Airbag, preferably OPW airbag, for vehicle

Abstract

To provide an airbag, preferably an OPW airbag, which is configured to be set from an uninflated state to an inflated state by an inflation operation to protect an occupant of a vehicle.SOLUTION: An airbag is provided with at least two fabric layers which are connected to one another to form a plurality of airbag chambers, where in an inflated state the airbag chambers are each formed as tubular chambers, which extend and / or are arranged transversely and / or obliquely and / or parallel to a depth direction of the airbag in the inflated state such that the outer shape of the airbag assumes the shape of a tube, in particular a tube with an oval or elliptical cross-section or a hollow cylinder with a circular cross-section.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an airbag, preferably an OPW airbag, configured to be set from a non-inflated state, e.g. a folded or collapsed state, to an inflated state, e.g. a deployed state, in which the airbag can achieve its protective effect on the occupants of a vehicle, such as an automobile or commercial vehicle, by an inflation action. [Background technology]

[0002] Such airbags used in vehicles can be manufactured in a variety of ways and are, for example, called OPW airbags, Cut & Sew airbags or Cut, Seal & Sew airbags, depending on the manufacturing method.

[0003] OPW airbags, so-called tubular airbags, are one-piece woven airbags or airbags, while Cut&Sew airbags or Cut, Seal&Sew airbags are obtained by cutting several pieces of fabric, gluing them together and then sewing them together.

[0004] Such airbags are widely used as part of vehicle restraint systems to protect vehicle occupants from impact with components of the vehicle structure, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, door frames, etc.

[0005] Such restraint systems in the form of OPW airbags or airbag systems having conventional airbags manufactured using the Cut & Sew or Cut, Seal & Sew process are actively activated when required and are widely known as active restraint systems in vehicles such as automobiles.

[0006] Various types of airbags are known from the state of the art, e.g. in the form of driver and passenger airbags, side airbags, far side airbags, head airbags, knee airbags, window airbags, etc. The so-called far side airbags, also known as front centre airbags, are located, for example, on the driver's side of a motor vehicle facing the passenger seat.

[0007] Driver or passenger airbags used for frontal impact protection are usually installed on the steering wheel of the vehicle, either in front of the driver or behind the instrument panel for the other front seat passenger (passenger). In addition to frontal impact protection, airbags are also used to protect against side impacts. For example, the aforementioned side airbags, such as curtain airbags, side airbags in the seats or door trims, etc. are also provided. In particular, curtain airbags or special side airbags are generally installed along the roof side rails, i.e. the roof structure of the vehicle body, where they deploy to form an energy absorbing structure between the head and upper body of the occupant and the interior components of the vehicle.

[0008] In the event of an accident or imminent accident, sensors installed in the vehicle measure abnormal deceleration of the vehicle. For example, within milliseconds, gas is supplied to the airbag to bring the airbag from a non-inflated state to an inflated state during the inflation operation. This is accomplished by a device such as a gas generator, commonly referred to as an "inflator." The inflated airbag cushions the vehicle occupant from the forces of the collision.

[0009] In addition to the OPW method mentioned above, airbags are also often manufactured in a somewhat more complicated manner using the Cut & Sew or Cut, Seal & Sew methods mentioned above.

[0010] In particular, the Cut & Sew method involves only cutting pieces of fabric forming the fabric layers into the desired shape, overlapping them on top of each other, and sewing them together to form the airbag, the so-called Cut & Sew airbag.

[0011] Known airbags manufactured for this purpose using the Cut, Seal & Sew method are complex solutions and are produced with a high manufacturing effort, for example by cutting two or more identical or partially identical or different manufactured parts out of a flat fabric coated with silicone, spraying the edges with a sealing compound, for example in the form of circumferential beads, then overlapping the two or more fabric parts on top of each other and then bonding the parts. Furthermore, the fabric layers thus formed are provided with seams to ensure sufficient strength of the adhesive seams.

[0012] In the case of airbags manufactured using the Cut & Sew method and airbags manufactured using the Cut, Seal & Sew method, additional components such as catch straps, flaps, etc. may also have to be sewn in a further process step for molding (with or without sealant).

[0013] Thus, the Cut & Sew and Cut, Seal & Sew methods are more time consuming and costly than the OPW method, often requiring numerous manual process steps.

