Airbag module for motor vehicles

• US 6,592,141 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Standinger, Richard, Guthke, Detlev Wilhelm, Dancasius, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROYAL, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/465,596
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/731, 280/736, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2037 the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658
• 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

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag module for motor vehicles comprising a housing for an inflatable airbag and a gas generator, with the gas generator and the housing being movable independently of one another for reduction and isolation of vibration and for ease of horn actuation.

Claims

1. An airbag module for motor vehicles comprising:

an inflatable airbag;

a housing for the inflatable airbag;

a gas generator; and

a base element securable to the motor vehicle, wherein the base element is operatively connected to the gas generator by at least one vibration damping coupling element and wherein the housing and the gas generator are moveable relative to one another substantially independently of one another.

2. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the gas generator serves as a vibration damper.

3. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the housing is moveable towards the base element against a restoring force.

4. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the housing is supported on and resiliently seated on the base element.

5. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the module further comprises at least one guide pin connected to the base element, and wherein the housing is displaceable along said at least one guide pin.

6. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the module is operatively connected to a horn.

7. The airbag module of claim 6 wherein moving the housing relative to the base element actuates the horn.

8. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein at least one wall of the housing provides a gas inlet for the module.

9. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the gas generator is at least partially surrounded by a housing wall that serves as a gas inlet.

10. The airbag module in accordance with claim 9 wherein the gas inlet serves as a gas diffuser.

11. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the gas generator, a wall of the housing comprising a gas inlet and at least one sealing element bound a gas inlet space.

12. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the gas generator includes at least one seal for sealing a gas inlet space.

13. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the airbag includes a mouth opening and the housing includes a gas inlet space, the airbag extending out of the housing and being connected at an edge region bordering the mouth opening to one of the gas generator or the base element for sealing the gas inlet space.

14. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the module includes a gas inlet space and wherein a separate sealing element is arranged between the gas generator and the housing.

15. The airbag module of claim 1 wherein the base element comprises subassembly of a steering wheel unit.

16. The airbag module of claim 1, wherein the module includes a gas inlet space and wherein a separate sealing element is arranged between the gas generator and the base element.