Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-03-13
English, Peter C. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728300, C280S740000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199896
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a gas bag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system and to a method for producing a gas bag module.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the unfolded state, the gas bag can provide a protective effect for a vehicle occupant, for example in the case of an accident. For this purpose, the gas bag module is connected with a gas generator which can be activated by a suitable triggering system, when the latter detects the necessity to transfer the gas bag into the unfolded position.
In elongated housings, the problem basically exists of introducing the compressed gas, provided by the gas generator, uniformly into the gas bag. Usually, a gas lance is used as flow channel, which lance is connected with the gas generator and extends through the housing. Several outflow openings are provided in the gas lance, which make possible the entry of the compressed gas into the gas bag.
The use of such a gas lance leads to various disadvantages. On the one hand, the gas lance represents an additional part which has to be produced, handled and mounted. This results in increased costs. In addition, the introduction of the gas lance into the housing and into the gas bag causes problems because the gas bag must not be damaged under any circumstances on introduction of the gas lance.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention consists in providing a gas bag module of the type initially mentioned, in which the installation of the gas bag module is simplified.
The gas bag module according to the present invention comprises an elongated housing which consists of two side pieces and in which a flow channel for compressed gas is provided, a gas bag which can be transferred by the compressed gas from a folded position into an unfolded position and which is accommodated in the housing in its unfolded position, and a closure plate constructed in one piece with one of the side pieces. The flow channel is formed by the side pieces of the housing and by the closure plate. The closure plate has passages for the compressed gas. In this construction, the flow channel is therefore not formed by the gas lance, which is constructed as a separate component, but rather by constructions which are part of the housing itself. In this way, the introduction of the gas lance into the housing is dispensed with.
A further important feature of the invention is the simple producibility of the housing. With the housing according to the invention, which is molded or cast from plastic, closed profiles (as seen in cross-section) are no longer provided for the resulting molded or cast part which would make the molding or casting very expensive. As, however, there is to be provided a closed profile for the formation of the flow channel, this profile is formed by bending the molded or cast part and by subsequent connection of the bent sections to each other. The housing may be molded or cast so to speak in one plane. The side pieces essentially form a plane, from which for example only the closure plate protrudes essentially perpendicularly. By bending and fixing the side piece, to which the closure plate is not attached, to the closure plate, the profile closed in circumferential direction and, thus, a hollow body are generated, the latter forming the flow channel.
The invention relates in addition to a method for producing a gas bag module according to the invention, which module is characterized by its simple and cost-effective production. For this, the following steps are provided:
a) the housing is molded or cast from plastic in such a way that no closed profiles are provided in the readily produced injection molded or cast part,
b) the folded gas bag is inserted into the open housing,
c) the housing is closed, the flow channel being likewise closed by the closing action, and
d) the side pieces lying opposite each other by the closing action are connected to each other in such a way that they are kept to constant distance.
Preferably, a chamber for accommodating the gas bag is likewise closed by the closing action.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5358270 (1994-10-01), Kuretake et al.
patent: 5609354 (1997-03-01), Lauritzen et al.
patent: 5645295 (1997-07-01), White, Jr. et al.
patent: 5687987 (1997-11-01), Spencer et al.
patent: 5791683 (1998-08-01), Shibata et al.
patent: 5884937 (1999-03-01), Yamada
patent: 297 02 008 U (1997-05-01), None
patent: 19700759 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 297 18 305 U (1998-03-01), None
patent: 297 18 205 U (1998-04-01), None
English Peter C.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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