Air bag module comprising an air bag, in particular a side head air bag

• US 9,114,774 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heigl, Juergen, Rolan, Birnbaum, Schmiss, Waldemar
• Primary Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US12/501,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20100001499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,234 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 242/89, 242/91, 242/92, 242/95, 242/65.A, 242/65.AL, 242/65.R, 248/201, 248/500, 248/503, 248/505, 411/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

An air bag module (10) comprises an air bag (12) including a folded package portion (18) and a mounting portion (20). The package portion (18) has a front side (26) and a rear side (28). The rear side (28) is that side which faces a vehicle part on which the air bag (12) is mounted. Additionally provided are a mounting unit (14) which, with an insertion end (46) thereof, extends through the mounting portion (20) and a protective cover (24) partly enclosing the folded package portion (18). In the mounted state, the mounting portion (20) is located on the rear side (28) of the package portion (18). With its insertion end (46), the mounting unit (14) extends away from the package portion (18).

Claims

1. An air bag module (10) comprising:

an air bag (12) comprising a folded package portion (18) and a mounting portion (20);

at least one clamping plate (32, 34) positioned overlying the mounting portion (20); and

a mounting unit (14) having an insertion end (46) that extends through the mounting portion (20) of the air bag (12) and the at least one clamping plate (32, 34), the mounting unit (14) comprising first locking projections (48) for fixing the mounting unit (14) to the at least one clamping plate (32, 34) and second locking projections (50) for fixing the air bag module (10) to a vehicle part.

2. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a protective cover (24) that encloses the folded package portion (18) of the air bag (12), the mounting portion (20) in the mounted state of the air bag module (10) being positioned between the protective cover (24) and the vehicle part, the protective cover (24) covering the mounting portion (20) in the mounted state of the air bag module (10).

3. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the package portion (18) has a front side (26) and a rear side (28), the rear side (28) being that side which faces a vehicle part on which the air bag (12) is mounted, the mounting portion (20) being sandwiched between the rear side (28) and the vehicle part.

4. The air bag module (10) according to claim 3, wherein, in the mounted state, the mounting portion (20) is folded to extend along the rear side (28) of the package portion (28) and to position the insertion end (46) of the mounting unit (14) extending away from the package portion (18).

5. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping plate (32, 34) comprises an inner clamping plate (32) and an outer clamping plate (34), the first locking projections (48) fixing the clamping plates (32, 34) to each other with the mounting portion (20) sandwiched therebetween, the clamping plates (32, 34) thereby clamping onto the mounting portion (20).

6. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion (20) is attached to an upper edge (22) of a rear side (28) of the package portion (18).

7. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting unit (14) extends with its insertion end (46) through a protective cover (24) and fixes the same in position at a vehicle part.

8. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping plate comprises an inner clamping plate (32) and an outer clamping plate (34), the inner clamping plate (32) being located between the package portion (18) and the mounting portion (20), and the outer clamping plate (4) being located between the mounting portion (20) and the vehicle part and in that the mounting unit (14) fixes the clamping plates (32, 34) in position at the mounting portion (20).

9. The air bag module (10) according to claim 8, wherein, in the mounted state, the inner clamping plate (32) is at least partly located between a protective cover (24) and the package portion (18).

10. The air bag module (10) according to claim 8, wherein the inner clamping plate (32) and the outer clamping plate (34) are integrally connected to each other by means of a bendable portion (36).

11. The air bag module (10) according to claim 8, wherein the mounting unit (14) fixes the inner clamping plate (32) and the outer clamping plate (34) to each other.

12. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting unit (14) is made of metal.

13. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting portion (20) is a tongue of an air bag wall.

14. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the air bag module (10) is a side head air bag.

15. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one clamping plate (32, 34) comprises an inner clamping plate (32) and an outer clamping plate (34) connected to each other by a bendable portion (36), the bendable portion (36) being bendable to position the inner and outer clamping plates (32, 34) adjacent to each other with the mounting portion sandwiched therebetween.

16. The air bag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the insertion end (46) of the mounting unit (14) extends through aligned openings in the inner clamping plate (32), mounting portion (18), and outer clamping plate (34), the first locking projections (48) fixing the clamping plates (32, 34) to each other with the mounting portion (20) sandwiched therebetween, the clamping plates (32, 34) thereby clamping onto the mounting portion (20).