Vehicle airbags, preferably OPW airbags

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, which is configured to be set from a non-inflated state, for example, a folded or crushed state, to an inflated state, for example, a deployed state, in which the airbag can achieve its protective effect on an occupant, in order to protect the occupants of vehicles such as automobiles or commercial vehicles by means of an inflation operation. 【Background Art】 【0002】 Such airbags used in vehicles can be manufactured in various 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 bag-woven airbags, are airbags woven integrally, while Cut&Sew airbags or Cut,Seal&Sew airbags can be obtained by cutting several pieces of fabric, adhering them and then sewing them together. 【0004】 Such airbags are widely used as part of a vehicle restraint system to protect vehicle occupants from collisions with components of vehicle structures such as steering wheels, dashboards, door frames, etc. 【0005】 A restraint system in the form of an airbag system having such an OPW airbag or airbag, or a conventional airbag manufactured using a Cut&Sew or Cut,Seal&Sew process, is actuated actively as required and is widely known as an active restraint system in vehicles such as automobiles. 【0006】 Various types of airbags are known from the latest technology, such as driver and passenger side airbags, side airbags, far-side airbags, head airbags, knee airbags, and window airbags. The so-called far-side airbag, also known as the front center airbag, is located, for example, on the side of the driver's seat facing the passenger seat of a car. 【0007】 Driver or passenger airbags used for frontal collision protection are typically installed on the steering wheel of a vehicle, either in front of the driver or behind the instrument panel of the other front-seat occupant (passenger). In addition to frontal collision protection, airbags are also used to protect against side collisions. For example, the aforementioned side airbags, such as curtain airbags, and side airbags in the seats or door trims are also provided. In particular, curtain airbags or special side airbags are generally mounted 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 occupant's head and upper body and the internal components of the vehicle. 【0008】 In the event of an accident or imminent accident, sensors equipped in the vehicle detect abnormal deceleration. For example, gas is supplied to the airbags within milliseconds to inflate them from a deflated state to an inflated state during inflation. This is achieved by devices such as gas generators, commonly called "inflators." The inflated airbags cushion the vehicle occupants from the impact force. 【0009】 In addition to the aforementioned OPW method, airbags are also often manufactured using a somewhat more complex method, such as the aforementioned Cut & Sew or Cut, Seal & Sew method. 【0010】 In particular, the Cut & Sew method involves only cutting pieces of fabric that form a fabric layer into the desired shape, overlapping them, and sewing them together to form an airbag, a so-called Cut & Sew airbag. 【0011】 Known airbags manufactured using the Cut, Seal & Sew method for this purpose are complex solutions, which are manufactured with considerable effort, for example, by cutting out two or more identical or partially identical or different fabricated parts from a flat fabric coated with silicone, spraying a sealing compound onto the edges, for example in the form of circumferential beads, then overlapping the two or more fabric parts and then joining the parts together. 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 and flaps, may also have to be sewn in during further process steps for molding (with or without sealant). 【0013】 Therefore, the Cut & Sew and Cut, Seal & Sew methods are more time-consuming and costly than the OPW method, and often require numerous manual method steps. 【0014】 To enhance the protective effect of airbags, for example, when designing airbags, particularly in the frontal protection area (driver's side airbag, passenger airbag, etc.), techniques are employed to design airbags with a greater airbag depth and a larger contact or impact surface that occupants would come into contact with during a collision. While conventional airbags are known to be balloon-shaped, this requires a larger airbag volume. However, a larger airbag volume requires a larger gas generator, and therefore inevitably requires more installation space within the vehicle, which contradicts the design specifications of airbag design. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve] 【0015】 Therefore, an object of the present invention is to further develop the same type of airbag that can achieve an airbag depth greater than that of the prior art with a lower filling volume, and in particular without requiring an increase in installation space and / or inflation time. [Means for solving the problem] 【0016】 This objective is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous and further embodiments of the present invention are shown in the dependent claims. 