Airbag module and method of restraining a vehicle occupant with such an airbag module
First Claim
1. An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising an airbag (22) and a gas generator (10) that is connected via at least one first outflow opening (18) to an airbag chamber (28), said airbag chamber (28) being at least partially formed by an interior of said airbag (22), an actuator unit (36) being provided on said gas generator (10) said actuator unit (36) when activated, releasing a traction element (50) that causes a pressure reduction in said airbag (22), an activation of said actuator unit (36) also leading to an opening of a second outflow opening (20) in said gas generator (10), which vents generator gas to an environment without this vented gas flowing into said airbag chamber (28).
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes an airbag (22) and a gas generator (10) that is connected via at least one first outflow opening (18) to an airbag chamber (28), the airbag chamber (28) being at least partially formed by the interior of the airbag (22), an actuator unit (36) being provided on the gas generator (10) and, when the actuator unit (36) is activated, it releases a traction element (50) that causes a pressure reduction in the airbag (22), an activation of the actuator unit (36) also leading to an opening of a second outflow opening (20) in the gas generator (10), which vents generator gas to an environment without this vented gas flowing into the airbag chamber (28).
Moreover, the invention relates to a method of restraining a vehicle occupant with such an airbag module.
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Citations
13 Claims
- 1. An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising an airbag (22) and a gas generator (10) that is connected via at least one first outflow opening (18) to an airbag chamber (28), said airbag chamber (28) being at least partially formed by an interior of said airbag (22), an actuator unit (36) being provided on said gas generator (10) said actuator unit (36) when activated, releasing a traction element (50) that causes a pressure reduction in said airbag (22), an activation of said actuator unit (36) also leading to an opening of a second outflow opening (20) in said gas generator (10), which vents generator gas to an environment without this vented gas flowing into said airbag chamber (28).
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10. A method of restraining a vehicle occupant comprising the following steps:
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a) activation of a gas generator (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system in case of a restraint event, whereupon said gas generator (10) feeds gas into an airbag chamber (28) via at least one first outflow opening (18); b) checking said vehicle occupant position on the basis of sensor data at a prescribed first point in time; c) activation of an actuator unit (36) if said vehicle occupant is in a position that is unsuitable for a restraint, as a result of which a second outflow opening (20) as well as a traction element (50) are released and a pressure reduction takes place mainly as a result of venting gas into an environment through said second outflow opening (20); d) assessment of an impact momentum of said vehicle occupant against said airbag based on sensor data at a prescribed second point in time; e) activation of said actuator unit (36) if said actuator unit (36) was not yet activated in Step c) and if said anticipated impact momentum of said vehicle occupant lies below a predefined limit value, as a result of which said second outflow opening (20) and traction element (50) are released and a pressure reduction in said airbag (22) takes place mainly as a result of releasing said traction element (50). - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification