Gas Bag module

• US 20080100048A1
• Filed: 10/16/2007
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Freisler, Werner
• Application Number:
  US11/974,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20080100048A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/736
• 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

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint system has a gas bag module with a gas generator and a housing with an exit opening. The housing is through-shaped and forms a receptacle that is open on one side. A folded gas bag is received in the housing which, upon activation of the gas bag module, unfolds out of the receptacle in a deployment direction. The gas generator is arranged in the receptacle such that a longitudinal axis of the gas generator is closer to the exit opening than a longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a gas bag module (10) having

a gas generator (30) and

a housing (12) with an exit opening (26), the housing (12) being through-shaped and forming a receptacle (18) that is open on one side,

a folded gas bag (28) being received in the housing (12) which, upon activation of the gas bag module (10), unfolds out of the receptacle (18) in a deployment direction (E),

the gas generator (30) being arranged in the receptacle (18) such that a longitudinal axis (L_G) of the gas generator (30) is closer to the exit opening (26) than a longitudinal axis (L_A) of the receptacle (18).

2. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein, as related to the deployment direction (E), the longitudinal axis (L_G) of the gas generator (30) is located behind the longitudinal axis (L_A) of the receptacle (18), and the longitudinal axis (L_G) of the gas generator (30) is offset in relation to the longitudinal axis (L_A) of the receptacle (18) in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (L_A) of the receptacle (18).

3. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein in the deployment direction (E), a vertical axis (L_H) of the housing is located in front of the longitudinal axis (L_G) of the gas generator (30).

4. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (18) has first and second longitudinal side faces (14, 16) and the gas generator (30) is arranged on the first longitudinal side face (14) such that it is located in the vicinity of an outer edge (34) of the first longitudinal side face (14).

5. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 4, wherein the longitudinal axis (L_G) of the gas generator (30) is located closer towards the outer edge (34) than the longitudinal axis (L_A) of the receptacle (18).

6. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 4, wherein the distance of an outer wall (36) of the gas generator (30) from the outer edge (34) is less than 2 cm.

7. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 4, wherein the gas generator (30) is situated directly at the outer edge (34).

8. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 4, wherein the first longitudinal side face (14) is made to be stepped.

9. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 4, wherein the first longitudinal side face (14) is lower in height than the second.

10. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 4, wherein the height of the first longitudinal side face (14) corresponds approximately to twice the diameter of the gas generator (30).

11. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator (30) includes an outflow region (42) having an outflow direction (S) directed obliquely to the exit opening (26).

12. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle (18) has a base surface (24) and the gas generator (30) is arranged spaced apart from the base surface (24).

13. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag module (10) is a knee gas bag module.

14. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 13, wherein the exit opening (26) is directed substantially opposite to a longitudinal direction (x) of the vehicle.