Gas bag module

• US 6,588,798 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2002
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Fellhauer, Joachim, Bohn, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/060,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20020105179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/732, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas bag module comprising a gas bag including a gas bag wall which has a front and a rear wall section and including at least one chamber. The gas bag further comprises an indentation running from the front wall section in an inflated state in a direction toward the rear wall section. The indentation is formed in that a part of the gas bag wall is prevented from an unimpeded movement towards outside of the module on unfolding of the gas bag. The gas bag, in a region of a mouth of the indentation, has a bubble-like inflatable extension in flow connection with the at least one chamber of the gas bag, which extension closes the indentation.

Claims

1. A gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag including a gas bag wall which has a front and a rear wall section and including at least one chamber,

an indentation running from said front wall section in an inflated state in a direction toward said rear wall section, which indentation is formed in that a part of said gas bag wall is prevented from an unimpeded movement towards outside of said module on unfolding of said gas bag,

said gas bag, in a region of a mouth of said indentation, having a bulbous inflatable extension in flow connection with said at least one chamber of said gas bag, which extension closes said indentation,

said indentation running obliquely from a lowest point thereof toward said front wall section.

2. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein only one inflatable extension is provided, which is constructed such that on inflation it spreads radially inwards into said mouth.

3. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein in said inflated state of said gas bag, said extension rests at sections of said gas bag wall that define said indentation.

4. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said extension in said inflated state of said gas bag projects outwards with respect to said front wall section.

5. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein as seen in a cross-section of said inflated gas bag, said extension has at least one passage opening to said chamber of said gas bag which passage opening defines a fluid communication between the extension and the chamber, said passage opening extending almost along the entire width of said indentation.

6. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable extension is constituted by at least one separate fabric piece.

7. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said extension, in said inflated state of said gas bag, overlaps said front wall section in part.

8. A gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag including a gas bag wall which has a front and a rear wall section and including at least one chamber,

an indentation running from said front wall section in an inflated state in a direction toward said rear wall section, which indentation is formed in that a part of said gas bag wall is prevented from an unimpeded movement towards outside of said module on unfolding of said gas bag,

said gas bag, in a region of a mouth of said indentation, having a bulbous inflatable extension in flow connection with said at least one chamber of said gas bag which extension closes said indentation, and

said extension in said inflated state of said gas bag projecting outwards with respect to said front wall section.

9. A gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag including a gas bag wall which has a front and a rear wall section and including at least one chamber,

an indentation running from said front wall section in an inflated state in a direction toward said rear wall section, which indentation is formed in that a part of said gas bag wall is prevented from an unimpeded movement towards outside of said module on unfolding of said gas bag,

said gas bag, in a region of a mouth of said indentation, having a bulbous inflatable extension in flow connection with said at least one chamber of said gas bag, which extension closes said indentation,

said inflatable extension is constituted by two superimposed fabric pieces that are connected with each other at outer edges thereof, and

said fabric pieces, for the purpose of forming passage openings to said chamber, being not connected with each other in at least one section of said outer edges.

10. The gas bag module according to claim 9, wherein as seen in a cross-section of said inflated gas bag, said extension has at least one passage opening which defines a fluid communication to said chamber of said gas bag, said passage opening being provided remote from said mouth of said indentation and approximately in the middle between said front and rear wall sections.

11. The gas bag module according to claim 9, wherein said gas bag, in relation to a spread-out, non-inflated state, consists of at least four fabric pieces lying one over the other and being connected with each other, including an upper and lower fabric piece to form said front and rear wall sections, respectively, and two inner fabric pieces which delimit said indentation.

12. The gas bag module according to claim 11, wherein at least some of said fabric pieces have a central opening, said openings being arranged concentrically to each other, in relation to said spread-out, non-inflated state of said gas bag.

13. The gas bag module according to claim 11, wherein said inner fabric pieces have an identical external geometry.

14. The gas bag module according to claim 11, wherein said inner fabric pieces have an asymmetrical, annular form with a bulge to form said extension.

