Airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system, which airbag has a selectively releasable catch element that extends through an interior of the airbag (10) and is coupled to an electronically triggerable release device such that the airbag (10) occupies a first, smaller volume (V1) and a second, larger volume (V2). The catch element has a plurality of arms which are attached, at a distance (a1, a2) from one another, in the interior of the airbag (10) at elongate attachment regions (28, 30, 32, 34), to an impact surface (12) of the airbag (10) facing the occupant, wherein at least one first elongate attachment region (28, 30) is provided which extends, with respect to the installed state and the first restraining state of the inflated airbag (10), in an elongate and horizontal manner, and two second elongate attachment regions (32, 34) are arranged at a distance (a1) next to one another and below the horizontal attachment region (28).

Description

[0001] ZF Automotive Germany GmbH

[0002] Industriestraße 20

[0003] 73553 Alfdorf

[0004] 215827- WO- POT

[0005] September 2, 2025

[0006] Gasbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system

[0007] The invention relates to a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system.

[0008] Gas bags are known in which a detachable retaining element is arranged inside, connected to the impact surface of the gas bag, allowing the gas bag to be filled to different volumes. In this way, an optimal distance between the vehicle occupant and the impact surface of the filled gas bag can be set for different restraint situations, ensuring the occupant's safe containment. For example, if the occupant is sitting upright close to a vehicle structure such as the instrument panel or steering wheel, the gas bag can be filled to a smaller volume, with the retaining element holding the impact surface at a predetermined distance. Conversely, if the occupant is seated far back or with the seatback reclined, the gas bag is filled to a larger volume, so that it protrudes further into the vehicle interior.

[0009] The retaining element of such gas bags is coupled to a release device that is triggered electronically depending on the specific containment situation. For example, one end of the retaining element is fixed to an explosive bolt, allowing the entire retaining element to be detached from a vehicle-mounted anchor point when the gas bag needs to be inflated to a larger volume.

[0010] Since the catch element is connected to the impact surface when the gas bag assumes the smaller volume, and therefore inevitably exerts a tensile force on the impact surface, the following occurs in the impact surface at the attachment points of the ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02. September 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0011] - 2 -

[0012] The catching element's "pockets" are depressions in which the impact surface is drawn into the interior of the gas bag.

[0013] The object of the invention is to improve the restraining effect of the impact surface facing the occupant in such a gasbag.

[0014] This task is solved by a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system, with a selectively releasable catch element extending through the interior of the gas bag, which is coupled to an electronically triggerable release device, such that the gas bag occupies a first, smaller volume in a first inflated restraint state in which the release device is not triggered and the catch element is not released, and a second, larger volume in a second inflated restraint state in which the release device is triggered and the catch element is released, wherein the catch element has several arms which are attached at intervals to elongated attachment points inside the gas bag on an impact surface of the gas bag facing the occupant, wherein an elongated, upper first attachment point is provided which, with respect to the installed and the first restraint state of the inflated gas bag,elongated and horizontal, wherein two second elongated fastening areas are designed as vertical fastening areas and are arranged side by side and below the upper first fastening area with a distance between them, with respect to the installed and the first containment state of the inflated gas bag.

[0015] For better understanding, the first fastening areas will be referred to as horizontal fastening areas and the second fastening areas as vertical fastening areas.

[0016] The combination of the two elongated second, vertical mounting areas and the upper elongated first, horizontal mounting area, which serve as attachment points for the arms of the catch element, results in several elongated recesses (hereinafter also referred to as "pockets") arranged at angles to each other in the impact surface. These recesses contribute to a more homogeneous appearance of the impact surface. This improves the contact between the vehicle occupant and the airbag when it is drawn into the airbag. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 2, 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0017] - 3 -

[0018] Furthermore, it has been shown that with such a design and fixing of the catch element, the impact surface in the first filled containment state (in a state installed in the vehicle) can be easily aligned in an angle optimized for catching the vehicle occupant, for example between 10° and 40° to the vertical.

[0019] The second, vertical fastening areas run on the impact surface, in particular perpendicular to the upper first, horizontal fastening area.

