Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-17
2003-05-27
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3616)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S743100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06568706
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a particular air bag system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a particular air bag system manufacturing process as well as to a particular triggering process for an air bag system. Finally, a motor vehicle having at least one air bag system also forms part of the invention.
The invention basically comprises, among other elements, side air bags and roof air bags in an automobile and their housings.
2. Description of Related Art
European Patent Document EP 97 102 307.2 discloses a side impact protection device for vehicle occupants in which an air bag, in the folded ready condition, is arranged behind a covering part on the roof frame of a vehicle. This is a head gas bag which, while folded in an elongated manner, is situated behind the covering part as long as it is not triggered. In this case, a gas generator is integrated directly in the gas bag and extends maximally along one third of the gas bag. It is a disadvantage in this case that the mounting site of the gas generator is limited. Specifically, if the mounting site is situated in a forward or rearward end area of the gas bag, then an unfavorable inflation performance of the gas bag may result, which may cause the gas bag to reach its inflated condition incompletely or too late.
This can be avoided by means of an air bag according to German Patent Document DE 196 42 964.1. This air bag system for a motor vehicle contains an air bag consisting of an inflatable gas cushion, a gas generator for filling the air bag, a gas guiding tube which extends through a partitioned-off area of the air bag and has blow-out openings, a profile strip with a discharge duct constructed therein, in which the air bag, folded in a stack shape, is accommodated, and fastening elements for holding the constructional unit consisting of the profile strip, the air bag and the gas guiding tube. Although, by way of its blow-out openings, the gas guiding tube permits a targeted filling of the air bag when the air bag is triggered, the gas guiding tube and its mounting cause additional expenditures which make the whole air bag system significantly more expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an air bag system in which the air bag can be inflated in a targeted manner without significant additional expenditures.
This object is achieved by way of the particularly claimed air bag system, the particularly claimed air bag system manufacturing process, the particularly claimed triggering process for an air bag system and a motor vehicle as particularly claimed.
Another problem existing in the prior art is known, for example, from two older German Patent Applications DE 196 04 055.8 and DE 196 32 222.7 by the same applicant as that of the present application. This problem relates to the fastening of the air bag system on a vehicle roof with an integrated sliding roof. A remedy for this problem is provided by the present invention.
Preferred and advantageous further developments of individual implementations of the invention will also be apparent.
Without limitation, the present invention comprises, in addition to the preferred embodiments indicated in the description and the characteristics and combinations of characteristics indicated in the claims, all concepts, principles and generalizations which a person skilled in the art can easily recognize. Also, the complete contents of German Patent Applications DE 196 04 055.8 and DE 196 32 222.7, European Patent Document EP 97 102 307.2, and German Patent Document DE 196 42 964.1 are incorporated by reference into this application and become part of the disclosure content of this document.
As a result of the invention, an air bag system is provided for accommodation behind a vehicle covering. The air bag system contains an air bag which, when the air bag system is triggered, advances into a main inflating direction, and a gas generator for supplying the air bag with pressure gas during triggering of the air bag system. The gas generator and the air bag are connected by a gas distributing duct which extends at least partially at an angle with respect to the main inflating direction of the air bag. In this case, the invention provides that the gas distributing duct is formed of the air bag material.
According to the invention, the gas distributing duct, which provides an optimal distribution of the pressure gas from the gas generator and therefore an optimal inflating performance of the air bag, is formed directly of the air bag material. Thus, in contrast to the gas guiding duct of the prior art, no additional parts are required for forming the gas distributing duct. The labor expenditures for manufacturing the gas distributing duct are also not considerable since the gas distributing duct can be constructed directly while manufacturing the air bag in one work step which, as a rule, can take place simultaneously with other machining operations during manufacture of the air bag.
The gas distributing duct preferably extends at least essentially transversely to the main inflating direction of the air bag.
Although the gas distributing duct can also be mounted on the air bag, it is advantageous and therefore preferred for the gas distributing duct to be constructed integrally with the air bag. As a result, the whole air bag, together with the integrated gas distributing duct, can be manufactured in one operation from the air bag material.
In order to achieve a sufficiently stable gas distributing duct, the gas distributing duct is preferably formed by a two-layer or multi-layer air bag material. This may be further developed by forming the two-layer or multi-layer air bag material of the gas distributing duct by foldings of the air bag material. Such foldings can be implemented directly in the continuous machining and manufacturing process.
Preferably, the gas distributing duct is formed by welded connections, glued connections, sewn connections or woven connections of two or more layers of air bag material, and gas passage openings are left between the welded connections, glued connections, sewn connections or woven connections.
Additional stabilizations in possible critical areas of the gas distributing duct which are highly stressed by the flowing pressure gas may advantageously be achieved by inserted reinforcements. In particular, reinforcements may be placed in the gas distributing duct in the area of the inflow opening of pressure gas from the gas generator and/or in areas in which the gas distributing duct has a curved course.
For the accommodation of at least the air bag of the air bag system according to the invention, a suitable space is already made available by a vehicle covering, such as an inside lining and, particularly, a roof lining of a vehicle. In order to ensure that the air bag will not be loose in this space, covering and fastening devices are preferably contained so that the folded air bag can be accommodated in its ready position. Preferred covering and fastening devices contain at least one layer of a nonwoven material or paper by which the folded air bag can be accommodated in its ready position. In particular, materials and constructions are used for the covering and fastening devices which cause no noise such as squeaking. Furthermore, it is preferred to have the covering and fastening devices fixedly connected with the air bag and/or the vehicle covering. Preferably, the covering and fastening devices are glued to the air bag and/or the vehicle covering. This permits a premounting of the air bag or of the whole air bag system on a vehicle covering such as that on a vehicle ceiling.
When fastening elements used for the simultaneous fastening of the vehicle covering and the air bag system, or at least the air bag, on other vehicle parts are provided, an easy mounting with a minimal number of parts is permitted if the air bag or the air bag system is not premounted on the vehicle covering, as described above. Also, with premounted units consisting of th
Autoliv Development AB
Bianco Paul D.
Dickson Paul N.
Dunn David R.
Fleit Martin
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