Gas generator assembly and gas bag

• US 6,609,726 B1
• Filed: 08/07/2000
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Wölke, Hartmut, Stütz, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROYAL, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/601,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/740
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• 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

Abstract

An assembly comprising an inflator (10) and an elongated gas bag (14) in fluid communication therewith, said gas bag (14) being transferable from a space-saving folded condition into a deployed condition by compressed gas made available when required by said inflator (10), is characterized in that a flexible, compression-resistant space keeper (16) is provided in the interior of said gas bag (14) which provides a flow path for the compressed gas in the interior of said gas bag (14) whilst at the same time permitting folding of said gas bag (14).

Claims

1. An assembly comprising an inflator (10) and an elongated gas bag (14) in fluid communication therewith, said gas bag (14) being transferable from a space-saving folded condition into a deployed condition by compressed gas made available when required by said inflator (10),

characterized in that a flexible, compression-resistant space keeper (16) is provided in the interior of said gas bag (14) which permits folding of said gas bag (14) and provides a flow path for the compressed gas in the interior of the gas bag, said space keeper being a coil spring.

2. An assembly comprising an inflator (10) for providing inflation fluid and an elongated gas bag (14) inflatable by said inflation fluid, said gas bag (14) being transferable from a space-saving folded condition into a deployed condition by compressed gas made available when required by said inflator (10),

characterized in that a flexible, compression-resistant space keeper (16) is provided in the interior of said gas bag (14) which permits folding of said gas bag (14) and, in conjunction with said gas bag, provides a flow path for the compressed gas in the interior of the gas bag, said space keeper being a coil spring.

3. The assembly according to claim 2 wherein said coil spring is compressible only slightly by a pressure applied in a radial direction so that a free inner cross-section continues to exist while permitting deformation of said coil spring from an elongated condition to a spiral folded condition.