[0020] In the first filled containment state of the gas bag, all arms of the catch element remain coupled to the release device and fixed to their attachment areas on the impact surface.

[0021] In the second filled containment state, the entire catch element is decoupled from the release device, so that it no longer has any effect on the impact surface and does not influence its position and contour. However, the arms remain connected to the impact surface even in the second filled containment state.

[0022] It is possible to reinforce the gas bag at the attachment points to improve force transmission through the catch element. However, it is also conceivable that the attachment points are physically indistinguishable from the surrounding gas bag fabric. The vertical attachment points can optionally be integrated into a seam between two gas bag sections.

[0023] In one variant, in addition to the upper first attachment area, there is an elongated lower first attachment area which runs elongated and horizontally in relation to the installed and first containment state of the inflated gas bag, and the second attachment areas are arranged between the first attachment areas on the impact surface in relation to the installed state and the first containment state of the inflated gas bag.

[0024] According to one aspect, exactly two first, horizontal mounting areas (namely the upper and the lower first mounting area) and two second, vertical mounting areas are provided, as it has been found that with such a configuration a significantly more homogeneous front of the gas bag to the vehicle interior can be achieved than with conventional gas bags. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 2, 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0025] - 4 -

[0026] The first two horizontal and the second two vertical fastening areas are, in particular, parallel to each other. In a top view of the impact surface, all fastening areas together can enclose a rectangular or square section of the impact surface.

[0027] The arms of the catch element are, in one variant, designed as flat surfaces and each terminates at a free longitudinal end in an elongated mounting section that extends transversely to one longitudinal direction of the respective arm, with each arm and its mounting section being fixed to one of the mounting areas. Naturally, the orientation of the mounting section should correspond to the orientation of the respective mounting area.

[0028] The arms can be fixed to the attachment points in any suitable way. Usually, the attachment sections are sewn to the attachment points.

[0029] The fastening section can extend across the entire width of the free longitudinal end of the respective arm. However, it is also possible to provide not just one, but several arms per fastening area.

[0030] The individual arms of the catch element can be designed differently. For example, the width of the mounting sections advantageously corresponds to the length of the associated mounting areas. Furthermore, the arms can have different lengths. To adjust the angle of the impact surface relative to the vertical, for instance, the two arms fixed to the horizontal mounting areas can be of different lengths. The two arms fixed to the vertical mounting areas, on the other hand, are normally the same length.

[0031] The arms, for example, consist of wedge-shaped cutouts and are narrower at their longitudinal end opposite the free longitudinal end, on the side facing the release device, than in the fastening section.

[0032] It is possible to make the arms from ordinary gasbag fabric.

[0033] Each arm is coupled to the release device at its release-side longitudinal end (in the installed state) until this ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02 September 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0034] - 5 - releases the release element. In one possible variant, for connection to the release device, the arms each have a loop at their longitudinal ends opposite the free longitudinal ends, on the release device side. All arms are grouped together at the loops and coupled to the release device via a single, elongated release element. The use of a loop offers high flexibility for the longitudinal ends of the arms on the release device side. Together with an elongated release element, this ensures that the arms can rotate freely within the gas bag over a wide angular range. This automatically results in optimal alignment of the arms with respect to the impact surface when the gas bag is inflated.

[0035] In general, it is advantageous to fix the catch element to the release device in a point-like manner in order to minimize the influence of the tensile forces on the impact surface through the connection with the release device.

[0036] The loop consists, for example, of a strip of gasbag fabric or a cord, with the ends sewn to the arm of the catch element. The loop could also be formed, for example, by an eyelet or simply an opening at the longitudinal end of the respective arm on the release device side.

[0037] The release element is, for example, a closed ring made of a cord threaded through the loops of all arms, which is released as a whole. The arms normally remain connected to each other by the release element, even when the release element is decoupled from the release device.

[0038] According to another aspect, the fastening areas, viewed from outside the gas bag inflated to the first containment state, each form a recessed pocket in the impact surface, and a central bulge is formed in the impact surface between the fastening areas.

