Airbag

• US 9,855,912 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• 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): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US15/181,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20160288763A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• 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 characterised 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 first and second outer panels (33, 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) located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35);

wherein the strap structure (5) is Y-shaped in a horizontal cross sectional view of the inflated bag (3), the strap structure comprising two branches (37, 37′

), which include an angle with each other and are connected to a common panel (39), wherein each of the branches (37, 37′

) comprises a plurality of straps (7) having a ray-like arrangement; and

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 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.

3. Airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the respective breaking point (25) is approximately in the middle of the strap (7).

4. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein 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).

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

6. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein distal ends (11) of the straps (7) are located in a seam area of a front panel (15).

7. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein the straps (7) are attached to a front panel (15) by means of a continuous seam.

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

9. Airbag module according to claim 1, wherein a first outer periphery of the strap structure 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 a seam area of the second outer panel (35) and the front panel (15).

10. Vehicle safety system for improving the protection of an occupant, comprising an airbag module (1) according to claim 1, an inflator (13), and an electronic control unit, by means of which the inflator (13) can be activated at recognition of an activation situation.

11. Airbag module (1), for a front passenger (21, 23) of a vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable bag (3) comprising a front panel (15) which faces the front passenger (21, 23);

first and second outer panels (33, 35) arranged substantially symmetrically to each other with regard to a vertical middle plane (M) of the inflated bag;

a strap structure (5) located between the first and second outer panels (33, 35) and including a plurality of straps (7) arranged in a ray-like manner with proximal ends (9) connected in a common connection area (13) of the air bag (3) and distal ends (11) connected to the front panel (15);

wherein the distal ends (9) of the straps (7) are connected to the front panel along a continuous seam that extends between the front panel (15) and one of the first and second outer panels (33, 35); and

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.

12. Airbag module according to claim 11, wherein the distal ends (11) of the straps (7) have a geometry configured to extend substantially continuously along a line that extends parallel to the vertical middle plane.