Airbag module with a deflector holder

• US 20030141704A1
• Filed: 11/27/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reiter, Thomas, Kleeberger, Peter, Sommer, Karl-Heinz, Albert, Jorg
• Granted Patent: US 7,011,336 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An airbag module with a gas generator, a gas bag, a housing containing an exit opening for the deploying gas bag, and a holder. The gas generator and holder are located inside the gas bag, and the gas generator is fixed to the housing. The holder (19) has a support area (20) and at least one deflector segment (21, 22) directed toward the exit opening (13). The holder is placed between the gas generator (14) and the housing (10). The deflector segment at least partially surrounds the gas generator (14) and directs the gas generated by the gas generator (14) into at least one of a plurality of fold packets (16, 17, 18) of the gas bag (15) placed on both sides of the deflector segment (21, 22).

Claims

1. An airbag module comprising:

a gas generator;

a gas bag having a plurality of fold pockets;

a housing containing a floor area, outside walls extending upward from the floor area, and an exit opening through which the gas bag is deployed; and

a holder having a support area and at least one deflector segment directed toward the exit opening and surrounding the gas generator, wherein the gas generator and holder are located inside the gas bag, wherein the gas generator is fixed to the housing, wherein the holder is located between the gas generator and the housing and directs gas generated by the gas generator into at least one of the fold packets of the gas bag.

2. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gas generator is placed in a corner area of the housing and the holder has a deflector segment enclosing the gas generator on one side, wherein a fold packet is located between the gas generator and the exit opening and a further fold packet is located in an internal space formed between the deflector segment and the outside wall of the housing facing away from the gas generator.

3. The airbag module in accordance with claim 2, wherein the holder is U-shaped and has an additional deflector segment running alongside one outside wall of the housing.

4. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gas generator is placed in a central area of the housing and the holder is U-shaped with two deflector segments that enclose the gas generator between the deflector segments.

5. The airbag module in accordance with claim 4, wherein two fold packets of the gas bag are provided, each of which is placed in an internal space between one of the deflector segments of the holder and one of the outside housing walls, wherein a portion of the gas bag connects the fold packets and bridges the space located between the deflector segments.

6. The airbag module in accordance with claim 5, wherein individual folds of the fold packets of the gas bag are placed transversely to an expulsion direction of the gas bag from the housing.

7. The airbag module in accordance with claim 4, wherein three fold packets of the gas bag are provided, wherein two fold packets are outside fold pockets, each placed in an internal space between one of the deflector segments and one of the outside housing walls, wherein a central fold packet is placed between the gas generator and the exit opening.

8. The airbag module in accordance with claim 7, wherein individual folds of the outside fold packets are placed transversely to an expulsion direction of the gas bag and individual folds of the central fold packet are placed to run in the expulsion direction of the gas bag.

9. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflector segment comprises at least one gas passage opening to allow gas from the gas generator to pass into an internal space between the deflector segment and one of the outside housing walls.

10. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflector segment extends over a portion of the gas generator in a direction toward the exit opening.

11. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflector segment extends along a longitudinal direction of the gas generator in a direction of the exit opening.

12. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflector segment extends beyond the gas generator in a direction of the exit opening.

13. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflector segment has an end directed towards the exit opening of the housing and wherein the deflector segment end is bent in the direction toward the gas generator.

14. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the deflector segment has an end directed toward the exit opening of the housing and wherein the deflector segment end is bent outward with respect to the gas generator.

15. The airbag module in accordance with claim 4, wherein the holder has one deflector segment disposed on one side of the gas generator, wherein three fold packets of the gas bag are provided, of which one fold packet is placed between the deflector segment and one outside housing wall and the other two fold packets are placed in an internal space of the housing between the gas generator and another outside housing wall.

16. The airbag module in accordance with claim 4, wherein the holder has one deflector segment disposed on one side of the gas generator with an extension portion that extends parallel to the exit opening of the housing, wherein three fold packets of the gas bag are provided, wherein one of the three fold packets is placed above the extension running parallel to the exit opening.

17. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the holder is connected to the housing.

18. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the holder is disposed between the gas generator and the housing without fastening.

19. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the holder support area is oriented parallel to the housing floor, and wherein the support area has a dimension that substantially coincides with the dimension of the gas generator along a plane parallel to the support area.

20. The airbag module in accordance with claim 1, wherein the gas generator is fixed radially and axially to the housing.