Air bag module in a motor vehicle

• US 6,340,171 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1998
• Issued: 01/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Hirth, Andreas, Tschaeschke, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FISCHMANN, BRYAN R
• Application Number:
  US09/156,356
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/732, 280/748, 280/751, 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0435 associated with the side or roof pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars

Abstract

An air bag module in a motor vehicle includes an elongate container, which can be fixed along a frame part of the vehicle and in which an air bag is folded which, after a crash signal, is filled with gas, emerges from the container and covers vehicle parts in the passenger space two-dimensionally. Additionally, an element, absorbing energy due to its deformation upon impact with a passenger, is mounted in or at the container along the frame part of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An air bag module in a motor vehicle, comprising:

an elongate container fixed along a roof frame of the vehicle;

a window bag folded in the container which, after a crash signal, is filled with gas, and emerges from the container; and

an energy-absorbing element mounted in or on the container along the roof frame of the vehicle, said energy-absorbing element being deformable upon impact by a passenger.

2. An air bag module according to claim 1, wherein said crash signal is generated upon an impact of a threshold at which the window bag is filled with gas, said energy-absorbing element being effective to protect said passenger below said threshold.

3. An air bag module according to claim 1, wherein said energy-absorbing element is arranged to a side of an unfolding direction of said window bag.

4. An air bag module according to claim 1, wherein said energy-absorbing element is formed as a pipe, extending longitudinally at the roof frame.

5. An air bag module according to claim 1, wherein said energy-absorbing element is formed as a foamed body.

6. An air bag module according to claim 1, wherein said energy-absorbing element is disposed in said container.

7. An air bag module according to claim 1, wherein said energy-absorbing element is disposed adjacent said container in a retaining pocket.

8. An air bag module according to claim 7, wherein said retaining pocket is formed in one piece with said container.

9. An air bag module according to claim 7, wherein said retaining pocket is formed separately from said container, said retaining pocket being attached to said container.

10. An air bag module in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a container mounted along a roof frame of the motor vehicle;

an air bag arranged within said container, wherein said air bag emerges from said container upon being filled with gas; and

a deformable energy-absorbing element mounted in or on said container.

11. An air bag module according to claim 10, wherein said energy-absorbing element is arranged below said air bag.

12. An air bag module according to claim 10, wherein said energy-absorbing element is formed as a pipe, extending longitudinally at the roof frame.

13. An air bag module according to claim 10, wherein said energy-absorbing element is formed as a foamed body.

14. An air bag module according to claim 10, wherein said energy-absorbing element is disposed in said container.

15. An air bag module according to claim 10, wherein said energy-absorbing element is disposed adjacent said container in a retaining pocket.

16. An air bag module according to claim 15, wherein said retaining pocket is formed in one piece with said container.

17. An air bag module according to claim 15, wherein said retaining pocket is formed separately from said container, said retaining pocket being attached to said container.

18. An air bag module in a motor vehicle, comprising:

an elongated container fixed along a roof frame of the vehicle;

a window air bag folded in the container which, above a release threshold, is filled with gas and emerges from the container; and

an energy-absorbing element mounted in or affixed to the container, said energy-absorbing element being deformable upon impact by a passenger and being effective to protect said passenger below said release threshold.

19. A method for protecting a passenger of a vehicle with an air bag module, comprising:

below a release threshold, protecting said passenger via an energy-absorbing element mounted in or affixed to an elongated container; and

above a release threshold, filling a folded window air bag in the elongated contained with gas, wherein the window air bag emerges from the elongated contained and protects said passenger,

wherein said air bag module comprises the elongated container fixed along a roof frame of the vehicle and containing the folded window air bag.