Head side gas bag restraint system for vehicle occupants

• US 6,170,861 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Tietze, Hans-Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/144,135
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/732, 280/751, 280/752, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0414 using energy absorbing ribs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0435 associated with the side or roof pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• 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

A head side gas bag restraint system for occupants of a vehicle having a vehicle compartment includes a gas bag, a receiving container for the gas bag, which container is to be secured to the vehicle, and an ejection channel for gas bag unfolding in the case of restraint. The receiving container has an outer wall, an inner wall facing the passenger compartment in an installed state of the system, and at least one flap which closes the container in a non-activated state of the system and which swings open in the case of restraint. The channel is formed between the outer and inner walls, the flap having structures arranged thereon. The structures have recesses or cavities and are plastically deformed by the impact of the head of the occupant.

Claims

1. A head side gas bag restraint system for occupants of a vehicle having a vehicle compartment, said system comprising;

a gas bag;

a receiving container for said gas bag, which container is to be secured to said vehicle;

said receiving container having an outer wall, an inner wall facing said passenger compartment in an installed state of said system, and at least one flap which is integrally connected to said container, and which closes said container in a non-activated state of said system and which swings open in the case of activation of the gas bag; and

an ejection channel for gas bag unfolding in the case of activation of the gas bag;

said channel being formed between said outer and inner walls, said flap having structures arranged thereon; and

said structures having recesses or cavities and are plastically deformed by an impact with an occupant'"'"'s head.

2. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said structures are formed integrally with said flap.

3. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said structures include ribs and wherein said recesses or cavities are provided between said ribs.

4. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 3, wherein said container has an interior and an exterior and wherein said recesses between said ribs are open toward at least one of said interior and exterior of said container.

5. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said flap includes a base plate connecting said outer and inner walls with each other in the closed state of said container, and ribs projecting from said base plate substantially at a right angle.

6. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 3, wherein when said restraint system is in the installed state, said flap of said closed container extends approximately horizontally and connects said inner and outer walls with each other, and wherein said ribs extend substantially vertically.

7. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein a cavity is formed by injection-molding around an inserted hollow body.

8. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said flap is integrally formed with said inner wall.

9. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said flap has a multi-component structure.

10. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein webs are integrally formed on an outer face of said outer wall, said container lying against said vehicle via said webs.

11. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 10, wherein at least one hollow body is inserted in said webs for stabilizing said outer wall.

12. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 11, wherein said hollow body is arranged parallel to the longitudinal extent of said container and is releasably secured to said webs via a clip-on connection.

13. A head side gas bag restraint system for occupants of a vehicle having a vehicle compartment, said system comprising:

a gas bag;

a receiving container for said gas bag, which container is to be secured to said vehicle;

said receiving container having an outer wall, an inner wall facing said passenger compartment in an installed state of said system, and at least one flap which closes said container in a non-activated state of said system and which swings open in the case of activation of the gas bag; and

an ejection channel for gas bag unfolding in the case of activation of the gas bag;

said channel being formed between said outer and inner walls, said flap having structures arranged thereon; and

said structures having recesses or cavities and are plastically deformed by an impact with an occupant'"'"'s head, said inner wall yielding in a manner deforming elastically or plastically up to abutment against said outer wall.

14. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 13, wherein said structures are formed integrally with said flap.

15. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 13, wherein said structures include ribs and wherein said recesses or said cavities are provided between said ribs.

16. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 15, wherein when said restraint system is in the installed state, said flap of said closed container extends approximately horizontally and connects said inner and outer walls with each other, and wherein said ribs extend substantially vertically.

17. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 13, wherein said flap is integrally formed with said inner wall.

18. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 13, wherein said flap has a multi-component structure.

19. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 13, wherein a plurality of flaps are provided along said container, arranged one after the other.

20. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 13, wherein webs are integrally formed on an outer face of said outer wall, said container lying against said vehicle via said webs.

21. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 20, wherein at least one hollow body is inserted in said webs for stabilizing said outer wall.

22. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 21, wherein said hollow body is arranged parallel to the longitudinal extent of said container and is releasably secured to said webs via a clip-on connection.

23. A head side gas bag restraint system for occupants of a vehicle having a vehicle compartment, said system comprising:

a gas bag;

a receiving container for said gas bag, which container is to be secured to said vehicle;

said receiving container having an outer wall, an inner wall facing said passenger compartment in an installed state of said system, and at least one flap which closes said container in a non-activated state of said system and which swings open in the case of activation of the gas bag; and

an ejection channel for gas bag unfolding in the case of activation of the gas bag;

said channel being formed between said outer and inner walls, said flap having structures arranged thereon; and

said structures having recesses or cavities and are plastically deformed by an impact with an occupant'"'"'s head, wherein a plurality of flaps with said structures are provided along said container, arranged one after the other.

24. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 23, wherein said structures are formed integrally with said flaps.

25. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 23, wherein said structures include ribs and wherein said recesses or cavities are provided between said ribs.

26. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 25, wherein when said restraint system is in the installed state, said flaps of said closed container extend approximately horizontally and connects said inner and outer walls with each other, and wherein said ribs extend substantially vertically.

27. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 23, wherein said flaps are integrally formed with said inner wall.

28. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 23, wherein said flaps have a multi-component structure.