U.S. patent application number 09/281492 was filed with the patent office on 2001-08-09 for gas bag restraint system.
Invention is credited to FISCHER, ANTON.
Application Number | 20010011813 09/281492 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8055240 |
Filed Date | 2001-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010011813 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
FISCHER, ANTON |
August 9, 2001 |
GAS BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM
Abstract
A gas bag restraint system for an occupant of a vehicle
comprises a tube-shaped gas bag with a longitudinal axis, which
endeavours to extend in a straight line in an inflated state of the
gas bag and which has an outer wall. The system further comprises
at least one tensioning means arranged on the outer wall, by which
tensioning means the gas bag is fastened to the vehicle. The
tensioning means is designed with a large area and is arranged at
such points of the outer wall and on the vehicle that the
longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped gas bag extends in a curved
shape in its inflated state. The tensioning means is tensioned by
the curved gas bag and forms an additional restraining surface.
Inventors: |
FISCHER, ANTON; (LEINWEILER,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TAROLLI SUNDHEIM COVELL
TUMMINO & SZABO
1111 LEADER BLDG
526 SUPERIOR AVENUE
CLEVELAND
OH
441141400
|
Family ID: |
8055240 |
Appl. No.: |
09/281492 |
Filed: |
March 30, 1999 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/730.2 ;
280/728.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/232 20130101;
B60R 2021/2617 20130101; B60R 21/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
280/730.2 ;
280/728.2 |
International
Class: |
B60R 021/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 2, 1998 |
DE |
298 06 081.7 |
Claims
1. A gas bag restraint system for an occupant of a vehicle, said
system comprising a tube-shaped gas bag with a longitudinal axis,
which endeavours to extend in a straight line in an inflated state
of said gas bag and which has an outer wall, and comprising at
least one tensioning means arranged on said outer wall, by which
said gas bag is fastened to said vehicle, said tensioning means
being designed with a large area and being arranged at such points
of said outer wall and on said vehicle that the longitudinal axis
of said tube-shaped gas bag extends in a curved shape in its
inflated state, and said tensioning means being tensioned by said
curved gas bag and forms an additional restraining surface.
2. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said
tensioning means is one of a fabric piece and a net, on which
fabric piece or net said gas bag is arrested at several points.
3. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 2, wherein said
tensioning means has slits which form said points for arresting of
said gas bag, and wherein said gas bag extends through said slits
in said tensioning means.
4. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein it is
constructed as a side impact restraint system and extends in said
inflated state in front of a side window or side windows of said
vehicle.
5. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 4, wherein said
gas bag, in its inflated state, extends from at least laterally of
the head of a front occupant to at least laterally of the head of a
rear occupant.
6. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 5, wherein said
tensioning means covers a side window region of said vehicle from
close to a roof frame of said vehicle to close to a lower end of
said side window and from close to a A-column of said vehicle to a
C-column of said vehicle.
7. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 4, wherein said
gas bag covers a part of a B-column of said vehicle on a level with
the head of said occupant.
8. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 4, wherein said
gas bag extends substantially vertically in a region of a B-column
of said vehicle and covers a large part of said B-column.
9. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 4, wherein said
gas bag covers a large part of a C-column of said vehicle.
10. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 4, wherein said
gas bag, in its inflated state, extends obliquely downwards or
obliquely upwards in a region between a B-column and a C-column of
said vehicle.
11. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 1, wherein said
gas bag is a seamlessly manufactured fabric tube.
12. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 5, wherein said
gas bag has at least one portion curved in the shape of a U or a
V.
13. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 12, wherein
said gas bag extends in a shape curved by more than about
30.degree. as compared to said gas bag when not curved.
14. The gas bag restraint system according to claim 12, wherein
said gas bag is curved such that it tensions said tensioning means
both in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and also in the
vertical direction.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a gas bag restraint system for an
occupant of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,322 shows a restraint system which is
constructed as a head gas bag. The head gas bag is tube-shaped and
extends in the inflated state from the A-column obliquely upwards
to beyond the B-column. This gas bag, however, only covers a
relatively small portion of the side window of the front occupant.
A net arranged on the upper edge of the gas bag can only serve as
an additional small restraining surface. In addition, the
tensioning force applied to the net by the always linearly
extending gas bag is probably low, this being the reason why the
net can not absorb any higher lateral forces without yielding
greatly.
[0003] Furthermore, it is known to provide louver-like gas bags
which extend from the A-column up to the C-column and are intended
to offer protection laterally equally to the front and rear
occupants, i.e. from the side window of the front to the side
window of the rear occupants. The production of these gas bags,
which cover a large area, is relatively expensive. In addition, a
tube carrying gas extends along the roof frame, via which tube the
gas is to flow as uniformly as possible into the gas bag. The gas
volume for inflating this curtain-like gas bag is relatively great,
so that extremely powerful gas generators have to be provided,
which ensure a sufficiently quick filling.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The invention provides a gas bag restraint system which is
simply constructed, is able to be manufactured at a favorable cost
and requires a relatively low gas volume despite a very large
available restraining surface. The gas bag restraint system
according to the invention furthermore distinguishes itself by a
great force applied to the tensioning means and giving the
tensioning means a stable position. The gas bag restraint system
for an occupant of a vehicle according to the present invention
comprises a tube-shaped gas bag with a longitudinal axis, which
endeavours to extend in a straight line in an inflated state of the
gas bag and which has an outer wall. The system further comprises
at least one tensioning means arranged on the outer wall, by which
tensioning means the gas bag is fastened to the vehicle. The
tensioning means is designed with a large area and is arranged at
such points of the outer wall and on the vehicle that the
longitudinal axis of the tube-shaped gas bag extends in a curved
shape in its inflated state. The tensioning means is tensioned by
the curved gas bag and forms an additional restraining surface. The
tube-shaped gas bag is, therefore, not tensioned between its two
axial ends and able to extend linearly between these axial ends,
rather, quite on the contrary, it is forced by the tensioning means
to assume a curved profile, something which results in a high
tensioning force. Thereby, the gas bag braces itself between the
tensioning means or the sets of tensioning means and is fixed in
position. The tube can above all be curved such that, by itself or
together with the tensioning means, it shields regions which can
not be covered by a gas bag which extends exclusively linearly,
with the result that the gas bag, despite its small volume, can
cover those regions of the vehicle which are likely to cause injury
(the B-column or the side window on a level with the head).
