Gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 7,648,165 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Issued: 01/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Deckenhoff, Michael, Helmstetter, Matthias, Keutz, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/333,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20060157962A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 280/726, 280/739, 280/742, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a housing and a gas bag (12) accommodated in the housing. The gas bag has a gas bag wall (16). The gas bag module further includes a discharge arrangement (18) having an energetic element (22) for the selective provision of a discharge opening. The energetic element (22) is able to be activated by a control unit (20). The discharge opening is provided by material conversion of the energetic element (22).

Claims

1. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag module including a housing and a gas bag accommodated in the housing, the gas bag having a gas bag wall, the gas bag module further including a discharge arrangement having an energetic element applied directly on the gas bag wall for the selective provision of a discharge opening in the gas bag, the energetic element having an energetic fabric piece with a nitric acid ester and being able to be activated by a control unit, the fabric piece being impregnated with an explosive or pyrotechnic material, the discharge opening being provided by material conversion of the energetic element.

2. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the energetic element is covered by a protective layer.

3. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the energetic element is part of a prefabricated unit which is applied on the gas bag wall.

4. The gas bag module according to claim 3, wherein the prefabricated unit at least partially covers a discharge opening formed in the gas bag wall.

5. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag module including a housing and a gas bag accommodated in the housing, the gas bag having a gas bag wall, the gas bag module further including a discharge arrangement having an energetic element for the selective provision of a discharge opening in the gas bag, the energetic element being part of the gas bag wall and having an energetic fabric piece with a nitric acid ester, the energetic element being able to be activated by a control unit, the fabric piece being impregnated with an explosive or pyrotechnic material, the discharge opening being provided by material conversion of the energetic element.

6. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag module including a housing and a gas bag accommodated in the housing, the gas bag having a gas bag wall, the gas bag module further including a discharge arrangement having an energetic element applied directly on the gas bag wall for the selective provision of a discharge opening in the gas bag, the energetic element having a fabric piece which is impregnated with an explosive or pyrotechnic material, the energetic element being able to be activated by a control unit, wherein the discharge opening being provided by material conversion of the energetic element.

7. A gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag module including a housing and a gas bag accommodated in the housing, the gas bag having a gas bag wall, the gas bag module further including a discharge arrangement having an energetic element for the selective provision of a discharge opening in the gas bag, the energetic element being part of the gas bag wall and having an energetic fabric piece which is impregnated with an explosive or pyrotechnic material, the energetic element being able to be activated by a control unit, wherein the discharge opening being provided by material conversion of the energetic element.