Airbag module for a motor vehicle

• US 7,780,188 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2008
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fagir, Rafael, Isermann, Patrick, Liebetrau, Matthias, Eckert, Nick
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US12/010,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20080111351A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/728.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members

Abstract

An airbag module for a motor vehicle, including an airbag folded to form an airbag package; a component of the airbag module, which via a first component part for inflating the airbag with gas and/or for fastening the airbag to a motor vehicle part cooperates with the airbag; and a protective covering which encloses the airbag in a gastight manner. The protective covering also encloses the first component part and comprises at least one opening, through which a second component part connected to the first component part projects from the space enclosed by the protective covering, the opening of the protective covering being closed in a gastight manner by means of a sealing element.

Claims

1. An airbag module for a motor vehicle, comprising

an airbag folded to form an airbag package;

a component of the airbag module, which via a first component part for inflating the airbag with gas or for fastening the airbag to a motor vehicle part cooperates with the airbag;

a protective covering which encloses the airbag and the first component part in a gastight space that is maintained at a vacuum so that the airbag package formed by the airbag is compact; and

the protective covering comprises at least one opening, through which a second component part connected to the first component part projects from the space enclosed by the protective covering and;

a sealing element configured to seal the opening of the protective covering in a gastight manner in order to maintain the vacuum in the enclosed space.

2. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element extends in an annular manner along the edge of the opening of the protective covering.

3. The airbag module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sealing element is configured as a sealing ring.

4. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element is configured in one piece or in a plurality of pieces.

5. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element consists at least partially of an elastically deformable material.

6. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element is configured at least partially of a thermoplastic material.

7. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sealing element bears against a support region of the airbag module.

8. The airbag module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the support region of the airbag module is substantially dimensionally stable.

9. The airbag module as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sealing element is elastically pretensioned against the support region.

10. The airbag module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the sealing element presses the edge of the opening of the protective covering against the support region of the airbag module.

11. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component of the airbag module is configured as a gas generator for inflating the airbag.

12. The airbag module as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first component part of the component configured as a gas generator is configured as a generator body that, when igniting the gas generator, releases gas for inflating the airbag.

13. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the second component part of the component configured as a gas generator is configured as an ignition device which may be actuated for igniting the gas generator.

14. The airbag module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the airbag encloses the gas generator so that the generator body is arranged inside the airbag.

15. The airbag module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ignition device projects through an opening of the airbag.

16. The airbag module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ignition device projects in the radial direction from the generator body.

17. The airbag module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ignition device projects in the axial direction from at least one front face of the generator body.

18. The airbag module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the ignition device comprises an igniter and an ignition cable for igniting the igniter.

19. The airbag module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the gas generator is configured as a tubular gas generator with a tubular generator body.

20. The airbag module as claimed in claim 11, wherein a support region is configured on the gas generator.

21. The airbag module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the support region is configured on the generator body.

22. The airbag module as claimed in claim 20, wherein the support region is configured on an igniter of an ignition device.

23. The airbag module as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sealing element engages around a part of the ignition device.

24. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective covering is configured at least partially as a flexible protective covering.

25. The airbag module as claimed in claim 24, wherein the protective covering is configured entirely as a flexible protective covering.

26. The airbag module as claimed in claim 24, wherein the protective covering is partially formed by a housing-like covering and partially by a flexible covering.

27. The airbag module as claimed in claim 26, wherein the flexible covering closes a top surface of the housing-like covering.

28. The airbag module as claimed in claim 26, wherein the housing-like covering is configured to be elastically deformable.

29. The airbag module as claimed in claim 24, wherein the flexible components of the protective covering are configured as protective films.

30. The airbag module as claimed in claim 29, wherein a module housing is provided which at least partially surrounds the airbag, the component and the flexible protective covering.

31. The airbag module as claimed in claim 30, wherein an ignition device projects through an opening of the module housing out of the space surrounded by the module housing.

