Airbag and method for producing such an airbag

• US 8,684,406 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Bogenrieder, Ralf, Burczyk, Christian, Hirth, Andreas, Quarg, Lutz, Reiter, Friedrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US13/578,314
• Publication Number:
  US 20130033026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 298/901.24, 280738-740, 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 2021/23523 Composite
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49412 with assembly, disassembly or composite article making

Abstract

An airbag with a valve device for a gaseous medium includes at least one textile layer and at least one foil that at least partially covers the textile layer such that due to the valve device at least one area of the airbag permeable by the medium can be at least partially opened when the valve device is in an open position and can be at least substantially sealed when the valve device is in a closed position.

Claims

1. An airbag with a valve device for a gaseous medium, the valve device comprising:

a textile layer; and

a foil that covers the textile layer in at least one area,

wherein the textile layer and foil are configured such that at least one area of the airbag permeable by the medium is at least partially opened when the valve device is in an open position and is at least substantially sealed when the valve device is in a closed position,

wherein the at least one area permeable by the medium is in the form of at least one opening in the foil,

wherein the at least one area permeable by the medium of the foil is formed by perforation,

wherein the perforation has a projection in an edge area of the at least one opening that extends away from the textile layer, and

wherein the textile layer is an air permeable fabric and the textile layer and foil are configured with respect to each other so that (1) air from an environment passes through the air permeable fabric into the airbag and towards the foil so that the valve device is in the open position, and (2) a force acting on an outside of the textile layer moves the textile layer towards the foil so that the valve device is in the closed position.

2. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein connection areas are arranged in the at least one area of the foil that covers the textile layer, wherein the connection areas are bonds or stitches between the textile layer and the foil, and wherein the connection areas are a distance apart from one another.

3. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the projection is an essentially tubular projection that at least partially surrounds the at least one opening, and wherein the essentially tubular projection is arranged in an edge area of the at least one opening.

4. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the projection has a tapering cross-section.

5. An airbag with a valve device for a gaseous medium, the valve device comprising:

a textile layer having a first side arranged to face a vehicle passenger and an opposed second side; and

a foil that covers the textile layer in at least one area on the opposed second side of the textile layer,

wherein the textile layer and foil are configured such that a plurality of areas of the airbag permeable by the medium are at least partially opened when the valve device is in an open position and are at least substantially sealed when the valve device is in a closed position,

wherein each of the plurality of areas permeable by the medium is an opening in the foil,

wherein the foil includes a plurality of flap elements, each of which correspond to one of the plurality of openings in the foil, the plurality of flap elements are configured to leave the corresponding one of the plurality of openings at least partially clear when the valve device is at least temporarily in the open position, and at least partially seals the corresponding one of the plurality of the openings when the valve device is in the closed position, and

wherein the textile layer is an air permeable fabric and the textile layer and foil are configured with respect to each other so that (1) air from an environment passes through the air permeable fabric into the airbag and towards the foil so that the valve device is in the open position, and (2) a force acting on an outside of the textile layer moves the textile layer towards the foil so that the valve device is in the closed position.

6. An airbag with a valve device for a gaseous medium, the valve device comprising:

a textile layer having a first side arranged to face a vehicle passenger and an opposed second side; and

a plurality of overlapping foil strips that respectively cover areas of the textile layer on the opposed second side of the textile layer,

wherein the textile layer and the plurality of overlapping foil strips are configured such that a plurality of areas of the airbag permeable by the medium are at least partially opened when the valve device is in an open position and are at least substantially sealed when the valve device is in a closed position.