Passenger airbag, vehicle occupant restraint system, and method for adapting passenger airbag

Abstract

The invention relates to a passenger airbag (12) of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10), which is assembled from a first blank and a second blank, wherein the first blank is U-shaped with transverse legs, and two longitudinal legs protrude from opposite ends of the transverse legs. A U-shaped inner fabric section is arranged on the inner side (56) of the transverse legs between the longitudinal legs, the inner fabric section being arranged to be lined in a module housing and constituting an air blowing port. The second blank has an elongated shape and is connected to the inner fabric section at the short side edge so as to circumferentially close the inner fabric section and the air blowing port. The size of the inner fabric section is adapted to the depth (t) of the module housing (18), so that the inner side (56) of the first blank is positioned at the upper edge (80) of the module housing (18) in the filled state of the passenger airbag (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a passenger airbag, a vehicle occupant restraint system and a method for adapting a passenger airbag. Background Art

[0002] Three-dimensional airbags are often used as passenger airbags, which in the filled state adapt their shape to the shape of the free space between the windshield and the dashboard and have a defined impact surface directed toward the vehicle occupant. The aim is to assemble the complex three-dimensional shape of such airbags from as few individual blank parts as possible, which can be cut from the textile web in order to simplify the sewing process.

[0003] The shape of the airbag is determined by the respective installation situation. This also includes the position of the module housing in which the airbag is folded up and accommodated before the restraint situation. For example, if the position or shape of the module housing or the geometry of the vehicle interior between the instrument panel and the front passenger changes in the vehicle design, the geometry of the airbag must also be adapted. Summary of the invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to simplify this adaptation.

[0005] The object is achieved by a passenger airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system, which is assembled from a first blank and a second blank, wherein the blanks have differently shaped outer contours, and the blanks are connected to each other along the outer contours so that the blanks in the filled state surround an irregularly shaped airbag section, which extends in the interior space of the vehicle. The first blank is U-shaped with a transverse leg, and two longitudinal legs protrude from opposite ends of the transverse leg. A U-shaped inner fabric section is arranged on the inner side of the transverse leg between the longitudinal legs, and the inner fabric section is arranged to be lined in the module housing ( The second blank piece has a longitudinally extending shape with a first short side edge and an opposite second short side edge. The second blank piece is connected to the outer side of the first blank piece opposite to the inner side at the first short side edge and is connected to the inner fabric section at the second short side edge so as to circumferentially close the inner fabric section and the blowing opening.

[0006] The irregularly shaped airbag section forms the region of the airbag that projects from the module housing into the vehicle interior, which region usually extends between the dashboard, the windshield and the front passenger and into which the front passenger intrudes when restrained.

[0007] The inner fabric section, however, serves to fasten the passenger airbag in the airbag module and thus on the vehicle and forms that part of the passenger airbag which remains in the module housing when the airbag is filled.

[0008] According to the invention, the airbag section extending in the vehicle interior and the area of ​​the airbag for fastening in the module housing are defined separately on the blank of the passenger airbag and are functionally separated, so that they can also be individually adapted to the installation space conditions for the design of the passenger airbag, wherein this adaptation has no or only a small effect on the remaining shape of the blank. The design process is thus simplified.

[0009] It is also advantageous that the second blank can have a geometrically simple shape, for example an elongated oval. Even if the geometry in the region of the second short side edge must be adapted if necessary, for example in the case of a change in the shape or depth of the module housing, the expense for this can be kept low.

[0010] The inner side of the first blank part is formed here by a straight line on the inner side of the U, to which the transverse bridge of the inner fabric section is connected, which straight line extends through two points on the inner side of the U which are respectively provided by the transition of the outer contour of the two longitudinal legs into the transverse legs.

[0011] The outer side is a part of the outer contour of the first blank part, while the short side edge is a part of the outer contour of the second blank part.

