Air bag device, production method of an air bag device, activation method of an air bag device and vehicle with an air bag device

• US 6,502,854 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Olaf Mueller
• Original Assignee: Olaf Mueller
• Inventors: Mueller, Olaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US09/915,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045729A1
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.2, 280/756, 180/286, 180/271, 180/274, 180/281, 180/282, 296/216.01, 296/216.04, 296/216.06, 296/216.07, 296/216.08, 296/216.09, 296/214, 296/212
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

This invention relates to an air bag system for accommodation behind a vehicle covering. The air bag system contains an air bag, which advances in a main inflating direction when the air bag system is triggered, and a gas generator for supplying the air bag with pressure gas during triggering of the air bag system. The gas generator and the air bag are connected by a gas distributing duct which extends at least partially at an angle with respect to the main inflating direction of the air bag. In this case, the gas distributing duct is formed of air bag material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a manufacturing process and a triggering process for such an air bag system as well as to a motor vehicle having such an air bag system, of which at least the air bag is arranged on a sliding roof frame part.

Claims

1. Motor vehicle comprising an air bag, a sliding roof member having a sliding roof cover that is retractable between a closed position and an open position which exposes an opening in the sliding roof member, said sliding roof member including a frame having a frame part as a cross member at the front side of the sliding roof member, which extends in a transverse direction of the vehicle, the air bag is folded together as a package and is mounted on the frame part for deployment along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the air bag, in the event of a vehicle impact sufficient to trigger deployment of the air bag, deploys to cover the sliding roof cover or the opening in the sliding roof member, if the sliding roof cover is retracted into the open position, to protect the heads of car occupants seated below the sliding roof member.

2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the air bag has a T-shaped cross-section relative to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle for closing the opening in the sliding roof member so that a vertical portion of the air bag protrudes downwardly providing a protective cushion between occupants sitting in a left front seat and a right front seat of the vehicle when the air bag system is triggered.

3. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the sliding roof member includes longitudinally extending first guide rails for engaging and guiding the sliding roof cover in a sliding relationship, and second longitudinally extending guide rails are provided, mounted on the first guide rails, for engaging and guiding the air bag in a sliding relationship during deployment of the air bag.

4. Motor vehicle according to claim 3 wherein guide elements are provided on the air bag for engaging the second guide rails.

5. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein a gas generator is mounted adjacent to the air bag on the frame part.

6. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the air bag is mounted in a housing.

7. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the air bag is folded together as a package by covering and fastening devices.

8. The combination of a motor vehicle having a sliding roof member located in the roof of the vehicle that includes a sliding retractable cover that in the closed position closes an opening in the roof and in an open position exposes the opening in the roof and an air bag system comprising a gas generator and an air bag, wherein the air bag system is mounted directly on a frame part of a sliding roof member, and when the air bag is deployed due to an impact, the air bag inflates and is interposed between the sliding roof member and occupants seated below the sliding roof member.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the air bag and the mounting therefor include mutually cooperating elements for engagement in a sliding relationship.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein the mutually cooperating elements include guide rails supported transversely to the frame part.

11. The combination of claim 8 wherein the deployment of the airbag upon impact is from front to rear along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

12. The combination of claim 8 wherein the deployment of the air bag is in a horizontal plane.

13. The combination of claim 8 wherein the air bag is T-shaped with the leg of the T depending downward when the air bag is deployed to be situated between the occupants sitting under the sliding roof member.

14. The combination of claim 8 wherein the air bag is folded together as a package by covering and fastening devices.

15. The combination of claim 8 wherein the air bag system is mounted in a housing.