Airbag with compensating volume

• US 6,135,493 A
• Filed: 04/05/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jost, Stefan, Jorg, Reuter
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/287,471
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag for an airbag module having a first chamber, which can be connected to a gas feeding device, at least one second chamber and a valve device, which makes it possible for gas to flow over from the first chamber into the second chamber only when a predetermined pressure is reached in the first chamber on account of impact of a vehicle occupant with the airbag.

Claims

1. A curtain airbag for an airbag module comprising

(a) a first chamber having an outwardly gastight design,

(b) a gas feeding device capable of substantially distributing gas over the length of the first chamber.

(c) at least one second chamber having an outwardly gastight design.

(d) at least one sealed-off region positioned in a portion of the first chamber where impact by an occupant is not possible, and

(e) a valve device formed by a tear-open seam, which makes it possible for gas to flow over from the first chamber into the second chamber only when a predetermined pressure is reached in the first chamber on account of impact of a vehicle occupant with the airbag.

2. The airbag curtain as claimed in claim 1 where the valve device is designed as a restricting location.

3. The airbag curtain as claimed in claim 1 which can be fitted in a curtain airbag module in such a way that the first chamber can unfold in the side region of a vehicle to the side of the head of the vehicle occupant, while the second chamber is located above the head.

4. The airbag curtain as claimed in claim 3 which can be fitted in a curtain airbag module in such a way that the first chamber can unfold in the side region of a vehicle to the side of the head of the vehicle occupant, while the second chamber is located above the head.

5. The airbag curtain as claimed in claim 1 comprising a silicone-coated or PU-coated fabric.

6. The airbag curtain as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tear-open seam is a welded seam.

7. The airbag curtain as claimed in claim 4 wherein the tear-open seam is an ultrasonically welded seam.