Gas bag restraining device

• US 6,786,504 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2001
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Lorenz, Christian, Derrick, John-Oliver, Bieber, Udo
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TO, TOAN C
• Application Number:
  US10/035,767
• Publication Number:
  US 20020084631A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21543 with emblems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

The invention relates to a gas bag restraining device comprising a gas bag module which has a gas bag with a front wall upon which an occupant to be restrained can impact in a case of restraint. The front wall has a depression which is produced in that a center portion of the front wall is attached to the module and is prevented from moving when the gas bag is inflated. The gas bag restraining device further comprises a module cover closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of the gas bag module. The module cover has a central hole which is covered by a cap which is stationary during opening of said gas bag module. The module cover has an edge defining the central hole and opens, preferably tears, towards outside starting from the edge. A holding connection is provided between the edge and the cap which is released when said gas bag module is opened.

Claims

1. A gas bag restraining device comprising:

a gas bag module having a gas bag with a front wall for restraining an occupant, said front wall having a depression defined by a center portion of said front wall attached to said gas bag module, said center portion of said front wall being prevented from moving when said gas bag is inflated;

a module cover for closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of said gas bag module, said module cover having a central hole covered by a stationary cap and an edge defining said central hole; and

a holding connection provided between said edge and said stationary cap, said holding connection being released when said gas bag module is opened so that said module cover opens outwardly starting from said edge,

said module cover having an end wall and a side wall, said end wall being clamped at a transition between said end wall and said side wall.

2. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding connection is a form-fitting connection.

3. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said cap makes a tongue-and-groove joint with said edge.

4. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said edge is clamped between an underside of said cap and a part of said module to which said cap is attached.

5. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said edge has a projection extending towards an underside of said cap, said edge resting against said underside of said cap.

6. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, in a region of said projection, said underside has a recess for receiving said projection.

7. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said module cover consists of opposing flap portions having a parting joint connecting said flap portions in a form-fitting manner.

8. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said end wall has at least two opposing flap portions swivel outwardly said gas bag module opens, flap portions engaging in a form-fitting manner.

9. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 8, wherein a hinge is formed at said transition, said hinge defining a swivel axis for said flap portions of said end wall.

10. The gas bag restraint device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said module cover is opened by tearing.

11. A gas bag restraining device comprising:

a gas bag module having a gas bag with a front wall for restraining an occupant, said front wall having a depression defined by a center portion of said front wall attached to said gas bag module, said center portion of said front wall being prevented from moving when said gas bag is inflated;

a module cover for closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of said gas bag module, said module cover having a central hole covered by a stationary cap and an edge defining said central hole; and

a holding connection provided between said edge and said stationary cap, said holding connection being released when said gas bag module is opened so that said module cover opens outwardly starting from said edge,

said edge extending obliquely from an underside of said module cover toward an underside of said cap, said edge defining a chamfer extending along an outer perimeter of said cap.

12. A gas bag restraining device comprising:

a gas bag module having a gas bag with a front wall for restraining an occupant, said front wall having a depression defined by a center portion of said front wall attached to said gas bag module, said center portion of said front wall being prevented from moving when said gas bag is inflated;

a module cover for closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of said gas bag module, said module cover having a central hole covered by a stationary cap and an edge defining said central hole; and

a holding connection provided between said edge and said stationary cap, said holding connection being released when said gas bag module is opened so that said module cover opens outwardly starting from said edge,

said edge being clamped between an underside of said cap and a part of said gas bag module, said cap being immediately attached to said part.

13. The gas bag restraining device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said part is a gas generator.

14. A gas bag restraining device comprising:

a gas bag module having a gas bag with a front wall for restraining an occupant, said front wall having a depression defined by a center portion of said front wall attached to said gas bag module, said center portion of said front wall being prevented from moving when said gas bag is inflated;

a module cover for closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of said gas bag module, said module cover having a central hole covered by a stationary cap and a ring-shaped edge defining said central hole; and

a holding connection provided between said ring-shaped edge and said stationary cap, said holding connection being released when said gas bag module is opened so that said module cover opens outwardly starting from said ring-shaped edge,

said cap forming a tongue and groove joint with said ring-shaped edge, said joint extending around a perimeter of said cap.

15. A gas bag restraining device comprising:

a gas bag module having a gas bag with a front wall for restraining an occupant, said front wall having a depression defined by a center portion of said front wall attached to said gas bag module, said center portion of said front wall being prevented from moving when said gas bag is inflated;

a module cover for closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of said gas bag module, said module cover having a central hole covered by a stationary cap and an edge defining said central hole; and

a holding connection provided between said edge and said stationary cap, said holding connection being released when said gas bag module is opened so that said module cover opens outwardly starting from said edge,

said holding connection extending along said edge and around said cap, said edge having a projection extending toward an underside of said cap, said projection being disposed adjacent said underside of said cap, said underside of said cap having a ring-shaped recess for receiving said projection, said recess extending along a perimeter of said cap.