Gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system

• US 6,170,860 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Lang, Norbert, Denz, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/084,707
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/739, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• 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 2021/23547 one piece weaving
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 11/00 Double or multi-ply fabrics not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprises two plies of fabric partially interwoven along their outer edges. To offer protection over a lengthy period in time amounting to several seconds but nevertheless dissipate the energy of impact to the required degree on impact and cushioning of the occupant, the plies of fabric are substantially air-tight, and the volume of the gas bag is divided by partial interweaving of the plies of fabric within the outer edges into several chambers. Further, the chambers are interconnected by at least one choked port remaining between the portions of the interwoven plies of fabric. Only part of the chambers is directly inflated by an inflator, the remaining part of the chambers being indirectly inflated via the choked port.

Claims

1. A gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprising two plies of fabric partially interwoven along their outer edges, wherein:

said plies of fabric are substantially air-tight;

the volume of the gas bag is divided by partial interweaving of said plies of fabric within said outer edges, thereby forming a plurality of chambers;

remaining portions of the interwoven plies of fabric defining between them at least one choked port interconnecting said chambers;

a first part of said chambers being directly inflatable by an inflator, and a second part of said chambers being indirectly inflatable via said choked port;

within at least one of said chambers said plies of fabric are interwoven along at least one portion in the form of a closed ring defining an opening for insertion of a fastener means through said opening.

2. A gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprising two plies of fabric partially interwoven along their outer edges, wherein:

said plies of fabric are substantially air-tight;

the volume of the gas bag is divided by partial interweaving of said plies of fabric within said outer edges, thereby forming a plurality of chambers;

remaining portions of the interwoven plies of fabric defining between them at least one choked port interconnecting said chambers;

a first part of said chambers being directly inflatable by an inflator, and a second part of said chambers being indirectly inflatable via said choked port;

the gas bag further having the following features;

an elongated shape corresponding to the shape of the side windows of a car between the A and C pillars with an upper curved edge and a lower substantially straight edge;

an elongated main chamber defined between said upper edge and said lower edge;

a first chamber defined in the rear portion of the gas bag by a hem emanating from said lower edge and extending up to roughly half height of the gas bag and having a choked port to said main chamber;

a second chamber defined in the front portion of the gas bag by a hem emanating from said lower edge and extending up to roughly a third of the height of the gas bag and having a choked port to said main chamber; and

a third chamber defined in the front portion of the gas bag between said upper edge and a hem, said third chamber having a choked port to said main chamber, said third chamber having generally the shape of an elongated triangle.

3. A gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprising two plies of fabric partially interwoven along their outer edges, wherein:

said plies of fabric are substantially air-tight;

the volume of the gas bag is divided by partial interweaving of said plies of fabric within said outer edges, thereby forming a plurality of chambers;

remaining portions of the interwoven plies of fabric defining between them at least one choked port interconnecting said chambers;

a first part of said chambers being directly inflatable by an inflator, and a second part of said chambers being indirectly inflatable via said choked port;

the gas bag further comprises an annular chamber extending along a complete outer circumference of said plies of fabric and has a substantially constant cross section;

said annular chamber being interconnected with an internal chamber by choked ports being provided in several corner regions of said annular chamber.