[0005] The tensioning means can be a piece of fabric covering a
large area, or a net, on which the gas bag is arrested at several
points. For arresting, the gas bag can extend for example through
slits in the piece of fabric.
[0006] The gas bag restraint system according to the invention is
preferably a side impact restraint system and extends in front of
one or more side windows.
[0007] The gas bag is in particular a fabric tube manufactured so
as to be seamless, preferably even endless, which is deflected by
the tensioning means by more than 30.degree., preferably more than
60.degree..
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an unfolded gas bag restraint
system according to the invention, which is constructed as a side
impact restraint system,
[0009] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the unfolded tensioning means
according to FIG. 1, without the gas bag arranged thereon, and
[0010] FIG. 3 shows the inflated gas bag which is shown in FIG. 1,
not fastened to the tensioning means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0011] In FIG. 1 a gas bag restraint system, more precisely a side
impact restraint system, is shown in the unfolded state. The
restraint system consists of a tube-shaped, seamlessly and
endlessly manufactured gas bag 3, which is also to be seen in FIG.
3. The geometry and the type of weave of the outer wall 5 of the
gas bag are selected such that, without being fastened to a part on
its outer wall 5, it endeavours to extend in a straight line in the
inflated state, as FIG. 3 shows.
[0012] The gas bag 3 is fastened to a tensioning means 7 in the
form of a shown fabric piece having a large area or a partly shown
net 7'. For this, the fabric piece has numerous slits 9 through
which the gas bag 3 is drawn. In addition, the gas bag is sewn by
its outer wall to the bridge 11, each formed by a pair of parallel
slits. The tensioning means 7 is adapted in its size and shape to
the entire side window region of the vehicle into which it is
incorporated. It extends in the unfolded state according to FIG. 1
approximately up to the lower end 13 of the side windows and up to
the roof frame 15. In this region, the vehicle is illustrated by
dot-and-dash lines. In addition, the tensioning means 7 extends
from the A-column 17 over the B-column 19 up to the C-column 21, so
that it offers protection to both the front and rear occupants. The
tensioning means 7 is fastened at a few points to the A-column 17,
the roof frame 15 and the C-column 21. The gas bag 3 is fastened to
the tensioning means 7 such that it can not extend in a straight
line, but rather must assume a curved profile. In the region of its
front end which is closest to the A-column 17, it extends sharply
downwards, then extends sharply upwards, in order to cover the
large part of the B-column 19 and to protect the head of the
occupant from a direct contact with the B-column, especially from
contact with the seat belt deflection member affixed to the
B-column. The result of this is a portion 50 curved in the shape of
a U or a V, which portion is arranged such that the gas bag 3
tensions the tensioning means both in the longitudinal direction of
the vehicle and also in the vertical direction. The gas bag 3 is
curved in the region 50 by more than 60.degree., namely, about
110.degree. as compared to the linear gas bag illustrated by
dot-and-dash lines. Then the gas bag 3 extends slightly obliquely
downwards, to finally extend more sharply upwards towards its rear
end, where it partially covers the C-column. At its highest point
in the unfolded state, the gas bag has an opening 23 which serves
as inflation opening. Via this opening 23 the gas of an adjacent
gas generator 25 flows into the gas bag 3.
[0013] The mode of operation of the gas bag restraint system
according to the invention is explained below. In the folded state,
gas bag 3 together with tensioning means 7 are hidden under a
paneling which extends from the A-column 17 over the roof frame 15
up to the C-column 21. In the case of a side impact, the gas
generator 25 inflates the gas bag 3. The covering is opened by the
unfolding gas bag 3. The gas bag 3 shifts downwards and in so doing
carries the tensioning means 7 with it. The gas bag 3 endeavours to
unfold linearly which, however, it can not because of its fastening
to the tensioning means 7. Thereby, a tensioning force is produced,
so that the tensioning means 7 is braced between the fastening
points on the vehicle and covers the entire side window region
together with the gas bag 3, like a safety cloth. The unfolding of
the gas bag 3 takes place very quickly, because it has a relatively
small volume. A gas supply pipe is not necessary. As the tube is
manufactured endless and without a longitudinal seam, it is very
stable and can withstand high opening pressures. The tube is coated
on the inside and, because it has no seam, is very gas-tight. The
tensioning means 7, covering a large area, does not require any
coating and can be of a relatively moderately-priced fabric. The
gas bag 3 is guided in particular along those zones of the rear
side window region with which the head of the rear occupant could
most probably come into contact.
* * * * *