Gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraining system

• US 5,893,578 A
• Filed: 07/17/1997
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Berger, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/896,250
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/738, 280/740, 280/741, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23123 Heat protection panels
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraining system comprises a gas generator and a gas bag having an inflation opening formed in a wall of the gas bag and having an interior delimited by the wall. The gas bag is able to be unfolded from a folded state into a deployed state by means of gas under pressure provided by the gas generator and led into the interior of the gas bag through the inflation opening. The gas bag module comprises at least one guard flap arranged in the interior of the gas bag between the inflation opening and a portion of the wall opposite the inflation opening. The at least one guard flap protects the wall of the gas bag against the gas under pressure entering the interior of the gas bag.

Claims

1. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraining system, comprising a gas generator and a gas bag having an inflation opening formed in a wall of said gas bag and having an interior delimited by said wall, said gas bag being able to be unfolded from a folded state into a deployed state by means of gas under pressure provided by said gas generator and led into said interior of said gas bag through said inflation opening, said gas bag module comprising at least one guard flap arranged in said interior of said gas bag between said inflation opening and a portion of said wall opposite said inflation opening, said at least one guard flap protecting said wall of said gas bag against said gas under pressure entering said interior of said gas bag, a holding part being arranged in said interior of said gas bag, said holding part having the shape of a trough with a bottom and two mutually opposite side parts, said bottom being arranged on a portion of said wall which surrounds said inflation opening and being provided with a passage coinciding with said inflation opening, at least one of said side parts being provided with said guard flap.

2. The gas bag module of claim 1, wherein said mutually opposite side parts have free edges and wherein two of said guard flaps are provided, said guard flaps being respectively arranged on said free edges of said mutually opposite side parts.

3. The gas bag module of claim 1, wherein said wall of said gas bag is folded on a side of said guard flap which faces away from said inflation opening.

4. The gas bag module of claim 3, wherein said bottom of said holding part is provided with outwardly projecting screw bolts which extend through openings formed in said wall of said gas bag.

5. The gas bag module of claim 4, wherein said gas bag constitutes a pre-assembled unit together with said holding part.

6. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraining system, comprising a gas generator and a gas bag having an inflation opening formed in a wall of said gas bag and having an interior delimited by said wall, said gas bag being able to be unfolded from a folded state into a deployed state by means of gas under pressure provided by said gas generator and led into said interior of said gas bag through said inflation opening, said gas bag module comprising at least one guard flap arranged in said interior of said gas bag between said inflation opening and a portion of said wall opposite said inflation opening, said at least one guard flap protecting said wall of said gas bag against said gas under pressure entering said interior of said gas bag, a holding part being arranged in said interior of said gas bag, said holding part having the shape of a trough with a bottom and two mutually opposite side parts, said bottom being arranged on a portion of said wall which surrounds said inflation opening and being provided with a passage coinciding with said inflation opening, at least one of said side parts being provided with said guard flap, each of said guard flaps being formed integrally with said holding part by means of a hinge region of a corresponding one of said side parts, said hinge having a reduced wall thickness.

7. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraining system, comprising a gas generator and a gas bag having an inflation opening formed in a wall of said gas bag and having an interior delimited by said wall, said gas bag being able to be unfolded from a folded state into a deployed state by means of gas under pressure provided by said gas generator and led into said interior of said gas bag through said inflation opening, said gas bag module comprising at least one guard flap arranged in said interior of said gas bag between said inflation opening and a portion of said wall opposite said inflation opening, said at least one guard flap protecting said wall of said gas bag against said gas under pressure entering said interior of said gas bag, a holding part being arranged in said interior of said gas bag, said holding part having the shape of a trough with a bottom and two mutually opposite side parts, said bottom being arranged on a portion of said wall which surrounds said inflation opening and being provided with a passage coinciding with said inflation opening, at least one of said side parts being provided with said guard flap, said mutually opposite side parts having free edges and wherein two of said guard flaps are provided, said guard flaps being respectively arranged on said free edges of said mutually opposite side parts, each of said guard flaps being formed integrally with said holding part by means of a hinge region of a corresponding one of said side parts, said hinge region having a reduced wall thickness.