[0039] Perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the impact surface, viewed from outside the gas bag inflated to the first containment state, a lateral bulge can be seen next to each of the second, vertical attachment areas in ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02 September 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0040] - 6 - of the impact surface. These lateral bulges result from further pockets, i.e., depressions in the impact surface, which are created by the second, vertical fastening areas, and from the interaction of the horizontal and vertical fastening areas.

[0041] Generally, the central bulge can be softer than the two lateral bulges. This means that the force required to compress the surface of the gas bag by a predetermined distance perpendicular to the surface is less in the central bulge than in the two lateral bulges. This is achieved because the pockets formed by the attachment points alter the surface tension of the impact area accordingly.

[0042] The relatively soft central bulge is designed to cushion the head of the vehicle occupant as they descend. The harder lateral bulges serve to stabilize the head of the occupant laterally.

[0043] For example, the upper first mounting area, and possibly also the lower first mounting area if present, is longer than the distance between the second, vertical mounting areas and extends laterally beyond both of these second, vertical mounting areas. Thus, the central curvature is bounded on at least three sides by mounting areas and can therefore be well defined in terms of its shape and size.

[0044] The two lateral bulges can then be defined accordingly by the vertical mounting areas and the protruding ends of the upper, first horizontal mounting area. The shape, size, and hardness of the lateral bulges can be adjusted to a certain extent by the length of the upper first mounting area and, if applicable, the lower first mounting area.

[0045] If both an upper and a lower first horizontal mounting area are present, the central curvature is surrounded on all four sides by the mounting areas and is therefore clearly defined.

[0046] The upper and / or lower first horizontal mounting area may be longer than the second, vertical mounting areas. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 2, 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0047] - 7 -

[0048] However, the exact dimensions and positions of the fastening areas are at the discretion of the expert and depend on the specific configuration of the gasbag.

[0049] By appropriately designing the retaining element and the arrangement of the attachment points, the airbag can be equipped with functions that would otherwise be achieved through a three-dimensional design of the airbag when fully inflated. In particular, the lateral bulges can take over the function of laterally projecting "ears" on other known three-dimensional airbags and stabilize the head of the vehicle occupant laterally.

[0050] The gasbag is typically composed of several pre-cut sections. The gasbag may include an elongated section that, when the gasbag is inflated, runs along the longitudinal axis of the impact surface. The second, vertical attachment points are located on opposite sections of a circumferential edge of this section, while the upper first, horizontal attachment point is positioned on the surface of the section. If present, the lower first, horizontal attachment point is also usually positioned on the surface of the section.

[0051] For example, another cut-out piece is connected with its circumferential edge to the circumferential edge of the cut-out piece described above, in order to form at least a large part of the gasbag's outer shell. The impact surface can be composed of sections from several cut-out pieces.

[0052] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments and the accompanying figures. The figures show:

[0053] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an impact surface of a gas bag according to the invention in a first embodiment;

[0054] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a catch element of the gas bag from Figure 1; ZF Automotive Germany GmbH, September 2, 2025, 215827-WO-PCT

[0055] - 8 -

[0056] Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the gasbag from Figure 1 in a first filled containment state, in a state installed in a vehicle;

[0057] Figure 4 shows the gas bag from Figure 3 in a second filled containment state;

[0058] Figure 5 shows a cut-out part of the gasbag from Figure 1;

[0059] Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of an impact surface of a gas bag according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0060] Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of the gasbag from Figure 6 in its first filled containment state, installed in a vehicle;

[0061] Figure 8 shows a schematic representation of another gasbag in its first filled containment state; and

[0062] Figures 9 and 10 are schematic representations of yet another gasbag in the first and second filled containment states.

[0063] For the sake of clarity, not all identical components are always labelled with reference symbols.

[0064] The same reference numerals (as well as numbers increased by 100) designate identical or essentially identical or equivalent components and parts in different embodiments and variants.

[0065] Figures 1 to 5 show a gasbag 10 according to a first embodiment.

