Anti-submarining airbag for vehicle seat

• US 7,052,034 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2004
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lochmann, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US10/868,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20040262888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42763 with anti-submarining systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• 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

Abstract

An airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat has an airbag with an inflator located inside the airbag. The inflator has a first free end and an opposite second free end. The second free end of the inflator has a connection section projecting from the airbag. At least one part of the interior surface of the airbag comes into contact with the two free ends of the inflator when the airbag is inflated to brace the inflator in the airbag and to seal the airbag in a gas-tight manner at least in the region of the projecting connection section.

Claims

1. An airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat, comprising an airbag having an inflator located therein, the inflator having a first free end and an opposite second free end, to which a connection section projecting from the airbag is attached, a distance between the two free ends of the inflator is greater than a theoretical internal width of the inflated airbag in the longitudinal direction of the inflator, whereby at least one part of an interior surface of the airbag comes into contact with the two free ends of the inflator when the airbag is inflated, to brace the inflator in the airbag and to seal the airbag in a gas-tight manner at least in the region of the projecting connection section.

2. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 1, whereby a distance between the two free ends of the inflator is 1.1 to 1.3 times greater than a theoretical internal width of the inflated airbag in the longitudinal direction of the inflator.

3. The airbag module for a incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein at least one free end of the inflator has a surface configuration of a cylinder or a ball segment surface or a partly bent surface.

4. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein between the second free end of the inflator and the interior surface of the airbag there is disposed a contact element.

5. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 4, wherein the contact element has the shape of a plain washer.

6. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is tubular.

7. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 2, wherein the airbag is tubular.

8. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 3, wherein the airbag is tubular.

9. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the airbag has an original diameter and an original length and substantially maintains the original diameter and the original length when inflated.

10. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein the airbag has an original diameter and an original length and substantially maintains the original diameter and the original length when inflated.

11. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 8, wherein the airbag has an original diameter and an original length and substantially maintains the original diameter and the original length when inflated.

12. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the airbag if provided with a sealing layer.

13. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 10, wherein the interior surface of the airbag if provided with a sealing layer.

14. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 11, wherein the interior surface of the airbag if provided with a sealing layer.

15. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a fastening device to fasten the inflator to the airbag.

16. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 15, wherein the fastening device is a toothed lock washer or an E ring, which secures the connection section to the airbag.

17. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 15, wherein the fastening device is a clamp, which at least partly encloses the inflator and secures the latter to the airbag.

18. The airbag module for incorporation in a vehicle seat according to claim 17, whereby the clamp has a set breaking point.