Airbag system

• US 6,460,881 B1
• Filed: 11/29/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Adomeit, Heinz-Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/424,888
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/737, 280/749
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams

Abstract

An airbag system comprising a bag which can be inflated with gas and a gas generator. At least one flexible guideway is firmly connected to the motor vehicle on one end and detachably connected to the motor vehicle on another. When the airbag is inactive, it is arranged on the end of the guideway which is firmly connected to the motor vehicle. Once the gas generator is ignited, the airbag can be displaced along the guideway in the direction of the detachable end using the gases entering the gas bag.

Claims

1. An airbag system for protecting an occupant in a seat of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a gas bag and a gas generator;

a flexible guideway having a fixed end fixedly connectable to the motor vehicle and a detachable end detachably connectable to the motor vehicle,

wherein the gas bag is mounted in an inactivated state on the fixed end of the guideway, and

wherein the gas bag after ignition of the gas generator is moved along the guideway in the direction of the detachable end under the influence of the gases entering into the gas bag when the flexible guideway is attached to the motor vehicle.

2. An airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising a guide element on the gas bag, the guideway automatically guiding the guide element.

3. An airbag system according to claim 2, wherein the guide element comprises at least one shackle.

4. An airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of guide elements mounted on the gas bag at spaced intervals, the guideway automatically guiding the guide elements.

5. An airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag has a tubular gas inlet whose length is dimensioned so that in the fully unfolded state of the gas bag, the gas inlet fully extends when the guideway is at a maximum extension and forms a slack when the guideway is at less then the maximum extension.

6. An airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag has a separate chamber extending substantially the width of the gas bag from a side of the gas generator, the separate chamber extending substantially parallel to the guideway when the gas bag is inflated.

7. An airbag system according to claim 6, wherein the chamber is separated from the remaining area of the gas bag with a rip seam or a sewn-in intermediate wall.

8. An airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the guideway comprises a belt.

9. An airbag system according to claim 8, wherein the belt is a lap belt.

10. An airbag system according to claim 8, wherein the guideway comprises a section of a 3-point automatic belt.

11. An airbag system according to claim 8, wherein the belt has a first layer and a second layer, the guideway comprising the second layer of the belt.

12. An airbag system according to claim 1, further comprising a non-return lock on the gas bag and interacting with the guideway.

13. An airbag system according to claim 12, wherein the non-return lock has two cylindrical clamping members movably mounted in respective guides and set opposite one another on different sides of the guideway.

14. An airbag system according to claim 2, wherein the guide element comprising a ring.

15. A motor vehicle having an airbag system for protecting an occupant in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a seat having a first side and a second side;

a gas bag and a gas generator; and

a flexible guideway having a fixed end fixedly connected to the motor vehicle and a detachable end detachably connectable to the motor vehicle,

wherein the gas bag is mounted in an inactivated state on the fixed end of the guideway, and wherein the gas bag after ignition of the gas generator is moved along the guideway in the direction of the detachable end under the influence of the gases entering into the gas bag when the detachable end is connected to the motor vehicle.

16. A motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the guideway extends from the first side of the seat to the second side, wherein the gas generator is mounted adjacent to the first side of the seat and the gas bag is mounted in the inactivated state adjacent to the first side of the seat, and after ignition of the gas generator, the gas bag is moved in the direction of the second side of the seat.

17. A motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the guideway extends from the first side of the seat to the second side, wherein the gas generator is mounted behind the seat and that the gas bag is mounted in the inactivated state adjacent to the first side of the seat, and after ignition of the gas generator, the gas bag is moved in the direction of the second side of the seat.

18. A motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the guideway comprises a belt adjoining taut against the occupant when the occupant is seated in the seat with the detachable end of the guideway connected to the motor vehicle.

19. A motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the guideway comprises a belt adjoining loose against the occupant when the occupant is seated in the seat with the detachable end of the guideway connected to the motor vehicle.

20. A motor vehicle according to claim 15, further comprising:

a guide provided with a belt lock; and

a belt fastening in the area of the gas generator,

wherein the guideway comprises a belt extendable from the first side on which the gas bag is provided with the gas generator to the second side of the seat.

21. A motor vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the motor vehicle comprises a head area and a floor area, and wherein the guideway extends at a side behind the occupant from the floor area to the head area.

22. A motor vehicle according to claim 21, wherein the gas generator and the inactivated gas bag are mounted in the floor area.

23. A motor vehicle according to claim 21, further including an upper deflection, wherein the guideway comprises a section of a 3-point automatic belt.

25. An airbag arrangement according to claim 23, wherein the guideway extends at a side behind the occupant from the floor area to the head area.

26. An airbag arrangement according to claim 25, wherein the gas generator is configured to be mounted to the floor area.

27. An airbag arrangement according to claim 26, wherein the guideway comprises a vertical section of a 3-point automatic belt.

24. An airbag arrangement for protecting an occupant in a seat of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a gas bag and a gas generator;

a flexible guideway configured to extend along one side of the occupant between a floor area of the vehicle a head area of the occupant,

wherein the gas bag is mounted in an inactivated state on the floor area of the guideway, and

wherein the gas bag is moved upwardly along the guideway under the influence of the gases entering into the gas bag when the gas generator is ignited.