[0012] If necessary, the transverse bridge of the inner blank part does not extend over the entire area between the transition points. Between these points and the end of the transverse bridge, the outer contour of the first blank part is then adapted to the following sections of the outer contour of the second blank part, with which the outer contour of the first blank is connected during the manufacture of the passenger airbag.

[0013] The longitudinal bridge preferably protrudes from the transverse leg in the same direction as the longitudinal leg. Each of the longitudinal leg and the longitudinal bridge has a free end.

[0014] The free length of the transverse bridges between the longitudinal bridges is preferably equal to the length of the gas generator supplying the passenger airbag with filling gas. The gas generator can be a tubular gas generator in a known manner, the longitudinal axis of which is oriented parallel to the transverse bridges.

[0015] The transverse bridge of the inner fabric section preferably extends parallel to the transverse legs of the first blank and parallel to the inside. The position of the gas generator relative to the inside and therefore relative to the first blank is thus particularly predetermined. The gas generator is usually arranged in the vehicle parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, so that the blank can be easily designed so that the airbag is deployed along the center line of the blank. This also simplifies the design process.

[0016] The longitudinal bridges of the inner fabric section are, for example, shorter than the longitudinal legs of the first blank and are completely located in the intermediate space defined between the longitudinal legs. Typically, the longitudinal legs form the sides of an irregularly shaped airbag section, which extends into the vehicle interior and thus has a length of about 30 to 100 cm, while the longitudinal bridges are used to fasten the passenger airbag to the gas generator, which typically has a length of about 20-30 cm. The length of the longitudinal bridges can be selected to be shorter than the length of the gas generator. Arranging the inner fabric section in the space enclosed by the longitudinal legs of the first blank minimizes scraps.

[0017] In a preferred variant, the inner fabric section is transferred into the first blank part in one piece. In this case, the inner side forms an imaginary line in the region of the inner fabric section.

[0018] However, it is also conceivable, if necessary, to produce the inner fabric section as a separate blank part section and to connect it to the remaining first blank part, for example to sew it. The seam line then follows approximately the course of the inner side.

[0019] In order to facilitate fastening of the passenger airbag to the gas generator and the module housing, the inner fabric section can have assembly openings in the transverse and longitudinal webs for fastening screws of the gas generator.

[0020] The second short side edge of the second blank is connected to the inner fabric section, for example, on the outer side of the longitudinal bridge after the longitudinal bridge has been pulled onto the fastening bolts of the gas generator. The passenger airbag can thus be closed substantially airtightly in the circumferential direction in the region of the module housing lining and the blowing opening formed by the inner fabric section.

[0021] It is also conceivable that the second blank part has assembly openings for fastening screws of the gas generator at the second short side edge, so that the blowing opening is also closed by connecting the second short side edge of the second blank part to the fabric section by means of the fastening screws of the gas generator.

[0022] The irregularly shaped airbag section can be designed symmetrically or asymmetrically with respect to a center line extending through the short side edges of the second blank piece, which has no influence on the applicability of the invention. In the assembled and filled state, the center line usually extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0023] The invention also relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a module housing and a passenger airbag as described above. The width of the transverse bridge perpendicular to the inner side of the first blank and / or the width of the longitudinal bridge of the inner fabric section is adapted to the depth of the module housing so that the inner side of the first blank is positioned at the upper edge of the module housing in the filled state of the passenger airbag. In this way, the entire irregularly shaped airbag section for positioning the passenger airbag in the vehicle and accommodating the vehicle occupant is located outside the module housing, while the entire inner fabric section remains inside the module housing. Since only the size of the inner fabric section and, if necessary, the area of ​​the second short side edge of the second blank have to be changed, the passenger airbag can be easily adapted to different sizes of the module housing.

[0024] The width of the longitudinal bridges is perpendicular to their longitudinal extension when viewed towards the free ends. Of course, it should be taken into account that the extension of the area including the assembly opening and the seam allowance or the like must be deducted from the actual width of the corresponding section if necessary in order to be able to take into account the "effective" width corresponding to the actual function.