[0066] The gas bag 10 is part of a vehicle occupant restraint system and, before activation, is folded and contained within a gas bag module (not shown). To inflate the gas bag 10 in a restraint situation, a suitable control unit in the vehicle activates a gas generator (not shown) that supplies filling gas which flows into the interior of the gas bag 10 and inflates it. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02 September 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0067] - 9 -

[0068] The gas bag 10 is designed to accommodate two different filling volumes. A first, smaller volume Vi, in which the gas bag 10 is shown in Figures 1 and 3, is intended for restraint situations in which a vehicle occupant is seated in an upright position, particularly close to the vehicle structure that houses the gas bag 10. A second, larger volume V2 (see Figure 4) is provided for restraint situations in which the vehicle occupant is further away from the vehicle structure that houses the gas bag 10, for example, because a vehicle seat has been pushed further back or because a seat backrest has been folded down into a comfort position.

[0069] In both cases, the vehicle occupant in a restraint situation is caught by an optimally positioned front surface of the gas bag 10, which is referred to here as the impact surface 12, and which corresponds to the section of an outer surface of the gas bag 10 facing the vehicle occupant.

[0070] The two different volumes Vi and V2 are achieved by arranging a selectively releasable retaining element 14 inside the gas bag 10, which is coupled to a release device 16 (see Figure 2) when the gas bag 10 is installed in a gas bag module on the vehicle. The release device 16 is fixedly mounted in the vehicle occupant restraint system and is designed to either hold the retaining element 14 securely in place throughout the entire restraint process or, during the restraint process, to release a release element 18 that connects the retaining element 14 to the release device 16, thus decoupling the retaining element 14 from the release device 16.

[0071] The release device 16 comprises, for example, a vehicle-mounted, electronically triggerable explosive bolt, which is initially connected to the release element 18 or is designed in another suitable way to decouple the release element 18 from a vehicle-mounted component upon an electronic signal.

[0072] If the retaining element 14 remains coupled to the release device 16, the gas bag 10 inflates only to the first filled containment state with the first, smaller volume V1. The retaining element 14 exerts a tensile force on the impact surface 12 to hold the gas bag 10 in the first volume V1. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH, September 2, 2025, 215827-WO-PCT

[0073] - 10 -

[0074] The catch element 14 and the release element 18 retain their original shape and length.

[0075] When the release device 16 releases the retaining element 14, the gas bag 10 inflates completely to the second filled containment state with the second, larger volume V2. In this case, the retaining element 14 no longer has any influence on the volume and shape of the gas bag 10 and, in particular, its impact surface 12.

[0076] The catching element 14 is shown schematically in Figure 2 in one possible variant. In this example, the catching element 14 comprises several elongated arms 20, in this case a total of four arms 20. The arms 20 are made, in particular, of a gasbag fabric.

[0077] Each of the arms 20 is connected to the release element 18 at a longitudinal end 22 on the release device side. This connection is made via a loop 23, which is sewn to the arm 20 at the longitudinal end 22 on the release device side. The loop 23 consists, for example, of a strip of gasbag fabric or a cord.

[0078] The release element 18 is here a ring-shaped cord loop that passes through and secures all loops 23 at the ends 22 of all arms 20, so that the arms 20 are permanently held together at the ends 22 by the release element 18, regardless of whether the release element 18 is still coupled to the release device 16 or has been released by it.

[0079] At the free longitudinal end 24 opposite the longitudinal end 22 on the side of the release device, the arms 20 each terminate in an elongated fastening section 26, which is oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal direction LA of the respective arm 20. The fastening section 26 extends over the entire width b of the arm 20 at the free longitudinal end 24.

[0080] The arms 20 each have a wedge shape, with the width b of each arm 20 decreasing continuously from the longitudinal end 24 to the longitudinal end 22.

[0081] The impact surface 12 has four elongated fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34 on its inner side, which faces into the interior of the gas bag 10. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02 September 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0082] - 11 - to which each arm 20 of the catching element 14 with its fastening section 26 is firmly fixed, here sewn.

