Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-14
2001-09-04
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S732000, C280S743100, C280S729000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283500
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a gas bag for an airbag module.
In order to adapt gas bags to different requirements, for example to be driver's, front-passenger's or side airbags, it is known to differ the shapes of the gas bags. While a driver's airbag generally has a symmetrical shape, asymmetrical shapes are known for front-passenger's airbags and flat asymmetrical shapes are known for side airbags. DE 195 41 513 A1, for example, discloses a side airbag which has a C-shaped contour. The restraint function of the airbag is thereby restricted in some areas to certain body parts whose support in the event of a crash is essential.
DE 44 34 036 A1 furthermore discloses a side airbag having a gas bag which has an upper and lower gas chamber, the upper gas chamber being larger than the lower one, so that, in the event of a side impact, the thorax and the head region are uniformly intercepted.
Finally, DE 195 46 143 A1 discloses a vehicle passenger restraint device in which a flexible inflated cushion acting as the side bag has the profile of a door with a window cutout. Therefore, in this design, a cutout is present within the outer contour of the side bag at a location at which the airbag is not wanted.
The gas bags mentioned have the disadvantage that when inflated they are restricted in their degrees of freedom by their connection to the gas generator. In spite of the adapted shape of the known gas bags, this may, in certain installation positions of an airbag module, have a negative effect on the passenger's kinematics. For example, for this reason gas bags cannot be mounted on the vehicle roof. If, because of its restricted degrees of freedom, the inflated gas bag cannot follow the movement sequence of the passenger, relative movements between the gas-bag fabric and the passenger occur. This results in grazes on the skin and in excessive loads on various body parts. For example, a fatal extension of the neck may occur.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on the object of changing the gas bag in such a manner that it is able, after it is deployed, to follow the movement sequence of the passenger.
The gas bag according to the invention for an airbag module has at least one cut-free gas-bag section which is movable independently of the remaining gas-bag region and is situated at least partly within the outer contour of the gas bag. When inflated, this gas bag therefore does not constitute a self-contained body, but rather it has at least one section which is cut free and is movable independently of the remaining gas bag. This section is therefore able to follow the movements of the passenger in the event of a crash, and so relative movements between this section of the gas bag and the occupant are avoided to the greatest possible extent.
In a first embodiment, the cut-free gas-bag section is provided in that gas-bag region which in the deployed gas bag is assigned to the head of the passenger.
This embodiment is particularly expedient for a gas bag which is deployed from the roof of the vehicle. If the head of the passenger strikes against the cut-free section of the gas bag, this section can then follow the movement of the head, and so a relative movement between the two is avoided.
In a second embodiment, the cut-free gas-bag section is situated in the region of the connection of the gas bag to a gas generator. In this embodiment, the cut-free section of the gas bag is connected to the gas generator. This enables in particular the remaining region of the gas bag to be better adapted to the passenger.
The cut-free gas-bag section is preferably of such a size and shape that the adjacent gas-bag section constitutes a frame for the cut-free gas-bag section. Since the cut-free gas-bag section can move independently, it can be partially pressed out of this frame by the passenger.
In one embodiment, at least one cut runs in the form of a slot through opposite sides of the gas bag, and opposite slot edges of these sides are connected to each other in a gas-tight manner. In this embodiment, the opposite slot edges of the opposite sides are connected directly to each other, as a result of which the deployed gas bag has a constricted outer contour at the slot edges. However, it is also possible that between the opposite slot edges of the opposite sides there is provided at least one additional gas-bag part, and particularly of such a width that the gas bag, when deployed, has the profile of the outer contour of an unslotted gas bag even in the region of the slot.
It is expedient for the gas bag to be composed of an upper and a lower part, and for the two parts to have an identical slot profile.
Depending on the requirements, the slot may have a different profile. The slot preferably runs in a curved or angular manner and, in particular, in the shape of a U.
In one embodiment, the two ends of the slot are situated within the gas-bag outer contour. In a further refinement of this embodiment, two slots are situated opposite each other with their ends spaced apart.
In a further embodiment, at least one end of the slot penetrates the gas-bag outer contour, so that, when the cut-free gas-bag section is moved away, the outer contour of the gas bag is concomitantly moved away at this location.
It is expedient for the profile of the slot to at least partly correspond to the profile of the outer contour of the gas bag.
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patent: 38 33 889 (1990-04-01), None
patent: 43 04 152 (1993-08-01), None
patent: 44 34 036 (1996-03-01), None
patent: 195 41 513 (1996-05-01), None
patent: 195 29 829 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 195 46 143 (1997-06-01), None
patent: WO 93/16902 (1993-09-01), None
Eckert Nick
Haase Carston
Schlönvoigt Jens
Foley & Lardner
Johnson Brian L.
Petri AG
Sliteris Joselynn Z.
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