Gas bag

• US 7,396,045 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aranzulla, Daniele, Schmid, Juergen
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/701,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/743.2, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/743.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2342 Tear seams

Abstract

A gas bag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system includes a limiting strap (12) which is guided along a wall (14) of the gas bag (10), the limiting strap (12) being shortened in an initial state by at least one gathered section such that the gas bag (10) is constricted and is not able to deploy freely, the at least one gathered section being extendable after a predetermined limiting strap tensile force is exceeded, so that the gas bag (10) may be deployed completely.

Claims

1. A gas bag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system, including a limiting strap (12) which is guided along a wall (14) of said gas bag (10), said limiting strap (12) being shortened in an initial state by at least one gathered section such that said gas bag (10) is constricted and is not able to deploy freely, said at least one gathered section being extendable after a predetermined limiting strap tensile force is exceeded, so that said gas bag (10) may be deployed completely, said limiting strap (12) has a plurality of gathered sections being held in said gathered state by one releasable holding element (32) each, said holding elements (32) being configured such that they permit an extension of their associated gathered limiting strap sections offset in time at different limiting strap tensile forces.

2. The gas bag (10) according to claim 1, wherein a releasable holding element (32) is provided, said releasable holding element (32) holding in said initial state said gathered section of said limiting strap (12) in a gathered state and permitting an extension of said gathered section when said predetermined limiting strap tensile force is exceeded.

3. The gas bag (10) according to claim 1, wherein lugs (30) are provided on said gas bag wall (14) for guiding said limiting strap (12).

4. The gas bag (10) according to claim 1, wherein in an unfolded state of said gas bag (10) said limiting strap (12) is substantially situated in a vertical plane.

5. The gas bag (10) according to claim 1, wherein in an unfolded state said gas bag wall (14) comprises a front wall section (22) which faces a vehicle seat (19) when said gas bag (10) is installed, and a rear wall section (24) which faces away from the vehicle seat (19) when said gas bag (10) is installed, said limiting strap (12) extending from said rear wall section (24) across said front wall section (22) and back again up to said rear wall section (24).

6. A gas bag module (8) for a vehicle occupant restraint system, including a module housing (20) and a gas bag (10) according to claim 1, wherein said limiting strap (12) is guided on said gas bag wall (14) between a first limiting strap end (26) and a second limiting strap end (28), said limiting strap ends (26, 28) each being secured to one of said module housing (20) and said gas bag wall (14).

7. A gas bag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system, including a limiting strap (12) which is guided along a wall (14) of said gas bag (10), said limiting strap (12) being shortened in an initial state by at least one gathered section such that said gas bag (10) is constricted and is not able to deploy freely, said at least one gathered section being extendable after a predetermined limiting strap tensile force is exceeded, so that said gas bag (10) may be deployed completely, wherein in an unfolded state said gas bag wall (14) comprises a front wall section (22) which faces a vehicle seat (19) when said gas bag (10) is installed, and a rear wall section (24) which faces away from the vehicle seat (19) when said gas bag (10) is installed, said limiting strap (12) extending from said rear wall section (24) across said front wall section (22) and back again up to said rear wall section (24).