[0083] The following description of the arrangement of the fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34 refers to the first filled containment state of the gas bag 10 with the first volume Vi in an installation position of the gas bag 10 in a vehicle (see Figure 3).

[0084] The two mounting areas 28, 30 (and accordingly also the associated mounting sections 26 of the catch element 14) are horizontally oriented. They are referred to here as the upper and lower first horizontal mounting areas 28, 30. The first horizontal mounting areas 28, 30 are oriented perpendicular to a longitudinal dimension LP of the impact surface (see Figure 1). With respect to the vertical direction z, the upper first mounting area 28 lies above the lower first mounting area 30.

[0085] The two other fastening areas 32, 34 (and correspondingly the associated fastening sections 26 of the catch element 14) are oriented perpendicular to the first, horizontal fastening areas 28, 30 and thus extend parallel to the longitudinal extent LP of the impact surface 12. They are referred to as the second, vertical fastening areas 32, 34.

[0086] The two second, vertical fastening areas 32, 34 run parallel to each other and are positioned at a distance ai of approximately 100 mm to 400 mm from each other on the impact surface 12.

[0087] The upper first horizontal mounting area 28 is located above (with respect to the vertical direction z) the two second vertical mounting areas 32, 34, while the lower first horizontal mounting area 30 is located below the two second vertical mounting areas 32, 34. The two second mounting areas 32, 34 are therefore located between the first mounting areas 28, 30 with respect to the vertical direction z and the longitudinal extent LP of the impact surface 12.

[0088] The distance a2 between the two first, horizontal fastening areas 28, 30 is chosen to be slightly larger than a length l. v the second, vertical ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02 September 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0089] - 12 -

[0090] Mounting areas 32, 34. Both second, vertical mounting areas 32, 34 are of the same length here.

[0091] A length l hi The upper first horizontal mounting area 28 is chosen to be larger than a length l. h 2 of the lower first, horizontal fastening area 30. Both first, horizontal fastening areas 28, 30 are longer here than the distance ai between the two second, vertical fastening areas 32, 34 and also longer than their length l v . Both first, horizontal fastening areas 28, 30 therefore extend laterally beyond the second, vertical fastening areas 32, 34.

[0092] The distances ai, a2 and the lengths l v , lhi, k refer to a top view of the impact surface 12 in the first filled containment state of the gas bag 10.

[0093] The exact design, position and length of the fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34 is the responsibility of the specialist and must be adapted to the specific shape of the gas bag 10.

[0094] This also applies to the width b of the fastening sections 26 and the respective length l A of the individual arms 20 of the catch element 14. In particular, the arms 20, which are connected to the first, horizontal attachment areas 28, 30, optionally have different lengths in order to create a desired inclination of the impact surface 12 in the vehicle interior in the first filled containment state of the gas bag 10.

[0095] All fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34 are held under tension by the retaining element 14 in the first filled containment state of the gas bag 10, while the gas bag 10 is being filled with gas and a high internal pressure builds up. Therefore, the remainder of the impact surface 12 extends further into the vehicle interior than the fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34, and these form depressions ("pockets") in the impact surface 12.

[0096] In the first volume Vi, the fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34 are located at the bottom of the bags and are therefore covered by the gas bag 10.

[0097] In the rectangular or square area of ​​the impact surface 12 enclosed by the first and second fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34, ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02 September 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0098] - 13 - a central bulge 36 is formed, which is formed in the area of ​​the impact surface 12 in which a vehicle occupant's head is to be caught.

[0099] The fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34, which are held back by the catching element 14, change a surface tension of the impact surface 12, which results in the central curvature 36 being relatively soft and enabling a gentle catching of the head.

[0100] A lateral bulge 38 forms on each side of the central bulge 36 and the two second, vertical mounting areas 32, 34. These two lateral bulges 38 are harder than the central bulge 36 and serve to stabilize the head of the vehicle occupant laterally.

[0101] Figure 3 shows the gas bag 10 in its first filled containment state with the first, smaller volume Vi. Here, the inclination of the impact surface 12 in the vehicle interior relative to the vertical direction z is also clearly visible.

