Front airbag, airbag module, motor vehicle having such a front airbag, and method for deploying the front airbag

Abstract

The invention relates to a front airbag (22) for mounting on or in an instrument panel (14) of a motor vehicle (10) in front of a vehicle steering wheel (16) in the direction of travel (20), wherein the front airbag (22), in the fully inflated state, extends, starting from the instrument panel (14) as viewed in the direction of travel (20), in an arcuate manner firstly rearwards and then downwards between an occupant (24) and the vehicle steering wheel (16) as far as a free airbag end (30), and has an impact surface (32) facing the occupant (24) and an opposite support surface (34) facing the vehicle steering wheel (16), wherein the free airbag end (30), when the airbag is deployed, is firstly turned inwards between the impact surface (32) and the support surface (34) such that a fold (42) is formed on the steering wheel side with two airbag layers and a fold (44) is formed on the occupant side with two airbag layers, wherein the two airbag layers of at least one of the two folds (42, 44) are detachably connected to each other, in particular by means of a tear seam (46). The invention further relates to an airbag module (18), to a motor vehicle (10) having such a front airbag (22) and to a method for deploying the front airbag (22).

Description

[0001] ZF Automotive Germany GmbH

[0002] Industriestraße 10

[0003] 73553 Alfdorf

[0004] 300488- WO- POT

[0005] September 3, 2025

[0006] Front gasbag, gasbag module and motor vehicle with such a front gasbag, as well as a method for deploying the front gasbag

[0007] The invention relates to a front airbag for mounting on or in an instrument panel of a motor vehicle in the direction of travel in front of a vehicle steering wheel for restraining an occupant positioned in the direction of travel behind the vehicle steering wheel, an airbag module and a motor vehicle with such a front airbag, as well as a method for unfolding such a front airbag.

[0008] To improve occupant safety, airbag modules are used as restraint devices in vehicles. So-called front airbags are frequently employed, in which an airbag inflates in front of the vehicle occupant, cushioning the impact, especially the occupant's head, in the event of a crash. A distinction is made between driver-side and passenger-side airbags. Passenger-side airbags are located in the instrument panel and, compared to driver-side airbags, which are located in the steering wheel, have a larger airbag volume. They therefore also have a larger restraint area.

[0009] Furthermore, airbags that deploy from the instrument panel have the advantage that their restraint effect is independent of the steering wheel design. With traditional steering wheels, the largely circular rim provides a large, symmetrical support surface against which a front airbag deploying from the steering wheel hub can be effectively braced in the event of an occupant impact. This support effect for the front airbag is limited with modern steering wheel designs, for example, with an almost rectangular rim or one interrupted at the 12 o'clock position (so-called yoke steering wheels). ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 3, 2025 300488- WO-PCT

[0010] - 2 -

[0011] Therefore, there are increasing efforts to also accommodate the driver's side front airbag in the instrument panel, analogous to the passenger side front airbag.

[0012] The placement of airbags in the instrument panel is more difficult for driver-side airbags than for passenger-side airbags because the steering wheel, positioned in front of the instrument panel and acting as an obstruction, can hinder the airbag's deployment. Furthermore, a display device is often located between the front airbag module and the steering wheel, which also presents an obstruction to the deploying airbag.

[0013] Due to the large distance between the front airbag module housed in the instrument panel and the occupant, the front airbag has a comparatively large dimension between its opening and the opposite, free end. Furthermore, the driver's side front airbag must be deployed relatively far due to the aforementioned obstructions, which causes the free end to accelerate strongly towards the occupant. Thus, unwanted contact between the front airbag and the occupant can occur even during deployment.

[0014] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a driver-side front airbag housed in the instrument panel, which has a less aggressive and better controllable deployment in order to prevent occupant contact with the free end of the airbag as far as possible during deployment.

[0015] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a front airbag for mounting on or in an instrument panel of a motor vehicle in the direction of travel in front of a vehicle steering wheel for restraining an occupant positioned behind the vehicle steering wheel in the direction of travel, wherein the front airbag, in its fully inflated state, extends arc-shaped from the instrument panel in the direction of travel, first along the windshield rearward and then downward between the occupant and the vehicle steering wheel to a free end of the airbag and has an impact surface facing the occupant and an opposing support surface facing the vehicle steering wheel, wherein the free end of the airbag is initially folded inwards between the impact surface and the support surface during airbag deployment, so that, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, a fold with two layers of airbag and a fold with two layers of airbag are formed on the steering wheel side and on the occupant side.where the two gasbag layers are detachably connected to each other at least at one of the two folds ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03 September 2025 300488- WO-PCT,

[0016] - 3 - are, in particular by means of a tear seam. By inverting the free end of the airbag and initially fixing it in the inverted state, the airbag dimension between the airbag opening and the opposite, free end is reduced, so that the front airbag cannot "swing out" as far towards the occupant during its initial deployment. Only after a certain alignment of the front airbag between the vehicle steering wheel and the occupant is the releasable connection released by the increasing internal pressure, causing the free end to unfold downwards and no longer in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the occupant.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the front airbag, all airbag layers of the steering wheel-side and occupant-side folds are detachably connected to one another, in particular by means of a single tear seam. In this way, a particularly stable fixation of the inverted, free end of the airbag can be achieved with only a single detachable connection, in particular with only a single tear seam.