[0014] In order to increase the airbag or the protective effect of the airbag, for example, when designing the airbag, especially in the frontal protection area (driver's airbag, passenger airbag, etc.), the approach is taken to design the airbag with a larger airbag depth and with a larger contact or impact surface that the occupant hits in case of a crash. Up to now, it is known from the prior art that the airbag is balloon-shaped, which requires a higher airbag volume. However, a larger airbag volume requires a larger gas generator and therefore necessarily requires more installation space in the vehicle, which is contrary to the design specifications of the airbag design. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] It is therefore an object of the present invention to further develop an airbag of the same type, which is capable of achieving an airbag depth equal to or greater than that of the prior art, with a lower filling volume, in particular without requiring an increased installation space and / or an increased inflation time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] This object is achieved by means of the features of the independent claims. Advantageous and further embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0017] The airbag according to the invention is preferably an OPW airbag and is configured to be set from a non-inflated state, e.g. a folded or collapsed state, to an inflated state in which the airbag can provide sufficient crash protection for the occupant or achieve its protective effect by an inflation action, the airbag having at least two fabric layers, preferably two fabric layers in several regions and / or three fabric layers in several regions, connected to each other so that a plurality of airbag chambers in fluid communication with each other are formed, where each of the airbag chambers is formed as a tubular chamber in the inflated state, the tubular chambers extending and / or arranged transversely and / or obliquely and / or parallel to the depth direction of the airbag in the inflated state, such that the outer shape of the airbag takes the shape of a tube, in particular a tube with an oval or elliptical cross section, or a hollow cylinder with a circular or ring-shaped cross section.

[0018] Preferably, the depth direction of the airbag in the inflated state corresponds to the axial direction of the tube or hollow cylinder.

[0019] Thus, for example, the tubular chamber or airbag chamber may extend in its circumferential direction transversely, i.e. perpendicularly, to the depth or axial direction of the tube and thus take the shape of a circular ring or circular ring segment.

[0020] If the tubular chambers are parallel to the depth or axial direction of the tube, they may for example extend in the longitudinal direction of the tube in the form of an elongated tube, and are preferably distributed or offset around the tube in the circumferential direction.

[0021] Another embodiment of the tubular chamber is when it extends at an angle to the depth direction, i.e. when the extension direction of the tubular chamber extends both axially and circumferentially, for example a tubular chamber designed in this way takes the form of a curved helix, i.e. a helical line or a cylindrical helix, which wraps around a cylinder, in this case the shell of a hollow cylinder, at a constant pitch and at a constant angle.

[0022] Airbag embodiments in which multiple tubular chambers are arranged one behind the other in the direction of their extension are also contemplated, for example, chambers arranged parallel to the depth direction or chambers arranged circumferentially across the depth direction, the chambers being spatially separated from one another by respective seams but fluidly connected to one another.

[0023] In connection with a tubular chamber, tubular is meant, inter alia, to form an elongated hollow body having any desired cross-section, in particular a circular, oval, semicircular or rectangular cross-section.

[0024] A large protective surface or impact area and a deeper inflation height can be achieved by embodiments of the airbag according to the invention, i.e. by forming the airbag in the manner of an inflatable ring-shaped tubular structure having multiple parallel and / or transverse and / or diagonally extending tubular chambers, without significantly increasing the airbag or the airbag volume, i.e. a larger protective volume can be realized with the same or even lower inflation volume of the airbag.

[0025] Furthermore, the protective surface or impact area can be designed or extended as required by arranging several inflated tubes or numerous tubular chambers adjacent to each other and / or overlapping each other. A very rigid and stable shape / geometry of the airbag can be created by targeted arrangement of e.g. longitudinally, diagonally, transversely or randomly extending tubes or tubular chambers with major and / or minor diameters supporting each other in the inflated state. It is particularly advantageous in terms of rigidity and stability of the airbag when produced as an OPW airbag and having at least three layers in a certain area. Preferably, the three-layer area is formed with a chamber structure or tubular structure of multiple airbag chambers that causes curvature of the airbag to achieve a tubular or hollow cylindrical shape of the airbag while ensuring high rigidity and stability of the airbag.

[0026] The airbag according to the invention can be designed for known airbag applications, such as driver airbags or side airbags, or other types of airbag applications for autonomously driving a vehicle.

[0027] If the airbag according to the present invention is designed as an OPW airbag, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced because the Cut&Sew airbag requires more sewing steps and some quality control compared to making an OPW airbag.

