Air bag

• US 8,042,831 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Sven, Wallat, Nico
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/524,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20100117343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

Described is a gas bag for a motor vehicle with a gas bag envelope surrounding a gas space, wherein the gas bag envelope comprises a front section (12) having an impact area (12a) and a rear section (14) directly connected with the front section (12) via a circumferential edge (11) having a support area (14a). Here, the rear section (14) has a folding for the contouring of the gas bag. In order to achieve that the gas bag adapts to a convexly bent surface shape of a part of the vehicle interior structure against which it rests without external catching bands or the like the folding consists of at least one first fold (18) extending parallel to the rear section and at least a second fold (20), wherein the second fold (20) is arranged in the first fold (18) and substantially stands perpendicularly to the rear section (14).

Claims

1. An inflatable restraint for a motor vehicle comprising:

an air bag defining a chamber, the air bag including a front section having an impact area and a rear section connected with the front section, the rear section including a folding for contouring of the air bag, the folding including at least a first fold and at least a second fold, the first fold extending in a first direction at least substantially along a length of the rear section, the first fold being folded to define the second fold such that a ridge of the first fold is shortened in length relative to a base of the first fold;

wherein the first fold is perpendicular to the second fold.

2. The inflatable restraint according to claim 1, wherein the air bag includes two cuts.

3. The inflatable restraint according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is produced in one piece.

4. The inflatable restraint according to claim 1, wherein the ridge of the first fold faces outward.

5. The inflatable restraint according to claim 1, wherein the first fold in an installed, expanded state extends in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

6. The inflatable restraint according to claim 1, wherein the second fold is fixed through sewing, gluing or welding.

7. The inflatable restraint according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of first folds and a corresponding plurality of second folds.

8. The inflatable restraint according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is a knee air bag.

9. The inflatable restraint according to claim 1, wherein the folding convexly curves the rear section upon inflation of the air bag.