Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-08-14
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728100, C280S729000, C280S742000, C280S743200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273456
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system. More specifically the invention relates to a window bag covering the side windows of a front and a rear occupant.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a gas bag is known from DE 297 09 389 in the form of a so-called side gas bag. A side gas bag extends similar to a curtain in the case of restraint between the occupant and the side windows of the vehicle and in particular reduces the risk of head injuries in the case of a side impact. Along the outer periphery of the gas bag the fabric layers are connected to each other by interweaving. The inner edge of the interwoven periphery is wave-shaped with successive concave shaped sections.
The walls of the gas bag are stressed most intensively during the inflation process in the region of the interwoven portions in the form of the peaks of adjacent concave shaped sections and at the end or ends of elongated interwoven regions separating adjacent chambers which stress can lead to the tearing of the fabric material.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a gas bag in which the stress on the warp and weft threads is reduced during inflation in fact at the end of the interwoven region. The gas bag according to the present invention has several walls of layers of fabric, which delimit the interior of said gas bag, adjacent walls being connected in one piece with each other by interweaving, an outer periphery along which said walls are connected to each other by interweaving, and several chambers which are separated from each other by the provision of an elongated, interwoven region. The interwoven region provided for separating chambers has opposite ends and terminates at least at one of said ends at a distance from said interwoven outer periphery, in order to delimit at least one overflow channel in the region of said outer periphery of said gas bag. The interwoven region, usually having the form of a line, runs out in at least one of a rounding (line defining a curve) and a drop shape at the end terminating at a distance from the outer periphery.
Through the measure according to the invention, the force peaks are reduced at the free end of the interwoven regions. The forces are introduced into the fabric so as to be distributed onto warp and weft threads over a larger area so that stress peaks are reduced.
The interwoven regions are preferably undulating lines which define the outer periphery of the gas bag and/or also define separations between gas bag chambers.
It is possible according to the invention that the entire line or else only the edge of the interwoven region adjoining the interior of the gas bag runs in an undulating shape which shape is defined by successive concave and convex portions of the edge.
The preferred embodiment of the gas bag makes provision that it is constructed as a side gas bag similar to a curtain. The interwoven region runs along the outer periphery. The interwoven regions separating adjoining chambers run obliquely to the warp and weft threads. For this, they can run in a straight line or else also in an undulating shape, as was already previously indicated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3614127 (1971-10-01), Glance
patent: 3630472 (1971-12-01), Axenborg
patent: 4262931 (1981-04-01), Strasser et al.
patent: 5458366 (1995-10-01), Hock et al.
patent: 5651395 (1997-07-01), Graham et al.
patent: 5823568 (1998-10-01), Wittmann et al.
patent: 5909895 (1999-06-01), Iino et al.
patent: 5975564 (1999-11-01), Smith et al.
patent: 5997037 (1999-12-01), Hill et al.
patent: 6019390 (2000-02-01), Keshavaraj
patent: 6059311 (2000-05-01), Wipasuramonton et al.
patent: 6059312 (2000-05-01), Staub et al.
patent: 6102434 (2000-08-01), Ohlert et al.
Draper Deanna L.
Johnson Brian L.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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