[0028] Preferably, the airbag is manufactured as a three-layer OPW airbag designed to assume a tubular or hollow cylindrical shape in the inflated state, which is held in shape by, for example, attached longitudinal and / or fixed seams (sewn, not woven), i.e. fixed seams extending in the longitudinal or vertical direction of the airbag. For example, if the fabric layers laid out and in the non-inflated state and overlapping each other form a rectangle corresponding to the unrolled casing of the hollow cylindrical airbag, the side ends or edges of the rectangle can be connected to each other, preferably by sewn fixed seams. Preferably, the overlapped fabric layers are woven together at their edges to form a circumferential woven seam, and two opposite edges of the rectangle thus formed are joined to each other, preferably sewn to each other by fixed seams. Thus, i.e. based on the chamber structure and the fixed seams, the airbag designed in this way can assume a hollow cylindrical shape in the inflated state.

[0029] Similarly, the airbag according to the invention is preferably configured such that the OPW structure or OPW chamber structure functions in particular to hold the attached flat fabric, i.e. to keep it under tension and bring it to a position where it forms a protective or impact surface. For example, a flat fabric can be arranged and attached to one end of a tubular or hollow cylindrical airbag in an inflated state. Thus, an impact on the airbag is preferably not into an airbag chamber or chambers filled with excessive pressure, but simply on a (fabric) piece or flat pieces of fabric held under tension by the airbag chambers. Furthermore, the airbag design according to the invention can be used to further reduce the packaging volume of, for example, a driver's airbag.

[0030] Furthermore, the airbag according to the invention can be further configured such that the airbag chambers formed as tubular chambers are arranged offset in the circumferential direction of the airbag in the inflated state, so that the arrangement of the airbag chambers forms a tubular cover or a hollow cylindrical wall and / or the outer shape of the airbag takes the shape of a tube or a hollow cylinder. The chamber structure of the airbag with multiple tubular chambers thus forms a tubular cover or a hollow cylindrical wall which forms the fillable volume of the airbag and which surrounds the space (cavity) outside the fillable volume of the airbag, i.e. the space where a pressure different from the internal pressure of the airbag or atmospheric pressure prevails.

[0031] Furthermore, the airbag according to the invention can be realised in such a way that a number of airbag chambers formed as tubular chambers extend in the axial direction of the airbag formed in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder in the inflated state and are radially offset from one another, so that a group / several inner airbag chambers arranged side by side in the circumferential direction and a group / several outer airbag chambers arranged side by side in the circumferential direction, i.e. the airbag chambers arranged further outwards in the radial direction, are formed. Thus, a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall is formed by the inner and outer airbag chambers respectively extending in the axial direction, so that a certain stiffness and stability of the airbag in the inflated state can be achieved, since the airbag chambers are at least partially supported against one another.

[0032] Furthermore, the airbag according to the invention can be designed such that the tubular inner airbag chamber and the tubular outer airbag chamber have different diameters. Preferably, the tubular inner airbag chamber has a larger diameter than the tubular outer airbag chamber, in particular with the same or different filling volume. Thus, such a chamber structure consisting of an outer airbag chamber and an inner airbag chamber makes it possible to achieve a curvature of the airbag that can meet the requirements of stiffness and stability of the airbag in the inflated state.

[0033] Furthermore, the airbag according to the present invention can be implemented in such a way that at least two, preferably three, fabric layers for forming the airbag in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder are joined together, whereby in the inflated state of the airbag, the fabric layers form a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall in the axial direction in which the airbag chamber extends, and the two side ends of the axially extending fabric layers are joined, preferably sewn, glued or welded, to each other. If the side ends of the fabric layers are not connected and the airbag is laid out or unfolded, the airbag has a substantially rectangular shape, with the width (end) portions of the rectangular shape forming the connected side ends.

[0034] In this connection, the airbag according to the invention can be realised in such a way that at least two, preferably three, fabric layers of the side edge are joined or interwoven to form a single layer, so that the side edge forms a single layer seam portion joined to each other, preferably sewn. However, it is also conceivable alternatively that the side edge is formed of three layers, which optionally form the airbag chamber, but which are nevertheless joined to each other, preferably sewn.

