Airbag for Protecting a Vehicle Occupant

• US 20080296875A1
• Filed: 07/27/2005
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Stow, David, Svenbrant, Emma, Aho, Christian, Lucic, Dobrila, Kuntzsch, Krestin, Kodmja, Stefan, Borjeson, Guslav
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23509 Fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite coated fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23538 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

An airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant comprising a first and a second material layer each having edge regions, wherein the first and the second layers are sewn together along the edge regions. A fastening section adapted for attaching to a part of the vehicle and connecting to a gas generator configured to inflate the airbag with a gas in response to an accident. A first and a second chamber region disposed opposite a dividing seam, wherein each of the material layers includes a first and a second material section each matched to one of the first or second chamber regions.

Claims

1. Airbag to protect a vehicle occupant comprising a first (2) and a second (3) material layer, which are sewn to one another along their edge regions, wherein the airbag (1) is provided with a fastening section (4) attached to a part of the vehicle interior fittings enabling said airbag to be connected to a gas generator in order to be inflated with this gas during an accident, wherein said airbag demonstrates at least a first and a second chamber region (5, 6) which are separated from one another by a dividing seam (7), characterized in that each of the two material layers (2, 3) comprises at least two separate material sections (8, 9, 10, 11), each of which is respectively assigned to the first or second chamber region (5, 6).

2. Airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that the material sections (8,9,10,11) are sewn to one another in such a manner that they overlap in the region of the dividing seam (7).

3. Airbag according to claim 2, characterized in that the dividing seam (7) extends through the overlapping region formed by the four layers of the material sections (8, 9, 10, 11).

4. Airbag according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that both of the material sections (8, 9, 10, 11) of the two material layers (2, 3) comprise separate cuttings, the material sections (8, 10;

9, 11) assigned to one another having approximately the same shape.

5. Airbag according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material sections (8, 10;

9, 11) assigned to one another comprise fabrics with different gas permeability and/or different tear-resistance.

6. Airbag according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the material sections (8, 10;

9, 11) assigned to one another are formed front identical fabric types.

7. Airbag according to one of the claims 1 to 4 or 6, characterized in that at least two of the material sections (8, 10;

9, 11) assigned to one another of the two material layers (2, 3) comprise a single cutting, which demonstrates a butterfly-like shape and demonstrates an axis of symmetry (S) in its central section.

8. Airbag according to claim 7, characterized in that the butterfly-like cutting is folded along the axis of symmetry (S) so that the two material sections (8, 10;

9, 11) overlap.

9. Airbag according to claim 8, characterized in that each of the two material sections (8, 10;

9, 11) of the two material layers comprises two butterfly-like cuttings.

10. Airbag according to one of the claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the material sections (8, 10) of the first chamber region (5) are made out of a relatively porous fabric.

11. Airbag according to one of the claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the material sections (9, 11) of the second chamber area (6) are made out of a relatively heavy fabric.

12. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the material sections (9, 11) of the second chamber region (6) are coated with a silicone-like substance or with a film.

13. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that within the overlapping region of the material sections (8, 9, 10, 11), the material sections (8, 10) assigned to the first chamber region (5) are disposed within the material sections (9, 11) assigned to the second chamber region (6).

14. Airbag according to one of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that within the overlapping region of the material sections (8, 9, 10, 11), the material sections (8, 10) assigned to the first chamber region (5) are disposed outside the material sections (9, 11) assigned to the second chamber region (6).

15. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that within the overlapping region of the material sections (8, 9, 10, 11), an additional material layer is provided (12) which is placed on the outside of one material layer (2) and fixed by the dividing seam (7).

16. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the airbag (1) is a side protection airbag and can be accommodated in the region of the vehicle side structure or in the vehicle seat.

17. Airbag according to claim 16, characterized in that the first chamber region (5) of the airbag is assigned to protect the thorax and the second chamber region (6) is assigned to protect the pelvic region of a vehicle occupant.

18. Airbag according to one of the claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the airbag (1) demonstrates at least one additional chamber region (15) and one additional dividing seam (17) and that at least three material sections (8, 9, 13;

10, 11, 14) are provided in one material layer (2;

3).

19. Airbag according to claim 18, characterized in that the airbag (1) is configured as a curtain airbag and can be accommodated in the region of the roof frame of the vehicle.

20. Airbag according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the dividing seam (7) is arranged in such a manner that the gas flowing from the gas generator is guided directly into the two chamber regions (5, 6).

21. Airbag according to claim 20, characterized in that the end of the dividing seam facing the gas generator (25) is disposed approximately at the height of the center of an opening (23) for the gas generator.