Airbag

• US 7,712,770 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2008
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Kalliske, Ingo, Wendt, Mario
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/078,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20080185823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/743.1, 296/187.04, 493/244
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2313 comprising sensitive compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• 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 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded

Abstract

An airbag module including an airbag that is inflated to cushion a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision. The airbag includes an inner chamber enclosed by an inner covering and a plurality of outer chambers that are arranged outside the inner chamber. The inner chamber forms an inner region of the airbag when inflated and the outer chambers at least partially surround the inner chamber when inflated. The outer chambers are in fluid communication with the inner chamber. At least some of the outer chambers are each enclosed by an outer covering having a covering section opposite the inner covering that does not delimit the inner chamber. The covering sections are at least partially spaced apart from the inner covering so that at least one clearance not filled with gas when the airbag is inflated is formed between the inner covering and the opposing covering sections.

Claims

1. An airbag for an airbag module of a motor vehicle, the airbag being inflated to cushion a person in the event of a collision by filling with gas, comprises:

an inner chamber enclosed by an inner covering, the inner chamber forming an inner region of the airbag when inflated;

a plurality of outer chambers that are arranged outside the inner chamber, the outer chambers at least partially surrounding the inner chamber when inflated; and

a gas generator to provide gas to inflate the airbag,

wherein the outer chambers are in fluid communication with the inner chamber,

wherein the outer chambers do not have inflow openings for direct inflow of gas from a gas generator, but are in fluid communication with the inner chamber in such a manner that the outer chambers are configured to be inflated exclusively with gas from the inner chamber,

wherein at least some of the outer chambers are each enclosed by an outer covering having a covering section opposite the inner covering that does not delimit the inner chamber, and

wherein the covering sections are at least partially spaced apart from the inner covering so that at least one clearance not filled with gas when the airbag is inflated is formed between the inner covering and the opposing covering sections.

2. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of clearances that cannot be filled with gas are formed between the inner covering and the opposing covering sections.

3. The airbag as claimed in claim 2, wherein the clearances are separated from one another by the covering sections.

4. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering sections are arched in the direction of the inner covering.

5. The airbag as claimed in claim 4, wherein the covering sections are supported on the inner covering by a subregion arched in the direction of the inner covering.

6. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer coverings are supported on the inner covering by the covering sections.

7. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one clearance not filled with gas is at least partially delimited by the inner covering and by at least one outer covering.

8. The airbag as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one clearance not filled with gas is at least partially delimited by the inner covering and the outer coverings of two adjacent outer chambers.

9. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least some of the outer coverings are connected to one another in pairs.

10. The airbag as claimed in claim 9, wherein the outer coverings are connected to one another by connecting regions that do not conduct gas.

11. The airbag as claimed in claim 10, wherein each connecting region forms a component of at least one airbag part to form the outer coverings.

12. The airbag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the connecting regions are tensioned when the airbag is inflated.

13. The airbag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the connecting regions each have a surface opposite the inner covering and that is spaced apart from the inner covering.

14. The airbag as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one clearance not filled with gas is at least partially delimited by the inner covering, the outer coverings of two adjacent outer chambers, and a connecting region of the two outer chambers.

15. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the outer coverings are laid around the inner covering.

16. The airbag as claimed in claim 15, wherein each outer covering encloses an angle of at least 120°

.

17. The airbag as claimed in claim 16, wherein each outer covering encloses an angle of at least 180°

.

18. The airbag as claimed in claim 17, wherein each outer covering encloses an angle of about 360°

.

19. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer chambers are spaced apart from one another.

20. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer chambers each protrude from the inner chamber.

21. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner chamber extends longitudinally.

22. The airbag as claimed in claim 21, wherein the inner chamber comprises a substantially continuous rectilinear shape.

23. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag is placed into at least two folded layers when not inflated so that the outer chambers at least partially engage around the inner chamber, wherein the folded layers of the airbag are connected to one another at connecting points so that the outer chambers engage around the inner chamber in the inflated state.

24. The airbag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising two airbag fabric layers connected to each other along connecting lines to form the inner chamber and the plurality of outer chambers, wherein the inner chamber and the plurality of outer chambers are formed from the same two airbag fabric layers, and

wherein each of the plurality of outer chambers protrude from the inner chamber substantially transverse to a direction of extent of the inner chamber.

25. The airbag as claimed in claim 24, wherein the airbag fabric layers are connected to each other along the connecting lines in a continuous fashion or in a punctiform manner.

26. The airbag as claimed in claim 24, wherein the airbag fabric layers are connected to each other along the connecting lines by sewing, weaving, and/or adhesive bonding.

27. The airbag as claimed in claim 24, wherein the inner chamber and the plurality of outer chambers are in fluid communication with each other at the locations where the plurality of outer chambers protrude from the inner chamber.