Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-27
2001-09-04
Swann, J. J. (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S728100, C280S728200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283498
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a gas bag module, including a housing for accommodating a folded gas bag, and a cover connected to the housing by at least one tether.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Gas bag modules in the field concerned are known. A gas bag module is arranged, for example, behind a dashboard panel and provided with a cover fitting optically into the dashboard panel. This cover needs to be sufficiently rugged so that it can withstand the loads during normal usage of the vehicle. It is especially covers having a large surface area, as used for instance in concealing front passenger gas bags, that thus have a considerable mass. When such a cover is totally released from the dashboard panel during the deployment action of the gas bag, it needs to be retained on the housing of the gas bag module by a tether, as a result of which in the course of the gas bag being deployed the cover is abruptly stopped so that solid fastener parts are required for securing the tether to the cover and housing which are capable of withstanding the high peak loads. Despite it being retained by means of a tether, the cover flying off after activation of the gas bag may also result in damage to the windscreen or other vehicle components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is thus intended to counteract extreme loading of the cover of a gas bag module and other vehicle parts on deployment of the gas bag.
In accordance with the invention, a gas bag module is provided for this purpose including a housing for accomodating a folded gas bag, and a cover connected to the housing by at least one tether, wherein a fastener element for the tether is applied to the housing, this fastener element being plastically deformable when affected by tensile forces occurring in the tether due to the mass inertia of the cover on activation of the gas bag. In this way the kinetic energy of the cover can be effectively depleted over a predetermined deformation travel of the fastener element so that, more particularly, damage to the windscreen is avoided. In addition, the peak loads occurring in the fastener element, tether and the connection of the tether to the cover are reduced, thus enabling a lighter and/or cheaper design of the tether and its connection. Arranging the plastically deformable fastener element on the housing instead of on the cover makes a lightweight design of the cover possible.
In a further development of the invention, the fastener element is formed by a bracket having a slot for looping in the tether, as a result of which the fastener element can be realized simply and cheaply, for example as a sheet-metal part. Connecting the fastener element and the tether via a slot and a loop is a reliable and simple design apprcach.
Preferably the bracket is bent at its base and stands at a predetermined angle to the direction of action of the tensile forces on commencement of the plastic deformation, these measures ensuring a controlled deformation of the fastener element.
In a further development of the invention it is provided for that the bracket stands at an angle of approximately 90° to the direction of action of the tensile force on completion of the plastic deformation. Thereby, an effective limitation of the deformation travel of the bracket is possible.
The deformation properties of the bracket can be controlled to advantage by the bracket being provided with indentations and/or recesses. To reinforce the bracket it can be beaded or profiled so that it presents a higher resistance to deformation. Achieving deformation of the bracket already at low forces is done by providing the bracket with a perforation, for example, in the portion being deformed.
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Lum L.
Swann J. J.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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