Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-07
2001-09-18
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290253
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a restraint device for vehicle occupants, in particular for the lateral restraining of the occupant, comprising an inflatable gas bag and a tensioning device which is connected with the vehicle, engages the gas bag, pulls the gas bag into an intended position on inflation and holds the gas bag in this position. Such a restraint device is described for example in the DE-U-296 15 485. In the known restraint system or air bag system, a tensioning device with tension spring and tensioning band is used, in order to pull the air bag or inflatable gas bag into an intended position during the inflation process. The tensioning device also serves to hold the inflated gas bag in the position reached and provided in the vehicle, when the vehicle occupant strikes the inflated gas bag with his body, e.g. his head. The tensioning device is technically expensive, however. Without using the tensioning device, it can happen that the gas bag is not stretched between its fastening points. Then, however, it does not offer any sufficient restraining effect when the occupant strikes it.
The invention provides a restraint device with a simple and favorably-priced tensioning device, which makes possible to stretch the gas bag and fix it in position in the inflated state.
The restraint device or air bag device according to the invention, for vehicle occupants and in particular for the lateral restraining of the occupant, comprises an inflatable gas bag and a tensioning device which is connected with the vehicle, engages the gas bag, pulls the gas bag into an intended position on inflation, and holds the gas bag in this position, the tensioning device comprising at least one inflatable tightening means which for example is tube-shaped or bag-shaped, the tightening means shortening itself in the pulling direction through inflation and thereby exerting a tensile force on the gas bag.
On inflation of the tightening means of the restraint device according to the invention, generally a deformation or a bulging of the inflatable tightening means occurs, which produces a longitudinal contraction or shortening of the inflatable tightening means, whereby a tensile force corresponding to the shortening is exerted onto the gas bag on inflation and also in the inflated state of the gas bag, in order to keep it in the intended position. The inflatable tightening means of the invention therefore avoids the disadvantageous expansion- or slack effects of the tensioning band or tensioning cable used in the prior art and therefore has superior tightening characteristics.
Preferably, the inflatable tightening means of the invention is inflated by means of the gas flowing into the gas bag, i.e. a fluid connection or flow opening is formed between the gas bag and the inflatable tightening means. This has the considerable advantage that the inflatable tightening means, which can be tube-shaped or bag-shaped, represents an additional volume to receive gas from the interior of the gas bag, whereby a high internal pressure is avoided and a rebound effect is at least reduced when the vehicle occupant strikes onto the protective gas bag. As an excess pressure in the gas bag is reduced through the flow connection between gas bag and tightening means, a tearing of the gas bag is prevented.
The inflatable tightening means is preferably designed such that with an increasing internal pressure of the gas or of the gas mixture in the tightening means or in the inflatable tensioning band, the tensile force exerted by the tightening means also increases. If, in an emergency, the occupant strikes the inflated, protective gas bag, the displaced bag volume or the resulting excess pressure is at least partially let off into the inflatable tightening means, whereby an increasing internal pressure is produced in the latter. The additional internal pressure, however, means an additional shortening of the tightening means or of the inflatable tensioning band and hence an additional tensile force on the gas bag, from which an additional tensioning of the gas bag results.
The inflatable tightening means of the invention is preferably designed in terms of shape and connection such that it bulges on inflation in a direction perpendicular to the pulling direction, or generally deforms such that it is shortened in the pulling direction.
A tube-shaped or cylindrical tensioning bag is preferred, or an inflatable tensioning band, the pulling direction of which coincides with its longitudinal axis.
The inflatable tightening means also supports the gas bag. Hence the gas bag is also firmly supported when the window panes break, which frequently occurs in a lateral collision. Through the supporting of the gas bag by the inflatable tightening means, therefore, the occupant is prevented from being hurled out.
The tube-shaped or bag-shaped tightening means can be connected at one end with the gas bag and at the other end with a body of the vehicle, i.e. it can serve as the sole tensioning means for the gas bag. However, the tube-shaped tensioning band can also be connected for example at one end with the gas bag and at the other end with a pretensioning arrangement, e.g. a tension spring.
The inflatable tightening means can be used instead of the tensioning band according to DE-U-296 15 485 or in combination with the tensioning band of the prior art. In addition to the tensioning band of the prior art, the tightening means can also be arranged at a different point on the gas bag, e.g. at an attachment point other than in the conventional tensioning band.
The inflatable tightening means can be secured to the gas bag as desired, but is preferably sewn to it or woven thereon.
The restraint device according to the invention can have a gas bag with several chambers, in order to obtain an additional shortening or longitudinal contraction of the gas bag itself, which adds to the shortening of the inflatable tightening means and improves the bracing and tightening of the gas bag.
The tensioning device can have several tightening means, which can be arranged at different points on the gas bag, in order to improve the fixing of the gas bag in position and/or to make available several support points for the gas bag.
Further advantageous further developments of the subject-matter of the invention are indicated in sub-claims
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patent: 5322322 (1994-06-01), Bark et al.
patent: 5765869 (1998-06-01), Huber
patent: 5865462 (1999-02-01), Robins et al.
patent: 5941564 (1999-08-01), Acker
patent: 6010149 (2000-01-01), Riedel et al.
patent: 6099029 (2000-08-01), H.ang.land et al .
patent: 19639617 (1998-04-01), None
patent: 2324068 (1998-10-01), None
patent: 2327066 (1999-01-01), None
Schaupp Jochen
Tietze Hans-Joachim
Dickson Paul N.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covel Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
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