Gas bag restraint device

• US 6,517,100 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Frisch, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042978A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/731, 280/740
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas bag restraint device comprising a gas bag module having an outlet opening. The module has a gas generator and a gas bag, the latter including a front wall with a center section. This front wall, onto which an occupant who is to be restrained can strike in a case of restraint, has a depression. The depression is defined by the center section of the front wall being permanently fastened to the module and, on inflation of the gas bag, is prevented from a free movement. The restraint device further comprises a module covering closing said outlet opening. A holding part is provided surrounding the gas generator and fastened to the module, to which holding part the center section is fastened.

Claims

1. A gas bag restraint device for helping to restrain an occupant of a vehicle during a vehicle crash event, the restraint device comprising:

a gas bag module with an outlet opening,

an inflatable gas bag;

a gas generator supplying gas for inflating the gas bag;

a module cover closing the outlet opening;

a holding part surrounding the gas generator, and

an emblem arranged on an outer side of the module cover which is visible from outside the module cover,

the gas bag having a front wall with a center section, the occupant contacting the front wall during restraint,

the front wall having a depression defined by the center section of the front wall being permanently fastened to the holding part which prevents the center section from a free movement upon inflation of the gas bag,

the emblem having a back side and a fastener on the back side which extends to and is attached to the holding part,

the module cover having a cover section lying immediately beneath the emblem and being permanently attached to the holding part via the fastener, and

the center section being gripped between the holding part and an underside of the cover section to be permanently fastened to the holding part.

2. The gas bag restraint device according to claim 1 wherein the holding part is a diffusor having the shape of a round container, the diffusor including a base, a side of the base being adjacent to the module cover and an opposite open end of the diffusor being through which the gas generator extends, the center section being fastened to the base of the diffusor.

3. The gas bag restraint device according to claim 2 wherein the diffusor is spaced apart from the gas generator radially and in a region of the base.

4. The gas bag restraint device according to claim 1 wherein the holding part together with the gas generator project into an interior of the gas bag.

5. A gas bag restraint device for helping to restrain an occupant of a vehicle during a vehicle crash event, the restraint device comprising:

a gas bag module with an outlet opening,

an inflatable gas bag;

a gas generator supplying gas for inflating the gas bag;

a module cover closing the outlet opening;

a reinforcement plate embedded within the module cover, and

a holding part surrounding the gas generator,

the gas bag having a front wall with a center section,

the occupant contacting the front wall during restraint,

the front wall having a depression defined by the center section of the front wall being permanently fastened to the holding part which prevents the center section from a free movement upon inflation of the gas bag,

the reinforcement plate having a fastener which extends to and is permanently attached to the holding part,

the fastener on the reinforcement plate passing through a portion of the module cover so that the portion of the module cover is also permanently attached to the holding part.

6. The gas bag restraint device according to claim 5 wherein the center section of the gas bag is clamped between the holding part and an underside of the portion of the module cover to permanently attach the center section of the gas bag to the holding part.

7. The gas bag restraint device according to claim 6 wherein the holding part is a diffusor having the shape of a round container, the diffusor including a base, a side of the base being adjacent to the module cover and an opposite open end of the diffusor being through which the gas generator extends, the center section being fastened to the base of the diffusor.

8. The gas bag restraint device according to claim 7 wherein the holding part is a diffusor having the shape of a round container, the diffusor including a base, a side of the base being adjacent to the module cover and an oppositeis spaced apart from the gas generator radially and in a region of the base.

9. The gas bag restraint device according to claim 6 wherein the holding part together with the gas generator project into an interior of the gas bag.