Integral airbag device

• US 6,022,043 A
• Filed: 02/05/1998
• Issued: 02/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Becker Group Europe GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Becker Group Europe GmbH (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Specht, Martin, Harnisch, Hartmut
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Restifo, Jeff
• Application Number:
  US09/019,515
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/728.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards

Abstract

An airbag device for the passenger side of a motor vehicle includes a gas cushion that, in the folded state, is integrated in a unit comprising a reinforcing semi-shell and the instrument panel, and a gas generator that is supported separately on a component which is fixedly connected to the vehicle body. The gas generator communicates with the gas inlet opening of the gas cushion by means of a gas conduit that is preferably of flexible design.

Claims

1. An airbag device installed in an instrument panel below a flap on the passenger side of a motor vehicle having a vehicle frame, the airbag device having a gas generator for a filling gas, a gas conduit, and a gas cushion arranged in a holding compartment which, when filled with the filling gas, the gas cushion unfolds into the vehicle interior on the passenger side through an opening in the instrument panel which, in the state of rest, is covered by the flap, the holding compartment being fitted on its inside with a trough-shaped reinforcing surface which is connected to the gas cushion in a gas-tight manner wherein at least one of a compressive and a tensile force acting during the unfolding process can be absorbed by the reinforcing trough and can be transmitted by way of at least one of a reinforcing semi-shell and the gas conduit to the vehicle body, the gas cushion being attached to the instrument panel, the gas generator being attached to the vehicle frame, and both the gas cushion and the gas generator being in communication with one another by means of the gas conduit, the gas conduit being flexibly attached to the gas generator permitting movement of the conduit while the gas generator remains stationary, and the gas conduit being attached to the gas cushion such that the gas conduit is free to move while the instrument panel remains stationary.

2. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein in the folded state, the gas cushion is integrated in a unit comprising the instrument panel and a reinforcing semi-shell, the gas generator is supported on a component which is fixedly connected to the vehicle body, and the gas conduit is designed to compensate tolerances.

3. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the gas conduit is connected to the gas outlet side of the gas generator and to the gas inlet opening of the gas cushion in a substantially gas-tight manner.

4. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the gas generator is attached to a cross-strut which extends between two A-pillars of the vehicle frame.

5. An airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the gas generator is arranged on the top side of the cross-strut.

6. An airbag device according to claim 4 wherein the gas generator is attached to the cross-strut with a positive-locking connection.

7. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the gas conduit is detachably connected to the gas outlet side of the gas generator.

8. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the holding compartment is formed by a one-piece molding onto the reinforcing semi-shell which forms a unit with the instrument panel.

9. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the holding compartment is designed as a chute to guide the gas cushion when it unfolds.

10. An airbag device according to claim 1, wherein an annular gas-tight connection between the reinforcing trough and the gas cushion surrounds the gas inlet opening of the gas cushion which is connected to the gas conduit.

11. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the holding compartment has a support for a reinforcing trough in the region of the bottom of the reinforcing trough.

12. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the gas conduit is connected to the reinforcing trough in a gas-tight manner.

13. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the gas conduit surrounds the gas outlet side of the gas generator in a gas-tight manner.

14. An airbag device according to claim 1 further comprising tolerance-compensating means provided between the reinforcing trough and the gas generator.

15. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the gas conduit is designed to be flexible for tolerance compensation.

16. An airbag device according to claim 1 wherein the gas conduit is designed as a hose.

17. An airbag device according to claim 16, wherein the hose of the gas conduit is made from a textile fabric and has a gas-tight coating on its inside wall.

18. An airbag device according to claim 16 wherein the hose of the gas conduit is sewn to the gas cushion.

19. An airbag device according to claim 16 wherein the hose of the gas conduit is a flexible metal tube is connected to the gas cushion.

20. An airbag device installed in an instrument panel below a flap on the passenger side of a motor vehicle having a vehicle frame, the airbag device having a gas generator for a filling gas, a gas conduit, and a gas cushion arranged in a holding compartment, the holding compartment being fitted on its inside with a trough-shaped reinforcing surface which is attached on one end to the instrument panel by at least one reinforcing semi-shell, said reinforcing surface being connected on an opposite end to the gas cushion in a gas-tight manner wherein at least one of a compressive and a tensile force acting during the unfolding process can be absorbed by the reinforcing trough and can be transmitted through the at least one reinforcing semi-shell to the instrument panel, the gas cushion also being attached to the gas conduit such that the gas conduit is free to move with respect to the instrument panel, the gas conduit also being flexibly connected to the gas generator allowing movement of the gas conduit while the gas generator remains stationary the gas generator being fixed to the vehicle frame.

21. An airbag device according to claim 20 wherein the holding compartment has a support for the reinforcing trough in the region of the bottom of the reinforcing trough.

22. An airbag device according to claim 20 wherein the gas cushion, when filled with the filling gas, unfolds into the vehicle interior on the passenger side through an opening in the instrument panel which, in the state of rest, is covered by the flap.

23. An airbag device according to claim 22 wherein the holding compartment is designed as a chute to guide the gas cushion when it unfolds.

24. An airbag device according to claim 20 further comprising tolerance-compensating connecting means provided between an end of the gas conduit and the reinforcing trough and an opposite end of the gas conduit and the gas generator.