Gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 7,040,650 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2002
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Lehmann, Michael, Neupert, Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Son T.
• Application Number:
  US10/151,494
• Publication Number:
  US 20020185846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/731, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, which gas bag can be transferred from a folded condition into a deployed condition and comprises a first chamber which has an inflation opening, and a second chamber which is in flow connection with the first chamber. The first chamber is generally elongate in the deployed condition and the second chamber is connected with the first chamber at a side face of the first chamber, so that the gas bag is asymmetrical. A limiting strap is provided which extends across an outside of the second chamber and across part of an outside of the first chamber.

Claims

1. A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, said gas bag being transferable from a folded condition into a deployed condition and comprising:

a first chamber having an inflation opening and being generally elongate in said deployed condition, a second chamber being in flow connection with said first chamber and being connected with said first chamber at a side face of said first chamber, so that said gas bag is asymmetrical, and a limiting strap limiting movement of said second chamber relative to said first chamber, said limiting strap extending from an outside portion of said first chamber to an outside portion of said second chamber and facing the heat of an occupant, wherein the occupant moving towards said gas bag directly contacts said limiting strap when said gas bag is in said deployed condition.

2. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limiting strap extends approximately transverse to a longitudinal direction of said second chamber.

3. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second chamber is attached to said first chamber in the manner of a hinge, so that said second chamber can be folded down with respect to said first one.

4. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said deployed condition of said gas bag said limiting strap extends at least partly at a distance from said first chamber.

5. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said limiting strap extends in front of said first and second chambers such that the head of the occupant moving towards said gas bag contacts said limiting strap when said gas bag is in said deployed condition.

6. The gas bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second chamber is connected with said first chamber at a side face of said first chamber along a connecting line, said limiting strap extending across said connecting line.

7. An assembly comprising a gas bag and a vehicle body, said gas bag being transferable from a folded condition into a deployed condition and comprising:

a first chamber having an inflation opening and being generally elongate in said deployed condition, a second chamber being in flow connection with said first chamber and being connected with said first chamber at a side face of said first chamber, so that said gas bag is asymmetrical, and a limiting strap limiting movement of said second chamber relative to said first chamber, said limiting strap extending from an outside portion of said first chamber to an outside portion of said second chamber and facing the head of an occupant, wherein the occupant moving towards said gas bag directly contacts said limiting strap when said gas bag is in said deployed condition, said gas bag as regards its orientation being mounted stationary in said vehicle in said deployed condition, and said second chamber of said gas bag being disposed on that side of said gas bag which faces an A-pillar of said vehicle body.

8. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said gas bag is part of a driver gas bag module and said module is mounted at a vehicle steering wheel in such a manner that its orientation relative to said vehicle body is independent of a rotation of said steering wheel.

9. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said gas bag is part of a passenger gas bag module.

10. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said limiting strap extends in front of said first and second chambers such that the head of the occupant moving towards said gas bag contacts said limiting strap when said gas bag is in said deployed condition.

11. The assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein said second chamber is connected with said first chamber at a side face of said first chamber along a connecting line, said limiting strap extending across said connecting line.

12. A gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, said gas bag being transferable from a folded condition into a deployed condition and comprising:

a first chamber having an inflation opening and being generally elongate in said deployed condition, a second chamber being in flow connection with said first chamber and being connected with said first chamber at a side face of said first chamber, so that said gas bag is asymmetrical, and a limiting strap limiting movement of said second chamber relative to said first chamber, said limiting strap extending from an outside portion of said first chamber to an outside portion of said second chamber and positioned between said gas bag and the head of an occupant, wherein upon deceleration of the vehicle and said gas bag being in said deployed condition, the head of the occupant directly contacts said limiting strap which causes said limiting strap to pull said second chamber toward said first chamber.