Restraining device with tensioning element

• US 6,290,253 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 09/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schaupp, Jochen, Tietze, Hans-Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/601,690
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/733
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A restraint device for vehicle occupants, in particular for the lateral restraining of the occupant, comprising an inflatable gas bag (10) and a tensioning device which is connected with the vehicle, engages the gas bag, pulls the gas bag into an intended position on inflation, and holds the gas bag in this position, is characterized in that the tensioning device has at least one inflatable tightening means (20) which shortens in the pulling direction by the inflation and thereby exerts a tensile force on the gas bag.

Claims

1. A restraint device for the lateral restraining of occupants in a vehicle having an A- and a C-column, said restraint device comprising:

a cushion-shaped inflatable gas bag having several inflatable chambers in flow connection with each other, and

a tensioning strap having two ends, one end being attached to said gas bag by attaching means, the other end being attached to said vehicle, said tensioning strap engaging said gas bag and pulling said gas bag into an intended position in a pulling direction upon inflation and holding said gas bag in the intended position,

said gas bag extending from approximately the A-column to approximately the C-column of said vehicle,

said tensioning strap having at least one inflatable tightening means, said inflatable tightening means having a deflated condition and an inflated condition, said inflatable tightening means having a length which shortens in said pulling direction upon inflation and exerting a tensile force on said gas bag,

said inflatable tightening means being in flow connection with said gas bag.

2. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein said attaching means is sewing or weaving.

3. The restraint device according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable tightening means is inflated by inflation gas flowing into said gas bag.

4. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable tightening means bulges in a direction perpendicular to said pulling direction upon inflation and shortens in length in said pulling direction.

5. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable tightening means is one of bag and tube-shaped.

6. The restraint device according to claim 5, wherein said inflatable tightening means is tube-shaped and is attached at one end to said gas bag and at the other end with a pretensioning arrangement.

7. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable tightening means has at one end a widened fastening portion, said inflatable tightening means being fastened to said gas bag at said fastening portion.

8. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein several inflatable tightening means are provided, which engage different points of said gas bag.

9. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein said gas bag is a side and head gas bag, which upon inflation, covers at least regions of at least one side window, and wherein front and rear ends of said gas bag are engaged by one tightening means each along a lower edge of said gas bag.

10. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein said cushion-shaped inflatable gas bag has an inner side wall facing an interior of the vehicle and an outer side wall facing side windows of the vehicle, said tensioning strap being connected to said outer side wall of said gas bag.

11. The restraint device according to claim 10, wherein said outer side wall of said gas bag, upon inflation of said gas bag and said tensioning strap, abuts against said tensioning strap to support said gas bag.

12. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein said tensioning strap is rotatably fastened at one end to a column of said vehicle.

13. The restraint device according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable tightening means is made of a fabric having a waving direction of 450°

to a longitudinal extent of said tightening direction.