Gas bag restraint device

• US 6,655,714 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Fellhauer, Joachim, Neupert, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRAPER, DEANN L
• Application Number:
  US10/036,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/731, 280/732, 280/729
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• 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 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas bag restraint device including a gas bag module which has a gas bag wall. The gas bag wall has a front wall upon which an occupant to be restrained can impact in a case of restraint and has a depression defined by a ring-shaped gas bag wall portion. The depression is generated in that a center portion of the front wall is attached to the module and is prevented from movement when the gas bag is inflated. A holder is provided at the ring-shaped gas bag wall portion that keep parts of the ring-shaped gas bag wall portion, which get in contact with each other when the gas bag is inflated, in contact with each other in a fully inflated condition of the gas bag, and at least partly close the depression.

Claims

1. A gas bag restraint device, comprising

a gas bag module which has a gas bag with a gas bag wall which gas bag wall has a front wall upon which an occupant to be restrained can impact in a case of restraint, the front wall having a depression defined by a ring-shaped gas bag wall portion, said depression being generated in that a center portion of said front wall is attached to said module and is prevented from a movement when said gas bag is inflated,

holding means being provided at said ring-shaped gas bag wall portion that keep parts of said ring-shaped gas bag wall portion, which get in contact with each other when said gas bag is inflated, in contact with each other in a fully inflated condition of said gas bag, and at least partly close said depression.

2. The gas bag restraint device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means are disposed at an entrance of said depression.

3. The gas bag restraint device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means connect opposite parts of said ring-shaped gas bag wall portion with each other.

4. The gas bag restraint device as claimed in claim 1, wherein adhesive holding means are provided.

5. The gas bag restraint device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means are a hook and eye closure such as VELCRO®

.

6. The gas bag restraint device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, when said gas bag has been inflated, said depression is closed by said holding means such as to form a slot.

7. The gas bag restraint device as claimed in claim 1, wherein limiting straps are provided adjoining said depression, said limiting straps limiting a movement of said front wall close to said entrance of said depression during inflation.