Air bag device, production method of an air bag device, activation method of an air bag device and vehicle with an air bag device

• US 6,739,619 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Mueller, Olaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/384,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 280/728.2, 280/736, 280/742, 296/214
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

This invention relates to an air bag system for accommodation behind a vehicle covering. The air bag system contains an air bag, which advances in a main inflating direction when the air bag system is triggered, and a gas generator for supplying the air bag with pressure gas during triggering of the air bag system. The gas generator and the air bag are connected by a gas distributing duct which extends at least partially at an angle with respect to the main inflating direction of the air bag. In this case, the gas distributing duct is formed of air bag material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a manufacturing process and a triggering process for such an air bag system as well as to a motor vehicle having such an air bag system, of which at least the air bag is arranged on a sliding roof frame part.

Claims

1. Air bag system comprising:

an air bag, and

a gas generator for supplying the air bag with pressure gas during triggering of the air bag system,

the gas generator and the air bag being connected by a gas distributing duct,

wherein the gas distributing duct is formed of air bag material, and

wherein fastening passage holes are provided in at least one of the gas distributing duct and the air bag itself, which fastening passage holes are formed by one of welding connections, glued connections, sewn connections and woven connections and are sealed off with respect to the interior of the at least one of the gas distributing duct and the air bag,

clips for installing the airbag in the ceiling of a vehicle, the clips passing through the fastening passage holes, and

wherein at least one clip is connected to a roof holding grip of a vehicle which installs the ceiling of the vehicle whereby the air bag can be installed to vehicle structure conjointly with the vehicle ceiling.

2. Airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening passage holes are formed in an attachment portion of the airbag juxtaposed between and in gas communication with the gas distributing duct and the air bag itself.

3. Airbag system according to claim 1, wherein the air bag advances in a main inflating direction when the air bag system is triggered, and wherein the gas distributing duct extends at least partially at an angle with respect to the main inflating direction of the air bag.

4. Air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the gas distributing duct is integrally constructed with the air bag.

5. Air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the gas distributing duct is formed by a multiple layer material having at least two layers.

6. Air bag system according to claim 5, wherein the multiple layer material of the gas distributing duct is formed by foldings of the air bag material.

7. Air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the gas distributing duct is formed by one of welded connections, glued connections, sewn connections and woven connections of at least two layers of air bag material, and gas passage openings are defined between connections.

8. Air bag system according to claim 1, and further comprising reinforcements placed in the gas distributing duct in at least an area of one of an inflow opening of the pressure gas from the gas generator and where the gas distributing duct has a curved course.

9. Air bag system according to claim 1, and further comprising covering and fastening devices by which the air bag can be accommodated when folded together in its ready position.

10. Air bag system according to claim 9, wherein the covering and fastening devices contain at least one layer of one of non-woven material and paper by which the air bag can be accommodated when folded together in its ready position.

11. Air bag system according to claim 9, wherein the covering and fastening devices are fixedly connected with at least one of the air bag and a vehicle covering.

12. Air bag system according to claim 11, wherein the covering and fastening devices are glued to the at least one of the air bag and the vehicle covering.

13. Air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the fastening passage holes are formed in an attachment portion of the airbag juxtaposed between and in gas communication with the gas distributing duct and the air bag itself.

14. Air bag system according to claim 13 wherein the clips hold the airbag to vehicle structure with the gas distributing duct above the clips and the air bag itself below the clips.

15. Air bag system comprising:

an air bag,

said air bag being composed of a flexible material formed into an enclosed integral bag with an axially extending distribution channel integrally formed as part of the bag,

the interior of the distribution channel being partially defined by and separated from the remaining interior of the bag by a series of spaced connections which define radial openings therebetween with respect to the axially extending distribution channel to enable communication between the interior of the distribution channel and the remaining interior of the bag, and

a gas generator for supplying the air bag with pressure gas during triggering of the air bag system coupled to the axially extending distribution channel so that gas flows axially through the distribution channel and passes radially into the remaining interior of the bag,

wherein fastening passage holes are provided in at least one of the gas distributing duct and the air bag itself, which fastening passage holes are formed by one of welding connections, glued connections, sewn connections and woven connections and are sealed gas tight with respect to the interior of the at least one of the gas distributing duct and the air bag,

clips for installing the air bag system in the ceiling of a vehicle by clips passing through the fastening passage holes, and

wherein at least one clip is connected to a roof holding grip which installs the ceiling and the air bag in position in common to the vehicle structure.

16. Air bag system according to claim 15 wherein the fastening passage holes are formed in an attachment portion of the airbag juxtaposed between and in gas communication with the gas distributing duct and the air bag itself.

17. Air bag system according to claim 15 wherein the air bag is installed in the ceiling of a vehicle by said at least one clip with the gas distributing duct above the clip and the air bag itself below the clip.