Airbag device

• US 6,106,007 A
• Filed: 05/20/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Moller, Klaus, Schmale, Reinhard, Kretschmer, Jurgen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/315,291
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

An airbag device for a vehicle is described, which has an airbag consisting of an inflatable gas cushion, a gas generator for filling the airbag, a gas conduction pipe which extends through a separated region of the airbag, outlet openings in the gas conduction pipe, a profile strip with a shooting channel formed therein, in which the airbag laid in stacked folds is received in addition to the gas conduction pipe and attachment elements for holding the construction unit comprising the profile strip, airbag and gas conduction pipe.

Claims

1. An airbag device for a motor vehicle, said airbag comprising:

an airbag comprising an inflatable gas cushions;

a gas generator for filling said airbag;

a gas conduction pipe extending through at least a portion of said airbag and having gas directing outlet openings in said airbag; and

an envelope in which said airbag is located in a packed condition, and in which said gas conduction pipe is received and supported;

said envelope including a profile strip having a U-shaped cross section, said profile strip having two parallel limbs and a web interconnecting said limbs, said web having a surface adapted to the shape of said gas conduction pipe, said gas conduction pipe being supported in engagement with said surface;

said profile strip, said airbag, and said gas conduction pipe forming a preassembled unit;

said airbag device further including attachment elements for attaching said preassembled unit to a vehicle body.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1 wherein said profile strip, said airbag, and said gas conduction pipe extend along one side of said vehicle from an A-pillar to a C-pillar and are arranged on said vehicle body in a transition region from a vehicle roof of said vehicle and a side wall of said vehicle.

3. The airbag device according to claim 1 wherein said profile strip includes beads, said beads being moved apart from a first position by said gas conduction pipe during assembly, said beads being returned to said first position to secure said gas conduction pipe in its assembled position.

4. The airbag device according to claim 1 wherein said gas conduction pipe and said profile strip have a configuration which follows the contour of said vehicle body.

5. The airbag device according to claim 1 wherein said gas conduction pipe and said profile strip are curved.

6. The airbag device according to claim 1 further including attachment elements for attaching said airbag device to said vehicle, said attachment elements having clips which can be preassembled on said profile strip, said clips being arranged adjacently in a row.

7. The airbag device according to claim 1 wherein said airbag is provided with a band securement securing said airbag to said vehicle, said band securement defining a span line over which said airbag is inflated.

8. An airbag device for a motor vehicle, said airbag device comprising:

an airbag comprising an inflatable gas cushion;

a gas generator for filling said airbag; and

an envelope in which said airbag is located in a packed condition;

said envelope including a profile strip made as a plastic part having a U-shaped cross-section defining a chamber, said profile strip having two planar parallel limbs, a web interconnecting said limbs, and a closure lip integrally molded with a free edge of one of said limbs and movable to a position attached to a free edge of the other of said limbs to close said chamber.

9. The airbag device according to claim 8 wherein said profile strip is made of a thermoplastic material.

10. The airbag device according to claim 9 wherein said profile strip is reinforced by an incorporated structure band made of metal.

11. The airbag device according to claim 8 wherein said closure lip has a continuous tear-open seam.

12. The airbag device according to claim 8 wherein said closure lip is formed on an edge of a free end of one of said limbs and, with an edge of a free end of the other of said limbs, forms a joint with said profile strip.

13. An airbag device for a motor vehicle, said airbag device comprising:

an airbag including an inflatable gas cushion;

a gas generator for filling said airbag;

a gas conduction pipe which extends through at least a portion of said airbag; and

a profile strip in which said airbag is located in a packed condition;

said profile strip having two parallel limbs and a web interconnecting said limbs, said web having a surface shaped like a surface portion of said gas conduction pipe, said surface in continuous engagement with said surface portion.

14. The airbag device as defined in claim 13 further including a reinforcing structure embedded within said profile strip and corresponding in shape to said profile strip.

15. An airbag device for a motor vehicle, said airbag device comprising:

an airbag including an inflatable gas cushion;

a gas generator for filling said airbag;

a gas conduction pipe which extends through at least a portion of said airbag;

a profile strip for accommodating said airbag in a packed condition; and

a reinforcing structure embedded within said profile strip and corresponding in shape to said profile strip.

16. The airbag device as defined in claim 15 wherein said profile strip has two parallel limbs and a web interconnecting said limbs, said web being adapted to the shape of said gas conduction pipe.

17. An airbag device for a motor vehicle, said airbag device comprising:

an airbag including an inflatable gas cushion;

a gas generator for filling said airbag;

a gas conduction pipe which extends through at least a portion of said airbag; and

a profile strip for accommodating said airbag in a packed condition, said profile strip having beads for supporting said gas conduction pipe in said profile strip;

said airbag and said gas conduction pipe forming a single unit;

said beads moving away from each other during insertion of said unit into said profile strip and moving toward each other after insertion of said unit into said profile strip to support said unit in said profile strip.

18. The airbag device as defined in claim 17 wherein said profile strip includes two limbs and a web, said web being adapted to the shape of said gas conduction pipe and said beads being located on said limbs.

19. An airbag device for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a roof and a side structure, said air bag device comprising:

an airbag comprising an inflatable gas cushion inflatable from the vehicle roof and into an inflated position along the vehicle side structure;

a gas generator for filling said airbag; and

an envelope in which said airbag is located in a packed condition;

said envelope including a profile strip having a U-shaped cross-section, said profile strip having two planar parallel limbs and a web interconnecting said limbs, said envelope forming a shooting channel through which said airbag inflates downwardly between the vehicle side structure and an occupant of the vehicle, said shooting channel defining an unfolding direction of said airbag.

20. An airbag device for a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle having a roof and a side structure, said airbag device comprising:

an airbag comprising an inflatable gas cushion inflatable from the vehicle roof and into an inflated position along the vehicle side structure;

a gas generator for filling said airbag;

a gas conduction pipe which extends through at least a portion of said airbag and having outlet openings in said airbag; and

an envelope in which said airbag is located in a packed condition, and in which said gas conduction pipe is received and supported;

said envelope including a profile strip having a U-shaped cross-section, said profile strip having two planar parallel limbs and a web interconnecting said limbs;

said airbag device further including a tubular shrink foil arranged around said gas conduction pipe and said airbag, said foil having a defined tear-open seam;

said airbag, said gas conduction pipe, and said shrink foil forming a preassembled unit which is introduceable into said profile strip.

21. An airbag device for a motor vehicle, said airbag device comprising:

an airbag comprising an inflatable gas cushion;

a gas generator for filling said airbag;

a gas conduction pipe which extends through at least a portion of said airbag and having outlet openings in said airbag; and

an envelope in which said airbag is located in a packed condition, and in which said gas conduction pipe is received and supported;

said envelope including a profile strip having a U-shaped cross-section, said profile strip having two parallel limbs and a web interconnecting said limbs, said limbs diverging during introduction of said airbag and said gas conduction pipe into said profile strip and being parallel to one another after said gas conduction pipe and said airbag have been introduced into said profile strip.