Passenger-side airbag module

• US 5,988,675 A
• Filed: 01/28/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Fath, Stefen, Bohn, Stefan, Bathon, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/014,479
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/732, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• 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

An airbag module for the passenger side of a vehicle with a diffusor pipe, a gas generator accommodated in and connected to the diffusor pipe, a folded-together air sack accommodated outside of and fastened to the diffusor pipe, a holder around the air sack, and cover components tensioned between a flange at one end of the gas generator or of a generator disk and the ends of the diffusor pipe and securely tensioning the edges of a loop that fits over the diffusor pipe and secures the air sack. The air sack around the holder essentially comprises a sack-like pouch of textile material around the diffusor pipe with two partly overlapping pieces attached to and detachable from each other and concealing the opening that the unfolding air sack emerges through.

Claims

1. An airbag module for the passenger side of a vehicle comprising a diffusor pipe, a gas generator accommodated in and connected to the diffusor pipe, a folded-together air sack accommodated outside of and fastened to the diffusor pipe, a holder around the air sack, and cover components tensioned between a flange at one end of the gas generator or of a generator disk and the ends of the diffusor pipe and securely tensioning the edges of a loop that fits over the diffusor pipe and secures the air sack, wherein the holder around the air sack essentially comprises a sack-like pouch of textile material around the diffusor pipe with two partly overlapping pieces attached to and detachable from each other and concealing the opening that the unfolding air sack emerges through.

2. The airbag module as in claim 1, further comprising a slit where one piece overlaps the other and a tab with a narrow neck and a wide head integrated into the other piece, whereby the opening that the unfolding air sack emerges through can be loosely closed by inserting the tab through the slit.

3. The airbag module as in claim 2, wherein the tab comprises an essentially rectangular textile component connected to one end of the piece by way of a neck and folded into two or more layers secured together to produce a reinforced head.

4. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein the cover components have flanges or similar structures to fasten the airbag module to the vehicle'"'"'s bodywork.

5. The airbag module as in claim 4, wherein the cover components are secured to the diffusor pipe by a bent-down tab.

6. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein the cover components extend laterally over at least the whole height of the folded-together air sack and over the rods or similar structures to the left and right of where the unfolding air sack emerges and are connected together, and in that the pouch is provided with loops for stretching it around the diffusor pipe from one rod to the other rod.

7. The airbag module as in claim 6, wherein the cover components constitute in conjunction with the pouch tensioned between the rods a barrel for the unfolding air sack to shoot through.

8. The airbag module as in claim 1, wherein, in addition to the cover components, two narrow rings tension edges of the air sack to the outside of the ends of the diffuser pipe.