Trw Occupant Restraint Systems Gmbh & Co. Kg

Trw Automotive Gmbh

Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh

Trw Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.

Anton Fischer

Robert Disam

Juergen Heigl

Martin Seitz

Achim Hofmann

Dylan Moran

Hans-Joachim Tietze

Sven Hofmann

Steffen Rothweiler

Jochen Weiss

Axel Kamrath

Blair Morrison

Michelle Blackson

Gitta Wisslicen

Rolf Mangold

Michael Stegmeier

The invention relates to a restraint system for a vehicle occupant () in a motor vehicle, comprising a front airbag (), in particular a driver's airbag, and a side airbag (), in particular a curtain airbag. In the inflated state, the side airbag () is arranged and shaped in such a way that, in the event of a glancing impact of the vehicle occupant () on the front airbag (), the side airbag () provides no significant support for the front airbag () in the vehicle transverse direction (y) in a front open region (), relative to the direction of travel (x) of the vehicle, of the vehicle side below the A-pillar ().

Vehicle occupant restraint system having front airbag and side airbag

An airbag fabric for an airbag comprises a mounting area () for mounting the airbag. The mounting area () includes a mounting hole (), a load portion () which is adjacent to the mounting hole () in a load direction (B), and a transition portion () which is adjacent to the mounting hole () against the load direction (B). Furthermore, the load portion () and the transition portion () include different weaves. The fabric in the load portion () exhibits lower resistance to displacement than in the transition portion () so that a fiber bead forms of the fabric fibers of the load portion (), which fiber bead is adjacent to the mounting hole () in the load direction (B), if bearing stress acts upon the mounting hole () in the load direction (B).

Airbag fabric

The invention describes an airbag module () comprising an airbag (), an elongate gas generator () and a diffusor (), wherein the gas generator () includes an outer housing () with outflow openings () distributed over the circumference (U) which define an outflow area (), wherein the outflow area () of the gas generator () is enclosed by the diffusor (), wherein the diffusor () has a central mount hole () into which the outer housing () protrudes so that the diffusor () circumferentially encloses an axial portion of the outer housing () which comprises the outflow area (), wherein the diffusor () includes at least one contact face () and at least two gas guiding surfaces () on the inner face of the diffusor () delimiting the mount hole (), wherein the contact face () is directly adjacent to the outer housing () of the gas generator () and the gas guiding surfaces () are radially spaced apart from the outer housing () while forming at least a first collection chamber () and a second collection chamber () into which gas flowing out of the outflow area () flows, wherein the first collection chamber () opens into at least one first outlet opening () and the second collection chamber () opens into at least one second outlet opening (), wherein the first collection chamber () is separated from the second collection chamber () by the at least one contact face () specifically in the form of a separating web (), wherein the diffusor () is completely arranged in an inflatable internal volume of the airbag (), wherein the airbag () comprises at least a first airbag chamber () and a second airbag chamber () which are separated from each other, wherein the gas flowing into the first collection chamber () flows, via the first outlet opening (), into the first airbag chamber () of the airbag () and the gas flowing into the second collection chamber () flows, via the second outlet opening (), into the second airbag chamber () of the airbag ().

Airbag module and vehicle seat and vehicle occupant protection system

In an assembly () of an elongate inflator () which has an outer housing () with outflow openings () spread along the circumference (U) and defining an outflow area () and an outflow direction, and of a clamp-type diffusor () enclosing the outflow area (), the diffusor () includes a central receiving opening () into which the outer housing () protrudes so that the diffusor () circumferentially encloses an axial portion of the outer housing () which comprises the outflow area (). At the inner side of the diffusor () delimiting the receiving opening () at least one bearing surface () and at least one gas guiding surface () are provided, wherein the bearing surface () bears directly against the outer housing () of the inflator () and the gas guiding surface () is radially spaced apart from the outer housing () while forming at least one collecting chamber () into which gas flowing out of the outflow area () is flowing. The collecting chamber () opens into at least one outlet opening () through which gas exits the diffusor () in an outlet direction (R) transversely to the outflow direction out of the inflator ().

Assembly comprising a diffuser and a gas generator, airbag module and method for installing an assembly

An airbag module () comprises an airbag () including two outer wall layers () which are interconnected at a circumferential joint () along a circumferential edge () of the airbag () and which delimit an interior of the airbag () fillable with gas, wherein an opening () which is in fluid communication with the fillable interior of the airbag () is provided in the circumferential joint (), and a plug () which is permanently inserted in the opening (). The plug () includes a passage (), and an outer circumferential surface () of the plug () is sealed against an inner edge () of the opening ().

Airbag module

A vehicle occupant protection system for a convertible includes an airbag disposed in the door. The airbag has a lower cell area, an upper cell area, and an intermediate area. The intermediate area, in a filled state of the airbag has a smaller thickness than the lower cell area and/or the upper cell area. A positioning strap has one end fastened to the vehicle at a fastening location, and a second end fastened to a fastening point at the intermediate area. A length of the positioning strap between the fastening location and the fastening point is configured to be shorter than a length of an airbag fabric between a lower edge of the airbag and the intermediate area of the airbag.