[0035] Furthermore, the airbag according to the invention can be further formed such that the airbag at least partially or in certain areas has three fabric layers, namely a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer and a third fabric layer, whereby the second fabric layer is disposed between the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer. Preferably, when viewed from the outside of the inflated hollow cylindrical or tubular airbag, the first fabric layer forms the outer fabric layer of the airbag, the second fabric layer forms the middle fabric layer and the third fabric layer forms the inner fabric layer. Thus, the outer fabric layer and the inner fabric layer form the outer shell and the inner shell of the airbag. The three fabric layers are interwoven such that an axially extending, circumferentially offset outer airbag chamber is formed between the first / outer and second / intermediate fabric layers, and an axially extending, circumferentially offset inner airbag chamber is formed between the second / intermediate and third / inner fabric layers, where the outer and inner airbag chambers partially (for a hollow cylindrical or tubular airbag) curve radially outward to form a tube or hollow cylinder during their respective inflation operations.

[0036] Such a chamber structure can be used to achieve the required stiffness and stability of the airbag in its inflated state. Preferably, at least the parts or regions of the airbag forming the outer and inner airbag chambers are three-ply, while the remaining regions of the airbag (such as the region with the generator mouth or the connection region) are preferably two-ply or three-ply.

[0037] Furthermore, the airbag according to the invention can be designed such that the airbag is configured as an OPW airbag having warp and weft threads woven into the woven fabric layer, the warp and weft threads being interwoven such that the airbag has a first partial region and a second partial region as well as a region forming an airbag chamber, the first partial region being disposed between the region forming the airbag chamber and the second partial region, the warp and weft threads of the second partial region are interwoven in such a way that the second partial region has at least one generator opening for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag or a connection for connecting a generator and is formed in two layers, The warp and weft yarns of the airbag chamber forming region are interwoven so that the airbag chamber forming region has a plurality of airbag chambers and is formed in three layers; and The warp and weft yarns of the second fabric layer exit the second fabric layer in the first partial region, are completely suspended between the first and third fabric layers, and are integrated into the first and / or third fabric layers in the second partial region, so that the first and third fabric layers in the second partial region have the warp and weft yarns of the second fabric layer.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, the warp and weft threads are woven differently than in the above-described embodiment, in particular in the first and second partial regions.

[0039] According to an alternative variant, the weft threads of the intermediate fabric layer exit the intermediate fabric layer in the first partial region of the airbag and are partly attached to the upper fabric layer and partly attached to the lower fabric layer, while the warp threads of the intermediate fabric layer exit the intermediate fabric layer in the first partial region of the airbag and float freely between the lower and upper fabric layers. In the second partial region, the weft and warp threads of the intermediate fabric layer are integrated into the lower or upper fabric layer or are attached to the lower or upper fabric layer at a small number of attachment points.

[0040] Of course, the directions of the warp and weft threads, and therefore the warp and weft threads, can in principle be reversed in both designs.

[0041] Furthermore, the airbag according to the invention can be designed such that the end face end or each of the two end face ends of the airbag designed in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder is connected or closed by a flat clamping element that spans the (respective) end face of the hollow cylinder during the inflation operation of the airbag. The flat clamping element is preferably a circular flat piece of fabric that is cut to size and serves as the impact surface of the airbag. However, other woven fabrics such as nonwoven fabric blanks are also conceivable.

[0042] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1a)] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an airbag according to the invention in a side cross-sectional view; [Figure 1b] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the airbag according to the invention from FIG. 1a) in a cross-sectional view from above. [Figure 1c] 1 a) and 1b) as a steering wheel airbag, in a side view, a schematic representation of the airbag according to the invention; FIG. [Figure 1d)] 1A) and 1B) are schematic diagrams of the airbag of the present invention in a deployed state. [Figure 1e)] FIG. 1C is a schematic cross-sectional view of the airbag according to the invention of FIG. 1d) in a laid-out state. [Figure 1f)] 1d) in an inflated state, in a cross-sectional view from above; FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the airbag of FIGS. 1a) to 1f) seen from the side. [Diagram 3] 1a) to 1f) in a further schematic perspective side view. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the airbag of FIGS. 1a) to 1f) viewed from above. [Diagram 5] 5 is a schematic perspective view from above of the airbag of FIG. 4 with a clamping element in the form of an essentially circular flat piece of fabric attached to its end face. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the airbag of FIGS. 1a) to 1f) viewed from below. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the airbag of FIGS. 1a) to 1f) viewed from below. [Figure 8] 1a) to 1f) in a schematic perspective view further from above with a clamping element attached to the end face. FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an airbag according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the airbag of FIG. 9 in a specific application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Figures 1 to 10 show an airbag or gas bag or airbag 10 according to the present invention, which in the embodiment described below is designed or manufactured as an OPW airbag 10, i.e. a so-called "tube woven" airbag 10, an airbag 10 woven in one piece.