[0025] The invention also relates to a method for adapting a passenger airbag of the vehicle occupant restraint system described above to a predetermined installation situation in a vehicle. In this case, the inner fabric section is adapted such that the width of the transverse bridge perpendicular to the inner side of the first blank, the width of the longitudinal bridge and / or the angle between the longitudinal bridge and the transverse bridge are adapted to the depth of the module housing, so that in the filled state of the passenger airbag the inner fabric section ends at the upper edge of the module housing. Since the design and dimensions of the inner fabric section can be easily varied, the inner fabric section can be matched to the module housing at low cost. In particular, when the passenger airbag is fully filled, the inner fabric section lies smoothly against the inner wall of the module housing.

[0026] The depth of the module housing can also be adapted to a certain extent without changing the dimensions of the inner fabric section by changing the angle between the longitudinal and transverse webs.

[0027] The angle at which the longitudinal bridges protrude from the transverse bridges can be selected in this case in relation to the depth of the module housing, so that in the case of a flatter module housing the angle is selected to be more acute than in the case of a deeper module housing. For example, by increasing the angle to more than 90°, a deeper module housing can be adapted, while by reducing the angle to less than 90°, the passenger airbag can be adapted to a module housing of less depth.

[0028] If necessary, when adapting the airbag, the length of the second blank between the two short side edges must also be adapted to the depth of the module housing, but in particular only the geometry in the region of the second short side edge is changed without changing the shape of the irregularly shaped airbag section itself. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by means of embodiments.

[0030] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a vehicle occupant restraint system according to the present invention is shown, wherein the passenger airbag according to the present invention is in a fully filled state to perform the method according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a flat deployed blank of a passenger airbag;

[0032] Figure 3 Shows Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an inner fabric section of a passenger airbag;

[0033] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the angle change between the longitudinal bridge and the transverse bridge of the inner fabric section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figure 1 A vehicle occupant restraint system 10 is shown having a passenger airbag 12 which is provided for receiving a passenger 14 on a vehicle seat 16 in a restrained situation.

[0035] In normal driving operation, the passenger airbag 12 is folded up and accommodated in a module housing 18 , which in this example is accommodated in the upper side of a dashboard 20 .

[0036] Figure 1 It is shown how the passenger airbag 12 extends between the dashboard 20, the windshield 22 of the vehicle and the passenger 14 in the filled state. Here, the passenger airbag 12 can be conceived to be divided into two functionally different areas. One area is formed by an irregularly shaped airbag section 24, which includes the part of the passenger airbag 12 that is exposed from the module housing 18 in the filled state and is positioned in the vehicle interior 26. The other area is formed by an inner fabric section 28, which is lined in the module housing 18 and remains in the module housing 18 in the filled state of the passenger airbag 12, and the inner fabric section connects the entire passenger airbag 12 to the module housing 18 and thus to the vehicle.

[0037] The connection is for example by means of a gas generator 30 , here an elongated tubular gas generator, which supplies filling gas to the passenger airbag 12 in the event of a restraint and has fastening screws 32 which serve to fasten the passenger airbag 12 , as will be described below.

[0038] Figure 2 The flat, unfolded blank of the passenger airbag 12 is shown. The passenger airbag 12 is assembled from exactly two blank pieces, namely a first blank piece 34 and a second blank piece 36. Both blank pieces 34, 36 are cut out here from a flat, unfolded airbag fabric.

[0039] In this example, the inner fabric section 28 is part of the first blank part 34 and is in particular connected thereto in one piece.

[0040] As is known, of course, additional textile sections can also be provided, for example forming a reinforcement layer, which, however, is not essential to the invention and is therefore not considered here.

[0041] The two blanks 34, 36 have differently shaped outer contours 38, 40, but they match in length so that the two blanks 34, 36 can be connected to each other along their outer contours 38, 40. Although the two blanks 34, 36 can each be deployed flat, the final three-dimensional passenger airbag 12 is no longer so.

