Vehicle occupant protection device

• US 7,926,841 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 04/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rothweiler, Steffen, Stix, Marco, Heigl, Juergen, Wanner, Steffen
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Application Number:
  US12/321,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection device has a large-area, inflatable gas bag which includes a gas bag wall having an impact surface for the occupant and which has a non-inflatable portion. The non-inflatable portion is provided with at least one elongated opening which can expand and therefore permits a movement of the impact surface upon impact of the occupant and prevents the latter from slipping off from the gas bag.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant protection device, having

a large-area, inflatable gas bag (10) which includes a gas bag wall having an impact surface (24) for the occupant and which has at least one non-inflatable portion (20,34),

in the inflated state of the gas bag (10), the non-inflatable portion (20) being provided with at least one elongated opening (26) which can expand and therefore permits a movement of the impact surface (24) upon impact of the occupant,

wherein the elongated opening (26) is arranged in the upper third of the gas bag (10) and between an upper gas bag fastening (46) and an inflatable portion (18).

2. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated opening (26) is a slot.

3. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein a row of openings (26) is provided which are arranged next to each other and/or form the shape of a cross.

4. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the impact surface (24) itself is a large-area, extensible gas bag portion which is surrounded by inflatable portions.

5. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag (10) is a head-side gas bag having the shape of a cushion or mattress.

6. A vehicle occupant protection device, having

a large-area, inflatable gas bag (100) which includes a gas bag wall having an impact surface (24) for the occupant and which has at least one non-inflatable portion (20,34), the impact surface (24) being configured as a resilient portion which is delimited by less resilient portions so that the body part to be restrained plunges into the resilient portion and is prevented from slipping off the gas bag (10),

the non-inflatable portion (20) being configured expandable at least in sections in the inflated state of the gas bag (10) so as to permit a movement of the impact surface (24) upon impact of the occupant,

wherein the resilient portion is delimited by several openings (26) with respect to the less resilient portions and wherein the resilient portion is delimited downwards by an inflatable bead (28).

7. A vehicle occupant protection device, having

a large-area, inflatable gas bag (100) which includes a gas bag wall having an impact surface (24) for the occupant and which has at least one non-inflatable portion (20,34),

the non-inflatable portion (20) being configured expandable at least in sections in the inflated state of the gas bag (10) so as to permit a movement of the impact surface (24) upon impact of the occupant,

wherein the impact surface (24) is configured as a resilient portion which is delimited by less resilient portions so that a body part of the occupant to be restrained plunges into the resilient portion and is prevented from slipping off the gas bag (10),

wherein the resilient potion is delimited by at least one opening (26) with respect to the less resilient portions and wherein the resilient portion is delimited downwards by an inflatable bead (28).

8. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of elongated openings (26) is provided.

9. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the elongated opening (26) is a slot.

10. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the gas bag wall has a weak line which tears open to form the opening (26) when the gas bag (10) contacts the occupant.

11. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the elongated opening (26) is arranged in the upper third of the gas bag (10).

12. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein several openings (26) together form at least two extensions lines (50, 52).

13. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the non-inflatable portion (20) is arranged in the impact surface (24).

14. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein a row of openings (26) is provided which are arranged next to each other and/or form the shape of a cross.

15. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein several openings (26) are provided which together form an L-, T-, V-, U-shape or the shape of a cross.

16. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one opening extends substantially vertically.

17. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the gas bag (10) is a head-side gas bag having the shape of a cushion or mattress.

18. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the impact surface (24) is partly surrounded by an expandable portion.

19. The vehicle occupant protection device according to 7, wherein the impact surface (24) itself is a large-area, extensible gas bag portion which is surrounded by inflatable portions.

20. The vehicle occupant protection device according to 7, wherein in the region of the impact surface (24), the gas bag has two gas bag walls (76,78) which are arranged one behind the other and are provided with openings (26), the openings (26) of one gas bag wall (76) being offset in relation to those of the other gas bag wall (78).

21. The vehicle occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the gas bag (10) is a head-side gas bag which extends from the A-pillar (30) to the C pillar (32) and has in the centre portion an inlet channel (68) for connecting to a gas generator (70), the expandable portion being arranged below the inlet channel (68).