[0045] The airbag 10 according to the present invention is configured to be configured by an inflation action to be set from an uninflated state, e.g. a folded or collapsed state, to an inflated or deployed state in which the airbag is capable of deploying its protective effect on the occupant, for protecting the occupant of a vehicle, such as an automobile or commercial vehicle, in a conventional manner, i.e. the airbag 10 is deployed from the uninflated state to the inflated state in a conventional manner in response to the actuation of an inflation device, such as a gas generator which is activated upon detection of, for example, a vehicle crash.

[0046] FIG. 1a) shows a schematic diagram of an airbag 10 according to the invention according to one embodiment in an inflated state in a cross-sectional side view, while FIG. 1b) shows a schematic diagram of the airbag 10 according to the invention of FIG. 1a) in an inflated state in a cross-sectional top view.

[0047] As shown in the schematic diagram of an airbag 10 according to the invention in FIG. 1c) in side view, the described application or the airbag or airbag 10 in this embodiment is exemplarily designed as a steering wheel airbag and is therefore arranged in a conventional manner in a steering wheel 24, which will not be described in detail here.

[0048] Figures 1a) to 1c) show only the basic and schematic structure of an airbag 10 according to the invention, without going into further details of its specific textile structure. The structure of the airbag 10 according to the invention is explained in more detail below in relation to Figures 1d) to 1f).

[0049] In principle, the airbag 10 according to the present invention is constructed from a number of fabric layers 11, 12, 13, which will be described in more detail below, with the airbag 10 being made by an OPW process having two fabric layers in certain areas and having three fabric layers in certain areas.

[0050] In particular, the OPW airbag 10 has a first partial region ETB and a second partial region ZTB as well as an airbag chamber forming region LKB, the first partial region ETB being arranged between the airbag chamber forming region LKB and the second partial region ZTB.

[0051] In the second partial region, the airbag 10 is formed in two layers, the two fabric layers 11 and 13 being connected to one another in such a way that a generator mouth 18 for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag 10 or a connection region for connecting a generator is formed, via which the airbag 10 can be filled with gas.

[0052] On the other hand, the airbag chamber forming region LKB is formed of three layers as shown in FIG. 1a) and FIG. 1b), and the three fabric layers 11, 12 and 13 form a plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 (14 in the figure). 1 , 14 2 , 14 3 , 14 BK , …, 161 , 16 2 , …, 16 8 are illustrated).

[0053] In the illustrated case, each of the airbag chambers 14, 16 of the airbag 10 in the inflated state is designed at least partially as a tubular chamber or airbag chamber extending parallel to the depth direction of the airbag 10 in the inflated state and is arranged such that the outer shape of the airbag 10 takes the form of a tube or hollow cylinder with a circular or ring-shaped cross section. The depth direction of the airbag 10 therefore essentially corresponds to the axial direction (exemplified by axis a in FIG. 1a) of the tube or hollow cylinder that the airbag 10 forms in the inflated state.

[0054] As can be seen in particular in Figures 1a) and 1b), the multiple airbag chambers 14, 16 formed at least partially as tubular airbag chambers are arranged circumferentially offset in the inflated state, so that their arrangement forms a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall and thus the outer shape of the airbag 10 takes the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder.

[0055] In Fig. 1b) it can be seen in particular that the plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 formed as tubular chambers extend in the axial direction of the airbag 10 formed in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder in the inflated state and are radially offset with respect to one another, so as to form a first group or a first plurality of inner airbag chambers 16 arranged side by side in the circumferential direction, and another second group or a second plurality of outer airbag chambers 14 arranged side by side in the circumferential direction. The tubular inner airbag chambers 16 have a larger diameter than the adjacent tubular outer airbag chambers 14 radially outwardly and therefore a larger filling volume for the same axial length.

[0056] As can also be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1b), the fabric layers 11, 12, 13 form a tubular cover or hollow cylindrical wall in the inflated state of the airbag 10, along the axial direction of which the airbag chambers 14, 16 extend, and the two axially extending side edges 22 of the fabric layers 11, 12, 13 are spaced apart from each other. 1 and 22 2 The fabric layers 11, 12, 13 are joined together to form the airbag 10 in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder, in the same way that the fabric layers 11, 12, 13 are joined together, for example by sewing, gluing or welding ... 1 and 22 2 At least partially single layer seam portion 22 joined together 1 ,twenty two 2 Form.

[0057] With reference to Figures 1d) to 1f), the specific or detailed structure of the airbag 10 will now be described.

