Side gas bag restraint system

• US 6,375,216 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Eschbach, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/564,813
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/753
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• 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 side gas bag restraint system for a vehicle having a roof frame and vehicle columns extending upwardly to the roof frame and having side windows, the roof frame and the vehicle columns being covered by at least one lining, is described. The system comprises a curtain-like gas bag covering at least one side window of the vehicle to at least a major extend in an unfolded state of the gas bag and being attached to the vehicle at fastening points, and comprises an elongated guide device to which the gas bag is displaceable fastened and along which the gas bag moves itself on unfolding of the gas bag. The guide device is arranged behind a lining and extends downwardly along a vehicle column in the unfolded and in the folded state of the gas bag. The guide device has two stationary fastening ends at which the guide device is fixed to the vehicle and is constructed so as to be so flexible that the gas bag draws the guide device out from the lining on unfolding of the gas bag. The gas bag is tensioned between its fastening points and the guide device when unfolded.

Claims

1. A side gas bag restraint system for a vehicle having a roof frame and vehicle columns extending upwardly to said roof frame and having side windows, said roof frame and said vehicle columns being covered by at least one lining, said system comprising

an inflatable curtain-like gas bag covering at least one side window of said vehicle to at least a major extent in an unfolded inflated state of said gas bag and being attached to said vehicle at fastening points,

an elongated guide device to which said gas bag is displaceably fastened and along which said gas bag moves itself on inflation of said gas bag and due only to inflation of said gas bag,

said guide device being arranged behind a lining in a folded state of said gas bag and extending downwardly along a vehicle column in the inflated and in the folded state of said gas bag,

said guide device having two stationary fastening ends at which said guide device is fixed to said vehicle,

said guide device being constructed so as to be so flexible that said gas bag draws said guide device out from said lining on inflation of said gas bag, and

said gas bag being tensioned between its fastening points and said guide device when inflated.

2. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said gas bag has fastening points stationary with respect to the vehicle and has at least one fastening point movable with respect to the vehicle, said gas bag being tensioned between its stationary and movable fastening points.

3. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 2, wherein said fastening points which are stationary with respect to the vehicle are arranged on said roof frame and a vehicle column at which said guide device is not arranged.

4. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 3, wherein, in the unfolded state, said gas bag extends from said at least one stationary fastening point on such vehicle column at which said guide device is not arranged to and along said roof frame to pass at least one stationary fastening point on said roof frame and extends further to an upper end of said column along which said guide device extends.

5. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said guide device is a flexible belt, said gas bag tensioning said flexible belt between said fastening ends when unfolded.

6. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said guide device extends not in a straight line between its fastening ends when said gas bag is folded.

7. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said guide device, in the folded state of the gas bag, extends behind a lining of a B-column of said vehicle vertically up to said roof frame.

8. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said guide device extends at its upper end, in the folded state of said gas bag, a distance along said roof frame.

9. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 2, wherein said gas bag has a lower edge corner and, in the unfolded state, has a slide connection with said guide device in a region of its lower edge corner, said slide connection defining said fastening point movable with respect to said vehicle.

10. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 9, wherein a connecting line between said fastening ends of said guide device lies, in the region of said unfolded gas bag, outside said lining.

11. The side gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said gas bag has a lower edge and, in the unfolded state, is tensioned along its lower edge between a fastening point and said guide device.

12. A side gas bag restraint system for a vehicle having a roof frame and vehicle columns extending upwardly to said roof frame and having side windows, said roof frame and said vehicle columns being covered by at least one lining, said system comprising:

an inflatable curtain-like gas bag covering at least one side window of said vehicle to at least a major extent in an unfolded inflated state of said gas bag and being attached to said vehicle at fastening points,

an elongated guide device having two stationary fastening ends at which said guide device is fixed to the vehicle,

said gas bag being displaceably fastened to said guide device and said gas bag being movable along at least a portion of said guide device due only to inflation of said gas bag;

said portion of said guide device along which said gas bag moves being arranged behind a lining in a folded state of said gas bag and extending downwardly along a vehicle column in the unfolded and in the folded state of said gas bag,

said guide device being constructed so as to be so flexible that said gas bag draws said portion of said guide device along which said gas bag moves out from said lining on inflation of said gas bag, and

said gas bag being tensioned between its fastening points and said guide device when inflated.