Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-28
2001-08-14
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S749000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273457
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a side gas bag restraint system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A side gas bag restraint system known from DE 298 02 507 U1 shows a gas bag which has a taut, tubular gas bag section being spherical in the inflated state. This section forms an inflatable tensioning band, by means of which an additional chamber is available for the inflowing gas.
The aim is to form the area of the gas bag to be as large as possible for restraining the head and also the hands and to position the gas bag in the inflated state so as to be as stable as possible in the vehicle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comes still closer to these aims than the prior art already known. This is achieved in a side gas bag restraint system for protecting occupants in motor vehicles having seats with a back rest and side windows by the system comprising a gas bag having a large area and covering at least a part of a side window of the vehicle. The gas bag has a non-inflatable section, at least one inflatable restraint chamber which is contacted by the head of the occupant in case of a side impact and which, in relation to an inflated state of the gas bag, is provided in front of and above an associated back rest of the vehicle to restrain a head of the occupant, and inflatable tensioning chambers. The inflatable restraint chamber is connected to a plurality of the inflatable tensioning chambers which are connected in series with regard to gas flow and are arranged in succession along a lower edge of the gas bag. The tensioning chambers have constrictions between them, and the non-inflatable section, constructed so as to have a large area, is tightened between the chambers and the vehicle when the gas bag is inflated.
The non-inflatable section connects all the chambers with each other and is fastened to the vehicle, preferably to the roof frame or to a vehicle column (A-, B- or C-column). Thereby it also connects all the chambers with regard to forces. The tensioning chambers which must not have a large volume compared with the restraint chamber, serve for the contraction in length of the gas bag principally in a horizontal direction. Furthermore, they also automatically lead to a specific contraction in length in a vertical direction. All the contraction forces occurring here are introduced into the vehicle via the non-inflatable section that has a large area. The non-inflatable section therefore substantially improves the positioning of the gas bag and is available as an additional restraint area. The numerous tensioning chambers arranged one behind the other and connected in series in terms of flow are at least partially inflated via the restraint chamber. When the head strikes onto the restraint chamber, high pressures occur in the latter. These are reduced by the gas being able to escape into the tensioning chambers. As the tensioning chambers have constrictions between them which act as throttle valves, a good damping effect is produced. The peak pressures are therefore decreased by gradual overflowing from tensioning chamber to tensioning chamber, as in a shock absorber.
Despite its stable positioning in the vehicle, the side gas bag restraint system according to the invention is also distinguished by a “soft” restraining of the head of the occupant. This is achieved by the combination of the restraint chamber, tensioning chambers connected with each other with regard to flow but having constrictions between them, and the non-inflatable section.
According to the preferred embodiment, the restraint chamber extends substantially from the roof frame vertically downwards to the lower edge of the gas bag. The inflation opening of the gas bag is connected directly with the restraint chamber, so that the latter is inflated before the tensioning chambers. Through this development, it is to be ensured that firstly the restraint chamber is available for restraining and no unnecessary delays can arise during inflating. As the restraint chamber runs substantially vertically downwards from the roof frame and the adjoining tensioning chambers run along the lower edge, all the chambers together as a whole form an “L”. The remaining region of the associated side window with which the occupant's head may come into contact, is covered by the non-inflatable section.
In the inflated state of the gas bag, the inflatable tensioning chambers have substantially a spherical shape. This leads to as large a surface as possible and hence a great contraction in length.
The gas bag is preferably to be folded such and the flow connection of the chambers with each other is to be constructed such that an overflowing of gas from the restraint chamber into the tensioning chambers is only possible with a gas bag unfolded almost completely downwards. Thereby, even if the restraint chamber is not completely inflated, the gas bag is to be fully unfolded downwards and is to cover the side window before it pulls itself taut between its fastening points.
The damping effect, already previously explained, by means of the tensioning chambers is achieved, for example, in that the gas bag restraint system includes the gas generator itself, the inflated gas quantity, the volumes of the chambers, and their flow connection coordinated with each other such that at least one tensioning chamber is not fully inflated by the gas generator. The volume then still available in the tensioning chamber or chambers permits an overflowing of gas when the head strikes onto the restraint chamber.
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patent: 296 05 897 U (1996-09-01), None
patent: 297 18 305 (1998-03-01), None
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Johnson Brian L.
Sliteris Joselynn Y.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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