[0018] Furthermore, the invention comprises a gasbag module with an inflatable front gasbag as described above and a module housing in which the folded front gasbag and a gas generator for filling the front gasbag with generator gas are accommodated.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the airbag module, at least one retaining strap is provided, which has a first retaining strap end attached to the impact surface of the front airbag and an opposing second retaining strap end, wherein an activatable retaining strap release device is provided which, in a non-activated state, is connected to the second retaining strap end and, in an activated state, releases the second retaining strap end. With the retaining strap release device non-activated, the front airbag then assumes a first contour in which movement of the impact surface towards the vehicle occupant is limited by the at least one retaining strap, and with the retaining strap release device activated, a second contour in which the impact surface can move unhindered towards the occupant by the at least one retaining strap.

[0020] This results in an adaptive front airbag on the driver's side, which provides good restraint regardless of the steering wheel design and whose deployment geometry can be advantageously adapted to the occupant's seating position. This seating position of the occupant varies with the ongoing development of ZF Automotive Germany GmbH, September 3, 2025.

[0021] 300488-WG-PCT

[0022] - 4 - automated driving functions also allow for a greater degree of driver-side variation between a traditional driving position close to the steering wheel in manual driving mode and a more reclined, relaxed comfort position in automated or autonomous driving mode. Accordingly, the first contour of the front accelerator pedal would then be assigned to manual driving mode and the second contour of the front accelerator pedal to automated or autonomous driving mode.

[0023] Preferably, the safety strap release device is mounted on or within the module housing of the gas bag module. The safety strap release device is, for example, a pyrotechnically or electrically driven actuator that releases the second end of the safety strap upon receiving an electrical signal. The existing module housing of the gas bag module can serve as a stable support to which the safety strap release device is securely and reliably attached. According to another embodiment, the gas generator housed within the module housing forms a stable support, with the safety strap release device then being mounted directly on or integrated into the gas generator.

[0024] The invention further relates to a method for unfolding the front gasbag of a gasbag module described above, comprising the following steps: a) triggering the gas generator to fill the front gasbag with generator gas; b) unfolding the front gasbag and increasing the internal pressure of the gasbag until the releasable connection of the two gasbag layers of at least one of the two folds at the free end of the gasbag is released; c) activating the retaining strap release device depending on the occupant position, wherein the retaining strap release device is only activated after the releasable connection has been released according to step b).

[0025] This results in a defined and controlled gasbag deployment, in which the front gasbag always assumes the first contour in step b) before moving from the first contour to the second contour if necessary by activating the retaining strap release device.

[0026] Finally, the invention further comprises a motor vehicle with a windshield, an instrument panel, a steering wheel, and a gasbag module described above, wherein the gasbag module is attached to or in the instrument panel. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH, September 3, 2025

[0027] 300488- WO-PCT

[0028] - 5 -

[0029] The gas bag module is attached to or within the instrument panel in such a way that the gas flow direction when exiting a gas generator is approximately parallel to the windshield. This minimizes the stress on the windshield caused by the expanding gas bag when the front gas bag module is activated.

[0030] According to one embodiment of the motor vehicle, the gasbag module is arranged in the area of ​​a windshield root of the vehicle, with the gap between the windshield and the instrument panel forming a discharge channel for the gasbag module, in which the front gasbag deploys upon module activation. The windshield root is defined as the leading edge of the windshield in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, where the windshield and the instrument panel meet. In this position, a gas flow direction essentially parallel to the windshield can be achieved particularly easily.

[0031] In this embodiment of the vehicle, a head-up display (HU) can be arranged below the firing channel between the airbag module and the steering wheel. Such HUs are becoming increasingly popular and can project a wide variety of vehicle information onto a portion of the windshield.

[0032] Since there are typically fewer obstructions on the passenger side, a corresponding front airbag housed in the instrument panel does not need to deploy as far, thus reducing the likelihood of occupant contact during airbag deployment. Should unwanted occupant contact with the exposed end of the airbag nevertheless occur, the airbag module described above, along with the corresponding front airbag, can of course also be used on the passenger side. In this case, the front airbag's support surface rests against the instrument panel instead of the steering wheel.

