Gas bag protection device

• US 7,172,213 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2003
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
• Inventors: Kreuzer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/630,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/739, 280/743.1, 280/742, 280/750
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A gas bag protection device comprises a gas bag which has an outer wall made of a first material. The outer wall has at least one outflow opening. A membrane made of an extensible, second material is provided which is fastened to the outer wall and covers the outflow opening in the not fully inflated state of the gas bag. The gas bag protection device further comprises a device provided outside the gas bag and serving for destroying the membrane. The gas bag and the device are arranged spaced so far apart from each other that the membrane meets the device only when a predetermined internal pressure of the gas bag has been reached.

Claims

1. A gas bag protection device comprising:

a gas bag which has an outer wall defining an inflatable volume, said outer wall being made of a first material;

said outer wall having at least one outflow opening;

a membrane made of an extensible, second material which is fastened to said outer wall and covers said outflow opening in a not fully inflated state of said gas bag; and

a device provided outside said gas bag and serving for destroying said membrane;

said gas bag and said device being arranged spaced apart from each other such that said membrane meets said device only when a predetermined internal pressure of said gas bag has been reached;

wherein said membrane is arranged inside said gas bag volume and bulges outwards through said outflow opening before reaching said device, wherein said membrane defines a recess that extends inwardly of said gas bag from said outflow opening prior to inflation of said gas bag, said recess of said membrane having a pair of side walls that face each other and extend inwardly from said outflow opening.

2. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1, wherein said membrane in a folded state of said gas bag is arranged inside said gas bag and turns outwards through said outflow opening on inflation of said gas bag.

3. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1, wherein said second material of said membrane is constructed such that in a destroyed state said membrane defines an effective outflow cross-section.

4. The gas bag protection device according to claim 3, wherein said membrane in said destroyed state is so extensible that said membrane provides for one of an enlargement and reduction of said effective outflow cross-section as a function of an internal pressure in said gas bag.

5. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1, wherein said device for destroying said membrane is provided on an inner face of a steering wheel.

6. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1, wherein said first material and said membrane define said inflatable volume of said gas bag, said inflatable volume of said gas bag increases when said membrane bulges through said outflow opening.

7. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1, wherein said membrane is made of an elastic material.

8. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1,

wherein said first material and said membrane define said inflatable volume of said gas bag.

9. The gas bag protection device according to claim 8, wherein the inflatable volume defined by the first material and said membrane varies depending upon the load being applied to said gas bag.

10. The gas bag protection device according to claim 9, wherein said membrane in a folded state of said gas bag is arranged inside said gas bag and turns outwards through said outflow opening on inflation of said gas bag.

11. The gas bag protection device according to claim 8, wherein said outflow opening is covered only by said membrane.

12. The gas bag protection device according to claim 8 wherein said membrane is made of an elastomeric material.

13. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1, wherein said outflow opening is covered only by said membrane.

14. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1, wherein all of said gas bag remains rearward from said device when said membrane is destroyed by said device.

15. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1,

wherein said membrane bulges outward through said outflow opening before reaching said device to increase the volume of said gas bag and reduce the pressure in said gas bag.

16. The gas bag protection device according to claim 1,

wherein said membrane bulges outwards through said outflow opening before directly reaching said device, thereby giving the gas bag a greater volume.