【0017】 The airbag according to the present invention is preferably an OPW airbag and is configured to be set from a non-inflated state, e.g., folded or flattened, to an inflated state in which the airbag can provide sufficient collision protection to the occupants or achieve such protective effect, in order to protect the occupants of a vehicle by inflation. The airbag has at least two fabric layers, preferably two fabric layers in some areas and / or three fabric layers in some areas, connected to each other so as to form a plurality of airbag chambers that are in fluid communication with each other, where each airbag chamber is formed as a tubular chamber in the inflated state, and the tubular chamber extends and / or is positioned laterally and / or obliquely and / or parallel to the depth direction of the inflated airbag such that the outer shape of the airbag is in the shape of a tube, particularly a tube having an oval or elliptical cross-section, or a hollow cylinder having a circular or ring-shaped cross-section. 【0018】 Preferably, the depth direction of the inflated airbag corresponds to the axial direction of the tube or hollow cylinder. 【0019】 Therefore, for example, a tubular chamber or airbag chamber may extend circumferentially, 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】 When the tubular chamber is parallel to the depth or axial direction of the tube, the tubular chamber extends, for example, in the shape of an elongated tube in the longitudinal direction of the tube, and is 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, that is, when the direction of extension of the tubular chamber extends both axially and circumferentially. For example, a tubular chamber designed in this way takes the shape of a spiral, or helical line, that wraps around the shell of a cylinder, i.e., a hollow cylinder, at a constant pitch and angle, i.e., a cylindrical helix. 【0022】 An embodiment of the airbag may have multiple tubular chambers arranged front to back in the direction in which they extend, for example, chambers arranged front to back parallel to the depth direction, or chambers arranged front to back circumferentially across the depth direction. The front to back chambers are spatially separated from each other by their respective seams, but are fluidly connected to each other. 【0023】 In relation to tubular chambers, "tubular" means, among other things, forming an elongated hollow body having any desired cross-section, particularly a circular, oval, semicircular, or rectangular cross-section. 【0024】 A larger protective surface or impact area, and a deeper inflation height can be achieved by embodiments of the airbag according to the present invention, i.e., by forming the airbag in the form of an inflatable ring-shaped tubular structure having a plurality of parallel and / or lateral and / or obliquely extending tubular chambers, without significantly increasing the airbag or airbag volume, i.e., a greater protective volume can be achieved with the same or even lower inflation volume of the airbag. 【0025】 Furthermore, the protective surface or the impact area can be designed or extended as required by arranging several inflated tubes or a number of tubular chambers adjacent to and / or overlapping each other. The very rigid and stable shape / geometry of the airbag can be created by the targeted arrangement of tubes or tubular chambers having major and / or minor axes that support each other in the inflated state, for example tubes or tubular chambers extending longitudinally, diagonally, transversely or randomly. It is particularly advantageous in terms of the rigidity and stability of the airbag when manufactured as an OPW airbag and having at least three layers in a specific region. Preferably, the three-layer region is formed by a chamber structure or a tubular structure of a plurality of airbag chambers that causes the airbag to curve to achieve a tubular shape or a hollow cylindrical shape of the airbag while ensuring high rigidity and stability of the airbag. 【0026】 The airbag according to the present invention can be designed for known airbag applications, such as driver's seat airbags or side airbags, or for other types of airbag applications for autonomously driving a vehicle. 【0027】 When the airbag according to the present invention is designed as an OPW airbag, the manufacturing cost can be further reduced compared to the production of an OPW airbag because a Cut&Sew airbag requires more sewing steps and some quality control. 【0028】 Preferably, the airbag is manufactured as a three-layer OPW airbag designed to take on a tubular or hollow cylindrical shape when inflated, and its shape is maintained by, for example, attached longitudinal and / or fixed seams (sewn rather than woven), i.e., fixed seams extending longitudinally or perpendicularly to the airbag. For example, if the fabric layers laid out in a deflated state and overlapping each other form a rectangle corresponding to the unwound casing of a hollow cylindrical airbag, the side edges or margins of the rectangle can preferably be connected to each other by sewn fixed seams. Preferably, the overlapping fabric layers are woven at their edges to form a circumferential woven seam, and the two opposing margins of the thus formed rectangle are joined to each other, preferably sewn to each other by fixed seams. Thus, based on the chamber structure and fixed seams, the airbag thus designed can take on a hollow cylindrical shape when inflated. 