Gas bag module

• US 6,517,102 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2001
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Kolb, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRAPER, DEANN L
• Application Number:
  US09/828,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20010030417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, in particular a side gas bag module extending along a roof frame of the vehicle. The gas bag module comprises a gas bag and a housing with two separate side pieces which define an ejection channel for the gas bag. One of the side pieces is to be located close to the frame and the other of the side pieces is to be located close to an interior of the vehicle. The side pieces each have upper and lower ends constituting marginal sections. The side piece close to the interior is constructed to be so elastic and to have such a shape adapted to a shape of the side piece close to the frame, that the side piece close to the interior only rests against an outside of side piece close to the frame and embraces the latter in the manner of a clip.

Claims

1. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, which module is an elongated side gas bag module extendable along a roof frame of said vehicle, said gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag and

a housing with separate first and second side pieces which define an ejection channel for said gas bag,

said first and second side pieces each having first and second spaced apart ends constituting first and second marginal sections of each of said first and second side pieces,

said first side piece being for location close to said frame,

and said second side piece being for location close to an interior of said vehicle,

said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece being elastic and having a shape cooperating with a shape of said first and second marginal sections of said first side piece and said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece rest against an outer surface of said first and second marginal sections, respectively, of said first side piece, and

said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece embracing said first and second marginal sections of said first side piece and forming two snap connections comprising a clip connection fixing said first and second side pieces together.

2. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said first side piece has a base plate and wherein said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece, in an installed state before an activation of said gas bag module, engage on a rear face of said base plate.

3. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said side pieces each have a C-shaped cross-section.

4. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said marginal sections of said side pieces in said installed state are only fixed to each other by said two snap connections.

5. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of said first and second marginal sections of said first and second side pieces is in the form of a circular arc.

6. The gas bag module according to claim 5, wherein in said installed state said marginal sections of said first and second side pieces overlap each other and wherein said cross-sections of said overlapping marginal sections of said first side piece and of said second side piece are concentric circular arcs.

7. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said second side piece has a hinge and a section of said second side piece swivels open at said hinge towards the vehicle interior to open said housing.

8. The gas bag module according to claim 7, wherein said hinge is a film hinge.

9. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein at least one device is provided in order to fix said side pieces to each other during assembly of said gas bag module and prior to installation of said gas bag module into the vehicle.

10. The gas bag module according to claim 9, wherein domes are provided which are formed on one of said side pieces and have recesses, and wherein pins are provided which are formed on the other of said side pieces, said device consisting of said domes and said pins which engage with each other, said pins being received in said recesses.

11. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein at least one fastening device is provided via which said side pieces are connected with each other at a location other than said overlapping marginal sections.

12. The gas bag module according to claim 11, wherein said fastening device is a clamping device.

13. The gas bag module according to claim 12, wherein said first side piece has domes with recesses and wherein said second side piece is fastened to said first side piece by nails which are received in said recesses to connect the side pieces together.

14. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag, upon inflation extends from the module in a direction vertically downwards relative to the roof frame of the vehicle and the first and second marginal sections of the first and second side pieces are spaced apart from one another along said direction.

15. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, which module is an elongated side gas bag module extendable along a roof frame of said vehicle, said gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag and

a housing with separate first and second side pieces which define an ejection channel for said gas bag,.

said first and second side pieces each having first and second spaced apart ends constituting first and second marginal sections, each of said side pieces having a C-shaped cross-section,

said first side piece being for location close to said frame,

and said second side piece being for location close to an interior of said vehicle,

said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece being elastic and having a shape cooperating with a shape of said first and second marginal sections of said first side piece and said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece rest against an outer surface of said first and second marginal sections, respectively, of said first side piece and

said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece embracing said first side piece and forming two snap connections comprising a clip connection fixing said first and second side pieces together.

16. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, which module is an elongated side gas bag module extendable along a roof frame of said vehicle, said gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag and

a housing with separate first and second side pieces which define an ejection channel for said gas bag,

said first and second side pieces each having first and second spaced apart ends constituting first and second marginal sections, a cross-section of each of said first and second marginal sections of said side pieces being in the form of a circular arc,

said first side piece being for location close to said frame,

and said second side piece being for location close to an interior of said vehicle,

said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece being elastic and having a shape cooperating with a shape of said first and second marginal sections of said first side piece and said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece rest against an outer surface of said first and second marginal sections, respectively, of said first side piece and

said first and second marginal sections of said second side piece embracing said first side piece and forming two snap connections comprising a clip connection fixing said first and second side pieces together.