Occupant restraint arrangement on the driver's side of a vehicle

• US 20050275201A1
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Gehlert, Christian, Schneider, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/147,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20050275201A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2032 the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

An occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side of a vehicle includes an inflatable gas bag (10). On activation the gas bag (10) emerges from a steering wheel of the vehicle. The gas bag (10) is uncoupled from the steering wheel in a direction of the steering wheel rotation about a steering wheel axis (A). In an inflated state the gas bag (10) has an asymmetrical shape with respect to the steering wheel axis (A). The gas bag (10) in the inflated state has a protrusion (12) which covers at least a portion of an A-column (14) of the vehicle on the driver'"'"'s side.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side of a vehicle, said occupant restraint arrangement comprising an inflatable gas bag, which on activation emerges from a steering wheel of said vehicle, said gas bag being uncoupled from said steering wheel in a direction of steering wheel rotation about a steering wheel axis, said gas bag in an inflated state having an asymmetrical shape with respect to said steering wheel axis, said gas bag in the inflated state having a protrusion which covers at least a portion of an A-column of said vehicle on said driver'"'"'s side.

2. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion lies against said A-column.

3. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion extends with respect to said steering wheel axis substantially within an angle range of 270°

to 360°

.

4. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion extends with respect to said steering wheel axis substantially within an angle range of 0°

to 90°

.

5. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 1, wherein said gas bag in said inflated state has a substantially rotationally symmetrical shape with respect to said steering wheel axis, apart from the protrusion.

6. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 1, wherein said gas bag in said inflated state has a further protrusion which covers a portion of a windscreen of said vehicle.

7. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 6, wherein said further protrusion with respect to said steering wheel axis (A) extends substantially within an angle range of 0°

to 90°

.

8. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 6, wherein said further protrusion with respect to said steering wheel axis (A) extends substantially within an angle range of 270°

to 260°

.

9. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 1, wherein said gas bag in said inflated state has an expansion to protect an abdominal area of a driver.

10. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 9, wherein said expansion extends with respect to said steering wheel axis substantially within an angle range of 150°

to 210°

.

11. The occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side according to claim 1, wherein said gas bag is formed from two blanks lying one over the other.

12. An occupant restraint arrangement on the driver'"'"'s side of a vehicle, said occupant restraint arrangement comprising an inflatable gas bag, which on activation emerges from a steering wheel of said vehicle, said gas bag being coupled to said steering wheel in a direction of steering wheel rotation about a steering wheel axis, said gas bag in an inflated state having an asymmetrical shape with respect to said steering wheel axis, said gas bag in the inflated state having a protrusion which covers at least a portion of an A-column of said vehicle on said driver'"'"'s side.