Multi-adaptive airbag

• US 7,878,541 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana SA (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana SA (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Tavares Da Silva Vinhas, Joana Francisca, Bustos García, Alfonso
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US12/157,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20090001696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 966 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• 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

Abstract

An airbag module to protect the automobile occupant, which includes an inflatable bag (11) from the gas that is produced by a generator when a dangerous situation to the occupant is detected, which includes a number of internal straps (15, 17 and 19) with different lengths and with each having a predetermined resistance to traction, which are joined at their ends to two areas (21 and 23) of the bag (11), limiting its deployment in the direction of the occupant. The length and resistance to traction of these straps are calibrated so that they break in succession during the deployment of the bag (11) until it reaches the occupant.

Claims

1. An airbag module to protect an automobile occupant, comprising:

an inflatable bag (11), inflatable from gas that is produced by a generator when a dangerous situation to the occupant is detected;

a number of internal straps (15, 17 and 19) with different lengths, each having a predetermined resistance to traction, wherein each of said internal straps comprises a first end and a second end, all of said internal straps being joined at their first end, wherein the joined first ends are attached to a first point (21) of the bag, and all of said internal straps being joined at their second end, wherein the joined second ends are attached to a second point (23) of the bag (11), limiting deployment of the bag (11) in the direction of the occupant,

wherein a length and resistance to traction of said internal straps are calibrated so that said internal straps break in succession during deployment of the bag (11) until the bag (11) reaches the occupant.

2. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein a number of said internal straps (15, 17 and 19) is between 2 and 5.

3. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein a traction force of said internal straps (15, 17 and 19) is predetermined based upon its geometry and mechanical characteristics of a material of said internal straps.

4. An airbag module according to claim 3, wherein a number of said internal straps (15, 17 and 19) have a rectangular shape and include at least one shape (33 and 35) reducing their width.

5. An airbag module according to claim 4, wherein said internal straps (15, 17 and 19) each include an area (31) with two shapes (33 and 35) on each of its edges with its axes displaced between each other.

6. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein

said bag (11) is formed by an upper panel (41) and a lower panel (42) joined through a peripheral seam 20,

said bag (11) is configured to deploy from the front, with said upper panel (41) contacting the occupant during deployment, and

one of the joined areas (21 and 23) of said internal straps (15, 17 and 19) to said bag (11) is located on said upper panel (41) and the other area is located on said lower panel (42).

7. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein said internal straps (15, 17, 19) are formed by two pieces joined by seams, their tensile strength being predetermined by characteristics of said seams.

8. An airbag module according to claim 1, wherein

said bag (11) is formed by a front panel (41) and a back panel (42), joined through a peripheral seam 20,

said bag (11) is configured to deploy from a side of a driver, with said front panel (41) contacting the occupant during deployment, and

one of the first and second points (21 and 23) of said bag (11) is located on said front panel (41) and the other of the first and second points is located on said back panel (42).