[0058] FIG. 1d) shows a schematic view of the airbag 10 according to the invention of FIGS. 1a) and 1b) in a laid out or unfolded non-inflated state, with the seam portion 22 1 ,twenty two 2 1e) shows a schematic cross-section of the airbag 10 according to the invention in FIG. 1d), in which the overlapping fabric layers 11, 12, 13 are shown slightly separated for better illustration. 1 ,twenty two 2 1(d) shows a schematic diagram of an airbag 10 according to the invention in a fully inflated state with the airbag 10 connected thereto in a cross-sectional view from above.

[0059] As can be seen in particular in Fig. 1d), the airbag 10 is formed as an OPW airbag with warp threads running in a warp direction K and weft threads running in a weft direction S woven into two woven textile layers 11 and 13 in a specific region, namely the second partial region ZTB, and woven into three woven textile layers 11, 12, 13 in a specific region, namely the airbag chamber forming region LKB. However, the warp direction K and the weft direction S can also be reversed.

[0060] The warp and weft threads are interwoven in such a way that the airbag 10 has at least one generator mouth 18 for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag 10, or a connection area for connecting the generator in the second two-layer partial area ZTB, and the warp and weft threads are interwoven in a three-layer area LKB which forms the airbag chamber, and in which a plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 are formed, in which the seam portions NA which separate the plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 and extend in the warp direction K are only diagrammatically shown in the weft direction S by groups of two or three seam portions NA arranged side by side.

[0061] In the first partial region ETB shown in FIG. 1d), which is the transition region between the second partial region ZTB and the airbag chamber forming region LKB, i.e. which is arranged between the second partial region ZTB forming the generator mouth 18 and the region LKB forming the multiple airbag chambers 14, 16, the transition from the three-layer design of the airbag 10 to the two-layer design of the airbag 10 occurs.

[0062] In particular, the airbag 10 has three fabric layers 11, 12, 13, namely a first fabric layer 11, a second fabric layer 12 and a third fabric layer 13, in an airbag chamber forming region LKB having a plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16. The second fabric layer 12 is disposed between the first fabric layer 11 and the third fabric layer 13, such that, with respect to the hollow cylindrical or tubular airbag 10 in an inflated state, the first fabric layer 11 forms an outer fabric layer or outer shell of the airbag 10, the second fabric layer 12 forms a middle or inner fabric layer of the airbag 10, and the third fabric layer 13 forms an inner fabric layer or inner shell of the airbag 10.

[0063] In the first partial region ETB adjacent to the airbag chamber forming region LKB, the warp and weft threads of the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 leave the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 and are completely suspended between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the third or inner fabric layer 13, and are also joined to the first or outer fabric layer 11 or the third or inner fabric layer 13 in the second partial region ZTB adjacent to the first partial region ETB. Thus, the fabric layers 11 and 13 of the second partial region ZTB have a part of the second or intermediate fabric layer 12. The second partial region thus connects to the first partial region ETB and finally forms a connection region for connecting the generator mouth 18 or the generator.

[0064] The second two-layer partial region ZTB, the adjacent first partial region ETB and the three-layer region LKB adjacent to the first partial region ETB to form the airbag chamber are bounded in the layout state of the airbag 10 by a circumferential woven seam UWN which is divided into only two woven fabric layers 11 and 13 at the inlet part of the second partial region ZTB in order to form an inlet opening in the shape of a generator mouth 18 or a connection region, but otherwise all warp and weft threads are together in one fabric layer.

[0065] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 1e), the airbag 10 has three fabric layers 11, 12, 13 in the region LKB forming the airbag chambers forming a plurality of air chambers 14, 16. The three fabric layers 11, 12, 13 extend between a first or outer fabric layer 11 and a second or intermediate fabric layer 12 in an axial direction (corresponding to the warp direction K in FIG. 1d and FIG. 1e) and are offset in a circumferential direction (corresponding to the firing direction S in FIG. 1d and FIG. 1e). 1 , 14 2 , 14 3 , 14 BK ) is formed between the second or middle fabric layer 12 and the third or inner fabric layer 13, and an axially extending, circumferentially offset inner airbag chamber 16 (16 1 , 16 2 , …, 16 8 Their arrangement or this chamber structure causes the outer and inner airbag chambers 14, 16 to bend partially outwardly during their respective inflation operations to form hollow cylinders, as can be seen in FIG. 1f).