【0029】 Similarly, the airbag according to the present invention is preferably configured such that the OPW structure or OPW chamber structure functions in particular to hold an attached flat piece of fabric, i.e., to keep it under tension and position it such that it forms a protective surface or impact surface. For example, a flat piece of fabric can be positioned and attached to one end of an inflated tubular or hollow cylindrical airbag. Thus, an impact on the airbag is preferably on a piece of (fabric) or flat piece of fabric held under tension by multiple airbag chambers, rather than entering an airbag chamber or chamber filled with excessive pressure. Furthermore, the airbag design according to the present invention can be used to further reduce the packaging volume of, for example, a driver's side airbag. 【0030】 Furthermore, the airbag according to the present invention can be further configured such that a plurality of airbag chambers, formed as tubular chambers, are offset in the circumferential direction of the airbag when inflated, so that the arrangement of the plurality of airbag chambers forms a tubular cover or a hollow cylinder wall, and / or the outer shape of the airbag takes the shape of a tube or a hollow cylinder. Thus, the chamber structure of an airbag having a plurality of tubular chambers forms a fillable volume for the airbag and forms a tubular cover or a hollow cylinder wall that surrounds the space outside the fillable volume of the airbag (cavity), i.e., a space where a pressure different from the internal pressure of the airbag or atmospheric pressure is dominant. 【0031】 Furthermore, the airbag according to the present invention can be realized such that a plurality of airbag chambers, formed as tubular chambers, extend axially in the airbag, which is formed in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder when inflated, and are radially offset from one another, thereby forming groups / multiple inner airbag chambers arranged circumferentially and groups / multiple outer airbag chambers arranged circumferentially, i.e., airbag chambers further outward in the radial direction. Thus, the tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall is formed by the inner and outer airbag chambers that extend axially, respectively, thereby supporting each other at least partially, and thus a certain rigidity and stability of the airbag in the inflated state can be achieved. 【0032】 Furthermore, the airbag according to the present 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, and in particular, has the same or different filling volumes. Thus, such a chamber structure consisting of an outer airbag chamber and an inner airbag chamber makes it possible to achieve airbag curvature that can satisfy the requirements for rigidity and stability of the airbag in the inflated state. 【0033】 Furthermore, the airbag according to the present invention is constructed such that, in the inflated state of the airbag, at least two, preferably three, fabric layers are joined to each other to form the airbag in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder, and the fabric layers form a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall in the axial direction in which the airbag chamber extends, and the two axially extending side ends of the fabric layers are joined to each other, preferably sewn, bonded, or welded. 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 (ends) of the rectangular shape forming the side ends to which they are connected. 【0034】 In this regard, the airbag according to the present invention can be realized such that at least two, preferably three, fabric layers at the side edge are joined or interwoven to form a single layer, resulting in the side edge forming a joined, preferably sewn, single-layer seam portion. However, alternatively, the side edge may be formed of three layers that optionally form an airbag chamber, which are nevertheless joined, preferably sewn. 【0035】 Furthermore, the airbag according to the present invention may be further formed such that the airbag has three fabric layers, namely a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, and a third fabric layer, at least partially or in a specific area. Thus, the second fabric layer is positioned between the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer. Preferably, when viewed from the outside of an inflated hollow cylindrical or tubular airbag, the first fabric layer forms the outer fabric layer of the airbag, the second fabric layer forms the intermediate 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 inner shell of the airbag. Three fabric layers are interwoven such that an outer airbag chamber, extending axially and offset circumferentially, is formed between the first / outer fabric layer and the second / intermediate fabric layer, and an inner airbag chamber, extending axially and offset circumferentially, is formed between the second / intermediate fabric layer and the third / inner fabric layer, where the outer and inner airbag chambers, during their respective inflation operations, are partially curved radially outward (relative to a hollow cylindrical or tubular airbag) to form a tube or hollow cylinder. 