32. The airbag module as claimed in claim 30, wherein the sealing element is arranged on the module housing.

33. The airbag module as claimed in claim 24, wherein the opening is configured in a flexible component of the protective covering.

34. The airbag module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the component of the airbag module cooperating with the airbag is configured as a fastening mechanism to secure the airbag to a support of the airbag module.

35. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein the component configured as a fastening mechanism is connected via the first component part to the airbag.

36. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein the second component part of the component configured as a fastening mechanism secures the fastening mechanism to a support of the airbag module.

37. The airbag module as claimed in claims 34, wherein the first component part and the second component part of the fastening mechanism are connected integrally to one another.

38. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein the second component part of the fastening mechanism projects from the first component part of the fastening mechanism, in particular in the form of at least one pin.

39. The airbag module as claimed in claim 38, wherein the at least one pin, for securing the airbag package to a support of the airbag package, comprises an external thread.

40. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein the sealing element surrounds the second component part of the fastening mechanism in cross section.

41. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein the second component part of the fastening mechanism is extended longitudinally in a direction of extension.

42. The airbag module as claimed in claim 41, wherein:

the airbag comprises at least one through-opening aligned with the opening of the protective covering;

the airbag comprises a first edge region surrounding the through-opening; and

the protecting covering comprises a second edge region surrounding the opening of the protecting covering;

the first component part of the fastening mechanism comprises a bearing region that bears against the airbag at the first edge region of the airbag surrounding the through-opening; and

the second component part of the fastening mechanism is passed in the direction of extension through the through-opening of the airbag so that the first edge region of the airbag is arranged in the direction of extension between the bearing region and the second edge region of the protective covering.

43. The airbag module as claimed in claim 42, wherein the sealing element for sealing the opening presses the second edge region of the protective covering in the direction of extension against the bearing region of the first component part.

44. The airbag module as claimed in claim 43, wherein the sealing element for scaling the opening of the protective covering presses the second edge region of the protective covering together with the first edge region of the airbag in the direction of extension against the bearing region of the first component part.

45. The airbag module as claimed in claim 44, wherein the sealing element has a hollow cylindrical body surrounding the second component part of the fastening mechanism in cross section.

46. The airbag module as claimed in claim 45, wherein the hollow cylindrical body comprises a casing bearing against the second component part and surrounding the second component part in cross section, from which a flange surrounding the casing projects transversely to the direction of extension, with a first face facing the second edge region of the protective covering.

47. The airbag module as claimed in claim 46, wherein the flange for sealing the opening presses the protective covering with its first face in the direction of extension against the second edge region of the protective covering.

48. The airbag module as claimed in claim 46, wherein, for sealing the opening, the sealing element comprises a bearing element arranged in the direction of extension between the first face and the second edge region of the protective covering, which sealingly bears against the second edge region of the protective covering and the first face.

49. The airbag module as claimed in claim 48, wherein the bearing element is configured as a flexible sealing ring that engages around the second component part of the fastening mechanism in cross section.

50. The airbag module as claimed in claim 42, wherein the bearing region bears against a third edge region of the airbag bordering an inlet opening of the airbag, so that the third edge region of the airbag is arranged in the direction of extension between the bearing region and the protective covering.

51. The airbag module as claimed in claim 50, wherein the through-opening is configured on the third edge region.

52. The airbag module as claimed in claim 51, wherein the first component part of the fastening mechanism comprises a diffuser which projects from the bearing region into the interior of the airbag.

53. The airbag module as claimed in claim 52, wherein the second component part of the fastening mechanism is formed by a plurality of pins projecting in the direction of extension from the bearing region, which are passed through a corresponding plurality of through-openings of the airbag and openings of the protective covering aligned with the through-openings and project from the space surrounded by the protective covering and in that the openings are closed in a gastight manner by a corresponding plurality of sealing elements.

