrom.

Claim 21

Apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said locator portion comprises a resilient clip for engaging the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module to couple said cover with the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module.

Claim 22

Apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein said tether structure includes at least one flexible tether strap having a first portion coupled to said cover and a second portion for coupling to a vehicle air bag.

Claim 23

Apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said tether strap enables said cover to pivot relative to an air bag to which it is coupled over a predetermined range of motion.

Claim 24

Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said second portion of said tether strap is to be sewn to an air bag.

Claim 25

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said tether strap comprises a nylon fabric strap.

Claim 26

Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein said tether strap comprises a bicomponent staple fibrous material.

Claim 27

Apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein said tether structure is integrally formed of the bicomponent staple fibrous material.

Claim 28

Apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said tether structure is coupled to said cover by inductive welding.

Claim 29

Apparatus comprising (a) a cover for a vehicle air bag module and (b) tether structure coupled to said cover and (c) means for coupling said tether structure to a vehicle air bag in a manner which maintains said cover tethered to the air bag as the air bag is being deployed from the vehicle air bag module; wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion for engaging a selected portion of the vehicle air bag module to couple said cover to said selected portion, said locator portion separating from the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module when the air bag is being deployed therefrom; and wherein said tether structure includes (a) at least one flexible tether strap coupled to aid cover and to said air bag and (b) a bicomponent staple fibrous material forming a base and said locator portion, said tether strap being sewn to said bicomponent staple fibrous material to complete said tether structure.

Claim 30

Apparatus comprising (a) a cover for a vehicle air bag module and (b) tether structure coupled to said cover and (c) means for coupling said tether structure to a vehicle air bag in a manner which maintains said cover tethered to the air bag as the air bag is being deployed from the vehicle air bag module; wherein said tether structure includes a locator portion for engaging a selected portion of the vehicle air bag module to couple said cover to said selected portion, said locator portion separating from the selected portion of the vehicle air bag module when the air bag is being deployed therefrom; and wherein said tether structure includes (a) at least one flexible tether strap coupled to aid cover and to said air bag and (b) a bicomponent staple fibrous material forming a base and said locator portion, said tether strap being sewn to said bicomponent staple fibrous material to complete said tether structure.

Claim 31

Apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said tether strap is sewn to said base using a "Box X" stitch pattern with no more than five stitches per inch.

Claim 32

Apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said tether strap comprises a nylon fabric strap.