Gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint device

• US 20060163856A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Lehmann, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/335,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/743.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint device has a gas bag and a discharge control arrangement to expose and/or change a discharge opening through which gas can escape from the gas bag. The discharge control arrangement has at least one element made from a memory metal.

Claims

1. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint device, the gas bag module having a gas bag and a discharge control arrangement to open and/or change a discharge opening through which gas can escape from the gas bag, wherein the discharge control arrangement including at least one element made from a memory metal.

2. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the discharge opening is provided in the gas bag.

3. The gas bag module according to claim 2, wherein the gas bag comprises at least one wire made from the memory metal.

4. The gas bag module according to claim 3, wherein the wire is integrated into the gas bag wall.

5. The gas bag module according to claim 3, wherein the wire is part of a covering which is arranged over a discharge opening formed in the gas bag wall.

6. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the element made from the memory metal is arranged on a tube-shaped discharge region of the gas bag.

7. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the element made from the memory metal is designed such that it is transformed, by heating, either from a less markedly curved shape into a more markedly curved shape, or, vice versa, from a more markedly curved shape into a less markedly curved shape.

8. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the element made from the memory metal is designed such that it is transformed, by heating, either from an elongated shape into a bent shape, or, vice versa, from a bent shape into an elongated shape.

9. The gas bag module according to claim 8, wherein the element made from memory metal is arranged on a swivellable flap.

10. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein a discharge region of the gas bag is formed substantially entirely from a structure made from the memory metal.

11. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the discharge opening is provided in a fixed component of the gas bag module.