[0066] As can be seen in particular from the cross-sections of Figs. 1e) and 1f), one of the outer airbag chambers 14 BK The outer airbag chamber 14 (14) between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 is arranged such that the so-called bridge chamber covering the woven seam WN is located or disposed on one side relative to the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 between two respective adjacent inner airbag chambers 16 and on the other side relative to the second or intermediate fabric layer 12. 1 , 14 2 , 14 3 , 14 BK , ) defines an inner airbag chamber 16 (16) between the second or middle fabric layer 12 and the third or inner fabric layer 13. 1 , 16 2 , …, 16 8 )

[0067] Thus, the inner airbag chamber 16 is spaced apart via a woven seam WN formed by the third or inner fabric layer 13 and the second or middle fabric layer 12. Meanwhile, the outer airbag chamber 14 is spaced apart via a woven seam WU formed by the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or middle fabric layer 12.

[0068] This arrangement, in combination with the design of each of the airbag chambers 14 and 16 having different diametric cross sections, achieves a curvature of the airbag 10 radially outwardly, resulting in a curvature of each of the seam portions 22. 1 and 22 2 When these are connected, the tubular or cylindrical shape of the airbag 10 is obtained.

[0069] These airbag chambers 14 BK Or the bridge chambers push the airbag 10 or chamber structure from the inner airbag chamber 14 and the outer airbag chamber 16 through the adjacent chambers 14, thereby resulting in the aforementioned tubular or hollow cylindrical shape of the airbag 10. The bridge chambers function as a type of hinge.

[0070] 2 to 8 show schematic perspective views of the airbag 10 of FIGS. 1a) to 1f). As can be seen from the side views of Figures 2 and 3, the airbag 10 has a cylindrical or hollow cylindrical shape in the inflated state, particularly due to the chamber structure of the inner and outer airbag chambers 14, 16 described above and the seam portions 22 that are sewn together. 1 ,twenty two 2 This is achieved by:

[0071] 4 and 5 are schematic perspective views of the airbag 10 from above in different views. 5 and 8 it can be seen in particular that the end face ends of the airbag 10 in the form of a tube or hollow cylinder are closed by a flat clamping element 20 which spans one end face of the hollow cylinder during the inflation operation of the airbag 10. The clamping element 20 is preferably flat, in this case a circular or flat piece of fabric.

[0072] Therefore, the inflation operation of the OPW airbag 10 according to the present invention described above is as follows. When the inflation device in the form of a gas generator is actuated, gas flows from the second two-layer partial region ZTB forming the generator mouth 18 first into the first partial region ETB and from there into the three-layer region LKB forming the airbag chambers 14 and 16. In particular, gas flows from the first partial region ETB between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or intermediate fabric layer 12, thereby filling the outer airbag chamber 14 with gas. Furthermore, gas flows approximately simultaneously between the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 and the third or inner fabric layer 13, as a result of which the inner airbag chamber 16 is filled. The airbag chambers 14, 16 are filled with gas and the side edges 22 of each fabric layer are filled with gas. 1 ,twenty two 2 Because of the connections, the airbag 10 assumes the shape of a tube or wooden cylinder when inflated, stretching the flat fabric piece 20 attached to the end surface as the airbag 10 reaches its inflated state.

[0073] 9 shows a schematic diagram of an airbag 10 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In the description of this embodiment, only the differences with respect to the airbag 10 of the previous embodiment will be described.

[0074] In this embodiment, the airbag 10 is not designed as a steering wheel airbag but as a side airbag. The structure of the airbag 10 corresponds to that of the airbag 10 of the previous embodiment, with the difference that it is not provided with a clamping element 20 at its front end, since this is not necessary for the application of this example embodiment.

[0075] Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of the airbag 10 of Figure 9 in a specific application. As can be seen therein, the airbag 10 in this case is arranged in the form of an elongated tube in an activated inflated state, next to a window of a vehicle.

