GASBAG FOR A PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION SYSTEM AND A MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPPED THEREWITH

• US 20130133971A1
• Filed: 11/26/2012
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: RICK, Ulrich
• Granted Patent: US 9,045,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23509 Fabric
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/38 using means for lifting bonnets

Abstract

A gasbag for a pedestrian protection system, when in the inflated state encompasses a first, oblong central section and end sections angled away from the ends of the first central section. At least one first and one second membrane with differing permeability values are distributed over the sections in such a way that an average permeability of the end sections is lower than an average permeability of the first central section.

Claims

1. A gasbag for a pedestrian protection system, comprising:

when in an inflated state the gasbag encompasses a first, oblong central section and end sections angled away from ends of the first central section, wherein the first central section is more strongly cushioned than the end sections.

2. The gasbag according to claim 1, wherein the gasbag exhibits at least one first and one second membrane with differing permeability values, and that the different cushioning levels for the central section and end sections are realized by distributing the membranes over the sections in such a way that an average permeability of the end sections is lower than an average permeability of the first central section.

3. The gasbag according to claim 1, wherein a second central section extends next to the first central section between the end sections.

4. The gasbag according to claim 1, wherein a supply port for a gas generator is provided on the first central section, and at least one of the other sections of the gasbag can be supplied with gas via the first central section.

5. The gasbag according to claim 1, wherein a distributor, which exhibits a supply port for a gas generator on the one hand, and ports connected with the central and end sections on the other.

6. The gasbag according to claim 1, wherein two of the sections of the gasbag are interconnected by a check valve, which only allows the respective gas to flow from an upstream to a downstream location of the two sections.

7. The gasbag according to claim 6, wherein the downstream location of the two sections exhibits a lower average permeability than the upstream section.

8. The gasbag according to claim 6, wherein the two sections extend on different sides of a membrane that partitions the gasbag.

9. The gasbag according to claim 8, wherein the check valve is situated at a passageway of the partitioning membrane.

10. The gasbag according to claim 6, wherein the check valve is a flap valve.

11. The gasbag according to claim 6, wherein the two sections border each other along a seam.

12. The gasbag according to claim 11, wherein the check valve is situated in a gap in the seam.

13. The gasbag according to claim 6, wherein the check valve is a lip valve.

14. The gasbag according to claim 1, wherein the first and second membrane exhibit an identical backing fabric and differing impregnations.

15. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a gasbag, wherein when the gasbag is in an inflated state, the gasbag encompasses a first, oblong central section and end sections angled away from ends of the first central section, wherein the first central section is more strongly cushioned than the end sections.

16. A motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein when the gasbag is in the inflated state, the first central section of the gasbag supports a front opening hood of the motor vehicle, and the end sections cover A-columns of the motor vehicle.