Airbag

• US 9,393,925 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2015
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana SA (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: Dalphi Metal Espana SA (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Miron, Francisco, Bustos Garcia, Alfonso
• Primary Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US14/625,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20150232056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01238 control of expansion shape
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01286 Electronic control units
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01315 monitoring occupant displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23384 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

The present invention provides an airbag module (1) in particular for a front passenger (21, 23) of a vehicle, comprising an inflatable bag (3) having at least a first outer panel (33) and a second outer panel (35) arranged substantially symmetrically to each other with regard to a vertical middle plane (M) of the inflated bag. The airbag is characterized in that the inflatable bag (3) comprises a strap structure (5) substantially located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35), wherein the strap structure (5) is designed such that the bag is extendable from a first state having a first size to a second state having a second size depending on the size of the respective passenger and/or the kind of impact.

Claims

1. Airbag module (1), for a front passenger (21, 23) of a vehicle, comprising an inflatable bag (3) having at least a first outer panel (33) and a second outer panel (35) arranged substantially symmetrically to each other with regard to a vertical middle plane (M) of the inflated bag, wherein the inflatable bag (3) comprises a strap structure (5) substantially located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35) and including a plurality of straps (7) integrally formed together in a single piece of fabric, wherein the strap structure (5) is designed such that the bag is extendable from a first state having a first size to a second state having a second size depending on the size of the respective passenger and/or the severity of an impact.

2. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the straps (7) are attached in a ray-like manner to a common front panel (15).

3. Airbag Module according to claim 2, wherein the strap structure (5) is fixedly connected to the first and second outer panels (33, 35) via the front panel (15).

4. Airbag module according to claim 2, wherein each of the straps (7) of the strap structure (5) comprises a predetermined breaking point (25), such that the straps (7) will break and/or detach from the bag (3) upon applying a predetermined traction force, wherein the respective breaking point (25) is designed to be close to the front panel (15).

5. Airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the respective breaking point (25) is approximately in the middle of the strap (7).

6. Airbag module according to claim 4, wherein the respective breaking point (25) is at an interface area with an inflator (13).

7. Airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the strap structure (5) is actively or passively detached from the bag (3) and/or in that the straps (7) in the first state of the bag (3) result in a necking zone (27) between the first and second outer panels (33, 35).

8. Airbag module according to claim 2, wherein distal ends (11) of the straps (7) are located in a seam area of the front panel (15).

9. Airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the straps (7) are attached to the front panel (15) by means of a continuous seam.

10. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the first outer panel (33) and the second outer panel (35) are formed by a single piece of airbag fabric.

11. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the strap structure (5) substantially corresponds to the side periphery of the first and/or second outer panels (33, 35).

12. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable bag (3) comprises a single chamber, which cooperates with an inflator to deploy the bag.

13. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein strap structure (5) is manufactured by a laser-cutting procedure.

14. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the strap structure (5) is substantially y-shaped, wherein a first outer periphery of the strap structure (5) is attached to a seam area of the first outer panel (33) and a front panel (15) and a second outer periphery of the strap structure (5) is attached to the seam area of the second outer panel (35) and the front panel (15).

15. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the strap structure (5) has a substantially rectangular shape, and is attached to the first and second outer panels (33, 35).

16. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of straps have ends that converge towards one another to a common connection area adjacent an inflator.

17. Airbag module according to claim 16, wherein the converging ends merge into a single portion of the strap structure at the common connection area.

18. Vehicle safety system for improving the protection of an occupant, comprising:

an airbag module (1) including

an inflator (13); and

a bag (3) inflatable by said inflator (13), the bag (3) having at least a first outer panel (33) and a second outer panel (35) arranged substantially symmetrically to each other with regard to a vertical middle plane (M) of the inflated bag (3), a strap structure (5) being substantially located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35) and including a plurality of straps (7) integrally formed together in a single piece of fabric, wherein the strap structure (5) is designed such that the inflated bag (3) is extendable from a first state having a first size to a second state having a second size depending on the size of the respective passenger and/or the severity of an impact; and

an electronic control unit, by means of which the inflator (13) can be activated at recognition of an activation situation.