[0102] Figure 4 shows the gas bag 10 in its second inflated containment state with the second, larger volume V2. Here, the release device 16 has released the retaining element 14, and the gas bag 10 has inflated to its maximum extent inside the vehicle. The decoupled retaining element 14 exerts no restraining tensile force on the impact surface 12.

[0103] Figure 5 shows a cut-out part 40 of the gas bag 10, which is one of several cut-out parts from which the gas bag 10 is composed. The other cut-out parts are not shown here.

[0104] The two second, vertical fastening areas 32, 34 are formed on opposite, parallel sections of a circumferential edge 42 of the cut part 40.

[0105] The first two horizontal fastening areas 28, 30, however, are defined on a surface 44 of the cut part 40.

[0106] The fastening areas 28, 30, 32, 34 are optionally reinforced by additional layers of gasbag fabric, or are determined only by their position on the impact surface 12 of the gasbag 10.

[0107] Figures 6 and 7 show a second embodiment of the gas bag 10. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02 September 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0108] - 14 -

[0109] The main difference from the embodiment just described is that the lower, first horizontal fastening area 32 is omitted here. Accordingly, the retaining element 14 comprises only three arms 20 (indicated in Figure 7).

[0110] Figure 7 clearly shows that the actual inclination of the impact surface 12, when the gas bag 10 assumes the first filled containment state with the first, smaller volume Vi (solid line), closely approximates an idealized shape of the impact surface 12 (dashed line). This is achieved by the retaining element 14 and the arrangement of the fastening areas 28, 32, 34.

[0111] In all described embodiments, the airbag 10 can be designed as a driver's airbag, a passenger's airbag, or for use at other locations in a vehicle. In principle, the airbag 10 is suitable both for being arranged in an airbag module in an instrument panel 46 or a steering wheel 48 (see Figure 7), and in an airbag module that is placed in a roof area 50 of the vehicle (so-called bag-in-roof, see Figures 3 and 4).

[0112] Figures 8 to 10 show two further gas bags 110, 210, which do not belong to the invention, but contribute to a better understanding of the invention.

[0113] Figure 8 shows an example where more than four arms 120 are present on the catch element 114, each fixed to a mounting area 160 on the impact surface 112. The idea is to reduce the depth t of the pockets formed by the mounting areas 160 in the first, smaller volume Vi of the gas bag 110 compared to known gas bags. A high number of mounting areas 160 results in a more homogeneous shape of the impact surface 112. Six arms 120 are shown here, but significantly more, up to about twenty arms 120, could be used.

[0114] Otherwise, the construction and function of the gas bag 110, in particular the release of the retaining element 114 by the release device 116 and the different filling volumes Vi, V2 of the gas bag 110, are as in the two previously described embodiments. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 2, 2025 215827-WO-PCT

[0115] - 15 -

[0116] Figures 9 and 10 show an example where the catching element 214 has only two arms 220.

[0117] The arms 220 of the catch element 214 are not attached to the impact surface 212, but are fixed to opposite side walls 262 of the gas bag 210, each at a fastening area 260.

[0118] Otherwise, the structure and function of the gas bag 210, in particular the release of the trapping element 214 by the release device 216 and the different filling volumes Vi, V2 of the gas bag 210, are as in the two previously described embodiments.

[0119] In the first, smaller volume V1, no depressions or pockets form in the impact surface 212, but they do form in the opposite side walls 262, which adjoin the impact surface 212 (see Figure 9).

[0120] These pockets are each closed in the area of ​​their opening to the outside in the first volume V1 by a tear seam 264, so that only a small depression is formed in the wall of the gas bag 210 and the desired shape of the gas bag 210 in the first, smaller volume V1 is stabilized by the tear seams 252.

[0121] Since the catching element 214 does not engage the impact surface 212, its shape is not influenced by the catching element 214, but can be designed purely by the cutting of the gas bag 210.

