Gas bag

• US 6,520,539 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Ritter, Philipp
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/565,337
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23576 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23595 Sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material

Abstract

A gas bag for occupant protection in vehicles is provided in which the outflow of gases at the seams is largely prevented. At least one strip of sealing material extends along the seam. The sealing effect which exists by means of the sealing material strip prevents the gas from escaping in the areas of the seam holes, because these are closed by the sealing material.

Claims

1. A gas bag for protecting a vehicle occupant, said gas bag comprising at least two pieces of fabric and at least one seam defined by at least one thread connecting portions of said pieces of fabric, said pieces of fabric defining a volume for receiving gas, said pieces of fabric having facing surfaces, wherein at least one narrow sealing material strip extends along said seam and seals said seam from leakage of gas from between said pieces of fabric through said seam, said sealing material strip having opposite main surfaces each having a total area, each of said total areas of said main surfaces respectively engaging said facing surfaces of said pieces of fabric which are connected by the seam, said sealing material strip further having edge surfaces interconnecting said main surfaces, one of said edge surfaces encircling said volume and partially defining said volume, said sealing material strip further being free of any interconnection extending between opposed portions of said one of said edge surfaces of said sealing material strip.

2. The gas bag according to claim 1 wherein said sealing material strip extends laterally beyond said seam.

3. The gas bag according to claim 2 wherein said seam consists of at least two parallel seam lines and each of said seam lines is sealed by a sealing material strip.

4. The gas bag according to claim 3 wherein a space substantially free of said sealing material strip is provided between said seam lines.

5. The gas bag according to claim 1 wherein said sealing material strip is formed from a substantially gas-tight material layer.

6. The gas bag according to claim 1 wherein said sealing material strip is formed as a substantially gas-tight band which is bonded to at least one of said pieces of fabric.

7. The gas bag according to claim 1 wherein said sealing material strip is formed from a liquid or pasty material.

8. The gas bag according to claim 1 wherein said sealing material strip is formed from a substance based on silicate.

9. The gas bag according to claim 1 wherein said sealing material strip is formed from a substance based on synthetic polymer.

10. The gas bag according to claim 1 wherein said sealing material strip has a rigidity lower than that of said pieces of fabric.

11. A gas bag for protecting a vehicle occupant, said gas bag comprising at least two pieces of fabric and at least one seam defined by at least one thread connecting portions of said pieces of fabric, said pieces of fabric defining a volume for receiving gas, said pieces of fabric having facing surfaces, wherein at least one sealing material strip extends along said seam and seals said seam from leakage of gas from between said pieces of fabric, said sealing material strip being arranged on said facing surfaces of said pieces of fabric which are connected by said seam, a space substantially free of said sealing material strip being provided between said seam.