[0076] The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential for implementing the invention both individually and in any desired combination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] List of reference numbers 10 Airbags / Gasbags 11 Outer or First Fabric Layer 12 Intermediate or Second Fabric Layer 13 Inner or third fabric layer 14 Outer airbag chamber 16 Inner airbag chamber 18 Generator mouth or connection area 20 Clamping element (flat piece of fabric) twenty two 1 Seam part twenty two 2 Seam part 24 Steering Wheel a) Axis of hollow cylindrical / tubular airbag NA seam area WN Woven seam WU woven seams UWN Woven seam around the perimeter ETB First partial or transition region ZTB Second subregion LKB Airbag chamber forming area

Claims

1. An airbag (10), preferably a one-piece woven (OPW) airbag, configured to be set from a non-inflated state to an inflated state by an inflation action to protect a vehicle occupant, comprising: the airbag (10) has at least two fabric layers (11, 12, 13) connected to each other such that a plurality of airbag chambers (14, 16) are formed, preferably two fabric layers in a specific area and / or three fabric layers in a specific area, 1. An airbag (10), wherein each of the airbag chambers (14, 16) in the inflated state is formed as a tubular chamber extending and / or arranged transversely and / or diagonally and / or parallel to a depth direction of the airbag (10) in the inflated state, such that the outer shape of the airbag (10) takes the shape of a tube, in particular a tube with an oval or elliptical cross section, or a hollow cylinder with a circular or ring-shaped cross section.

2. 2. The airbag (10) of claim 1, wherein the airbag chambers (14, 16) formed as tubular chambers are arranged circumferentially offset in the inflated state, such that the arrangement of the airbag chambers (14, 16) forms a tubular cover or a hollow cylinder wall and / or the outer shape of the airbag (10) takes the shape of a tube or a hollow cylinder.

3. 3. The airbag (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the airbag chambers (14, 16) formed as tubular chambers extend in the axial direction of the airbag (10) formed in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder in the inflated state and are radially offset with respect to one another so as to form a group of inner airbag chambers (14) arranged circumferentially side by side and a group of outer airbag chambers (16) arranged circumferentially side by side.

4. 4. The airbag (10) of claim 3, wherein the tubular inner airbag chamber (14) and the tubular outer airbag chamber (16) have different diameters and / or the tubular inner airbag chamber (14) has a larger diameter than the tubular outer airbag chamber (16) and / or have the same or different fill volumes.

5. 5. The airbag (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least two, preferably three, fabric layers (11, 12, 13) for forming the airbag (10) in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder are connected to each other such that the fabric layers (11, 12, 13) form a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall in the inflated state of the airbag (10), the airbag chamber (14, 16) extends in the axial direction of the tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall, and the two axially extending side ends of the fabric layers are joined to each other, preferably sewn, glued or welded.

6. The at least two, preferably three, fabric layers (11, 12, 13) at the side ends are joined, preferably sewn, to each other at a single layer seam (22). １ , 22 ２ 6. The airbag (10) of claim 5, wherein the airbag is bonded or woven into one layer to form a .

7. The airbag (10) comprises, at least in a specific region, three fabric layers (11, 12, 13), namely a first fabric layer (11), a second fabric layer (12) and a third fabric layer (13), the second fabric layer (12) being disposed between the first fabric layer (11) and the third fabric layer (13); 10. The airbag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the three fabric layers (11, 12, 13) are interwoven such that an axially extending and circumferentially offset outer airbag chamber (14) is formed between the first fabric layer (11) and the second fabric layer (12) and an axially extending and circumferentially offset inner airbag chamber (16) is formed between the second fabric layer (12) and the third fabric layer (13), wherein the outer and inner airbag chambers (14, 16) are partially curved outwardly during their respective inflation operations to form the tube or the hollow cylinder.

8. The airbag (10) is formed as an OPW airbag in which warp and weft yarns are woven into the woven fabric layers (11, 12, 13); the warp and weft threads are woven together such that the airbag (10) has a first partial region (ETB) and a second partial region (ZTB) and an airbag chamber forming region (LKB), the first partial region (ETB) being disposed between the airbag chamber forming region (LKB) and the second partial region (ZTB); the warp and weft threads of said second partial region (ZTB) are interwoven in such a way that said second partial region (ZTB) has at least one generator mouth (18) for receiving a gas generator for filling said airbag (10) or a connection for connecting a generator and is formed in two layers, the warp and weft yarns of the airbag chamber forming area (LKB) are interwoven so that the airbag chamber forming area (LKB) has the plurality of airbag chambers (14, 16) and is formed in three layers; and 10. The airbag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the warp and weft threads of the second fabric layer (12) exit the second fabric layer (12) in the first partial region (ETB), are completely suspended between the first fabric layer (11) and the third fabric layer, and are integrated into the first fabric layer and / or the third fabric layer in the second partial region.

9. 10. The airbag (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or each of the two end faces of the airbag (10) configured in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder is connected or closed by a flat clamping element (20) which spans the end faces of the hollow cylinder during the inflation movement of the airbag (10).

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