Airbag system for motor vehicles

• US 6,422,599 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2001
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Oehm, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Buchanan, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/815,197
• Publication Number:
  US 20010038200A1
• Time in Patent Office: 488 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/741, 280/742, 280/732, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/736
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00 Heating, cooling or ventilating [HVAC] devices heating, cooling or ventilating devices providing other air treatment, the other treatment being relevant, B60H3/00; ventilating solely by opening windows, doors, roof parts, or the like B60J; heating or ventilating devices for vehicle seats B60N2/56; vehicle window or windscreen cleaners using air, e.g. defrosters, B60S1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10

Abstract

Pressurized gas from a gas source for inflating one or more vehicle airbags is routed along a path that includes at least a portion of the air-conditioning ducts of the vehicle. In one arrangement a pressurized gas hose is routed through the ducts. In another arrangement the pressurized gas flows through a portion of the air conditioner ducts that is isolated by valves.

Claims

1. An airbag system for a motor vehicle having an air-conditioning duct connecting an air conditioning device with one or more air discharge openings, wherein at least one airbag is connected with a central gas source via a pressurized gas path for filling the airbag, wherein at least a portion of the pressurized gas path extends via a portion of said air-conditioning duct between said air conditioning device and at least one discharge opening.

2. An airbag system as specified in claim 1 wherein said pressurized gas path includes a pressurized gas duct and wherein said pressurized gas duct extends through said portion of said air-conditioning duct.

3. An airbag system as specified in claim 2 wherein said pressurized gas duct comprises a hose.

4. An airbag system as specified in claim 1 wherein said air-conditioning duct is a dual channel duct having a channel for pressurized gas for said airbag and a channel for air conditioning air.

5. An airbag system as specified in claim 1 wherein said pressurized gas path comprises said portion of said air-conditioning duct.

6. An airbag system as specified in claim 5 further including at least one valve for isolating said portion of said air-conditioning duct from other portions of said air-conditioning duct.

7. An airbag system as specified in claim 6 wherein a control is provided for activating said gas source and said at least one valve.

8. An airbag system as specified in claim 7 wherein there is provided a plurality of said valves, and wherein said control individually operates said valves according to passenger occupancy in said motor vehicle.

9. An airbag system as specified in claim 6 wherein said valve is activated by gas pressure of pressurized gas for said airbag.