Gas bag device with a tensioning cord and automobile therewith

• US 6,494,486 B2
• Filed: 06/16/1999
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Adomeit, Heinz-dieter, Pausch, Tobias, Markfort, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/331,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20020053785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 241/71, 241/36.R
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• 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 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag, especially a lateral airbag, preferably in the shape of a tube, which is connected to at least two points on the motor vehicle and accommodated in its non-inflated state in a curved storage area. The invention provides for at least one tensioning cord (3) between the gas bag and a point of attachment to the motor vehicle, whereby said tensioning cord (3) can be tautened by the inflating gas bag. A preferred version provides for the tensioning cord (3) to be attached with one end to the gas bag (8) and with the other end to the motor vehicle (F1), whereby, when the gas bag inflates, the cord'"'"'s point of attachment on the gas bag, together with the gas bag, is able to move away from the point (F1) where the tensioning cord (3) is attache to the motor vehicle. In this way the gas bag can be tautened without the need for additional mechanical or electrical components.

Claims

1. A gas bag arrangement for a vehicle having a curved storage area and first and second anchoring points located on a side structure of the vehicle, comprising:

a gas bag stored in the curved storage area in a non-inflated state; and

a first tensioning cord anchored to a first anchoring area of the gas bag and to the second anchoring point of the vehicle for maintaining the gas bag tightly held to the vehicle, wherein the tensioning cord is tensioned as the gas bag inflates,

wherein the tensioning cord extends between the first anchoring area of the gas bag and the second anchoring point of the vehicle, and wherein the distance between the second anchoring point and the first anchoring area is greater than the distance between the first anchoring point and the first anchoring area, and

wherein the first anchoring area of the gas bag moves away from the second anchoring point of the vehicle as the gas bag inflates.

2. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 1, further including at least a first guide on the gas bag at one end thereof for guiding the tensioning cord, wherein the first guide is positioned closer to the second anchoring point of the vehicle than the first anchoring area of the gas bag.

3. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 1, further including a second tensioning cord anchored to at least a second anchoring area of the gas bag and to the first anchoring point of the vehicle.

4. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 3, further including first and second guides on the first and second anchoring areas of the gas bag for guiding the first and second tensioning cords, wherein the first tensioning cord is anchored to the first guide and guided on the second guide and the second tensioning cord is anchored to the second guide and guided on the first guide, the first and second anchoring areas of the gas bag being located at sites where, with unrestricted gas bag expansion, the largest expansion of the gas bag would tend to occur during inflation of the gas bag.

5. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the gas bag has an irregular contour where at least one of the first and second guides is anchored to the gas bag.

6. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the irregular contour comprises one of an indentation and bulge.

7. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 3, wherein each of the first and second guides includes a return lock that allows the respective first or second tensioning cord to tension as the gas bag is inflating, but prevents the respective first or second tensioning cord from moving in the opposite direction.

8. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 7, wherein each return lock has two relatively movable wedges, wherein the respective first or second tensioning cord extends between opposing wedge faces thereof, and at least one elastically deformable member for pressing the two wedges against each other.

9. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the opposing wedge faces have grooves that extend substantially perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the tensioning cord.

10. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 8, wherein one of the two wedges is fixedly mounted relative to the gas bag while the other of the two wedges is displaceable opposite the fixed wedge and is biased against the fixedly mounted wedge with the elastically deformable member.

11. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the elastically deformable member comprises a draw spring and the active direction of the spring runs substantially against the pull direction of the tensioning cord during unfolding of the gas bag.

12. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second anchoring point of the vehicle is adjacent to one end of the gas bag.

13. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the tensioning cord includes a non-elastic or elastically deformable material.

14. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag is a lateral gas bag.

15. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the lateral gas bag has a tubular shape.

16. A gas bag arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side structure of the vehicle comprises side pillars of the vehicle.

