Airbag module for motor vehicles

• US 20040256840A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Marotzke, Thomas, Lutter, Gerhard
• Application Number:
  US10/895,965
• Publication Number:
  US 20040256840A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

An airbag module for motor vehicles including a airbag which can be inflated in order to protect a vehicle passenger. The envelope of the airbag includes a section facing the upper body of the vehicle passenger to be protected. The airbag module also includes a cover which frees an opening for the deployment of the airbag, during the inflation of the airbag, and an emblem region of the cover which is arranged in a fixed manner. The airbag includes an opening in the envelope through which the emblem region penetrates the inner chamber of the airbag during the deployment of the same. The opening is not oriented towards the upper body of the passenger to be protected when the airbag is inflated.

Claims

1. An airbag module for a motor vehicle comprising:

an airbag configured to inflate and deploy from the module to protect a vehicle occupant, wherein the airbag is positioned under a cover prior to inflation;

wherein the cover is configured to open for the deploying airbag; and

wherein the cover includes a fixed emblem region and wherein the airbag includes an opening through which the emblem region passes into the interior of the airbag during deployment of the airbag, and wherein the opening is positioned so that when the airbag is inflated the opening does not point in the direction of the upper body of the occupant to be protected.

2. The airbag module is claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening points laterally outward in a direction past the upper body of the occupant.

3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the opening points in a direction away from the upper body of the occupant.

4. The airbag module of claim 1 further comprising an upper part and a lower part of the airbag, and wherein the upper part faces the upper body of the occupant to be protected in the inflated state of the airbag.

5. The airbag module of claim 4, wherein the opening is provided in the lower part of the airbag.

6. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the airbag includes two separate parts which are connected to each other.

7. The airbag module of claim 6, wherein the opening is provided in the region of a connecting seam of the two airbag parts.

8. The airbag module of claim 1 further comprising a flexible tube extending from the opening into the interior of the airbag.

9. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the flexible tube is closed at its end which faces away from the opening with the result that, when the airbag is inflated, gas cannot penetrate into the flexible tube.

10. The airbag module of claim 8, wherein the flexible tube is secured at its end which faces away from the opening on a subassembly of the airbag module, in particular on a gas generator or on a diffuser of the gas generator.

11. The airbag module of claim 10, wherein the flexible tube is secured on the subassembly in such a manner that gas cannot penetrate into the flexible tube through that end of the same which faces away from the opening of the airbag.

12. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the emblem region is supported relative to a subassembly of the airbag module, in particular relative to a gas generator or a diffuser of the gas generator.

13. The airbag module of claim 12 further comprising a means for supporting the emblem region.

14. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the emblem region can be moved relative to a subassembly of the airbag module, in particular relative to a gas generator or a diffuser of the gas generator.

15. The airbag module of claim 14, wherein the movable emblem region is connected to transmission means for triggering an electrical contact, in particular a horn contact.

16. A airbag for use in an airbag module having a cover with a emblem region, comprising;

an inflated state and a folded state wherein the airbag is adapted to be inflated to protect a vehicle occupant;

a casing which, in the inflated state of the airbag, has a section facing an upper body of the vehicle occupant to be protected; and

a section defining an opening through which the emblem region passes into the interior of the airbag during deployment;

wherein in the inflated state of the airbag, the opening does not point in the direction of the upper body of the occupant to be protected.

17. The airbag of claim 16, wherein the airbag comprises an upper part and a lower part, and further wherein the upper part facing the upper body of the occupant to be protected in the inflated state of the airbag.

18. The airbag of claim 16 further comprising a flexible tube extending from the opening into an interior of the airbag which surrounds the emblem region.

19. The airbag module of claim 16, wherein the emblem region is supported relative to a subassembly of the airbag module, in particular relative to a gas generator or a diffuser of the gas generator.

20. An airbag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a airbag which can be inflated to protect a vehicle occupant and the casing of which, in the inflated state of the airbag, has a section facing the upper body of the vehicle occupant to be protected;

a covering of the airbag module, behind which the airbag is arranged in the folded state and which, when the airbag is inflated, opens up an opening for the deploying airbag; and

a region of the covering, which is arranged in a fixed position, wherein the airbag has, in its casing, an opening through which the region passes into the interior of the airbag during deployment, and in that, in the inflated state of the airbag, the opening does not point in the direction of the upper body of the occupant to be protected.