Gas bag module

• US 7,661,708 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Issued: 02/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Schneider, Michael, Frisch, Ralph, Szidzek, Claudia, Magoley, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/334,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20060163855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/739, 280/736
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• 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 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A gas bag module has a gas bag whose wall, in a first state of the gas bag, has at least one pleat that is formed in that opposite sections of the wall lie against each other. The gas bag module further has a holder that holds the opposite sections together and affixes the pleat. The holder can be actively released in response to a signal, as a result of which the gas bag reaches a second state in which the pleat is opened.

Claims

1. A gas bag module having a gas bag (12) whose wall, in a first state of said gas bag (12), has at least one pleat (22) that is formed in that opposite sections of said wall lie against each other, and having a holder that holds said opposite sections together and affixes said pleat (22), said holder being actively releasable in response to a signal, as a result of which said gas bag (12) reaches a second state in which said pleat (22) is opened, wherein said holder has a fastening strap (56) with one end thereof being connected to said gas bag wall, said fastening strap (56) holding said pleat (22) by passing through an opening (30) in said pleat (22) in said first state of said gas bag (12).

2. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said holder comprises a pyrotechnical drive.

3. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein at least one catching element is provided by means of which a part (28) of said holder that is separated when activated is connected to said module (10).

4. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein, in said second state, a lower internal pressure prevails in the unfolded gas bag (12) than in said first state.

5. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said holder directly engages one of said sections of said wall that form said pleat (22).

6. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein the unfolded gas bag (12) has a larger volume in said second state than in said first state.

9. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein, in said first state of said gas bag (12), said gas bag wall has several pleats (22).

10. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said holder comprises a drive that is integrated into a multi-stage gas generator (14).

11. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein one end of said fastening strap (56) is sewn (57) to said gas bag wall.

24. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein in its cut, said gas bag (12) has a bulge (86) that is arranged radially outside a section of said gas bag wall that forms the pleat (22).

27. The gas bag module according to claim 1, wherein said holder has a separation bolt (24).

7. A gas bag module having a gas bag (12) whose wall, in a first state of said gas bag (12), has at least one pleat (22) that is formed in that opposite sections of said wall lie against each other, and having a holder that holds said opposite sections together and affixes said pleat (22), said holder being actively releasable in response to a signal, as a result of which said gas bag (12) reaches a second state in which said pleat (22) is opened, wherein said gas bag wall has at least one discharge opening (30;

40) in a vicinity of said pleat (22), wherein said holder has a fastening strap (56) with one end thereof being connected to said gas bag wall, said fastening strap (56) holding said pleat (22) by passing through said discharge opening (30, 40) in said pleat (22) in said first state of said gas bag (12).

8. The gas bag module according to claim 7, wherein in said first state of said gas bag (12), said discharge opening (30;

40) is closed by said pleat (22).

12. The gas bag module according to claim 7, wherein one end of said fastening strap (56) is attached to a rigid bearing part.

13. The gas bag module according to claim 7, wherein when a certain stage of said gas generator (14) is ignited, said fastening strap (56) is at least partially destroyed.

14. A gas bag module having a gas bag (12) whose wall, in a first state of said gas bag (12), has at least one pleat (22) that is formed in that opposite sections of said wall lie against each other, and having a holder that holds said opposite sections together and affixes said pleat (22), said holder being actively releasable in response to a signal, as a result of which said gas bag (12) reaches a second state in which said pleat (22) is opened, wherein said holder has a fastening strap (56) with two ends connected to said gas bag wall at junctions (66) spatially separated from each other, said fastening strap (56) holding said pleat (22) by passing through an opening (30) in said pleat (22) in said first state of said gas bag (12).

15. The gas bag module according to claim 14, wherein said fastening strap (56) extends in a V-shape when said gas bag (12) is in an inflated state.

16. The gas bag module according to claim 14, wherein said holder has a cord (70) that is releasably attached to a rigid bearing part.

22. The gas bag module according to claim 14, wherein in said first state of said gas bag (12), said gas bag wall has several pleats (22) each having at least one opening (30) per gas bag layer through which said fastening strap (56) passes.

23. The gas bag module according to claim 14, wherein in said first state of said gas bag (12), said fastening strap (56) covers an opening (30) in said pleat (22).

25. The gas bag module according to claim 14, wherein said holder extends through said discharge opening in the first state.

17. A gas bag module having a gas bag (12) whose wall, in a first state of said gas bag (12), has at least one pleat (22) that is formed in that opposite sections of said wall lie against each other, and having a holder that holds said opposite sections together and affixes said pleat (22), said holder being actively releasable in response to a signal, as a result of which said gas bag (12) reaches a second state in which said pleat (22) is opened, said holder having a fastening strap (56) that holds said pleat (22) in said first state of said gas bag (12), and said holder having a cord (70) that is releasably attached to a rigid bearing part and forms a loop (72) through which said fastening strap (56) passes.

18. The gas bag module according to claim 17, wherein said loop (72) is passed around a drive (76) that is attached to a rigid bearing part.

19. The gas bag module according to claim 18, wherein said holder has a clamping means (80) for said cord (70) which prevents a slipping of said cord (70) along said drive (76).

20. The gas bag module according to claim 19, wherein said clamping means (80) is formed integrally with an igniter (82) of a gas generator (14).

21. The gas bag module according to claim 18, wherein said bearing part is a housing (74) of a gas generator (14).

26. A gas bag module having a gas bag (12) whose wall, in a first state of said gas bag (12), has at least one pleat (22) that is formed in that opposite sections of said wall lie against each other, and having a holder that holds said opposite sections together and affixes said pleat (22), said holder being actively releasable in response to a signal, as a result of which said gas bag (12) reaches a second state in which said pleat (22) is opened, wherein a rupture seam (44) is provided for purposes of an additional fixation of the pleat.