Vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 6,454,297 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• 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): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/772,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20010017459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/743.2, 280/753
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• 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 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system comprising an inflatable gas bag, a gas-carrying distributor pipe projecting into the gas bag and a piston housed displaceably in the distributor pipe. The restraint system further comprises a power transmission means which connects the piston and the gas bag with each other and via which a force for tensioning the gas bag is transferred onto said gas bag. A deflection member for the power transmission means is provided in the distributor pipe. The power transmission means is constructed as a traction means.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:

an inflatable gas bag;

a gas carrying distributor pipe extending into an interior of said gas bag;

a piston housed displaceably in said distributor pipe;

a flexible traction means which connects said piston and said gas bag with each other and via which a force for tensioning said gas bag is transferred onto said gas bag; and

a deflection member for said traction means arranged stationary and completely in the interior of said distributor pipe, said traction means at least in the region of said deflection member being arranged completely in an interior of said distributor pipe,

said traction means travelling along said deflection member on displacement of said piston.

2. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said deflection member deflects said traction means through approximately 180°

.

3. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein at least one gas generator is provided which is connected with an interior of said distributor pipe such that it inflates said gas bag and leads to a displacement of said piston.

4. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein at least one traction means guide is provided on said distributor pipe.

5. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 4, wherein said traction means guide is formed in one piece with said distributor pipe.

6. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said deflection member is a deflection sheave.

7. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said system is a side restraint system comprising a head gas bag having a large area and partially covering at least one side window of a vehicle, and wherein said distributor pipe extends along a roof frame of said vehicle.

8. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:

an inflatable gas bag;

a gas carrying distributor pipe extending into an interior of said gas bag;

a piston provided with an opening housed displaceably in said distributor pipe;

at least one gas generator which is flowingly connected with an interior of said distributor pipe to inflate said gas bag and to displace said piston;

a flexible traction means which connects said piston and said gas bag with each other and via which a force for tensioning said gas bag is transferred onto said gas bag;

a deflection member for said traction means arranged within said distributor pipe;

said traction means extending through and being displaceable within said opening in said piston and being drawn through said opening during displacement of said piston.

9. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 8, wherein said traction means has one end affixed to said piston and extends within said distributor pipe firstly to said deflection means and secondly from said deflection means back to said piston and finally through said opening of said piston to an open end of said distributor pipe.

10. A vehicle occupant side restraint system comprising:

an inflatable head gas bag having a large area and partially covering at least one side window of a vehicle;

a gas carrying distributor pipe extending along a roof frame of said vehicle and extending into an interior of said gas bag;

a piston housed displaceably in said distributor pipe;

a traction means which connects said piston and said gas bag with each other and via which a force for tensioning said gas bag is transferred onto said gas bag;

a deflection member for said traction means completely arranged within said distributor pipe; and

another deflection member provided for said traction means in a region of a vehicle column, from which said another deflection member said traction means extends to said gas bag.

11. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 10, wherein said gas bag extends between two vehicle columns and said traction means tensions said gas bag between said two vehicle columns when unfolded between two fastening points provided at opposite ends of said gas bag.