【0036】 Such a chamber structure can be used to achieve the required rigidity and stability of the airbag in its inflated state. Preferably, at least part or region of the airbag forming the outer and inner airbag chambers is three-layered, and the remaining region of the airbag (such as the region with the generator port or the connection region) is preferably two- or three-layered. 【0037】 Furthermore, the airbag according to the present invention can be designed to be configured as an OPW airbag having warp and weft threads woven into a woven fabric layer, wherein the warp and weft threads are woven together such that the airbag has a first partial region, a second partial region and a region that forms an airbag chamber, the first partial region being positioned between the region that forms the airbag chamber and the second partial region, The warp and weft threads of the second subregion are woven together such that the second subregion has at least one generator port for receiving a gas generator for filling an airbag, or a connector for connecting a generator, and is formed in two layers. The warp and weft threads of the airbag chamber forming region are woven together such that the airbag chamber forming region has multiple airbag chambers and is formed in three layers, and The warp and weft threads of the second fabric layer emerge from the second fabric layer in the first subregion, float completely between the first and third fabric layers, and are incorporated into the first and / or third fabric layers in the second subregion. Thus, the first and third fabric layers within the second subregion have the warp and weft threads of the second fabric layer. 【0038】 In alternative embodiments, the warp and weft threads are woven differently from those in the embodiments described above, particularly in the first and second sub-regions. 【0039】 In an alternative variant, the weft threads of the intermediate fabric layer emerge from the intermediate fabric layer in a first partial region of the airbag, partially attached to the upper fabric layer and partially attached to the lower fabric layer, while the warp threads of the intermediate fabric layer emerge from the intermediate fabric layer in a first partial region of the airbag and float freely between the lower and upper fabric layers. In a second partial region, the weft and warp threads of the intermediate fabric layer are incorporated into the lower or upper fabric layer, or attached to the lower or upper fabric layer at a few attachment points. 【0040】 Of course, the direction of the warp and weft threads, and therefore the warp and weft threads themselves, can, in principle, be reversed in both designs. 【0041】 Furthermore, the airbag according to the present invention may be designed such that each of the end faces or two end faces of the airbag, which is designed in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder, is connected or closed by a flat clamping element that spans the (respective) end faces of the hollow cylinder during the inflation operation of the airbag. The flat clamping element is preferably a circular, flat piece of fabric cut to size and serving as the impact surface of the airbag. However, other woven fabrics, such as nonwoven fabric blanks, are also conceivable. 【0042】 Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below as examples with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing] 【0043】 [Figure 1a)] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the airbag according to the present invention, in a lateral cross-sectional view. [Figure 1b)] Figure 1a) is a schematic diagram of the airbag according to the present invention, viewed from above in a cross-sectional view. [Figure 1c)] Figures 1a) and 1b) are schematic diagrams of the airbag according to the present invention as a steering wheel airbag, in a side view. [Figure 1d)] Figures 1a) and 1b) are schematic diagrams of the airbag of the present invention in its deployed state. [Figure 1e)] Figure 1d) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the airbag according to the present invention in its laid-out state. [Figure 1f)] Figure 1d) is a schematic diagram of the airbag according to the present invention in an inflated state, viewed from above in cross-sectional view. [Figure 2] Figures 1a) to 1f) are schematic side views of the airbags. [Figure 3] Figures 1a) to 1f) are schematic perspective views of the airbag from a further side view. [Figure 4] Figures 1a) to 1f) are schematic perspective views of the airbags from above. [Figure 5] Figure 4 is a schematic overhead perspective view of an airbag, with clamping elements, essentially in the shape of a circular, flat piece of fabric, attached to its end face. [Figure 6] Figures 1a) to 1f) are schematic perspective views of the airbags from below. [Figure 7] Figures 1a) to 1f) are schematic perspective views of the airbags from below. [Figure 8] Figures 1a) to 1f) are schematic perspective views of the airbag, viewed from above, with the clamping element attached to the end face. