Flame protection device for air bags in air bag modules

• US 6,334,625 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Pausch, Tobias, Markfort, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/445,995
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/728.1, 280/740, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/00 Fire prevention, containment or extinguishing specially adapted for particular objects or places in oil wells E21B29/08, A62C35/00; in mines or tunnels E21F5/00 ; for nuclear reactors G21C9/04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23123 Heat protection panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/02 Inflatable articles

Abstract

A flame protection device for gas bags in air bag modules that use a gas generator. The air bags have at least one dart, and the flame protection device can be folded along with the air bag. A member guiding the gas jet of the gas generator is provided as a flame protection device, the member being arranged and configured in such a way that the gas circulating between the darts flows in at least an approximately parallel direction to the darts.

Claims

1. A gas bag defining a chamber and having at least one dart and a flame protection device for an airbag module that uses a gas generator for producing a gas jet,

wherein the flame protection device comprises a tubular hose contained in the gas bag chamber for directing the gas jet from the gas generator, and

wherein the tubular hose is foldable with the gas bag and comprises a fabric layer folded longitudinally with respect to the gas bag so that edges of the fabric layer are superposed, with the superposed edges of the fabric layer being connected to an outer edge of the gas bag.

2. The gas bag according to claim 1, comprising at least two darts, wherein the darts run at least approximately parallel to each other, and the tubular hose runs transversely relative to the darts and has at least one gas outlet opening between the darts.

3. The gas bag according to claim 2, wherein the tubular hose is mounted at one end of the darts.

4. The gas bag according to claim 1, wherein the tubular hose is mounted at one end of the dart.

6. The gas bag according to claim 1, comprising at least two darts, wherein the tubular hose has a generator end and a distal end and extends between the two darts, and has a gas outlet opening at the distal end of the tubular hose.

7. The gas bag according to claim 1, wherein edges of the gas bag and the edges of the fabric layer of the tubular hose are stitched together.

8. The gas bag according to claim 1, wherein the tubular hose is connected to the gas bag on at least one side.

5. The gas bag according 1, wherein the tubular hose runs on each side of the dart.

9. A gas bag comprising an upper part and a lower part and having a seam along a periphery thereof connecting the upper and lower parts, and defining a chamber having at least one dart and a flame protection device for an airbag module that uses a gas generator for producing a gas jet,

wherein the flame protection device comprises a tubular hose contained in the gas bag chamber for directing the gas jet from the gas generator, and is foldable along with the gas bag, and

wherein the tubular hose is formed by a fabric layer by connecting one edge of the fabric layer to the peripheral seam of the gas bag and connecting the edge opposite this edge to a section of the upper or lower part of the gas bag.

10. A gas bag comprising an upper part and a lower part, and defining a chamber therebetween having at least one dart and a flame protection device for an airbag module that uses a gas generator for producing a gas jet,

wherein the flame protection device comprises a tubular hose contained in the gas bag chamber for directing the gas jet from the gas generator, and is foldable along with the gas bag, and

wherein the hose comprises a fabric layer having one edge connected to the upper part and having an opposite edge connected to the lower part.

11. A gas bag having a marginal seam along its periphery and defining a chamber and having at least one dart and a flame protection device for an airbag module that uses a gas generator for producing a gas jet,

wherein the flame protection device comprises a tubular hose contained in the gas bag chamber for directing the gas jet from the gas generator, and

wherein the tubular hose is foldable with the gas bag, and comprises a turned-in area of the gas bag and connected along the marginal seam of the gas bag.