Airbag device

• US 7,828,322 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri (Sachsen) GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Weyrich, Christian, Breuninger, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/092,590
• Publication Number:
  US 20050206138A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/749
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• 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 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

An airbag comprises a bag which is bent in the shape of an arrow ‘<’ in a deployed state, and a connection member which is arranged on a side of the bag, facing a vehicle body, and connects the upper and lower ends of the bag with each other. A longitudinal intermediate portion of the bag projects toward a vehicle occupant. A space is defined between the projecting intermediate portion and the connection member. The head of the vehicle occupant initially comes into contact with the intermediate portion and then presses the bag toward the vehicle body. Upper and lower parts of the bag which extend upward and downward from the intermediate portion cooperate with the connection member to define a triangular space.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body; and

an airbag device comprising;

an airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the airbag;

wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member,

wherein, upon deployment, the airbag inflates into a position such that the member faces the vehicle body and contact between the member and a vehicle occupant is prevented,

wherein the airbag is a side-airbag, and

wherein the airbag device is positioned in a roof of the vehicle so that the airbag deploys downwardly toward the vehicle occupant.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising additional members in addition to the member.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the member comprises a fabric panel.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the member comprises a tether.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a ratio of volume of the enveloped space over volume of the inflated airbag is greater than approximately 1.0.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the ratio is greater than approximately 1.2.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal length of the member is smaller than a longitudinal length of the airbag.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a longitudinal length of the airbag to a longitudinal length of the member is approximately 1.2 or greater.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein a ratio of a longitudinal length of the airbag to a longitudinal length of the member is approximately 1.25.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the airbag device comprises an effective space factor of approximately 7.5.

11. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the airbag device comprises an effective space factor of greater than 7.5.

12. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises a first panel and a second panel connected to form a plurality of chambers therebetween.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of chambers has a width that is larger than a width of the member.

14. A vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle body; and

an airbag device comprising;

an airbag having first and second side surfaces, upper and lower ends and an intermediate portion; and

a member connecting the upper and lower ends of the airbag;

wherein the airbag is configured to inflate into a position wherein an enveloped space is defined by the first side surface and a plane containing the member,

wherein, upon deployment, the airbag inflates into a position such that the member faces the vehicle body and contact between the member and a vehicle occupant is prevented, and

wherein the member is a non-inflatable tether.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a vehicle seat, and wherein the airbag device is positioned on the vehicle seat.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the airbag is a side-airbag.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the airbag is positioned on an exterior portion of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising additional members in addition to the member.

19. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein a ratio of volume of the enveloped space over volume of the inflated airbag is greater than approximately 1.0.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the ratio is greater than approximately 1.2.

21. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein a longitudinal length of the member is smaller than a longitudinal length of the airbag.

22. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein a ratio of a longitudinal length of the airbag to a longitudinal length of the member is approximately 1.2 or greater.

23. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein a ratio of a longitudinal length of the airbag to a longitudinal length of the member is approximately 1.25.

24. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the airbag device comprises an effective space factor of approximately 7.5.

25. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the airbag device comprises an effective space factor of greater than 7.5.

26. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the airbag comprises a first panel and a second panel connected to form a plurality of chambers therebetween.

27. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of chambers has a width that is larger than a width of the member.