Gas bag module

• US 6,106,001 A
• Filed: 04/01/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Debler, Jens, Dannenhauer, Reiner, Lutz, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/283,768
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/741, 280/731, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• 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 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system has a generally trough-shaped housing, a folded gas bag and an insert for insertion into the housing. The housing has a face wall with an opening. The gas bag module further comprises a tubular inflator. The tubular inflator is inserted into the housing through the opening in the face wall of the housing. The housing has an inner side with supporting faces for the insert. The insert has integral rim portions surrounded by an inflation opening in the gas bag. The insert is provided with an integral guide plate extending substantially parallel to inner surface areas of the housing and slightly spaced away therefrom. The insert comprises, opposite the opening in the face wall of the housing, a corresponding opening for passage of the inflator. The inflator protrudes outwardly from the opening in the face wall of the housing. The insert is clamped at the rim portions against the supporting faces of the housing.

Claims

1. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a generally trough-shaped housing, a folded gas bag and an insert for insertion into said housing, said housing having a first face wall portion with a first opening, and a tubular inflator having a main body and being inserted into the housing through said first opening in said first face wall of said housing, wherein:

said housing having opposed first and second end wall portions and respective first and second supporting faces for said insert extending from and substantially perpendicular to the end wall portions;

said insert comprises outwardly extending integral rim portions operatively engaging an inflation opening in said gas bag;

said insert is provided with an integral guide plate extending substantially the length between said supporting faces and substantially parallel and slightly spaced from inner surface areas of said housing;

said insert comprises, opposite the first opening in said first face wall of said housing, a corresponding first opening in a first wall portion of said insert for passage of said inflator;

said main body of said inflator protrudes outwardly from said first opening in said first face wall of said housing; and

said insert is fastened to said rim portions against said supporting faces of said housing.

2. The gas bag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inflator is clamped in place between a rim defining said first opening in said first face wall of said housing and a rim defining said corresponding first opening of said insert.

3. The gas bag module as set forth in claim 2, wherein said housing has a second face wall opposed to said first face wall and said insert has a second wall part opposed to said first wall part, said second face wall and said second wall part having second openings, respectively, aligned with said first openings for passage of said inflator, said inflator projecting from said housing at both of its axial ends and being clamped between opening defining rims of said housing face walls and said insert at both axial ends of said housing.

4. The gas bag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gas bag comprises a mounted fastener tab surrounding said guide plate of said insert.

5. The gas bag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said housing has a surrounding rim extending away from said supporting faces, said folded gas bag being completely accommodated in a space of said housing defined between said supporting faces and said surrounding rim of said housing.

6. The gas bag module as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tubular inflator is locked against rotation about its axis by positive means provided on said housing.