Support Structure for an Airbag

• US 20100276918A1
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Quarg, Lutz, Hirth, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 8,342,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/742
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to a support structure for an airbag, in particular of a motor vehicle, that can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position by means of a gas flow, and which comprises a plurality of hollow bodies (36) connected to each other that form a channel system (34), wherein means (52, 60, 68, 70, 72) for the targeted influencing of the gas flow are provided inside said channel system (34).

Claims

1. Support structure for an airbag, in particular of a motor vehicle, which can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position by means of a gas flow, and which comprises a plurality hollow bodies (36) connected to each other that form a channel system (34), wherein means (52, 60, 68, 70, 72) for the targeted influencing of the gas flow are provided within the channel system (34).

2. Support structure according to claim 1,

characterized in that

at least one guide element (52) is arranged within the channel system (34), by means of which the gas flow can be guided.

3. Support structure according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the guide element (52) is provided in the region of a connection location (50) of two hollow bodies (36) of the channel system (34).

4. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one closure element (60) is arranged within the channel system, by means of which an associated hollow body (36) can be closed.

5. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one cross sectional change (68, 69) of an associated hollow body (36) is provided within the channel system (34).

6. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one valve (70, 72) is arranged within the channel system (34), by means of which the gas flow can be adjusted.

7. Support structure according to claim 6,

characterized in that

at least one valve (70, 72) arranged within the channel system (34) is formed as a check valve.

8. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

partial regions of the channel system (34) have a different filling pressure of the gas in the restraint position.

9. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one closure element (60) is arranged within the channel system (34), by means of which an associated hollow body (36) can be closed.

10. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

at least one hollow body (36) of the channel system (34) has a nominal bending point.

11. Support structure for an airbag, in particular a motor vehicle and in particular according to one of claims 1 to 10, which can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position by means of a gas flow and a plurality of hollow bodies (36) connected to each other, that form a channel system (34), wherein an outer structure (80) of the support structure (32) is formed by a plurality of the hollow bodies (36), and wherein at least one hollow body (36) is provided, by means of which hollow bodies (36) of the outer structure (80) are connected to each other.

12. Support structure according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

a gas generator (46) generating the gas flow is connected to a plurality of hollow bodies (36).