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of an airbag according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of an airbag for a specific application. [Modes for carrying out the invention] 【0044】 Figures 1 to 10 show an airbag or gas bag or airbag 10 according to the present invention, and in the embodiments described below, it is designed or manufactured as an OPW airbag 10, i.e., a so-called "woven" airbag 10, an airbag 10 woven from a single piece. 【0045】 The airbag 10 according to the present invention is configured to protect occupants of a vehicle such as an automobile or commercial vehicle in a conventional manner by inflation, by setting from a non-inflated state, such as a folded or crushed state, to an inflated or deployed state in which the airbag can deploy its protective effect to the occupants. That is, the airbag 10 deploys from a non-inflated state to an inflated state in a conventional manner in response to the operation of an inflation device such as a gas generator that operates when, for example, a vehicle collision is detected. 【0046】 Figure 1a) shows a schematic diagram of the airbag 10 according to the present invention in an inflated state as a side cross-sectional view, while Figure 1b) shows a schematic diagram of the airbag 10 according to the present invention in Figure 1a) as an inflated state as a top cross-sectional view. 【0047】 As shown in the schematic diagram of the airbag 10 according to the present invention in Figure 1c) in a side view, the airbag or airbag 10 in the described use or embodiment is designed exemplary as a steering wheel airbag and is therefore provided on the steering wheel 24 in a conventional manner which is not described in detail here. 【0048】 Figures 1a) to 1c) show only the basic and schematic structure of the airbag 10 according to the present invention, and do not deal with further details of its specific fabric structure. The structure of the airbag 10 according to the present invention will be described in more detail below in relation to Figures 1d) to 1f). 【0049】 In principle, the airbag 10 according to the present invention is constructed of a plurality of fabric layers 11, 12, and 13, which will be described in more detail below, and the airbag 10 is manufactured by an OPW process having two fabric layers in a particular area and three fabric layers in a particular area. 【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 located between the airbag chamber forming region LKB and the second partial region ZTB. 【0051】 In the second sub-region, the airbag 10 is formed of two layers, and the two fabric layers 11 and 13 are connected to each other such that a generator port 18 for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag 10 or a connection region for connecting the generator is formed, and the airbag 10 can be filled with gas through the generator. 【0052】 On the other hand, the airbag chamber forming region LKB is formed of three layers, as shown in Figures 1a) and 1b), and the three fabric layers 11, 12 and 13 form multiple airbag chambers 14, 16 (141, 142, 143, 141 in the figure). BK They are connected to each other so that a formation is formed (as illustrated by 161, 162, ..., 168). 【0053】 In the illustrated example, each of the inflated airbag chambers 14, 16 of the airbag 10 is designed, at least partially, as a tubular chamber or airbag chamber extending parallel to the depth direction of the inflated airbag 10, and is positioned such that the outer shape of the airbag 10 takes the form of a tube or hollow cylinder having a circular or ring-shaped cross-section. Thus, the depth direction of the airbag 10 essentially corresponds to the axial direction (exemplified by axis a in Figure 1a) of the tube or hollow cylinder that the airbag 10 forms in the inflated state. 【0054】 In particular, as can be seen in Figures 1a) and 1b), the multiple airbag chambers 14, 16, which are formed at least partially as tubular airbag chambers, are arranged offset in the circumferential direction when inflated, and as a result their arrangement forms a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall, so that the outer shape of the airbag 10 is that of a tube or hollow cylinder. 【0055】 In Figure 1b), it can be seen that a plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16, formed as tubular chambers, extend axially and radially offset from one another, so as to form a first group or a first plurality of inner airbag chambers 16 arranged circumferentially, and another second group or a second plurality of outer airbag chambers 14 arranged circumferentially. In particular, a first group or a first plurality of inner airbag chambers 16 and another second group or a second plurality of outer airbag chambers 14 arranged circumferentially are formed. The tubular inner airbag chambers 16 have a larger diameter than the radially outward adjacent tubular outer airbag chambers 14, and therefore have a larger filling volume for the same axial length. 