Restraint module for a motor vehicle

• US 6,406,057 B1
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Fischer, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/743,141
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/749, 280/730.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• 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 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1953 the cable being pulled by mechanical means, e.g. pre-stressed springs, bumper displacement during crash

Abstract

A restraint module for a motor vehicle, comprising a compressed gas source (10) and an elongated side-impact gas bag (14) being in flow connection therewith, the side-impact gas bag (14) being translatable by means of compressed gas from a collapsed condition arranged in an ejection channel (16) into a deployed condition in which one longitudinal rim (18) of the gas bag (14) freely extends in the interior of the motor vehicle, each of both ends (20, 26) of this longitudinal rim (18) of the gas bag (14) being connectable to a vehicle-fixed tensioning point (24, 32), and a tensioning device (30) being provided cooperating with one of the ends of the longitudinal rim (18), is characterized in that the tensioning device (30) is arranged on the ejection channel (16) and is connected to said end (26) of the longitudinal rim (18) via a traction means (28) which is deflected at a vehicle-fixed point (32).

Claims

1. A restraint module for a motor vehicle, comprising a compressed gas source (10) and an elongated side-impact gas bag (14) being in flow connection therewith, said side-impact gas bag (14) being translatable by means of compressed gas from a collapsed condition arranged in an ejection channel (16) into a deployed condition in which one longitudinal rim (18) of the gas bag (14) freely extends in the interior of the motor vehicle, each of both ends (20, 26) of this longitudinal rim (18) of the gas bag (14) being connectable to a respective vehicle-fixed tensioning point (24, 32), and a tensioning device (30) being provided cooperating with one of the ends of the longitudinal rim (18), characterized in that said tensioning device (30) is arranged on said ejection channel (16) and is connected to said one end (26) of said longitudinal rim (18) via a traction means (28) which is deflected at one of the vehicle-fixed points.

2. The restraint module as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said tensioning device (30) is activatable by said compressed gas.

3. The restraint module as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said traction means is a Bowden cable (28).

4. The restraint module as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said tensioning device (30) comprises a tension spring (42) maintained in a pretensioned condition by a blocking element (44) which by means of said compressed gas may be translated from a blocking position in which said tension spring (42) is maintained pretensioned, into a released position in which said tension spring (42) is released.

5. The restraint module as set forth in claim 4, characterized in that between said tension spring (42) and said traction means (28) a return stop (46, 48) is arranged.

6. The restraint module as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that said tension spring (42) is arranged in a hollow cylinder (40), that said return stop comprises a cone (46) and that on said cone a blocking ring (48) is arranged such that said blocking ring wedges between the wall of said hollow cylinder (40) and said cone (46) on movement of said cone (46) in the direction of an elongation of said tension spring (42).

7. The restraint module as set forth in claims 1, characterized in that said tensioning device comprises a turbine wheel (52) coupled to a movement screw (56) and that arranged on said movement screw (56) is a nut (58) to which said traction means (28) is connected.

8. The restraint module as set forth in claim 7, characterized in that said turbine wheel (52) is arranged in a hollow cylinder (50) which is in flow connection with said compressed gas source and that said hollow cylinder (50) comprises an exit conduit (62, 66) for said compressed gas flowing through said turbine wheel (52).