HEAD AIRBAG MODULE

• US 20100156072A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: RICK, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 8,286,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2334 Expansion control features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers

Abstract

A head airbag module for a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger automobile, is provided with a head airbag and a receptacle, which receives the folded head airbag. The head airbag having a gas channel and an airbag, and the head airbag module being implemented so that the head airbag is essentially completely freed from the receptacle by filling of the gas channel, before the airbag is filled.

Claims

1. A head airbag module for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a head airbag comprising a gas channel and an airbag; and

a receptacle that is adapted to receive the head airbag in a folded position,

wherein the head airbag module is configured so that the head airbag is essentially completely freed from the receptacle by filling of the gas channel before filling the airbag.

2. The head airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the head airbag is located in an area of a plurality of areas particularly protected after being freed from the receptacle, before filling the airbag.

3. The head airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is essentially filled through the gas channel.

4. The head airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is essentially filled from a bottom to a top.

5. The head airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the gas channel essentially extends through an entirety of the head airbag.

6. The head airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the gas channel extends essentially along a lower edge of the head airbag.

7. The head airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the gas channel extends essentially at half a height of the head airbag.

8. The head airbag module according to claim 1, wherein a gas inlet connection is situated in the gas channel essentially at a height of the gas channel.

9. A head airbag system, comprising:

a gas generator; and

a head airbag module, the head airbag module comprising;

a head airbag comprising a gas channel and an airbag; and

a receptacle that is adapted to receive the head airbag in a folded position,

wherein the head airbag module is configured so that the head airbag is essentially completely freed from the receptacle by filling of the gas channel before filling the airbag,

wherein the gas generator is situated essentially at a height of the gas channel.

10. The head airbag system according to claim 9, wherein the head airbag is located in an area of a plurality of areas particularly protected after being freed from the receptacle, before filling the airbag.

11. The head airbag system according to claim 9, wherein the airbag is essentially filled through the gas channel.

12. The head airbag system according to claim 9, wherein the airbag is essentially filled from a bottom to a top.

13. The head airbag system according to claim 9, wherein the gas channel essentially extends through an entirety of the head airbag.

14. The head airbag system according to claim 9 wherein the gas channel extends essentially along a lower edge of the head airbag.

15. The head airbag system according to claim 9 wherein the gas channel extends essentially at half a second height of the head airbag.

16. The head airbag system according to claim 9, wherein a gas inlet connection is situated in the gas channel essentially at the height of the gas channel.

17. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a roof having a side area;

a gas generator; and

a head airbag module, the head airbag module comprising;

a head airbag comprising a gas channel and an airbag; and

a receptacle that is adapted to receive the head airbag in a folded position and situated on the side area of the roof,

wherein the head airbag module is configured so that the head airbag is essentially completely freed from the receptacle by filling of the gas channel before filling the airbag,

wherein the gas generator is situated essentially at a height of the gas channel.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the gas generator is situated in an A column of the motor vehicle.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the gas generator is situated in a B column of the motor vehicle.

20. The motor vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the gas generator is situated in a C column of the motor vehicle.

21. A method for filling a head airbag of a head airbag module comprising the head airbag comprising a gas channel and an airbag, a receptacle that is adapted to receive the head airbag in a folded position, the method for filling the head airbag of the head airbag module comprising the steps of:

filling the gas channel; and

filling the airbag,

wherein the head airbag is essentially completely freed from the receptacle by the filling of the gas channel before the filling of the airbag.