【0056】 As can be seen in the cross-sectional view of Figure 1b), the fabric layers 11, 12, and 13 form a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall when the airbag 10 is inflated, and the airbag chambers 14 and 16 extend axially along the tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall. The two axially extending side ends 221 and 222 of the fabric layers are joined to each other, for example, by sewing, bonding, or welding, to form the airbag 10 in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder. For this purpose, the fabric layers 11, 12, and 13 are woven into a single layer at the side ends, as will become apparent from the following description of the more detailed structure of the airbag 10 related to Figures 1d) to 1f), so that the side ends 221 and 222 form at least partially single-layer seam portions 221 and 222 that are joined to each other. 【0057】 In relation to Figures 1d) to 1f), the specific or detailed structure of the airbag 10 is described here. 【0058】 Figure 1d) shows a schematic diagram of the airbag 10 according to the present invention of Figures 1a) and 1b) in a laid-out or uninflated state, where the seam portions 221, 222 are not yet connected or sewn to each other, and the respective fabric layers 11, 12, 13 overlap each other. On the other hand, Figure 1e) shows a cross-sectional view of the schematic diagram of the airbag 10 according to the present invention of Figure 1d), where the overlapping fabric layers 11, 12, 13 are shown slightly separated for better illustration. Figure 1f) shows a top-down cross-sectional view of the schematic diagram of the airbag 10 according to the present invention of Figure 1d) in a fully inflated state with the seam portions 221, 222 connected. 【0059】 As can be seen particularly in Figure 1d), the airbag 10 is formed as an OPW airbag having warp threads extending in the warp direction K and weft threads extending in the weft direction S, woven into two woven fabric layers 11 and 13 in a specific region, namely the second sub-region ZTB, and into three woven fabric layers 11, 12, and 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 woven together such that the airbag 10 forms at least one generator port 18 for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag 10, or a connection region for connecting the generator within a second two-layer sub-region ZTB, and the warp and weft threads are woven together within a three-layer region LKB that forms an airbag chamber, the three-layer region LKB forming an airbag chamber, and a plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 are formed, where the plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 are separated and the seam portion NA extending in the warp direction K is schematically shown only in the weft direction S by two or three groups of seam portions NA arranged side by side. 【0061】 In the first partial region ETB shown in Figure 1d), which is a transitional region between the second partial region ZTB and the airbag chamber forming region LKB, that is, located between the second partial region ZTB that forms the generator port 18 and the region LKB that forms the multiple airbag chambers 14 and 16, a transition occurs from the three-layer design of the airbag 10 to the two-layer design of the airbag 10. 【0062】 In particular, the airbag 10 has three fabric layers 11, 12, and 13, namely a first fabric layer 11, a second fabric layer 12, and a third fabric layer 13, within an airbag chamber forming region LKB having a plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16. The second fabric layer 12 is positioned between the first fabric layer 11 and the third fabric layer 13, so that, with respect to the hollow cylindrical or tubular airbag 10 in its inflated state, the first fabric layer 11 forms the outer fabric layer or outer shell of the airbag 10, the second fabric layer 12 forms the intermediate fabric layer or inner fabric layer of the airbag 10, and the third fabric layer 13 forms the 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 emerge from the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 and float completely between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the third or inner fabric layer 13, and are coupled 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 portion of the second or intermediate fabric layer 12. Thus, the second partial region connects to the first partial region ETB and ultimately forms a connection region for connecting the generator port 18 or the generator. 【0064】 The second two-layer sub-region ZTB, the adjacent first sub-region ETB, and the three-layer region LKB adjacent to the first sub-region ETB that forms the airbag chamber are bounded by a circumferential woven seam UWN in the layout of the airbag 10, and the circumferential woven seam UWN is divided into only two woven fabric layers 11 and 13 at the inlet of the second sub-region ZTB to form an inlet opening in the shape of the generator port 18 or connection region, but otherwise all warp and weft threads are together in a single fabric layer. 