Holding element and side-impact airbag module

• US 20080073883A1
• Filed: 08/29/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heigl, Juergen, Fischer, Anton
• Application Number:
  US11/897,162
• Publication Number:
  US 20080073883A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

A holding element that fastens a gas generator in an airbag module has a rigid, elongated base as well as at least one fastening section that allows the holding element to be fastened to a vehicle-fixed part perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the base.

Claims

1. A holding element that fastens a gas generator (14) in an airbag module (10;

200), comprising;

a rigid, elongated base (18) and

at least one fastening section (20) that allows the holding element (16;

216) to be fastened to a vehicle-fixed part perpendicular to the lengthwise direction (L) of the base (18).

2. The holding element according to claim 1, wherein the fastening section (20), seen in the lengthwise direction (L) of the base (18), can be fitted with fastening means (22) from opposite sides of the base (18).

3. The holding element according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (16;

216) is configured so as to be essentially mirror-symmetrical relative to the lengthwise direction (L) of the base (18).

4. The holding element according to claim 1, wherein the fastening section (20) is formed in that an end section of the base (18) is bent to form an eyelet.

5. The holding element according to claim 1, wherein two fastening sections (20) are provided.

6. The holding element according to claim 1, wherein the base (18) has an indentation (30) for holding a clamp (32) to secure an airbag (12) to the holding element (16;

216).

7. The holding element according to any claim 1, wherein at least one fastening means (362) for a holding bracket (332) for partially surrounding a gas generator is provided on the base (18).

8. The holding element according to claim 1, wherein an opening (24;

224) for fastening a gas generator (14) is provided in the base (18).

9. An airbag module comprising an airbag (12) and an elongated gas generator (14) that is arranged at least partially inside the airbag (12).

10. The airbag module according to claim 9, wherein a holding element (16;

216) is provided with a rigid, elongated base (18) and at least one fastening section (20) that allows the holding element (16;

216) to be fastened to a vehicle-fixed part perpendicular to the lengthwise direction (L) of the base (18).

11. The airbag module according to claim 9, wherein the gas generator (14) is surrounded at least in sections by a gas baffle plate (36).

12. The airbag module according to claim 11, wherein the gas baffle plate (36) is formed of one single blank that can be spread out flat.

13. The airbag module according to claim 11, wherein two end sections (38) of the gas baffle plate (36) overlap.

14. The airbag module according to claim 11, wherein, when the airbag module (10) is in the installed state in the vehicle, the gas baffle plate (36) is arranged in the immediate vicinity of a vehicle-fixed part (42) in such a way that the gas baffle plate (36) is supported on the vehicle-fixed part (42) when the airbag module (10) is activated.

15. The airbag module according to claim 11, wherein the airbag (12) can have a partition (40) whose dimensions are selected in such a way that the gas baffle plate (36) is supported on the partition (40) during normal activation of the airbag module (10).

16. The airbag module according to claim 11, wherein, during an activation of the airbag module (10) when it is not installed in a vehicle, the pressure of the gas flowing from the gas generator (14) pushes the overlapping end sections (38) away from each other.

17. The airbag module according to claim 16, wherein the airbag module (10) is activated under the conditions of a bonfire test.

18. The airbag module according to claim 10, wherein a gas-distributing tube (236) that surrounds the gas generator (14) is provided with a fastening opening (250) via which the gas-distributing tube (236) is fastened to the holding element (216), said holding element (216) being adapted in the region of the fastening opening (250) to the curvature of the outer wall of the gas generator (14), so that the gas-distributing tube (236) is sealed off vis-à

-vis the holding element (216).

19. The airbag module according to claim 18, wherein an opening (224) for fastening a gas generator (14) is provided in the base (18) of the holding element (216) and the gas-distributing tube (236) is fastened by the opening (224) to the holding element (216).

20. The airbag module according to claim 19, wherein the holding element (216) has at least one bead running around the opening (24) for fastening the gas generator (14).

21. The airbag module according to claim 19, wherein the gas generator (14) has a radially projecting fastening bolt (26) that protrudes through the fastening opening (250) in the gas-distributing tube (236) and through the opening (224) for fastening the gas generator (14) in the holding element (216).