[0042] In the case of an irregularly shaped air bag segment 24 , the two blank parts 34 , 36 are completely connected to one another, for example completely sewn to one another, along their outer contours 38 , 40 .

[0043] The first blank part 34 in particular forms two oppositely directed side faces 42 of the filled passenger airbag 12, while the second blank part 36 forms a circumferential outer shell section 44 along the longitudinal direction L of the vehicle, which also includes an impact surface 46 for receiving the passenger airbag 14 (see Figure 1 ).

[0044] The imaginary center line M (see Figure 2 ) is parallel to the vehicle longitudinal direction L in the installed and filled state of the passenger airbag 12 .

[0045] The second blank 36 is symmetrical here with respect to the center line M. However, an asymmetrical shape can also be chosen.

[0046] like Figure 2 As shown, the first blank part 34 has a U-shape with a transverse leg 48 , from the end 50 of which a longitudinal leg 52 in each case projects approximately perpendicularly.

[0047] At the location where the longitudinal leg 52 merges into the transverse leg 48 , a transition point 54 is formed on the inner arc of the U. A straight line extending through the two transition points 54 forms an inner side 56 of the first blank part 34 between the two transition points 54 .

[0048] On a section of the outer contour 38 of the first blank part 34 which lies opposite the inner side 56 , the outer contour 38 forms an outer side 58 .

[0049] In the inner arc of the U, ie in the intermediate space 60 between the two longitudinal legs 52 , the inner fabric section 28 is arranged on the inner side 56 .

[0050] The inner fabric section 28 is likewise U-shaped and has a transverse bridge 62 from which a longitudinal bridge 64 projects at each end, wherein the two longitudinal bridges 64 point in the same direction from the transverse bridge 62 , as is the case with the longitudinal legs 52 and the transverse legs 48 of the first blank part 34 .

[0051] Figure 2 It is clearly evident that the inner fabric section 28 is completely accommodated in the intermediate space 60 between the longitudinal legs 52. Thus, starting from a straight line defining the inner side 56 and viewed in the same direction, the longitudinal bridge 64 is shorter than the longitudinal legs 52 in the direction of its free end 66.

[0052] Figure 3 An enlarged view of the inner fabric section 28 is shown.

[0053] The free length 68 of the transverse web 62 between the two longitudinal webs 64 corresponds approximately to the length of the gas generator 30 .

[0054] The transverse web 62 is oriented parallel to the gas generator 30 , and a plurality of assembly openings 70 are provided in the transverse web 62 , through which the fastening screws 32 of the gas generator 30 are passed when the passenger airbag 12 is assembled in the module housing 18 .

[0055] A further assembly opening 70 is provided on the longitudinal web 64 , and more precisely in the region of an inner side 72 which points toward the U enclosed by the inner fabric section 28 .

[0056] During assembly, the assembly openings 70 in the longitudinal bridges 64 are also pulled over the fastening bolts 32 of the gas generator 30, so that the longitudinal bridges 64 are folded over the transverse bridges 62. The length of the longitudinal bridges 64 is selected to be shorter than the length of the transverse bridges 62, wherein a certain degree of overlap of the two longitudinal bridges 64 is desirable in the assembled state.

[0057] The second blank 36 extends in an elongated shape along the center line M and has a first short side edge 74 and an opposite second short side edge 76 (see FIG. Figure 2 ).

[0058] The two short side edges 74, 76 are part of the outer contour 40 of the second blank 36. The first short side edge 74 is connected to the part of the outer contour 38 of the first blank 34 that forms the outer side 58 of the first blank 34, such as by Figure 2 As shown in the position of the two blanks 34 and 36 in FIG.

[0059] The second blank part 36 is folded over perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing along the center line M such that the second short side edge 76 is located in the region of the inner fabric section 28 .