Vehicle passenger protection system comprising an airbag module

In an assembly () of an elongate inflator () which has an outer housing () with outflow openings () spread along the circumference (U) and defining an outflow area () and an outflow direction, and of a clamp-type diffusor () enclosing the outflow area (), the diffusor () includes a central receiving opening () into which the outer housing () protrudes so that the diffusor () circumferentially encloses an axial portion of the outer housing () which comprises the outflow area (). At the inner side of the diffusor () delimiting the receiving opening () at least one bearing surface () and at least one gas guiding surface () are provided, wherein the bearing surface () bears directly against the outer housing () of the inflator () and the gas guiding surface () is radially spaced apart from the outer housing () while forming at least one collecting chamber () into which gas flowing out of the outflow area () is flowing. The collecting chamber () opens into at least one outlet opening () through which gas exits the diffusor () in an outlet direction (RD) transversely to the outflow direction out of the inflator ().

A vehicle occupant restraint device comprises a control unit and a group of at least two matched airbags () for the protection of a vehicle occupant () on a particular vehicle seat (). The control unit is arranged and the airbags () are disposed and designed so that, in a collision case, the control unit differentiates between a first situation in which the vehicle occupant () is located in a standard distance area relative to a first airbag () and a second situation in which the vehicle occupant () is located in a rear area which is further distant from the first airbag () than the standard distance area. When the first situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag () only. In contrast, when the second situation is given, the control unit activates the first airbag () and additionally at least a second airbag () of the group, with the first airbag () backing the second airbag ().

Vehicle occupant safety system

In a method of folding an airbag () for a vehicle occupant restraint system, especially of curtain-type side airbag, to form an airbag package ('), the airbag () is rolled and/or folded to form an airbag roll () having a first volume (V). The airbag roll () is fed to a pressing device () in which the airbag roll () is compressed to form an airbag package (&#x2032;) having a second volume (V) which is smaller than the first volume (V). The airbag roll () and, resp., the airbag package (&#x2032;) is heated within the pressing device () and the airbag package (&#x2032;) is cooled, with the airbag package (&#x2032;) retaining the second volume (V) when it is removed from the pressing device (). The pressing device () includes a pressing mold or a molding shaft () whose height substantially corresponds to the desired height of the finished airbag packages (&#x2032;), a heating unit () for heating the airbag packages (&#x2032;) and a cooling device () for cooling the airbag packages (&#x2032;).

Method for folding an airbag, pressing device for shaping airbag packages, and airbag package

A method of folding an airbag () includes the following steps: the airbag () is flatly spread, a first section () adjacent to a first border () is folded at least once, the folded first section () is folded in U-shape, and a second section () adjacent to the first section () is rolled around the folded first section ().

Method for folding an airbag and airbag

A mounting device () for a folded airbag, especially for a folded side airbag, is provided comprising a base plate (), a clamping portion () encompassing the airbag in ring shape and a fixing plate () adjacent to the clamping portion (). The fixing plate () and the base plate () exhibit a first and, resp., a second contact surface () which are directly superimposed in the mounted condition. Furthermore an airbag module comprising a mounting device () is suggested.

Securing device for a folded airbag and airbag module

A fastening clip () for mounting a component part (), especially an airbag or an airbag module, on a support () includes a head portion (), a clip body () and retaining elements () laterally projecting from the clip body () which are elastically deflectable. The clip body () defines an interior and includes windows () through which the retaining elements () protrude outwardly from the interior. An assembly having such fastening clip () furthermore includes a support () having a mounting aperture () matching with the dimensions of the clip body ().

Fastening clip for mounting a component

An airbag () for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a first fabric layer () and an opposed second fabric layer () each being formed of a composite fabric of wefts and warps and delimiting a chamber () adapted to be filled with gas. Plural weaving threads () are provided which exit the composite fabric of a fabric layer () in the direction of the other fabric layer () and are freely floating in the chamber () before they enter into the composite fabric of the other fabric layer (). The weaving threads () are movable in their longitudinal direction relative to the inlet and outlet points.

Airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system

The invention relates to a fastening device () for a preferably tubular inflator () on a vehicle part (), including a holder component () to which the inflator () can be fastened. The holder component () includes a first fastening element () and a second fastening element () offset in the axial direction (A) for fastening on the vehicle part (). The holder component () includes a lever support () adapted to be in contact with the vehicle part () and being arranged in the axial direction (A) between the first and second fastening elements () and separating the holder component () into a first lever arm () and a second lever arm (). The invention further includes a fastening assembly () including an inflator () and a fastening device (), the first fastening element () includes a hook () formed by a nut () screwed onto a threaded bolt () of the inflator () having a head portion () and a tapered neck portion () allowing a positive connection to the vehicle part ().

Fastening device, and fastening subassembly for fastening a gas generator, and vehicle occupant restraint system

The invention relates to an airbag protection device () for a vehicle occupant restraint system that includes an airbag mounting device (). The airbag mounting device () includes first and second mounting members () which are mounted to the vehicle () spaced apart from each other and a cross-member () made of bent wire. An airbag () is mounted to the cross-member () in the folded state.

Growing community of inventors

Leinweiler, Germany

Anton Fischer