54. The airbag module as claimed in claim 41 comprising a second edge region of the protective covering surrounding the opening, wherein the sealing element for sealing the opening of the protective covering presses the second edge region of the protective covering transversely to the direction of extension against the second component part of the fastening mechanism.

55. The airbag module as claimed in claim 54, wherein the sealing element is configured as a flexible tube, a heat-shrinkable tube, or as a flexible O-ring.

56. The airbag module as claimed in claim 41 comprising a second edge region of the protective covering surrounding the opening, wherein the sealing element for scaling the opening in a gastight manner is pretensioned in the direction of extension against the second edge region of the protective covering.

57. The airbag module as claimed in claim 41, wherein the sealing element for sealing the opening in a gastight manner is pretensioned transversely to the direction of extension against the second component part of the fastening mechanism.

58. The airbag module as claimed in claim 41, wherein a spring element pretensions the sealing element.

59. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein the first component part of the fastening mechanism is arranged in an interior of the airbag surrounded by the airbag.

60. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein the first component part of the fastening mechanism comprises a bearing region that bears against the airbag.

61. The airbag module as claimed in claim 60, comprising a second edge region of the protective covering surrounding the opening, wherein the sealing element is configured as a coating of the bearing region surrounding the second component part in cross section, to which the second edge region surrounding the opening of the protective covering is connected so that the opening of the protective covering is sealed in a gastight manner.

62. The airbag module as claimed in claim 60, wherein the hearing region is configured as a flat ring.

63. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein at least one through-opening of the airbag is provided and in that the at least one through-opening is aligned with the opening of the protective covering.

64. The airbag module as claimed in claim 63, wherein a first edge region of the airbag surrounds the through-opening.

65. The airbag module as claimed in claim 64, wherein a second edge region of the protective covering surrounds the opening.

66. The airbag module as claimed in claim 65, wherein the scaling element is formed by the second edge region of the protective covering surrounding the opening, and presses against the second component part of the fastening mechanism when generating a vacuum in the space of the protective covering, so that the opening of the protective covering is sealed in a gastight manner.

67. The airbag module as claimed in claim 65, wherein the sealing element is configured as a coating of the second component part surrounding the second component part of the fastening mechanism in cross section, which connects the second edge region to the second component part in a gastight manner.

68. The airbag module as claimed in claim 67, wherein the coating is provided and designed to be connected in a gastight manner to the second edge region of the protective covering by heating.

69. The airbag module as claimed in claim 67, wherein the coating may be activated mechanically, so that the coating, in particular by pressing the second edge region of the protective covering against the coating, may be connected in a gastight manner to the second edge region of the protective covering.

70. The airbag module as claimed in claim 65, wherein the sealing element comprises a disk element for compensating for unevenness of the airbag.

71. The airbag module as claimed in claim 70, wherein the disk element surrounds the second component part of the fastening mechanism in cross section in an annular manner.

72. The airbag module as claimed in claim 70, wherein the disk element is arranged in the direction of extension between the second edge region of the protective covering and the first edge region of the airbag.

73. The airbag module as claimed in claim 65, wherein the sealing element comprises an additional, deformable sealing mass and a disk element, wherein the sealing mass is arranged at least partially in the direction of extension between the disk element and the second edge region of the protective covering.

74. The airbag module as claimed in claim 65, wherein the sealing element comprises an additional, deformable sealing mass and a disk element, wherein the sealing mass is arranged at least partially in the direction of extension between the disk element and the first edge region of the airbag.

75. The airbag module as claimed in claim 34, wherein the sealing element comprises an additional, deformable sealing mass.

76. The airbag module as claimed in claim 75, comprising a second edge region of the protective covering surrounding the opening, wherein the sealing mass is arranged between the sealing element and the second edge region of the protective covering.

77. The airbag module as claimed in claim 76, wherein the sealing mass is at least partially arranged between the second edge region of the protective covering and a first edge region of the airbag.

78. The airbag module as claimed in claim 77, wherein the sealing mass bears against the second component part of the fastening mechanism.