Gas bag

• US 5,931,497 A
• Filed: 05/22/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Fischer, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/861,895
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/742, 280/739, 280/735, 280/738, 280/741
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraining system is inflatable from a folded to an inflated state in case of an accident. The gas bag includes a gas bag wall which is defined by several fabric layers being superposed in the inflated state. The gas bag has at least one discharge opening with a cross section. The fabric layers have openings which overlap each other to define the discharge opening and can be displaced relative to each other dependent on the internal gas bag pressure to vary the cross section of the discharge opening.

Claims

1. A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraining system being inflatable from a folded to an inflated state in case of an accident, comprising a gas bag wall which is defined by several fabric layers being superposed in said inflated state and which has at least one discharge opening with a cross section, said fabric layers having openings which overlap each other to define said discharge opening and being adapted to be displaced relative to each other dependent on the internal gas bag pressure to vary said cross section of said discharge opening, a change in said cross section being reversible.

2. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said discharge opening is adapted to be opened or at least partially closed upon reaching a certain internal gas pressure.

3. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cross section of said discharge opening is adapted to increase with a higher internal gas pressure.

4. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one elastic tape with two opposite ends is provided which is attached to one of said fabric layers at said ends to shorten said layer at a low internal pressure of said gas bag and, accordingly, to pucker it.

5. The gas bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said fabric layers comprises an elastic tape for puckering the corresponding fabric layer.

6. The gas bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein said elastic tapes of the fabric layers are secured on said fabric layers at positions which are opposite in relation to said openings.

7. The gas bag as claimed in claim 5, wherein said gas bag has an inflation aperture and wherein at least one circumferential seam is provided by means of which said fabric layers are stitched together at said inflation aperture.

8. The gas bag as claimed in claim 7, wherein said circumferential seam at said inflation aperture is also adapted to serve for attachment of said elastic tape.

9. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gas bag has an inflation aperture and wherein at least one circumferential seam is provided by means of which said fabric layers are stitched together at said inflation aperture.

10. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein an external one of said fabric layers is a fabric strip having long sides and short sides at which said layer is secured to an internal one of said fabric layers, each of said short sides being shorter than each of said long sides.

11. A restraining system for a vehicle occupant, comprising a gas bag as claimed in claim 1 and a multiple stage gas generator for the production of different internal gas bag pressures in a fashion dependent on at least one of a vehicle impact and the stature of the vehicle occupant.

12. The restraining system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said gas generator is so controlled that, in the case of a vehicle occupant with a weight above a predetermined threshold, it produces a higher internal pressure in said gas bag.