Side airbag

• US 20080012271A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Sievers, Thomas, Gutmann, Ralf, Rist, Holger, Heuschmid, Rainer, Getz, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,712,766 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A side airbag arrangement for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes an airbag which is provided for the protection of a vehicle occupant and which has at least two inflatable chambers which are in each case to assume a specific position in a motor vehicle after inflation. A functional band is provided, which is secured by a portion outside the airbag. At least a portion of the functional band exerts on at least one of the chambers of the airbag a holding force, which has the effect that the chamber, after inflation, assumes the position provided for the chamber.

Claims

1. Side airbag arrangement for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising:

an airbag which is provided to protect a vehicle occupant, the airbag including at least two inflatable chambers which are in each case to assume a specific position in a motor vehicle after inflation; and

a functional band which is fastened by a portion outside the airbag, the functional band being configured to exert on at least one of the chambers of the airbag a holding force such that the chamber, after inflation, assumes a predetermined position provided for the chamber.

2. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein, after the deployment of the airbag, a first chamber of the airbag extends, at least in portions, underneath at least one further chamber with respect to the vertical vehicle axis, and the functional band exerts the holding force on the first chamber.

3. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the first chamber is designed to protect the pelvic region of the vehicle occupant.

4. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the holding force exerted by the functional band on the first chamber prevents the first chamber from extending level with a thorax region of the vehicle occupant.

5. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional band is fastened with at least one portion to a first chamber of the airbag.

6. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of portions of the functional band are connected to the airbag.

7. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein that portion of the functional band which is fastened outside the airbag is fastened to a vehicle part.

8. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the vehicle part is part of a vehicle seat, of an airbag module, or the vehicle body.

9. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a second chamber which extends above a portion of a first chamber and which is configured to protect to a thorax region of the vehicle occupant.

10. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the airbag includes a third chamber which extends above the first chamber and which is configured to protect a head region of the vehicle occupant.

11. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the chambers of the airbag have different internal pressures after inflation.

12. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a first chamber is delimited by a marginal region, and a portion of the functional band is fastened to the marginal region.

13. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional band is stitched or adhesively bonded to the airbag.

14. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional band forms a loop or a pocket.

15. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising at least one additional functional band which connects at least two portions of the airbag to one another.

16. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the functional band extends inside the airbag.

17. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional band includes a seam which connects at least two portions of the functional band to one another so as to shorten the effective length of the functional band, and the seam is configured to tear during deployment of the airbag.

18. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional band is configured to be filled with gas during the inflation of the airbag.

19. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the functional band is produced in one piece with the airbag.

20. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, further a holding device to connect a gas generator to part of a vehicle seat or vehicle body.

21. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 20, wherein the holding device includes a fastening portion to connect the holding device to part of the vehicle seat or of the vehicle body.

22. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the fastening portion is of a longitudinally extended design.

23. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 21, wherein a portion of the functional band is fastened, together with the fastening portion of the holding device, to part of the vehicle seat or the vehicle body.

24. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the fastening portion is connected to a further part of the holding device via a bolt, and a portion of the functional band is fastened to the bolt.

25. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 21, wherein a portion of the functional band is a loop which is suspended on the fastening portion of the holding device.

26. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the fastening portion includes an end portion which bends away from the airbag and on which the loop of the functional band is suspended.

27. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is an integral part of an airbag module which is surrounded by a module cover, and a portion of the functional band is fastened to the module cover.

28. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 27, wherein the module cover includes an upper part and a lower part, after the mounting of the airbag module in a back-rest of a vehicle seat, the upper part faces a side face of the back-rest, the lower part faces away from the side face, and a portion of the functional band is connected to the lower part.

29. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the lower part of the module cover includes a fastening strap on which a portion of the functional band is suspended.

30. Side airbag arrangement for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

a functional band; and

a holding device for holding a gas generator,

wherein the airbag includes at least one connecting structure for the connection of the airbag to the holding device, the connecting structure being provided on the functional band fastened to the airbag.

31. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 30, wherein the functional band includes at least two connecting structures suitable for connection to the holding device, selectively only one of the connecting structures is to be connected to the holding device, and the connecting structures are configured such that the shape which the airbag has after deployment depends on which of the connecting structures is connected to the holding device.

32. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 30, wherein the functional band is arranged along a surface of the airbag.

33. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 30, wherein the connecting structures of the functional band are of loop-shaped or pocket-shaped design.

34. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 30, wherein the holding device includes a longitudinally extended fastening portion for connecting the holding device to part of a vehicle seat or of a vehicle body.

35. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 34, wherein the functional band includes, as connecting structures, loops which are formed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the functional band and through which the fastening portion of the holding device can be led.

36. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 35, wherein the fastening portion extends approximately parallel to loops of the functional band.

37. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 35, wherein the loops extend in the lead-through direction over the entire width of the functional band.

38. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 35, wherein the functional band is multi-ply and is stitched along its longitudinal sides to the airbag between the loops.

39. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 35, wherein the loops are formed by seams extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the functional band.

40. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 34, wherein one end of the fastening portion of the holding device is angled away from the airbag and is configured to prevent the functional band suspended on the fastening portion from slipping off.

41. Side airbag arrangement according to claim 30, wherein a volume which the airbag occupies after deployment depends on which of the connecting structures is connected to the holding device.