Airbag for a motor vehicle

• US 9,016,720 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2011
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US13/637,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20130200602A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/738, 280/739, 280/740, 280/742
• US Class Current: 280/738
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid

Abstract

An airbag for a motor vehicle, having a housing and at least one restraining element, which has at least one receptacle space for a gaseous medium, in particular air, and which can be moved, in the case of an accident-induced application of force to the motor vehicle, into a restraining position by the flowing of medium into the receptacle space from a storage position within the housing. At least one wall of the housing has at least one inflow opening for the medium.

Claims

1. An airbag for a motor vehicle, the airbag comprising:

a housing;

at least one gas generator configured to generate a gaseous medium;

at least one receiving area configured to receive the gaseous medium; and

at least one restraint element comprising a lattice supporting structure formed from a plurality of inflatable tube elements and a fabric shell,

wherein the at least one receiving area is delimited by the lattice supporting structure, the fabric shell, and the housing,

wherein the at least one gas generator is arranged with respect to the at least one restraint element so that the at least one restraint element is configured to be moved, in case of an accident-related force impact of the motor vehicle, from a storage position within the housing into a restraint position through separate inflows of the gaseous medium into the at least one receiving area delimited by the lattice supporting structure, the fabric shell, and the housing and into receiving areas of the plurality of inflatable tube elements,

wherein at least one wall of the housing comprises at least one inflow opening to receive the gaseous medium.

2. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises:

at least one valve mechanism by means of which a through-flow of the gaseous medium through the inflow opening can be adjusted.

3. The airbag according to claim 2, wherein the valve mechanism has at least one passage position exposing the inflow opening at least in areas, wherein the at least one passage position is configured so that the gaseous medium can flow into the receiving area.

4. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the valve mechanism has a closed position closing the inflow opening at least in areas, wherein the closed position is configured so that an outflow of the gaseous medium out of the receiving area is at least substantially prevented.

5. The airbag according to claim 2, wherein the valve mechanism comprises at least one flap element configured so that the inflow opening can be exposed or closed, at least in areas.

6. The airbag according to claim 5, wherein the flap element is comprised at least substantially as a film.

7. The airbag according to claim 5, wherein the flap element is comprised at least substantially as a textile layer.

8. The airbag according to claim 5, wherein the flap element is comprised at least substantially from plastic.

9. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured as a grid or grill element.

10. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the housing is comprised at least substantially from plastic or sheet metal.

11. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein at least one gas generator is a single gas generator.

12. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein at least one gas generator includes a first gas generator configured to blow the gaseous medium into the receiving areas of the plurality of inflatable tube elements and a second gas generator configured to blow the gaseous medium into the at least one receiving area.

13. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the at least one gas generator is configured to blow the gaseous medium into the at least one receiving area of the at least one restraint element via the at least one inflow opening.

14. The airbag of claim 12, wherein the first gas generator is arranged entirely outside of the housing.

15. The airbag of claim 14, wherein the second gas generator is arranged with a portion outside of the housing and a portion passing through the at least one inflow opening and into the housing.

16. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the gaseous medium received by the at least one inflow opening is ambient air.