[0060] The second short side edge 76 is fastened to the inner fabric section 28. This can be achieved, for example, in the following way: in the area of ​​the second short side edge 76, assembly openings 70 are also provided, which are pulled onto the fastening bolts 32 of the gas generator 30. In another variant, it is also conceivable to connect and sew the second short side edge 76 to the outer sides 78 of the two longitudinal bridges 64 of the inner fabric section 28. In any case, by fastening the second short side edge 76, the passenger airbag 12 and in particular the blowing opening formed by the inner fabric section 28 and the second short side edge 76 are closed. In the installed state, the connection is essentially airtight due to the contact with the gas generator 30 and the bottom of the module housing 18, as is known from conventional airbags.

[0061] In the filled state installed in the module housing 18 , the passenger airbag 12 is positioned such that the inner side 56 of the first blank 34 is arranged at an upper edge 80 of the module housing 18 , at the edge of the module housing 18 facing the passenger 14 and the vehicle seat 16 .

[0062] In other words, the transverse bridge 62 of the inner fabric section 28 ends as precisely as possible at the upper edge 80 of the module housing 18. At this point, the transverse bridge 62 turns into the first blank part 34, and the remaining part of the first blank part 34, viewed along the center line M away from the transverse bridge 62, is located outside the module housing 18 and is a part of the irregularly shaped airbag section 24. In the example shown here, this area of ​​the passenger airbag 12 is located above the instrument panel 20.

[0063] Here, the inner fabric section 28 ends with the outer side 78 of the longitudinal web 64 at the opposite section of the upper edge 80 of the module housing 18 . The second blank part 36 adjoins this location with its second short side edge 76 , which in turn extends toward the windshield 22 .

[0064] The geometry of Figure 1 Can be well identified in.

[0065] The passenger airbag 12 has two functionally separate regions: on the one hand, an irregularly shaped airbag section 24 that takes over the shaping of the passenger airbag 12 and the reception of the passenger 14 , and on the other hand, an inner fabric section 28 for fastening.

[0066] Correspondingly, in the case of design changes, for example due to a change in the geometry of the instrument panel 20 and the windshield 22 in the vehicle interior 26, substantially only the region of the blank that is concerned with the irregularly shaped airbag section 24 must be adapted. In addition to the inner fabric section 28, these are here the second blank part 36 and the first blank part 34. If, however, the shape of the module housing 18 changes, for example its depth t perpendicular to the instrument panel 20 changes, substantially only the length of the inner fabric section 28 and, if necessary, the second blank part 36, i.e., the distance of the first short side edge 74 and the second short side edge 76 along the center line M, must be adapted.

[0067] The width x of the transverse bridge 62 corresponds here to the width x of the two longitudinal bridges 64 perpendicular to their outer sides 78. The width x minus the material width on the transverse bridge 62 and the longitudinal bridge 64 corresponds to the depth t of the module housing 18 into the instrument panel 20, in which material width the assembly opening 70 is provided and which surrounds the gas generator 30 and is located between the module housing and the gas generator 30 at the bottom of the module housing 18 in the assembled state.

[0068] The passenger airbag 12 can be adapted to a varying depth t of the module housing 18 by varying the width x of the transverse web 62 and of the longitudinal web 64 .

[0069] exist Figure 2 In the example shown, two longitudinal webs 64 project perpendicularly from the transverse web 62 .

[0070] However, the angle between the longitudinal bridge 64 and the transverse bridge 62 may be variable, for example Figure 4 . An angle of less than 90° is selected there. An angle of greater than 90° is also possible. The angle between the longitudinal bridge 64 and the transverse bridge 62 can be adjusted directly by the blank of the inner fabric section 28, or as Figure 4 As shown, the seams are correspondingly placed in the blank with longitudinal webs 64 protruding at right angles.

[0071] In particular, a slightly modified depth t of the module housing 18 can be adapted by changing the angle between the longitudinal bridge 64 and the transverse bridge 62. Increasing the angle by more than 90° results in an adaptation to a greater depth t of the module housing 18, and reducing the angle by less than 90° results in an adaptation to a smaller depth t of the module housing 18.