17. A gas bag arrangement for a vehicle having a curved storage area and first and second anchoring points, comprising:

a gas bag stored in the curved storage area in a non-inflated state;

a first tensioning cord anchored to at least a first anchoring area of the gas bag and to one of the first and second anchoring points of the vehicle for maintaining the gas bag tightly held to the vehicle, wherein the tensioning cord is tensioned as the gas bag inflates; and

at least one guide on the gas bag for guiding the tensioning cord,

wherein the guide moves away from the first anchoring point as the gas bag inflates.

18. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 17, wherein the guide has a return lock that allows the tensioning cord to tension as the gas bag is inflating, but prevents the tensioning cord from moving in the opposite direction.

19. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 18, further including a second tensioning cord anchored to at least a second anchoring area of the gas bag and to the other of the first and second anchoring points of the vehicle, and another guide on the gas bag for guiding the second tensioning cord, each of the guides having a return lock that allows the respective first or second tensioning cord to tension as the gas bag is inflating, but prevents the respective first or second tensioning cord from moving in the opposite direction.

20. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 17, further including at least one additional guide provided between the one guide and the first anchoring area of the gas bag.

21. The gas bag arrangement according to claim 17, further including at least one support guide in a middle area of the gas bag, which is susceptible to kink, for further guiding the tensioning cord.

22. A gas bag arrangement as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first and second anchoring points are located on adjacent side pillars of the vehicle.

23. A gas bag for a vehicle anchored to at least two points of the vehicle outside of the gas bag and stored in a non-inflated state in a curved storage area, including:

a tensioning cord for shortening the unfolded gas bag between the gas bag and a fastening point on the vehicle, wherein the inflating gas bag tensions the tensioning cord,

another tensioning cord,

wherein the tensioning cords are crisscrossing tensioning cords having a double return lock provided at their cross-over point.

24. A vehicle having first and second anchoring points comprising:

a gas bag stored along a storage area of the vehicle in an un-inflated state; and

first and second tensioning cords attached to at least first and second anchoring areas of the gas bag and to the first and second anchoring points of the vehicle for maintaining the gas bag tightly held to the vehicle when the gas bag is inflated,

wherein the first tensioning cord is anchored to the first anchoring area of the gas bag and the second anchoring point of the vehicle, and the second tensioning cord is anchored to the second anchoring area of the gas bag and the first anchoring point of the vehicle,

wherein the distance between the first anchoring area and the second anchoring point is greater than the distance between the second anchoring area and the second anchoring point; and

the distance between the second anchoring area and the first anchoring point is greater than the distance between the first anchoring area and the first anchoring point.

25. The vehicle according to claim 24, wherein the tensioning cords are configured to draw the two anchoring areas toward each other as the gas bag inflates.

26. The vehicle according to claim 24, further including at least two guides anchored to the gas bag and positioned adjacent to opposite ends of the gas bag when the gas bag is inflated, wherein the tensioning cords each are guided through the two guides, and wherein during inflation of the gas bag, the gas bag moves the tensioning cords substantially in opposite directions to reduce the effective length of the tensioning cords extending between the two vehicle anchoring points.

27. The vehicle according to claim 24, further including first and second guides anchored respectively to the first and second anchoring areas of the gas bag, which areas are positioned adjacent to opposite ends of the gas bag when the gas bag is inflated, wherein the first and second tensioning cords each are guided through one of the first and second guides positioned closer to the respective first or second anchoring point, and wherein during inflation of the gas bag, the gas bag moves the tensioning cords substantially in the opposite directions.

28. The vehicle according to claim 24, further including at least one guide, wherein the gas bag is provided with an inward bulge upon the gas bag being inflated and the guide being positioned at the inward bulge for guiding both, the first and second tensioning cords along the bulge.

29. The vehicle according to claim 24, wherein the gas bag is directly anchored to a third anchoring point of the vehicle.

30. The vehicle according to claim 24, further including a first guide through which both of the first and second tensioning cords pass.

31. The vehicle according to claim 30, further including second and third guides through which the first and second tensioning cords pass.