【0065】 As can be seen in particular in Figure 1e), the airbag 10 has three fabric layers 11, 12, and 13 in the region LKB that forms the airbag chamber, which forms a plurality of air chambers 14, 16. The three fabric layers 11, 12, and 13 extend between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 in the axial direction (corresponding to the warp direction K in Figures 1d and 1e) and offset in the circumferential direction (corresponding to the launch direction S in Figures 1d and 1e) to form the outer airbag chamber 14 (141, 142, 143, 14 BKThe outer and inner airbag chambers 14, 16 are partially bent outward during their respective inflation operations to form a hollow cylinder, as can be seen in Figure 1f). 【0066】 In particular, as can be seen from the cross-sections in Figures 1e) and 1f), one of the outer airbag chambers 14 BK In other words, the so-called bridge chamber covering the woven seam WN is located or positioned between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or intermediate fabric layer 12, on one side and on the other side, between the two adjacent inner airbag chambers 16, such that the outer airbag chamber 14 (141, 142, 143, 14) is located between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or intermediate fabric layer 12. BK The ,) are positioned relative to the inner airbag chamber 16 (161, 162, ..., 168) between the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 and the third or inner fabric layer 13. 【0067】 Therefore, the inner airbag chamber 16 is separated via a woven seam WN formed by the third or inner fabric layer 13 and the second or intermediate fabric layer 12. On the other hand, the outer airbag chamber 14 is separated via a woven seam WU formed by the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or intermediate fabric layer 12. 【0068】 This arrangement, combined with the respective designs of the airbag chambers 14 and 16 having different diameter cross-sections, achieves a radially outward curvature of the airbag 10, resulting in a tubular or cylindrical shape of the airbag 10 when the respective seam portions 221 and 222 are connected. 【0069】 These airbag chambers 14 BKAlternatively, the bridge chamber pushes the airbag 10 or chamber structure in a curved manner 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 chamber functions as a kind of hinge. 【0070】 Figures 2 to 8 show schematic perspective views of the airbag 10 shown in Figures 1a) to 1f). As can be seen from the side views in Figures 2 and 3, the airbag 10 has a cylindrical or hollow cylindrical shape when inflated. This is achieved, in particular, by the chamber structure of the inner and outer airbag chambers 14, 16 described above and the seam portions 221, 222 sewn together. 【0071】 Figures 4 and 5 show schematic perspective views of the airbag 10 from above, but in different angles. In Figures 5 and 8, in particular, it can be seen that the end face of the airbag 10, which is in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder, is closed by a flat clamping element 20 that 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 piece of cloth or a flat piece of cloth. 【0072】 Therefore, the inflation operation of the OPW airbag 10 according to the present invention is as follows. When the inflation device in the form of a gas generator is activated, gas flows from a second two-layer sub-region ZTB forming the generator port 18, first into the first sub-region ETB, and from there into the three-layer region LKB forming the airbag chambers 14 and 16. In particular, the gas flows from the first sub-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 almost simultaneously between the second or intermediate fabric layer 12 and the third or inner fabric layer 13, as a result filling the inner airbag chamber 16. With the airbag chambers 14 and 16 filled with gas, and the side ends 221 and 222 of each fabric layer connected to each other, the airbag 10 takes the shape of a tube or wooden cylinder when inflated, and when the airbag 10 reaches its inflated state, it extends the flat fabric pieces 20 attached to its end faces. 【0073】 Figure 9 shows a schematic diagram of an airbag 10 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. In describing this embodiment, only the differences from the airbag 10 of the previous embodiment will be explained. 【0074】 In this embodiment, the airbag 10 is designed as a side airbag, not a steering wheel airbag. The structure of the airbag 10 corresponds to the structure of the airbag 10 in the previous embodiment, but differs in that a clamp element 20 is not provided at its front end, as it is not necessary for the application of this embodiment. 【0075】 Figure 10 shows a schematic diagram of the airbag 10 of Figure 9 in a specific application. As can be seen there, in this case, the airbag 10 is positioned on the side of the vehicle window in the shape of an elongated tube in an activated, inflated state. 【0076】 The features of the present invention disclosed in the above description, drawings, and claims may be essential for implementing the invention individually and in any desired combination. [Explanation of symbols] 【0077】 List of reference codes 10 Airbags / Gasbags 11 Outer or first fabric layer 12. Intermediate or second fabric layer 13. Inner or third fabric layer 14. External airbag chamber 16. Inner airbag chamber 18 Generator port or connection area 20 clamping elements (flat pieces of cloth) 221 seam section 222 seam section 24 Steering Wheel a. Axis of a hollow cylindrical / tubular airbag NA seam area WN woven seam WU woven seams UWN surrounding woven seams ETB First subregion or transitional region ZTB Second Subregion LKB Airbag Chamber Formation Region

