Airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system and method for producing a vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 20120038136A1
• Filed: 10/25/2011
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Feller, Jens, Schmidt, Torsten, Heuschmid, Rainer
• Granted Patent: US 8,931,801 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23576 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2334 Expansion control features

Abstract

An airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle is provided. The airbag comprising at least one first and one second layer of an airbag material, at least one inflatable chamber formed between the first and the second layer, which is inflatable for the protection of a vehicle occupant and at least one seam, by which the first and the second layer are connected with each other along at least a portion of their respective circumference. The airbag is deployed between a vehicle occupant and a vehicle side structure. The airbag is formed such that when the airbag is mounted in the vehicle and inflated, the seam extends along a plane which is oriented obliquely or transversely to a plane formed by the longitudinal and the height direction of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle, comprising

at least one first and one second layer of an airbag material;

at least one inflatable chamber formed between the first and the second layer, which is inflatable for the protection of a vehicle occupant; and

at least one seam, by which the first and the second layer are connected with each other along at least a portion of their respective circumference, wherein

the airbag is deployed between a vehicle occupant and a vehicle side structure, and wherein

the airbag is formed such that when the airbag is mounted in the vehicle and inflated, the seam extends along a plane which is oriented obliquely or transversely to a plane formed by the longitudinal and the height direction of the vehicle.

2. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein when the airbag is mounted and inflated, the height direction of the vehicle extends at least approximately parallel to the plane along which the seam extends.

3. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein

the seam is a first seam by which the first and the second layer are connected with each other along their respective circumference;

the airbag includes a second seam by which the two layers of the airbag are connected with each other along their respective circumference; and

the second seam extends along a first plane and the second seam extends along a second plane, wherein the second plane extends obliquely or transversely to the first plane.

4. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the two layers connected by the second seam are the first and the second layer), so that the first and the second layer are connected with each other by the first seam along a first portion and by the second seam along a second portion of their respective circumference.

5. The airbag according to claim 4, wherein the two layers connected by the second seam are further airbag layers different from the first and the second layer.

6. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the first and the second layer define a first inflatable chamber and the two layers which are connected with each other by the second seam define a second chamber of the airbag.

7. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the first and the second layer and the two layers which are connected with each other by the second seam jointly define an individual chamber of the airbag.

8. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the first plane extends transversely and the second plane parallel to a plane formed by the longitudinal and the height direction of the vehicle.

9. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second layer define a plurality of inflatable chambers.

10. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second layer are formed of an integral, folded piece of material.

11. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the seam each extends along the entire circumference of the first and the second layer.

12. The airbag according to claim 1, further comprising fastening means for connecting the airbag with a gas generator (4) for inflating the airbag, wherein the fastening means are arranged at a distance to the seam.

13. The airbag according to claim 12, wherein fastening means comprise at least one opening in the first or the second layer.

14. The airbag according to claim 1, further comprising an outflow opening arranged at a distance to the seam, through which gas can flow off from the airbag into the environment.

15. An airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle, in particular according to claim 1, comprising

at least one first and one second layer of an airbag material;

at least one inflatable chamber formed between the first and the second layer, which is inflatable for the protection of a vehicle occupant; and

at least one seam, by which the first and the second layer are connected with each other along at least a portion of their respective circumference, wherein the airbag in the inflated condition extends along a main plane of extension, wherein

the seam extends along a plane which is oriented obliquely or transversely to the main plane of extension.

16. The airbag according to claim 15, wherein when the airbag is mounted in the vehicle and inflated, the main plane of extension is oriented approximately parallel to a plane formed by the longitudinal and the height direction of the vehicle.

17. The airbag according to claim 16, wherein the airbag is a side airbag, which must be arranged beside a vehicle seat of the vehicle, or a curtain airbag.

18. The airbag according to claim 15, wherein when the airbag is mounted and inflated, the main plane of extension is oriented approximately parallel to a plane along which a steering wheel of the motor vehicle and/or a surface of the passenger dashboard of the vehicle extends.

19. The airbag according to claim 18, wherein the airbag is a driver or passenger airbag.

20. A method for producing an airbag, according to which a first and a second layer of an airbag material are connected with each other via a seam along at least a portion of their respective circumference, wherein the first and the second layer are formed such that when the airbag is arranged in a vehicle such that the airbag is deployed between a vehicle occupant and a vehicle side structure, the seam extends along a plane which is oriented obliquely or transversely to a plane formed by the longitudinal and the height direction of the vehicle.