[0072] With the aid of the passenger airbag 12 and the vehicle occupant restraint system 10 described here, it is easy to adapt to changing geometries in the vehicle interior 26 or in the area of ​​the module housing 18, since the formed section of the passenger airbag 12 located in the vehicle interior 26 is functionally separated from the fastening of the passenger airbag 12 in the module housing 18, for which the inner fabric section 28 is used, which is reflected in the formation of the blank parts 34, 36.

Claims

1. A passenger airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10), the passenger airbag being assembled from a first blank (34) and a second blank (36), wherein: The first blank part (34) and the second blank part (36) have differently shaped outer contours (38, 40), along which the blank parts are connected to one another so that in the filled state the blank parts surround an irregularly shaped airbag section (24) which extends in the vehicle interior (26), wherein the first blank (34) is U-shaped with a transverse leg (48), two longitudinal legs (52) protruding from opposite ends (50) of the transverse leg, wherein a U-shaped inner fabric section (28) is arranged on the inner side (56) of the transverse leg (48) between the longitudinal legs (52), the inner fabric section being arranged to be lined in the module housing (18) and constituting a blow port through which the gas released by the gas generator (30) reaches the passenger airbag (12), wherein the inner fabric section (28) has a transverse bridge (62) connected to the inner side (56), two longitudinal bridges (64) protruding from opposite ends of the transverse bridge, the longitudinal bridge being located in an area defined by an intermediate space (60) between the two longitudinal legs (52), and wherein the second blank piece (36) has an elongated shape having a first short side edge (74) and an opposite second short side edge (76), and the second blank piece (36) is connected to an outer side (58) of the first blank piece (34) opposite to the inner side (56) at the first short side edge (74) and is connected to the inner fabric section (28) at the second short side edge (76) so as to circumferentially close the inner fabric section and the blowing port, The transverse bridge (62) of the inner fabric section (28) extends parallel to the transverse legs (48) of the first blank part (34) and parallel to the inner side (56), the longitudinal bridge (64) of the inner fabric section (28) is shorter than the longitudinal legs (52) of the first blank part (34) and is completely located in the intermediate space (60) defined between the longitudinal legs (52), and the inner fabric section (28) is transferred into the first blank part (34) in one piece.

2. The passenger airbag according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner fabric section (28) has assembly openings (70) in the transverse webs (62) and the longitudinal webs (64), which are used for fastening screws (32) of the gas generator (30).

3. The passenger airbag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The second blank (36) has, at the second short side edge (76), assembly openings for fastening bolts (32) of the gas generator (30).

4. The passenger airbag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The irregularly shaped airbag section (24) is symmetrical about a centerline (M) of the second blank (36) extending through the first short side edge (74) and the second short side edge (76).

5. A vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising a module housing (18) and a passenger airbag (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The width (x) of the transverse bridge (62) perpendicular to the inner side (56) of the first blank part (34) and / or the width (x) of the longitudinal bridge (64) of the inner fabric section (28) are adapted to the depth (t) of the module housing (18) so that the inner side (56) of the first blank part (34) is positioned at the upper edge (80) of the module housing (18) in the filled state of the passenger airbag (12).

6. A method for adapting a passenger airbag (12) of a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 5 to a predetermined installation situation in a vehicle, in which the inner fabric section (28) is adapted so that the width (x) of the transverse bridge (62) perpendicular to the inner side (56) of the first blank part (34), the width (x) of the longitudinal bridge (64) and / or the angle between the longitudinal bridge (64) and the transverse bridge (62) are adapted to the depth (t) of the module housing (18), so that in the filled state of the passenger airbag (12), the inner fabric section (28) ends at the upper edge (80) of the module housing (18).

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that The angle at which the longitudinal webs (64) protrude from the transverse webs (62) is selected in dependence on the depth (t) of the module housing (18), wherein the angle is selected to be more acute in the case of a flatter module housing (18) than in the case of a deeper module housing (18).

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: The length of the second blank (36) between the two short side edges (74, 76) is adapted to the depth (t) of the module housing (18) without changing the shape of the irregularly shaped airbag section (24).

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