Airbag device

• US 7,992,898 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wolf, Harald, Johansson, Jack, Leibelt, Rudiger
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US11/992,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20090140509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/729, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

An airbag device comprising an airbag made of a woven fabric which is fastened to a vehicle structure, in particular above a vehicle occupant, and which can be filled with gas by means of a gas generator and in the filled state extends in front of the vehicle occupant is characterized in that a cutout is provided in the head impact region of the airbag fabric which the head of the vehicle occupant can penetrate, and this cutout is closed by a cover that is decoupled from tensile stress in the airbag fabric.

Claims

1. An airbag device comprising:

an airbag made of a woven fabric for fastening to a vehicle structure, the airbag operable in a filled state to extend in front of a vehicle occupant, the airbag including a cutout in a head impact region of the fabric for receiving a head of the vehicle occupant; and

a cushion that is substantially decoupled from tensile stress in the fabric, the cushion secured to the airbag and disposed in the cutout.

2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cushion is completely decoupled from the tensile stress in the remainder of the airbag fabric.

3. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cushion includes a fabric web which faces the vehicle occupant.

4. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cushion projects toward the vehicle occupant.

5. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cushion is fastened to the airbag as a separate sectional piece.

6. The airbag device according to claim 3, wherein the cushion is part of the fabric web of the airbag, which is fastened to a pair of side webs of the airbag and proximate the cover has a contour which faces the vehicle occupant.

7. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the cushion is composed of a woven fabric.

8. The airbag device according to claim 4, wherein the cushion extends over a width of the airbag.

9. The airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising tension bands for absorption of tensile forces in the airbag fabric.

11. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag extends to an abdominal region of the vehicle occupant in an unfolded state.

12. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein the cover is sewn to the airbag.

19. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the cushion is a three dimensional structure.

20. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the cushion has a rear surface proximate to and generally conforming with a portion of the cutout.

21. The airbag device of claim 1, wherein the cushion has a convexly curved rear surface.

10. An airbag device comprising an airbag made of a woven fabric for fastening to a vehicle structure, the airbag operable in a filled state to extend in front of a vehicle occupant, the airbag including a cutout in a head impact region of the fabric for receiving a head of the vehicle occupant, the cutout closed by a cover that is substantially decoupled from tensile stress in the fabric;

wherein the airbag is mountable above a vehicle occupant.

13. The airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the airbag is mountable to a roof lining of a vehicle.

14. The airbag device according to claim 10, wherein the tension bands are provided on a side of the cover facing the vehicle occupant.

15. An airbag device comprising:

an inflatable airbag operable in a filled state to extend in front of a vehicle occupant, the airbag including a cutout in an impact region; and

a cushion disposed in the cutout, the cushion having a rear surface, a front surface and a pair of side surfaces;

whereby an interior of the airbag is sealed from the cover and tensile forces acting on the airbag upon inflation are not transferred to the cover.

16. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the cushion includes a fabric web which faces the vehicle occupant.

17. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the cushion which projects toward the vehicle occupant.

18. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the cushion is fastened to the airbag as a separate sectional piece.

22. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the cushion is a three dimensional structure.

23. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the cushion has a rear surface proximate to and generally conforming with a portion of the cutout.

24. The airbag device of claim 15, wherein the cushion has a convexly curved rear surface.