Airbag module and arrangement and method thereof in a vehicle

• US 6,607,210 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 08/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG, Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kamm, Martin, Spies, Udo, Haase, Carsten, Radtke, Gerd, Neff, Martin, Rion, Claude, Eckert, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US09/893,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109341A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/732, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2375 Folding devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• 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 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag arrangement and method includes an airbag module, which has a module housing and an airbag. The airbag is arranged so that it sequentially unfolds in various directions so that it ultimately becomes positioned in front of the passenger. The airbag has two sections, a first chamber and a second chamber. The first chamber inflates first and is forced to travel substantially laterally along the dashboard toward the A-frame, and rests there or the windshield or both. The airbag is twistingly connected relative to the housing so that as the first chamber inflates, it rests against the windshield or the A-frame and applies a torque thereagainst to stably position the first chamber. The first chamber becomes substantially centered about the front seat. Thereafter, the second chamber inflates toward the seat or the passenger seated therein.

Claims

1. An airbag module comprising:

a module housing having a connection opening;

an airbag having a connection opening, the airbag being connected to the housing with the connection openings being aligned, the airbag having a first chamber, a second chamber separated from the first chamber by a separation line, and an overflow opening communicating the first and second chambers; and

a gas generator for supplying gas to the airbag via the connection openings,

wherein the airbag connection opening is provided on one side of the first chamber and the overflow opening is provided on an opposite side of the first chamber,

wherein when the airbag deploys, the separation line between the first and second chambers is adapted to be positioned substantially transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and

wherein the airbag is twisted about the module housing, substantially about an axis of the housing connection opening so that as the first chamber inflates, the first chamber rests against a vehicle part and generates a torque against the vehicle part against which the first chamber is stably positioned,

wherein the second chamber expands in front of and toward a vehicle seat after the first chamber has been stably positioned.

2. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the first chamber is shorter and smaller than the second chamber.

3. An airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the smaller chamber comprises a separate pocket provided in the airbag.

4. An airbag module according to claim 3, wherein the pocket is connected to opposite sides of the airbag at at least one point on each side.

5. An airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the pocket is connected to the opposite sides of the airbag via seams or catch straps.

6. An airbag module according to claim 5, wherein the airbag has a lower panel and an upper panel connected to each other with a circumferential seam, the lower panel having the airbag connection opening that connects the airbag to the module housing.

7. An airbag module according to claim 6, wherein the pocket is attached to the circumferential seam and is connected in a central region in a curved manner to the lower and upper panels.

8. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is rectangular and has rounded corners in an unfolded, non-inflated state.

9. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is configured to deploy in three sequential phases, which comprises a) a first phase in which the airbag deploys vertically out of the housing connection opening, b) a second phase in which the airbag deploys substantially laterally, and c) a third phase in which the airbag deploys rearwardly, toward the passenger.

10. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the module housing is cupshaped for accommodating the airbag in a folded, uninflated state, and adapted to be arranged under a vehicle dashboard, into which the gas generator protrudes from below.

11. An airbag arrangement for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag module comprising;

a module housing having a connection opening;

an airbag having a connection opening, the airbag being connected to the housing with the connection openings being aligned, the airbag having a first chamber, a second chamber separated by a separation line, and an overflow opening communicating the first and second chambers; and

a gas generator for supplying gas to the airbag via the connection openings,

wherein the airbag connection opening is provided on one side of the first chamber and the overflow opening is provided on an opposite side of the first chamber,

wherein when the airbag deploys, the separation line between the first and second chambers is positioned substantially transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle,

wherein the airbag is twisted about the module housing, substantially about an axis of the housing connection opening so that as the first chamber inflates, the first chamber rests against a vehicle part and generates a torque against the vehicle part against which the first chamber is stably positioned,

wherein the second chamber expands in front of and toward a vehicle seat after the first chamber has been stably positioned.

12. An airbag arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the airbag module is arranged along a center of a vehicle dashboard, and the housing connecting opening is located on the upper side of the dashboard facing the center of the vehicle, and the overflow opening is provided on a side of the airbag facing the right-hand side of the vehicle, and wherein the airbag in an unfolded, non-inflated position extends obliquely in the direction of a front passenger.

13. An airbag arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the airbag is folded and positioned inside the housing with the airbag connection opening downward, and the first and second chambers tucked inside the housing, and the rest of the airbag lying over in the module housing.

14. An airbag arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the airbag is twisted about 45°

with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

15. An airbag arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle part is a windshield or an A-pillar of the vehicle.

16. An airbag arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the housing has a cup shaped and arranged under a vehicle dashboard into which the gas generator protrudes from below.

17. A method of inflating airbag in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing an airbag module comprising;

a module housing having a connection opening;

an airbag having a connection opening, the airbag being connected to the housing with the connection openings being aligned, the airbag having a first chamber, a second chamber separated by a separation line, and an overflow opening communicating the first and second chambers; and

a gas generator for supplying gas to the airbag via the connection openings,

providing the airbag connection opening on one side of the first chamber and the overflow opening on an opposite side of the first chamber,

placing the separation line between the first and second chambers substantially transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle,

connecting the airbag twisted about the module housing, substantially about an axis of the housing connection opening so that as the first chamber inflates, the first chamber rests against a vehicle part and generates a torque against the vehicle part against which the first chamber is stably positioned,

inflating the second chamber after the first chamber has been stably positioned.