Housing for the air bag in a motor vehicle

• US 6,431,581 B1
• Filed: 01/30/1998
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
• Original Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
• Inventors: Klenk, Jürgen, Imken, Hans-Jürgen, Rick, Ulrich, Wagener, Keit
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KLEBE, GERALD B
• Application Number:
  US09/016,492
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/728.2, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2171 specially adapted for elongated cylindrical or bottle-like inflators with a symmetry axis perpendicular to the main direction of bag deployment, e.g. extruded reaction canisters B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

A one-piece housing that can be manufactured in one operation for an inflatable air bag in a motor vehicle is described, in which the housing has two chambers, one of which accommodates the air bag module and the other is a diffusor chamber with chamber walls having gas passage openings, into which the gas generator is introduced. Reinforcing ribs of the housing are made in one piece with the diffusor chamber wall.

Claims

1. A housing for an inflatable air bag in a motor vehicle, the housing being a one piece housing comprising:

a first chamber portion defining an air bag space;

a second chamber portion defining a gas generator space for receiving a gas generator and with a diffusor wall portion defining gas passage openings providing communication between said gas generator space and said air bag space; and

a plurality of reinforcing ribs formed in one piece with said diffusor wall portion.

2. A housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first chamber portion and said second chamber portion and said plurality of reinforcing ribs are formed as an injection molded part.

3. A housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first chamber portion and said second chamber portion and said plurality of reinforcing ribs are formed as a diecast aluminum part.

4. A housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first chamber portion has a V-shaped cross section.

5. A housing in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said first chamber portion has a V-shaped cross section.

6. A housing in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

said first chamber portion has a V-shaped cross section.

7. A housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first chamber portion is directly connected to said second chamber portion;

said plurality of reinforcing ribs form strengthening means for strengthening the one piece housing;

said plurality of reinforcing ribs extend across said first chamber portion;

at least one opening of said gas passage openings is positioned between each pair of adjacent ribs of said plurality of reinforcing ribs;

said plurality of reinforcing ribs provide a space between the airbag and said gas passage openings.

8. A housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said gas passage openings are positioned at predetermined locations along said diffusor wall portion; and

a plurality of fastening brackets are formed in one piece with said first and second chambers.

9. A housing in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said second chamber portion is dimensioned to have an inner surface spaced from an outer surface of the gas generator to prevent fusing of said inner surface with said outer surface.

10. A housing in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said second chamber portion is dimensioned to have an inner surface spaced from an outer surface of the gas generator to prevent fusing of said inner surface with said outer surface.

11. A motor vehicle inflatable air bag housing, comprising:

a single piece housing element including a first portion with angled wall portions forming an approximately V-shaped configuration in cross-section, a plurality of reinforcing ribs, each rib, of said reinforcing ribs, extending between said angled wall portions, said first portion defining a gas bag space, and a second chamber portion defining a gas generator space for receiving a gas generator and with a diffusor wall portion separating said gas generator space and said air bag space, said diffusor wall portion defining gas passage openings providing communication between said gas generator space and said air bag space, each of said ribs being joined to said diffusor wall portion.

12. A housing in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said single piece housing is one of an injection molded part and a diecast aluminum part.

13. A housing in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said plurality of reinforcing ribs include pairs of adjacent reinforcing ribs, at least one opening of said gas passage openings is positioned between each pair of adjacent ribs of said plurality of reinforcing ribs.

14. A housing in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said gas passage openings are positioned at predetermined locations along said diffusor wall portion; and

a plurality of fastening brackets are formed in one piece with said first portion and said second portion.

15. A housing in accordance with claim 11, wherein:

said second chamber portion is dimensioned to have an inner surface spaced from an outer surface of the gas generator to prevent fusing of said inner surface with said outer surface.

16. A motor vehicle inflatable air bag housing and gas generator combination, the combination comprising:

a single piece housing element including a first chamber portion with wall portions, a plurality of reinforcing ribs, each rib, of said reinforcing ribs, extending between said wall portions, said first portion defining a gas bag space, and a second chamber portion defining a gas generator space, said second chamber portion having a diffusor wall portion separating said gas generator space and said air bag space, said diffusor wall portion defining gas passage openings providing communication between said gas generator space and said air bag space, each of said ribs being joined to said diffusor wall portion; and

a gas generator, said second chamber portion is dimensioned to have an inner surface spaced from an outer surface of said gas generator.

17. The combination in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said single piece housing is one of an injection molded part and a diecast aluminum part.

18. The combination in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said plurality of reinforcing ribs include pairs of adjacent reinforcing ribs, at least one opening of said gas passage openings is positioned between each pair of adjacent ribs of said plurality of reinforcing ribs.

19. The combination in accordance with claim 16, wherein:

said gas passage openings are positioned at predetermined locations along said diffusor wall portion; and

a plurality of fastening brackets are formed in one piece with said first portion and said second portion.