Inflatable restraining device for motor vehicle occupants

• US 5,261,692 A
• Filed: 10/16/1992
• Issued: 11/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kneip, Rainer, Boegge, Herbert, Schwan, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, PETER C
• Application Number:
  US07/962,632
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 R, 280/728 A, 280/730 R, 280/730 A, 280/732, 280/743 R, 280/743 A
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2177 Reaction canisters characterised by material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

A restraining device for motor vehicle occupants has an inflation device, a housing, and an inflatable airbag connected with the housing. In order to provide a simple and inexpensive airbag attachment to the housing with a functionally correct grip, provision is made for the airbag to abut the outside of the housing by at least one suspender-like section.

Claims

1. Restraining device for motor vehicle occupants, comprising:

a housing, having a bottom, two opposing side walls, two opposing end portions, and an open top portion opposite to the bottom;

an inflation device located within the housing;

an inflatable airbag connected to the housing, said airbag being in fluid communication with the inflation device; and

at least one suspender-like section, attached to the airbag and having at least one opening corresponding to one of said end portions said housing, which abuts the airbag to the outside of the housing.

2. Restraining device according to claim 1, wherein the suspender-like section is guided around the opposing side walls and the bottom of the housing.

3. Restraining device according to claim 2, wherein the suspending-like section is integral with the airbag.

4. Restraining device according to claim 3, wherein the suspender-like section extends over at least a partial area of the width of the housing.

5. Restraining device according to claim 1, wherein the suspender-like section is guided over the housing from the side through the at least one opening.

6. Restraining device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one opening further exposes a portion of at least one of said side walls adjacent at least one of said end portions.

7. Restraining device according to claim 1, wherein the suspender-like section has an upper area where the airbag is attached thereto and further comprising a tensioning element that connects the airbag with the housing in the upper area of the suspender-like section in a gas-tight manner.

8. Restraining device according to claim 7, wherein the tensioning element is a compressible lockable tensioning strip surrounding the housing in a ring manner.

9. Restraining device according to claim 8, further comprising outwardly directed bead-like elements near the open top portion of the housing that hold the tensioning element in place.

10. Restraining device according to claim 7, wherein outwardly directed bead-like elements near the open top portion of the housing are provided to hold the tensioning element in place.

11. Restraining device according to claim 1, wherein the suspender-like section is integral with the airbag.

12. Restraining device according to claim 1, wherein the suspender-like section extends over at least a partial area of the width of the housing.