15. The gas bag module according to claim 9, wherein said fabric pieces for the purpose of forming passage openings to said chamber are not connected with each other in at least one section of said edge.

16. The gas bag module according to claim 9, wherein said bulbous extension has the shape of a mushroom, the shape of the mushroom, seen in a sectional side view, having a stem portion extending within said indentation and a cap portion closing said indentation at said mouth.

17. A gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag including a gas bag wall which has a front and a rear wall section and including at least one chamber,

an indentation running from said front wall section in an inflated state in a direction toward said rear wall section, which indentation is formed by a part of said gas bag wall prevented from unimpeded movement towards outside of said module on unfolding of said gas bag,

said gas bag, in a region of a mouth of said indentation, having a non-symmetrical bulbous inflatable extension in flow connection with said at least one chamber of said gas bag, which extension closes said indentation,

said gas bag wall being defined by fabric pieces, at least one of said fabric pieces resulting in a non-symmetrical gas bag shape in the inflated state to form said bulbous inflatable extension.

18. The gas bag module according to claim 17, wherein a portion of said module overlies said part of said gas bag wall which forms said indentation to prevent said part of said gas bag wall from movement towards outside of said module on unfolding of said gas bag.

19. A gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag including a gas bag wall which has a front and a rear wall section and including at least one chamber,

an indentation running from said front wall section in an inflated state in a direction toward said rear wall section, which indentation is formed in that a part of said gas bag wall is prevented from an unimpeded movement towards outside of said module on unfolding of said gas bag,

said gas bag, in region of a mouth of said indentation, having a bulbous inflatable extension in flow connection with said at least one chamber of said gas bag, which extension closes said indentation, and

said extension, in said inflated state of said gas bag, overlaps said front wall section in part, and

said bulbous extension having the shape of a mushroom, seen in a sectional side view, with a stem-shaped portion extending within said indentation and a cap with a convex outer side closing said indentation at said mouth of said indentation.

20. A gas bag module comprising:

a gas bag including a gas bag wall which has a front and a rear wall section and including at least one chamber,

an indentation running from said front wall section in an inflated state in a direction toward said rear wall section, which indentation is formed in that a part of said gas bag wall is prevented from an unimpeded movement towards outside of said module on unfolding of said gas bag,

said gas bag wall forming a bulbous extension defined by a separate gas bag wall portion and arranged within said indentation and closing said indentation, a gas bag wall portion defining said indentation circumscribing said separate gas bag wall portion defining said bulbous extension, and

said extension being in flow connection with said at least one chamber of said gas bag.

21. The gas bag module according to claim 20, wherein as seen in a cross-section of said inflated gas bag, said extension has at least one passage opening which defines a fluid communication to said chamber of said gas bag, said passage opening being provided remote from said mouth of said indentation and approximately in the middle between said front and rear wall sections.

22. The gas bag module according to claim 20, wherein said gas bag, in relation to a spread-out, non-inflated state, consists of at least four fabric pieces lying one over the other and being connected with each other, including an upper and lower fabric piece to form said front and rear wall sections, respectively, and two inner fabric pieces which delimit said indentation.

23. The gas bag module according to claim 22, wherein at least some of said fabric pieces have a central opening, said openings being arranged concentrically to each other, in relation to said spread-out, non-inflated state of said gas bag.

24. The gas bag module according to claim 22, wherein said inner fabric pieces have an identical external geometry.

25. The gas bag module according to claim 22, wherein said inner fabric pieces having an asymmetrical, annular form with a bulge to form said extension.

26. The gas bag module according to claim 20, wherein fabric pieces forming said gas bag for the purpose of forming passage openings to said extension are not connected with each other in at least one section of fabric piece edges.

27. The gas bag module according to claim 20, wherein said bulbous extension has the shape of a mushroom, the shape of the mushroom, seen in a sectional side view, having a stem portion extending within said indentation and a cap portion closing said indentation.