Gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 20060157962A1
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Deckenhoff, Michael, Helmstetter, Matthias, Keutz, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 7,648,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a housing and a gas bag (12) accommodated in the housing. The gas bag has a gas bag wall (16). The gas bag module further includes a discharge arrangement (18) having an energetic element (22) for the selective provision of a discharge opening. The energetic element (22) is able to be activated by a control unit (20). The discharge opening is provided by material conversion of the energetic element (22).

Claims

1. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag module including a housing and a gas bag accommodated in the housing, the gas bag having a gas bag wall, the gas bag module further including a discharge arrangement having an energetic element for the selective provision of a discharge opening, the energetic element being able to be activated by a control unit, wherein the discharge opening being provided by material conversion of the energetic element.

2. The gas bag nodule according to claim 1, wherein the energetic element is applied directly on the gas bag wall.

3. The gas bag nodule according to claim 1, wherein the energetic element is covered by a protective layer.

4. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the energetic element is part of a prefabricated unit which is applied on the gas bag wall.

5. The gas bag module according to claim 4, wherein the prefabricated unit at least partially covers a discharge opening formed in the gas bag wall.

6. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the energetic element comprises an energetic fabric piece.

7. The gas bag module according to claim 6, wherein the energetic fabric piece comprises an azotic acid ester.

8. The gas bag module according to claim 6, wherein the energetic element is part of the gas bag wall.

9. The gas bag module according to claims 1, wherein the energetic element comprises a fabric piece which is impregnated with an explosive or pyrotechnic material.

10. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the energetic element provides a discharge opening which is formed in the housing or in another rigid component of the gas bag module.

11. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the energetic element is part of an electrolytic capacitor structure.

12. The gas bag module according to claim 11, wherein the electrolytic capacitor structure has reversed polarity.

13. The gas bag module according to claim 11, wherein the electrolytic capacitor structure has plates with vapour-coated or laminated metal, in particular aluminum.

14. The gas bag module according to claim 11, wherein the electrolytic capacitor structure is formed of several layers.