Airbag

• US 10,029,644 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana SA (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana SA (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Miron, Francisco, Bustos Garcia, Alfonso
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US15/817,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20180072258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 246 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01238 control of expansion shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01315 monitoring occupant displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

The present invention provides an airbag module (1) in particular for a front passenger (21, 23) of a vehicle, comprising an inflatable bag (3) having at least a first outer panel (33) and a second outer panel (35) arranged substantially symmetrically to each other with regard to a vertical middle plane (M) of the inflated bag. The airbag is characterized in that the inflatable bag (3) comprises a strap structure (5) substantially located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35), wherein the strap structure (5) is designed such that the bag is extendable from a first state having a first size to a second state having a second size depending on the size of the respective passenger and/or the kind of impact.

Claims

1. Airbag module (1), for a front passenger (21, 23) of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable bag (3) comprising a front panel (15) which faces the front passenger (21, 23);

first and second outer panels (33, 35) arranged substantially symmetrically to each other with regard to a vertical middle plane (M) of the inflated bag; and

a strap structure (5) comprising two layers of ray-like straps (7) arranged substantially parallel to each other, the two parallel layers of ray-like straps being located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35);

wherein the strap structure (5) is designed such that the bag is extendable from a first state having a first size to a second state having a second size depending on the size of the respective passenger and/or the severity of an impact.

2. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the front panel (15) is formed in one piece having lateral side faces, wherein each lateral side face is connected with a respective one of the two parallel layers of ray-like straps (7).

3. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the two parallel layers of ray-like straps (7) each has an outer periphery that substantially corresponds to a side periphery of the first and second outer panels (33, 35).

4. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein one of the two parallel layers of ray-like straps (7) is connected to one lateral side face of the front panel (15) at the interface between the front panel and the first side panel (33), and the other of the two parallel layers of ray-like straps (7) is connected to another lateral side face of the front panel (15) at the interface between the front panel and the second side panel (35).

5. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the two parallel layers of ray-like straps (7) are connected to the front panel (15) along continuous seams.

6. Airbag module according to claim 5, wherein the continuous seams are at the interfaces between the front panel (15) and the side panels (33, 35).

7. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the straps (7) in the first state of the bag (3) result in necking zones (29, 29′

) between the first and second outer panels (33, 35).

8. Airbag module according to claim 7, wherein the necking zones comprise a necking zone (29) facing the front passenger and a necking zone (29′

) facing away from the front passenger.

9. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein for each of the two parallel layers of ray-like straps (7), the straps have proximal ends (9) connected in a common connection area (13) of the air bag (3) and distal ends (11) connected to the front panel (15).

10. Airbag module according to claim 9, wherein the straps (7) in each of the two parallel layers of ray-like straps extend from their proximal ends (9) toward their distal ends (11) in a converging manner toward the common connection area (13).

11. Airbag module according to claim 9, wherein the common connection area (13) is adjacent an inflator of the airbag module.

12. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein each of the straps (7) comprises a predetermined breaking point (25), such that the straps (7) will break and/or detach from the bag (3) upon applying a predetermined traction force.

13. Airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the respective breaking points (25) are approximately in the middle of the strap (7).

14. Airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the respective breaking points (25) are at an interface area with an inflator (13).

15. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable bag (3) comprises a single chamber, which cooperates with an inflator to deploy the bag.

16. Vehicle safety system for improving the protection of an occupant, comprising an airbag module (1) according to claim 1, an inflator (13), and an electronic control unit, by means of which the inflator (13) can be activated at recognition of an activation situation.