Airbag device

• US 20050206138A1
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri (Sachsen) GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Weyrich, Christian, Breuninger, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,828,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

An airbag comprises a bag which is bent in the shape of an arrow ‘<’ in a deployed state, and a connection member which is arranged on a side of the bag, facing a vehicle body, and connects the upper and lower ends of the bag with each other. A longitudinal intermediate portion of the bag projects toward a vehicle occupant. A space is defined between the projecting intermediate portion and the connection member. The head of the vehicle occupant initially comes into contact with the intermediate portion and then presses the bag toward the vehicle body. Upper and lower parts of the bag which extend upward and downward from the intermediate portion cooperate with the connection member to define a triangular space.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag having first and second side surfaces and upper and lower ends;

wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the upper and lower ends of the airbag;

wherein the ratio of the volume of the enveloped space over the volume of the inflated airbag is greater than approximately 1.0.

2. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the ratio is greater than approximately 1.2.

3. The airbag device of claim 1, further comprising a connection member connecting the first and second ends of the airbag together.

4. The airbag device of claim 3, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein the second side surface is positioned adjacent a vehicle occupant and the connection member faces a vehicle body.

5. The airbag device of claim 3, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein the second side surface is positioned adjacent a vehicle body and the connection member faces a vehicle occupant.

6. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal length of the connection member is smaller than a longitudinal length of the airbag.

7. The airbag device of claim 6, wherein the ratio of the longitudinal distance of the airbag to the longitudinal length of the connection member is approximately 1.2 or greater.

8. The airbag device of claim 6, wherein the ratio of the longitudinal distance of the airbag to the longitudinal length of the connection member is approximately 1.25.

9. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag device comprises an effective space factor of approximately 7.5.

10. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the airbag device comprises an effective space factor of greater than 7.5.

11. An airbag device for protecting a vehicle occupant, comprising:

an airbag having first and second side surfaces and upper and lower ends;

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the airbag;

wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the connecting member.

12. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein when the airbag deploys, the airbag forms a generally sideways “

V”

shape when viewed from the side.

13. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein when the airbag deploys, the airbag forms a generally “

L”

shape when viewed from the side.

14. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein when the airbag deploys, the airbag and the connection member together form a substantially “

D”

shape when viewed from the side.

15. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the airbag includes an intermediate portion configured to receive an occupant'"'"'s head during a collision event.

16. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion is positioned lower than a center position of the airbag in a longitudinal direction.

17. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion is positioned approximately center of the airbag in a longitudinal direction.

18. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the airbag comprises a first panel and a second panel connected to form a chamber.

19. The airbag device of claim 18, wherein a longitudinal length of the first and second panels is greater than a longitudinal length of the connection member.

20. The airbag device of claim 18, wherein a plurality of chambers are formed between the first panel and the second panel.

21. The airbag device of claim 20, wherein the plurality of chambers extend longitudinally in the airbag.

22. The airbag device of claim 21, wherein a width of each of the plurality of chambers at the intermediate portion of the airbag is smaller than a width of each of the plurality of chambers at the upper and lower ends of the airbag.

23. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the member comprises a fabric panel.

24. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the member comprises a tether.

25. The airbag device of claim 11, wherein the member connects to the airbag at additional connection points.

26. The airbag device of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of members.

27. An occupant safety system, comprising:

an airbag having first and second side surfaces and upper and lower ends;

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the airbag; and

an inflator for inflating the airbag,

wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the connecting member.

28. The occupant safety system of claim 27, further comprising an Electronic Control Unit configured to determine a vehicle collusion and to trigger deployment of the airbag.

29. The occupant safety system of claim 27, further comprising a Seat Weight Sensor configured to determine a vehicle occupant'"'"'s weight and/or position.

30. The occupant safety system of claim 27, further comprising a Motorized Seat Belt device.

31. The occupant safety system of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of airbags.

32. The occupant safety system of claim 31, wherein one of the plurality of airbags is a driver-side airbag.

33. The occupant safety system of claim 31, wherein one of the plurality of airbags is a passenger-side airbag.

34. The occupant safety system of claim 31, wherein one of the plurality of airbags is a side airbag.

36. The airbag device of claim 34, wherein the airbag is positioned with the intermediate portion adjacent a vehicle body and the connection member faces a vehicle occupant on a side of the airbag away from the vehicle body.

35. An airbag device, comprising:

an airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the airbag;

wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the connecting member.

37. The airbag device of claim 35, wherein the airbag device is configured to be positioned in a roof of a vehicle so that the airbag deploys downwardly toward a vehicle occupant.

38. The airbag device of claim 35, wherein the airbag device is configured to be positioned in a lower portion of a vehicle body so that the airbag deploys downwardly into a position to contact the knees of a vehicle occupant.

39. The airbag device of claim 35, wherein the airbag device is positioned on a vehicle seat.

40. The airbag device of claim 35, wherein the airbag is a side-airbag.

41. The airbag device of claim 35, wherein the airbag is positioned on an exterior portion of a vehicle.