28. An airbag arrangement for an occupant seated in a seat of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a seatbelt secured to the vehicle and having a belt section that extends along one side of the occupant seated in the vehicle;

a gas generator and a gas bag holder mounted to the vehicle adjacent to the belt section;

a gas bag attached to the holder so that the gas generator supplies gas to the gas bag to inflate the gas bag along the belt section; and

a seat belt guide secured to the gas bag and slidably movable along the belt section,

wherein when the gas bag is in an inactivated state, the guide remains stationary, substantially undisturbed next to the holder, and when the gas bag is inflated, the guide slides along the belt section to guide the expanding gas bag along the belt section.

29. An airbag arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the guide comprises at least one shackle.

30. An airbag arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the guide comprises at least one ring.

31. An airbag arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the guide comprises a plurality of rings mounted on the gas bag at spaced intervals.

32. An airbag arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the guide comprises a plurality of shackles mounted on the gas bag at spaced intervals.

33. An airbag arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the gas bag has a tubular gas inlet dimensioned so that when the gas bag is fully inflated and the seatbelt is at a maximum extension, the tubular gas inlet becomes fully extended, and forms a slack when the seatbelt is less than at the maximum extension.

34. An airbag arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the gas bag has a separate chamber that extends substantially parallel to the belt section, substantially over the entire width of the gas bag.

35. An airbag arrangement according to claim 34, wherein the chamber is divided from the remaining area of the gas bag with one of a rip seam and a sewn-in intermediate wall.

36. An airbag arrangement according to claim 28, wherein the belt section comprises one of a lap belt portion and a substantially vertical belt portion extending substantially vertically alongside the seat.

37. An airbag arrangement according to claim 36, wherein the seatbelt comprises a 3-point automatic seatbelt.

38. An airbag arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the belt section comprises the lap belt portion, and the guide is movable from a first side to a second side of the seat along the lap belt portion, wherein the gas generator and the holder are mounted along the first side of the seat so that the gas bag expands from the first side to the second side when the gas bag is inflated.

39. An airbag arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the belt section comprises the substantially vertical belt portion, and the guide is movable substantially vertically along one side of the seat along the vertical belt portion, wherein the gas generator and the holder are mounted behind the seat so that the gas bag expands upwardly along the side of the seat when the gas bag is inflated.

40. An airbag arrangement according to claim 37, wherein the belt section comprises the lap belt portion having a first layer and a second layer, wherein the guide is movable along the second layer.

41. An airbag arrangement according to claim 28, further including a non-return lock on the gas bag for locking against the belt section.

42. An airbag arrangement according to claim 41, wherein the non-return lock has two cylindrical clamping members movably mounted on respective guides and set opposite one another on different sides of the belt section.

43. A motor vehicle having an airbag system for protecting an occupant seated in a seat thereof, the airbag system comprising:

a seatbelt secured to the vehicle alongside the seat and having a belt section that extend along one side of the occupant seated in the seat;

a gas generator and a gas bag holder mounted to the vehicle next to the seat;

a gas bag attached to the holder so that the gas generator supplies gas to the gas bag to inflate the gas bag along the belt section; and

a seat belt guide secured to the gas bag and slidably movable along the belt section,

wherein when the gas bag is in an inactivated state, the guide remains stationary, substantially undisturbed next to the holder, and when the gas bag is inflated, the guide slides along the belt section to guide the expanding gas bag along the belt section.

44. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the belt section comprises one of a lap belt portion and a substantially vertical belt portion extending substantially vertically alongside the seat.

45. A motor vehicle according to claim 44, wherein the belt section comprises the lap belt portion, and the guide is movable from a first side to a second side of the seat along the lap belt portion, wherein the gas generator and the holder are mounted along the first side of the seat so that the gas bag expands from the first side to the second side when the gas bag is inflated.

46. A motor vehicle according to claim 44, wherein the belt section comprises the substantially vertical belt portion, and the guide is movable substantially vertically along one side of the seat along the vertical belt portion, wherein the gas generator and the holder are mounted behind the occupant so that the gas bag expands upwardly along the side of the seat when the gas bag is inflated.

47. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the motor vehicle has a head area and a floor area, and wherein the gas bag extends at a side behind the occupant from the floor area to the head area when the gas bag is inflated.

48. A motor vehicle according to claim 47, wherein the gas generator and the holder are mounted to the floor area.

49. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, further including an upper deflection, wherein the seatbelt comprises a 3-point automatic belt, a portion of which extends between the airbag and the upper deflection.

50. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the guide comprises at least one shackle.

51. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the guide comprises at least one ring.

52. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the guide comprises one of a plurality of rings and a plurality of shackles mounted on the gas bag at a spaced interval.

53. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the gas bag has a tubular gas inlet dimensioned so that when the gas bag is fully inflated and the seatbelt is at a maximum extension, the tubular gas inlet is fully extended, and forms a slack when the seatbelt is less than at the maximum extension.

54. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, wherein the gas bag has a separate chamber that extends substantially parallel to the belt section, substantially over the entire width of the gas bag.

55. A motor vehicle according to claim 54, wherein the chamber is divided from the remaining area of the gas bag with one of a rip seam and a sewn-in intermediate wall.

56. A motor vehicle according to claim 43, further including a non-return lock on the gas bag for locking against the belt section.

57. A motor vehicle according to claim 56, wherein the non-return lock has two cylindrical clamping members movably mounted on respective guides and set opposite one another on different sides of the belt section.