Gas bag module with gas guiding means

• US 6,568,708 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Miodek, Thomas, Ellerbrok, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lum, L.
• Application Number:
  US09/742,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/730.2, 280/728.1, 280/731, 280/732, 280/740, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/740
• 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 21/2346 Soft diffusers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/26 characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system. The gas bag module comprises an inflatable gas bag has an interior, a compressed gas source and a fabric layer arranged in the interior of the gas bag. The fabric layer guides a stream of compressed gas emerging from the compressed gas source upon inflation of the gas bag. A guiding plate is provided in the interior of the gas bag as an additional gas guiding means.

Claims

1. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, said gas bag module comprising an inflatable gas bag having an interior, a compressed gas source and a fabric layer arranged in said interior of said gas bag, said fabric layer guiding a stream of compressed gas emerging from said compressed gas source upon inflation of said gas bag, a guiding plate being provided in said interior of said gas bag as an additional gas guiding means.

2. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding plate is disposed directly above an inlet opening, of said gas bag, for compressed gas.

3. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding plate is formed integrally with a gas bag holder.

4. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1 wherein openings for the passage of compressed gas are provided on at least one side of said guiding plate.

5. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding plate is provided with guiding surfaces for guiding compressed gas flowing out of said compressed gas source.

6. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fabric layer is disposed above said guiding plate.

7. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guiding plate and said fabric layer are disposed one behind the other in a flow direction.

8. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fabric layer is asymmetrically located with respect to said guiding plate.

9. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas bag has walls and said fabric layer has a plurality of sides, said fabric layer being fixed to said gas bag walls at at least one of said sides, the side of said fabric layer fixed to said gas bag wall extending parallel to a flow direction of said stream of compressed gas emerging from said compressed gas source.

10. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1 wherein said gas bag has a portion extending parallel to said guiding plate, said fabric layer being fixed to said portion.

11. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least two openings are provided, which form a flow connection from a volume disposed below said fabric layer to said interior of said gas bag, these openings having different sizes.

12. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, said gas bag module comprising an inflatable gas bag having an interior, a compressed gas source and a fabric layer arranged in said interior of said gas bag, said fabric layer guiding a stream of compressed gas emerging from said compressed gas source upon inflation of said gas bag, a guiding plate being provided in said interior of said gas bag as an additional gas guiding means, the guiding plate being fixed relative to the compressed gas source.

13. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 wherein the guiding plate has openings through which the gas flows.

14. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein said guiding plate is disposed directly above an inlet opening of said gas bag for compressed gas.

15. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein said guiding plate is formed integrally with a gas bag holder.

16. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein openings for a passage of compressed gas are provided on at least one side of said guiding plate.

17. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 wherein said guiding plate is provided with a guiding surface for guiding compressed gas flowing out of said compressed gas source.

18. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 wherein said fabric layer is disposed above said guiding plate.

19. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 wherein said guiding plate and said fabric layer are disposed one behind the other in a flow direction.

20. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 wherein said fabric layer is asymmetrically located with respect to said guiding plate.

21. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 wherein said gas bag has walls and said fabric layer has a plurality of sides, said fabric layer being fixed to said gas bag walls at at least one of said sides, a side of said fabric layer fixed to said gas bag wall extending parallel to a flow direction of said stream of compressed gas emerging from said compressed gas source.

22. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 wherein said gas bag has a portion extending parallel to said guiding plate, said fabric layer being fixed to said portion.

23. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 wherein at least two openings are provided which form a flow connection from a volume disposed below said fabric layer to said interior of said gas bag, the openings having different sizes.

24. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 12 further including least one fastener fastening the gas bag to outer edges of the guiding plate.

25. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, said gas bag module comprising an inflatable gas bag having an interior, a compressed gas source and a fabric layer arranged in said interior of said gas bag, said fabric layer guiding a stream of compressed gas emerging from said compressed gas source during inflation of said gas bag, a guiding plate being provided in said interior of said gas bag as an additional gas guiding means, the guiding plate having openings through which the gas flows, said guiding plate being provided with guiding surfaces for guiding a stream of compressed gas flowing out of said compressed gas source, said guiding surfaces extending away from a base plate of said guiding plate towards the interior of said gas bag.

26. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25 wherein the guiding plate is fixed relative to the compressed gas source.

27. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein said guiding plate is disposed directly above an inlet opening of said gas bag for compressed gas.

28. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein said guiding plate is formed integrally with a gas bag holder.

29. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein openings for the passage of compressed gas are provided on at least one side of said guiding plate.

30. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25 wherein said fabric layer is disposed above said guiding plate.

31. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25 wherein said guiding plate and said fabric layer are disposed one behind the other in a flow direction.

32. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25 wherein said fabric layer is asymmetrically located with respect to said guiding plate.

33. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25 wherein said gas bag has walls and said fabric layer has a plurality of sides, said fabric layer being fixed to said gas bag walls at at least one of said sides, a side of said fabric layer fixed to said gas bag wall extending parallel to a flow direction of said stream of compressed gas emerging from said compressed gas source.

34. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25 wherein said gas bag has a portion extending parallel to said guiding plate, said fabric layer being fixed to said portion.

35. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25 wherein at least two openings are provided which form a flow connection from a volume disposed below said fabric layer to said interior of said gas bag, the openings having different sizes.

36. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25 further including least one fastener fastening the gas bag to outer edges of the guiding plate.

37. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the guiding plate comprises the base plate with bent portions, the bent portions comprising said guiding surfaces.

38. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein said guiding surfaces diverge as said guiding surfaces extend at an angle away from and relative to said base plate and towards the interior of said gas bag, the divergence being predetermined at assembly of the gas bag module.

39. The gas bag module as claimed in claim 25, wherein the guiding surfaces define said openings in said guiding plate.