Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-20
2001-06-05
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241282
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an airbag, in particular a passenger airbag, comprising an airbag which is folded in the resting state and which is fastened on a fixing device.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
An airbag of this type is described, for example, in DE 197 04 684 A1. DE 196 11 384 A1 also discloses an airbag device in which the respective situation existing on the passenger side of the vehicle interior in the filling volume region of the airbag during the inflation process is taken into account. It is taken into consideration that, within a very short period of time, a large filling volume is blown into the gas cushion in an average filling time of about 35 milliseconds. With the known airbag device, the airbag is filled until an article impedes the advance movement during the advance movement. The advance movement can be monitored by means of an advance movement scanner provided in the interior of the airbag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an airbag of the type mentioned at the outset with which an advance movement scanner is anchored on the interior of the airbag without impairing the unfolding behavior of the airbag and the accuracy of measurement of the advance movement scanner.
This object is achieved by special folding of the airbag in that the airbag is folded double with crossover folds, the two crossover sets of folds being orientated substantially mutually perpendicularly with the lays of their folds. The arrangement and dimensioning of the lays of the folds of the two crossover sets of folds is such that a free space is, or can be, created in the interior of the airbag. Preferably rectilinearly extending scanning elements or measuring elements extend through the interior of the airbag to measure of the advance movement of the airbag as it is unfolded, so the airbag can be guided up to the front or top of the folded airbag package.
Rectilinearly extending elongate measuring elements extended, or straightend, during unfolding of the gas cushion, for example measuring threads, measuring strips or other suitable traction means, by which the movement of the front surface of the airbag into the passenger space can be scanned and measured, are suitable for scanning or measuring the length of advance movement. A device for evaluating the, in particular, unimpeded advance movement of the airbag is known from DE 196 11 384 A1 or described in DE 197 07 997 A1. For example, a sequence of pulses can be generated which depends on the advance movement of the unfolding airbag. To this end, a measuring or scanning element or a plurality of measuring or scanning elements can be connected to the front panel of the airbag.
The special folding also ensures that, during inflation, the airbag is rapidly unfolded from its folded state and substantially assumes the contour which is preset by its lower part connected to the fixing device and its upper part comprising the front surface. The lower and upper parts are mutually connected by a peripheral seam.
As a result of the folding, a compact airbag package can be achieved which corresponds substantially to the dimensions of the fixing device in base cross-section. The fixing device can be designed as a fixing frame that surrounds the inflation orifice for the filling gas into the interior of the airbag. The folded airbag package can also be arranged with a receiving compartment optionally equipped with a reinforcing trough (DE 197 04 684 A1). The airbag is connected to the vehicle body by the fixing device.
Preferably, the first set of folds of the airbag forms a bellows in which lays of the folds are orientated toward one another on two sides of the airbag. The lays of the folds are formed in each case by two fold flanks converging in an internal fold line. The second set of folds can be a zigzag set of folds in which the bellows formed by the first set of folds is folded in a zigzag form with superimposed fold flanks. Preferably, the second set of folds ends at the lateral boundary of the fixing device.
The stack of folds of the airbag produced by the second set of folds is preferably arranged between the fixing device, in particular the fixing frame, and the upper surface of the folded airbag. A piece of fabric forming the upper surface of the folded airbag is part of the upper part of the airbag and is located in the front panel of the airbag which moves into the passenger space on inflation. As the second set of folds ends at the lateral boundaries of the fixing device or in the vicinity thereof, there remains a region of the airbag with a span which corresponds substantially to the base surface of the fixing device and comprises only the first set of folds. This region of the airbag lies directly below the piece of fabric forming the upper surface and above the doubly folded stack. The anchoring of the scanning or measuring elements, in particular measuring threads, to the front panel of the airbag depends on the configuration of the airbag that is predetermined as a function of the type of vehicle. Anchoring is effected in such a way that, particularly when a passenger is out-of-position, parts of the passenger's body or articles can be sensed, and the filling of the airbag is controlled accordingly, as described in DE 196 11 384 A1 or DE 197 04 684 A1.
The various fold lays of the folded airbag can also be connected by tear seams, in particular in the region of their fold lines, in order to achieve intentional unfolding behavior during inflation of the airbag.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3736004 (1973-05-01), Haruna
patent: 5140799 (1992-08-01), Satoh
patent: 5335936 (1994-08-01), Faigle et al.
patent: 5398968 (1995-03-01), Emambakhsh et al.
patent: 5425551 (1995-06-01), Hawthorn
patent: 5531476 (1996-07-01), Kerner
patent: 5605350 (1997-02-01), Bates et al.
patent: 5636861 (1997-06-01), Orsulak et al.
patent: 5746447 (1998-05-01), Dyer et al.
patent: 6007092 (1999-12-01), Martz
patent: 19611384 (1997-09-01), None
patent: 19704684 (1998-08-01), None
patent: 19707997 (1998-09-01), None
Breed Automotive Technology Inc.
Dickson Paul N.
Drayer Lonnie
Fleming Faye M.
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