Safety device for an airbag-system

• US 6,203,055 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1998
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martimon BV
• Original Assignee: Martimon BV
• Inventors: Mouws, Raymond J. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/051,386
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 280/727, 280/731, 280/750, 280/743.2, 280/743.1, 745/58, 745/585, 745/52
• US Class Current: 280/727
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/162 Means for diverting, destroying or blocking the bag in case of dangerous deployment, e.g. during rescue operations or use of rear-facing children seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00

Abstract

A safety device for an airbag-system which has not been triggered by an accident, comprising a fabric which is suitable for surrounding a steering wheel of a motorcar which is provided with the airbag-system. The fabric is suitable for tightening at the side of the steering column on which the steering wheel is mounted, such that if the airbag-system is activated during a rescue operation, inflation of the airbag is hindered by the fabric.

Claims

1. A safety device for an airbag-system, characterized in that the safety device comprises a flexible fabric surrounding a steering wheel of a motorcar provided with the airbag-system, and suitable to be tightened at the side of a steering column on which the steering wheel is mounted, such that when the airbag-system is activated, inflation of the air-bag is hindered by the fabric, wherein an outer edge of the fabric comprises a structure selected from the group consisting of cords and ribbons for narrowing the outer edge of the fabric, characterized in that a space of 10 to 15 cm is left between the steering wheel and the fabric such that the safety device hinders expansion of the airbag, while the space provides limited expansion to prevent an explosion of the airbag.

2. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that a first extremity of the structure is connected with the outer edge of the fabric and in that said safety device additionally comprises a hook means for detachable connection of a second extremity of the structure to a permanent point.

3. A safety device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least part of the fabric comprises a meshed net.

4. A safety device according to claim 3, characterized in that the meshed net is approximately 9×

9 cm in size.

5. A safety device according to claim 3 characterized in that the meshed net comprises aramide cords having a diameter of about 7-8 mm.

6. A safety device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least part of the fabric is closely woven and near the outer edge comprises one or more openings.

7. A safety device according to claim 6, charactered in that the openings are reinforced by metal rings.

8. A safety device according to claim 1 characterized in that at least part of the fabric comprises closely woven aramide fibres.