Claims

[Claim 1] An airbag (10) configured to be set from a non-inflated state to an inflated state by an inflation operation in order to protect the occupants of a vehicle, The airbag (10) has at least two fabric layers (11, 12, 13) connected to each other so as to form a plurality of airbag chambers (14, 16), Each of the inflated airbag chambers (14, 16) is formed as a tubular chamber extending and / or positioned laterally and / or obliquely and / or parallel to the depth direction of the airbag (10) in the inflated state, such that the outer shape of the airbag (10) is tubular, particularly a tube with an oval or elliptical cross-section, or a hollow cylinder with a circular or ring-shaped cross-section. An airbag (10) in which the fabric layers (11, 12, 13) form a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall when the airbag (10) is inflated, the airbag chambers (14, 16) extend in the axial direction of the tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall, and the at least two fabric layers (11, 12, 13) are connected to each other to form the airbag (10) in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder, such that the two axially extending side ends of the fabric layers are joined to each other. [Claim 2] The airbag (10) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of airbag chambers (14, 16), formed as tubular chambers, are arranged offset in the circumferential direction in the inflated state, and as a result, the arrangement of the plurality of 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. [Claim 3] The airbag (10) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of airbag chambers (14, 16), formed as tubular chambers, extend in the axial direction of the airbag (10), which is formed in the shape of a tube or hollow cylinder in the inflated state, and are radially offset from one another, such that a group of inner airbag chambers (14) and a group of outer airbag chambers (16) are arranged in the circumferential direction. [Claim 4] The airbag (10) according to 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 filling volumes. [Claim 5] The at least two fabric layers (11, 12, 13) at the side end are joined together at a single-layer seam portion (22 １ , 22 ２ The airbag (10) according to claim 1, which is joined or woven into one layer to form a ) [Claim 6] The airbag (10) comprises at least three fabric layers (11, 12, 13) in a specific area, namely a first fabric layer (11), a second fabric layer (12), and a third fabric layer (13), wherein the second fabric layer (12) is positioned between the first fabric layer (11) and the third fabric layer (13). The three fabric layers (11, 12, 13) are woven together such that an outer airbag chamber (14) is formed between the first fabric layer (11) and the second fabric layer (12), extending axially and offset circumferentially, and an 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) partially curve outward during their respective inflation operations to form the tube or the hollow cylinder, as described in claim 1. [Claim 7] The airbag (10) is formed as an OPW airbag in which the warp and weft threads are woven into the at least two fabric layers (11, 12, 13), The warp and weft threads are woven together such that the airbag (10) has a first partial region (ETB), a second partial region (ZTB), and an airbag chamber forming region (LKB), wherein the first partial region (ETB) is positioned between the airbag chamber forming region (LKB) and the second partial region (ZTB). The warp and weft threads of the second sub-region (ZTB) are woven together such that the second sub-region (ZTB) has at least one generator port (18) for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag (10), or a connector for connecting a generator, and is formed in two layers. The warp and weft threads of the airbag chamber forming region (LKB) are woven together such that the airbag chamber forming region (LKB) has the plurality of airbag chambers (14, 16) and is formed in three layers, and The airbag (10) according to claim 6, wherein the warp and weft threads of the second fabric layer (12) exit the second fabric layer (12) in the first partial region (ETB), float completely between the first fabric layer (11) and the third fabric layer, and are incorporated into the first fabric layer and / or the third fabric layer in the second partial region. [Claim 8] The airbag (10) according to claim 1, wherein one or both end faces of the airbag (10), which is configured in the shape of a tube or a hollow cylinder, are connected or closed by a flat clamping element (20) that spans the end faces of the hollow cylinder during the inflation operation of the airbag (10).

Images