Gas bag restraint system

• US 6,616,175 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CEVA Communications Limited
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Acker, Dominique, Hofmann, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): CULBRETH, ERIC D
• Application Number:
  US09/944,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/742, 280/730.2, 280/732, 280/728.3, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.3
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2176 the air bag components being completely enclosed in a soft or semi-rigid housing or cover

Abstract

The invention relates to gas bag restraint system for use in motor vehicles, the system comprising a gas bag, a cover for the gas bag, a guiding sheet metal and a deployment opening for the gas bag. Upon deployment of the gas bag the cover is swiveled outwards to uncover the deployment opening. A guiding sheet metal is provided which forms at least part of the cover and is bent during swiveling. The guiding sheet metal exerts, in a position completely swiveled, a resistance to the gas bag when deploying so as to predetermine a deployment direction of the gas bag.

Claims

1. A gas bag restraint system for use in motor vehicles, said system comprising a gas bag, a cover for said gas bag, a guiding sheet metal and a deployment opening for said gas bag, which cover upon deployment of said gas bag is swiveled to uncover said deployment opening, said guiding sheet metal forming at least part of said cover and being bent during swiveling and exerting, in a position completely swiveled, a resistance to said gas bag when deploying so as to determine a deployment direction of said gas bag, a limiting means being integrated in said system which limiting means defines a maximum swiveling angle of said guiding sheet metal, said limiting means being a V-shaped bead in said guiding sheet metal, said bead having opposite portions which collide at said maximum swivel angle.

2. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said system is one of a vehicle side door and vehicle seat integrated system.

3. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cover has a visible part adjoining said guiding sheet metal.

4. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said visible part is connected with said guiding sheet metal.

5. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said visible part is applied onto said guiding sheet metal by injection-molding.

6. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said guiding sheet metal is provided with a foam casing which forms said visible part.

7. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said visible part is bonded to said guiding sheet metal.

8. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 4, wherein a welding peg made of plastics is provided, by means of which said visible part is connected with said guiding sheet metal.

9. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a gas bag module is provided which is attached to said motor vehicle via said guiding sheet metal.

10. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding sheet metal has a predetermined swiveling axis, which is formed by a line of weakness in a material of said guiding sheet metal.

11. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding sheet metal has at least one bead which defines a region that cannot be bent when said cover is opened.

12. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said guiding sheet metal has at least one slot which defines a tear line of said guiding sheet metal, along which tear line said guiding sheet metal tears open when said cover is opened.

13. A gas bag restraint system for use in motor vehicles, said system comprising a gas bag, a cover for said gas bag, a guiding sheet metal and a deployment opening for said gas bag, which cover upon deployment of said gas bag is swiveled to uncover said deployment opening, said guiding sheet metal forming at least part of said cover and being bent during swiveling and exerting, in a position completely swiveled, a resistance to said gas bag when deploying so as to determine a deployment direction of said gas bag, a limiting means being integrated in said system which limiting means defines a maximum swiveling angle of said guiding sheet metal, said limiting means being a V-shaped bead in said guiding sheet metal, said bead having converging outer surfaces, one of the surfaces pivoting relative to the other of the surfaces to engage each other, the engagement defining said maximum swivel angle.

14. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said system is one of a vehicle side door and vehicle seat integrated system.

15. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said cover has a visible part adjoining said guiding sheet metal.

16. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said visible part is connected with said guiding sheet metal.

17. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said visible part is applied onto said guiding sheet metal by injection-molding.

18. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said guiding sheet metal is provided with a foam casing which forms said visible part.

19. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said visible part is bonded to said guiding sheet metal.

20. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 16, wherein a welding peg made of plastics is provided, by means of which said visible part is connected with said guiding sheet metal.

21. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 13, wherein a gas bag module is provided which is attached to said motor vehicle via said guiding sheet metal.

22. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said guiding sheet metal has a predetermined swiveling axis, which is formed by a line of weakness in a material of said guiding sheet metal.

23. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said guiding sheet metal has at least one bead which defines a region that cannot be bent when said cover is opened.

24. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said guiding sheet metal has at least one slot which defines a tear line of said guiding sheet metal, along which tear line said guiding sheet metal tears open when said cover is opened.

25. A gas bag restraint system for use in motor vehicles, said system comprising a gas bag, a cover for said gas bag, a guiding sheet metal and a deployment opening for said gas bag, which cover upon deployment of said gas bag is swiveled to uncover said deployment opening, said guiding sheet metal forming at least part of said cover and a portion of said guiding sheet metal being bent about a line at a location intermediate terminal edges of said guiding sheet metal during swiveling, said guiding sheet metal exerting, in a position completely swiveled, a resistance to said gas bag when deploying so as to determine a deployment direction of said gas bag, a limiting means being integrated in said system which limiting means defines a maximum swiveling angle of said guiding sheet metal,

said limiting means being a bead in said guiding sheet metal, portions of said guiding sheet metal colliding when a predetermined swiveling angle is reached.

26. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said system is one of a vehicle side door and vehicle seat integrated system.

27. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said cover has a visible part adjoining said guiding sheet metal.

28. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said visible part is connected with said guiding sheet metal.

29. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said visible part is applied onto said guiding sheet metal by injection-molding.

30. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said guiding sheet metal is provided with a foam casing which forms said visible part.

31. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said visible part is bonded to said guiding sheet metal.

32. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 28, wherein a welding peg made of plastics is provided, by means of which said visible part is connected with said guiding sheet metal.

33. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 25, wherein a gas bag module is provided which is attached to said motor vehicle via said guiding sheet metal.

34. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said guiding sheet metal has a predetermined swiveling axis, which is formed by a line of weakness in a material of said guiding sheet metal.

35. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said guiding sheet metal has at least one bead which defines a region that cannot be bent when said cover is opened.

36. The gas bag restraint system as claimed in claim 25, wherein said guiding sheet metal has at least one slot which defines a tear line of said guiding sheet metal along which tear line said guiding sheet metal tears open when said cover is opened.