Frontal airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021107427-A1
Application number	US-201917047755-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 18, 2019
Priority date	Apr 19, 2018
Publication date	Apr 15, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants comprises a contact panel (26) facing the vehicle occupant in the inflated state. Inside the airbag tension means (30, 30′) which restrain portions of the contact panel (26) in the inflated state of the frontal airbag (10) are arranged on the contact panel (26) so that, in the mounted and inflated state, the contact panel (26) forms plural indentations (32) extending vertically from the view of the associated occupant. The frontal airbag (10) optionally may take a first completely inflated state and a second completely inflated state with a larger airbag volume than in the first state, wherein a release device (40) is assigned to at least several of the tension means (30, 30′) and, when the release device is not activated, the frontal airbag (10) only reaches the first state and, when the release device (40) is activated, the contact panel (26) bulges in the area of the released tension means (30, 30′) further toward the occupant so as to enable the second state.

First claim

1 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants, especially a passenger airbag, comprising a contact panel ( 26 ) facing the vehicle occupant in the inflated state and including an upper edge, a lower edge and two lateral edges ( 80 , 82 ), wherein, inside the airbag, tension means ( 30 , 30 ′) which restrain portions of the contact panel ( 26 ) in the inflated state of the frontal airbag ( 10 ) are arranged at the contact panel ( 26 ) so that the contact panel ( 26 ) in the mounted and inflated state forms plural indentations ( 32 ) extending vertically from the view of the associated occupant, wherein the frontal airbag ( 10 ) has a first completely inflated state and a second completely inflated state with a larger airbag volume than in the first state, wherein a release device ( 40 ) is assigned to at least several of the tension means ( 30 , 30 ′) and, when the release device is not activated, the frontal airbag ( 10 ) only reaches the first state and, when the release device ( 40 ) is activated, the contact panel ( 26 ) bulges in the area of the released tension means ( 30 , 30 ′) further in the direction of the occupant so as to enable the second state, wherein the plural indentations ( 32 ) in the mounted and inflated state which extend vertically from the view of the associated occupant are formed in the first state and in the second state so that even in the second state the contact panel ( 26 ) includes plural vertically extending indentations ( 32 ).

16 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein the plural indentations ( 32 ) and beads ( 24 ) formed between the indentations ( 32 ) are arranged in the area of the contact panel ( 26 ) of the frontal airbag ( 10 ) only.

17 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein the release device ( 40 ) includes an electrically activatable drive ( 42 ), especially a pyrotechnic drive.

18 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein a release device ( 40 ) is assigned to plural tension means ( 30 , 30 ′) so as to be capable of releasing them jointly.

19 . The frontal airbag according to claim 18 , wherein inside the frontal airbag ( 10 ) plural tension means ( 30 ) starting from the contact panel ( 26 ) are combined into one tension means ( 30 ′) which extends toward the rear side of the airbag and upon which the release device acts.

20 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein the contact panel ( 26 ) is composed of plural interconnected strip-shaped cut parts ( 50 - 56 ) which extend vertically in the inflated state of the frontal airbag ( 10 ), the cut parts being interconnected at the edges thereof, especially wherein the tension means ( 30 ) are disposed in the connection area of the neighboring cut parts ( 50 - 56 ).

21 . The frontal airbag according to claim 20 , wherein at least several, preferably all of the cut parts ( 50 - 56 ) extend continuously from the upper edge to the lower edge.

22 . The frontal airbag according to claim 20 , wherein at least several, preferably all of the cut parts ( 50 - 56 ) are fastened to a rear panel ( 28 ) in the area of the upper and lower edges ( 58 , 60 ).

23 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein edges of the contact panel ( 26 ) made from the cut parts ( 50 - 56 ) are fastened to a front panel ( 90 ) and/or to at least one additional panel element ( 92 , 94 ).

24 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein at least several, preferably all of the cut parts ( 50 - 56 ) include an upper end and a lower end which are horizontally narrower than the central area located between the ends, and in that at least several, preferably all of the cut parts ( 50 - 56 ) in the central area have bulges ( 64 ) facing laterally in opposite directions.

25 . The frontal airbag according to claim 23 , wherein the vertically extending indentations ( 32 ) in the second state are formed at seams between strip-shaped vertically extending cut parts ( 50 - 56 ) of the contact panel ( 26 ).

26 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein the contact panel ( 26 ) in the inflated and mounted state of the frontal airbag ( 10 ) forms, at one of its lateral edges, a vertically extending elongate bead ( 35 ) the horizontal width of which is larger than that of the remaining beads ( 34 ) formed between neighboring indentations ( 32 ).

27 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein a rear panel ( 28 ) in the form of a one-piece cut part is provided.

28 . The frontal airbag according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one tension means ( 30 ′) has a larger active length after being released and, in the second state, is subjected to tensile load so as to produce at least one indentation ( 32 ) at the contact panel ( 26 ).

Assignees

• Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh
• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Freisler Werner
• Schmid Simon

Classifications

• B60R2021/23384

  having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment · CPC title

• B60R2021/0048

  Head · CPC title

• B60R21/2338 Primary

  Tethers · CPC title

• B60R21/235

  characterised by their material · CPC title

• B60R21/231 Primary

  characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration · CPC title