Gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system

• US 6,361,071 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Denz, Stefan, Lang, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, J. J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/718,169
• Time in Patent Office: 490 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/739, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 139/389
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23547 one piece weaving
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 11/00 Double or multi-ply fabrics not otherwise provided for

Abstract

A gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprises two plies of fabric partially interwoven along their outer edges. To offer protection over a lengthy period in time amounting to several seconds but nevertheless dissipate the energy of impact to the required degree on impact and cushioning of the occupant, the plies of fabric are substantially air-tight, and the volume of the gas bag is divided by partial interweaving of the plies of fabric within the outer edges into several chambers. Further, the chambers are interconnected by at least one choked port remaining between the portions of the interwoven plies of fabric. Only part of the chambers is directly inflated by an inflator, the remaining part of the chambers being indirectly inflated via the choked port.

Claims

1. A gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprising two plies of fabric partially interwoven along their outer edges, wherein:

said plies of fabric are substantially air-tight;

the volume of the gas bag is divided by partial interweaving of said plies of fabric within said outer edges, thereby forming a plurality of chambers;

remaining portions of the interwoven plies of fabric defining between them at least one choked port interconnecting said chambers;

a first part of said chambers being directly inflatable by an inflator, and a second part of said chambers being indirectly inflatable via said choked port;

the gas bag further comprises at least one gas exit port being formed seamlessly in one of said plies of fabric by floating warp and weft threads of said one of said plies of fabric.

2. A gas bag for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprising two plies of fabric partially interwoven along their outer edges, wherein:

said plies of fabric are substantially air-tight;

the volume of the gas bag is divided by partial interweaving of said plies of fabric within said outer edges, thereby forming a plurality of chambers;

remaining portions of the interwoven plies of fabric defining between them at least one choked port interconnecting said chambers;

a first part of said chambers being directly inflatable by an inflator, and a second part of said chambers being indirectly inflatable via said choked port;

the gas bag further comprising at least one gas exit port being formed seamlessly and exclusively by a portion in said outer edges of said plies of fabric where said plies are not interwoven.