Housing for a gas bag restraint system for the protection of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact

• US 6,382,663 B1
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Tietze, Hans-Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/336,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.2, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A housing for a gas bag restraint system for the protection of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact has at least one end face for the emergence of components of the restraint system from the housing. The end face has at least one flap. This flap serves for fixing the components emerging from the housing.

Claims

1. A gas bag restraint system for the protection of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact including a housing having at least one end face for the emergence of components of said restraint system from said housing, said end face having at least one flap, said flap serving to fix said components emerging from said housing, said housing having two side walls lying opposite each other, said end face being provided with two of said flaps, each of said flaps having two sides and being fitted to one of said side walls with a first of said sides, a second of said sides of said flaps adjoining each other, said flaps at the adjoining of said sides including a plurality of cutouts, each of said cut outs providing a passage opening for a respective component, and a tensioning strap of said gas bag being arranged within said cutouts.

2. The gas bag restraint system of claim 1 wherein a securing protrusion is provided on the outside of said housing for attaching an end of said tensioning strap which has emerged from said housing.

3. The gas bag restraint system of claim 1 wherein a gas lance is arranged within said cutouts.

4. The gas bag restraint system of claim 1 wherein said housing is manufactured from plastic, said at least one flap being formed as an integral part of said housing.

5. A gas bag restraint system for the protection of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side impact including a housing having at least one end face for the emergence of components of said restraint system from said housing, said end face having at least one flap, said flap serving to fix said components emerging from said housing, said housing having two side walls lying opposite each other, said end face being provided with two of said flaps, each of said flaps having two sides and being fitted to one of said side walls with a first of said sides, a second of said sides of said flaps adjoining each other, said flaps at the adjoining of said sides including a plurality of cutouts, each of said cut outs providing a passage opening for a respective component, said housing being manufactured from plastic, said at least one flap being formed as an integral part of said housing, said at least one of said flaps having a triangular cutout in the area of a section joining said housing between said side walls.