Support structure for an airbag

• US 8,342,572 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Hirth, Andreas, Quarg, Lutz, Reiter, Friedrich, Ruedebusch, Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/740,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20100276918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 280/729, 280/730.2, 280/736, 280/740, 280/742, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01546 using belt buckle sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• 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

Abstract

A support structure for a vehicle airbag that can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position by a gas flow, comprises a plurality of hollow bodies that are connected to each other to form a channel system. A device is provided inside the channel system for the targeted influencing of the gas flow.

Claims

1. A support structure for a vehicle airbag which can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position by means of a gas flow, said support structure comprising:

a plurality of tubular hollow bodies connected to each other, forming a channel system that surrounds a restraint volume, wherein the plurality of tubular hollow bodies are configured with respect to each other so that when the airbag is in a deployed position the tubular hollow bodies intersect each other to form a grid on at least three sides of the channel system and a first one of the plurality of tubular hollow bodies fluidly connects the grids of tubular hollow bodies on at least two of the three sides of the channel system by passing through the restraint volume, and

wherein at least one guide element is arranged within the channel system for guiding the gas flow,

wherein the guide element is provided at an intersection of two tubular hollow bodies of the channel system.

2. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein partial regions of the channel system have a different filling pressure of gas in the restraint position.

3. The support structure according to claim 1, at least one hollow body of the channel system has a nominal bending point.

4. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein:

an outer structure is formed by a plurality of said hollow bodies; and

at least one hollow body connects hollow bodies of the outer structure to each other.

5. The support structure according to claim 1, wherein a gas generator which generates the gas flow is connected to a plurality of hollow bodies.

6. A support structure for a vehicle airbag which can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position by means of a gas flow, said support structure comprising:

a plurality of tubular hollow bodies connected to each other, forming a channel system that surrounds a restraint volume, wherein the plurality of tubular hollow bodies are configured with respect to each other so that when the airbag is in a deployed position the tubular hollow bodies intersect each other to form a grid on at least three sides of the channel system and a first one of the plurality of tubular hollow bodies fluidly connects the grids of tubular hollow bodies on at least two of the three sides of the channel system by passing through the restraint volume, and

wherein at least one of the tubular hollow bodies is configured to include a loop with a first end of the at least one of the tubular hollow bodies is configured to receive the gas flow and a second end of the at least one of the tubular hollow bodies includes closure element in the form of a flap, which is arranged within the channel system for closing the second end of the at least one of the tubular hollow bodies.

7. The support structure according to claim 6, wherein partial regions of the channel system have a different filling pressure of gas in the restraint position.

8. The support structure according to claim 6, at least one hollow body of the channel system has a nominal bending point.

9. The support structure according to claim 6, wherein:

an outer structure is formed by a plurality of said hollow bodies; and

at least one hollow body connects hollow bodies of the outer structure to each other.

10. The support structure according to claim 6, wherein a gas generator which generates the gas flow is connected to a plurality of hollow bodies.

11. A support structure for a vehicle airbag which can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position by means of a gas flow, said support structure comprising:

a plurality of tubular hollow bodies connected to each other, forming a channel system that surrounds a restraint volume, wherein the plurality of tubular hollow bodies are configured with respect to each other so that when the airbag is in a deployed position the tubular hollow bodies intersect each other to form a grid on at least three sides of the channel system and a first one of the plurality of tubular hollow bodies fluidly connects the grids of tubular hollow bodies on at least two of the three sides of the channel system by passing through the restraint volume, and

wherein a check valve is arranged within at least one of the tubular hollow bodies to adjust the gas flow.

12. The support structure according to claim 11, wherein partial regions of the channel system have a different filling pressure of gas in the restraint position.

13. The support structure according to claim 11, at least one hollow body of the channel system has a nominal bending point.

14. The support structure according to claim 11, wherein:

an outer structure is formed by a plurality of said hollow bodies; and

at least one hollow body connects hollow bodies of the outer structure to each other.

15. The support structure according to claim 11, wherein a gas generator which generates the gas flow is connected to a plurality of hollow bodies.