[0122] In the second, larger volume V2, the tear seams 264 open when the retaining element 214 is released by the release device 216 (see Figure 10), so that the shape of the gas bag 210 in the fully inflated second filled containment state, as in the previous embodiments, is not affected by the retaining element 214.

[0123] All features of the individual embodiments and variants can be freely exchanged or combined with one another at the discretion of the person skilled in the art.

Claims

ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 02. September 2025 215827-WO-PCT - 16 - Patentansprüche 1. Gasbag (10) of a vehicle occupant restraint system, with a selectively releaseable catch element (14) extending through the interior of the gasbag (10), which is coupled to an electronically triggerable release device (16), such that the gasbag (10) occupies a first, smaller volume (Vi) in a first inflated restraint state in which the release device (16) is not triggered and the catch element (14) is not released, and a second, larger volume (V2) in a second inflated restraint state in which the release device (16) is triggered and the catch element (14) is released, wherein the catch element (14) has several arms (20) which are attached at a distance (ai, a2) from each other inside the gasbag (10) to elongated attachment areas (28, 30, 32, 34) on an impact surface (12) of the gasbag (10) facing the occupant. are, wherein an elongated upper first fastening area (28) is provided which,with respect to the installed and the first containment state of the inflated gas bag (10), it extends elongated and horizontally, and wherein two second elongated fastening areas (32, 34) are designed as vertical fastening areas and are arranged side by side and below the upper first fastening area (28) with a distance (ai) between them and with respect to the installed and the first containment state of the inflated gas bag (10).

2. Gas bag (10) according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the upper first attachment area (28) an elongated lower first attachment area (30) is provided, which extends elongated and horizontally with respect to the installed and the first containment state of the inflated gas bag (10), and the second attachment areas (32, 34) are arranged between the first attachment areas (28, 30) on the impact surface (12) with respect to the installed and the first containment state of the inflated gas bag (10). ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 2, 2025 215827-WO-PCT - 17 - 3. Gas bag (10) according to claim 2, wherein the two first and the two second fastening areas (28, 30, 32, 34) run parallel to each other.

4. Gas bag (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the arms (20) of the catching element (14) are formed as flat surfaces and each terminate at a free longitudinal end (24) in an elongated fastening section (26) which extends transversely to a longitudinal direction (LA) of the respective arm (20), and each arm (20) with its fastening section (26) is fixed to one of the fastening areas (28, 30, 32, 34).

5. Gas bag (10) according to claim 4, wherein the fastening section (26) extends over an entire width (b) of the free longitudinal end (24) of the respective arm (20).

6. Gas bag (10) according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the arms (20) each have a loop (23) at their ends (22) opposite the free longitudinal ends (24) and all arms (20) are joined at the loops (23) and coupled to the release device (16) via a single elongated release element (18).

7. Gas bag (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fastening areas (28, 30, 32, 34) each form a recessed pocket in the impact surface (12) when viewed from outside the gas bag (10) inflated to the first containment state, and a central bulge (36) is formed in the impact surface (12) between the fastening areas (28, 30, 32, 34).

8. Gas bag (10) according to claim 7, wherein, viewed from outside the gas bag (10) inflated to the first containment state, a lateral curvature (38) is formed in the impact surface (12) transversely to a longitudinal extension (LP) of the impact surface (12), next to the second, vertical attachment areas (32, 34).

9. Gas bag (10) according to claims 7 and 8, wherein the central bulge (36) is softer than the two lateral bulges (38). ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 2, 2025 215827-WO-PCT - 18 - 10. Gas bag (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper first fastening area (28) and / or the lower first fastening area (30) is longer than a distance (ai) between the second, vertical fastening areas (32, 34) and extends laterally beyond both second, vertical fastening areas (32, 34).

11. Gas bag (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the gas bag (10) has an elongated blank part (40) which, in the filled containment states of the gas bag (10), extends along a longitudinal extension (LP) of the impact surface (12) and the second, vertical attachment areas (32, 34) are formed on opposite sections of a circumferential edge (42) of the blank part (40), while the upper first, horizontal attachment area (28) is positioned on the surface (44) of the blank part (40).

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