[0033] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. These show:

[0034] - Figure 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a motor vehicle according to the invention with a gasbag module according to the invention and a fully deployed front gasbag according to the invention; ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03 September 2025

[0035] 300488- WO-PCT

[0036] - 6 -

[0037] - Figure 2 shows a schematic longitudinal section according to Figure 1 with a partially unfolded front gasbag according to a first embodiment;

[0038] - Figure 3 shows a schematic longitudinal section according to Figure 1 with a partially unfolded front gasbag according to a second embodiment;

[0039] - Figure 4 shows a schematic longitudinal section according to Figure 1 with a partially unfolded front gasbag according to a third embodiment;

[0040] - Figure 5 shows a schematic longitudinal section according to Figure 1 with a partially unfolded front gasbag according to a fourth embodiment;

[0041] - Figure 6 shows a perspective interior view of a motor vehicle according to the invention with a fully deployed front airbag as shown in Figure 1;

[0042] - Figure ? several alternative tear seam shapes for the detachable connection of gasbag layers of a steering wheel-side and / or occupant-side fold;

[0043] - Figure 8 shows a schematic longitudinal section according to Figure 1 with a gasbag module according to the invention in a first assembly position;

[0044] - Figure 9 shows a schematic longitudinal section according to Figure 1 with a gasbag module according to the invention in a second assembly position;

[0045] - Figure 10 shows a schematic longitudinal section according to Figure 1 with a gasbag module according to a further embodiment and a partially unfolded front gasbag in a comfort position of the occupant;

[0046] - Figure 11 shows the longitudinal section according to Figure 10 with a front gasbag unfolded into a first contour; and

[0047] - Figure 12 shows the longitudinal section according to Figure 10 with a front gasbag unfolded into a second contour.

[0048] Figure 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a motor vehicle 10 with a windscreen 12, an instrument panel 14, a vehicle steering wheel 16 and a (deployed) gasbag module 18, wherein the gasbag module 18 is attached to or in the instrument panel 14 of the motor vehicle 10 in the direction of travel 20 in front of the vehicle steering wheel 16 (see also Figures 8 and 9).

[0049] The gasbag module 18 includes a front gasbag 22 for restraining a

[0050] Direction of travel 20 behind the vehicle steering wheel 16 in a vehicle seat 23 position - ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03 September 2025

[0051] 300488- WO-PCT

[0052] - 7 - nierten Instandungs ​​24 as well as a module housing 26, in which the folded front gasbag 22 and a gas generator 28 for filling the front gasbag 22 with generator gas are accommodated.

[0053] In its fully inflated state, the front airbag 22 extends, as shown in Figure 1, from the instrument panel 14 in the direction of travel 20 in an arc shape first along the windscreen 12 to the rear and then downwards between the occupants 24 and the vehicle steering wheel 16 to a free airbag end 30 and has an impact surface 32 facing the occupant 24 and a support surface 34 opposite, facing the vehicle steering wheel 16.

[0054] The arrangement of airbag modules 18 on or in the instrument panel 14 presents a particular challenge from the driver's side, because the steering wheel 16, which is positioned in front of the instrument panel 14 and acts as an obstruction, can hinder the deployment of the front airbag 22. Furthermore, a display device 36 is often provided between the airbag module 18 and the steering wheel 16, which also represents an obstruction to the deploying front airbag 22.

[0055] Due to the relatively large distance between a gasbag module 18 housed in the instrument panel 14 and the occupant 24, the fully inflated front gasbag 22 also has a comparatively large dimension 40 between its gasbag mouth 38 attached to the module housing 26 and its opposite, free gasbag end 30.

[0056] Due to the aforementioned obstructions, the driver's side front airbag 22 must be deployed relatively far, which means that a downwardly directed section of the arc-shaped front airbag 22, outlined with a dashed line in Figure 1, can "swing out" quite far towards the occupant 24 during airbag deployment. The free end 30 of the airbag is thereby accelerated strongly towards the occupant 24, so that undesirable contact between the front airbag 22 and the occupant 24 can occur even during airbag deployment.

[0057] To prevent this, the dimension 40 of the front airbag 22 is shortened at the beginning of airbag deployment. For this purpose, the free end 30 of the airbag is initially folded inwards between the impact surface 32 and the support surface 34 during airbag deployment, so that, viewed in the longitudinal direction 41 of the vehicle, a steering wheel-side fold 42 with two airbag layers and a passenger-side fold 44 with two airbag layers are formed, as shown in Figures 2 to 5. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03 September 2025 300488- WO-PCT

[0058] - 8 -

[0059] The two layers of the gasbag, at least one of the two folds 42, 44, are detachably connected to each other, in particular by means of at least one tear seam 46.

[0060] Although Figures 2 to 5 show an indentation of the free gasbag end 30 in which only exactly one steering wheel-side fold 42 with two gasbag layers and exactly one occupant-side fold 44 with two gasbag layers are formed, the invention naturally also includes embodiments in which the indentation of the free gasbag end 30 is realized by means of several steering wheel-side and / or occupant-side folds 42, 44.

[0061] Figures 2 to 5 show different versions of the front gasbag 22 with regard to the detachable connection of the steering wheel-side and / or occupant-side folds 42, 44.

[0062] Figure 2 shows a first embodiment in which only the two gasbag layers of the steering wheel-side fold 42 are detachably connected by means of a tear seam 46, while in a second embodiment according to Figure 3 only the two gasbag layers of the occupant-side fold 44 are detachably connected to each other.

[0063] To achieve a particularly stable fixation of the inverted, free end of the airbag 30, both the two airbag layers of the steering wheel-side fold 42 and the two airbag layers of the passenger-side fold 44 are detachably connected to one another. According to Figure 4, a tear seam 46 can be provided for the detachable connection of the two airbag layers of the steering wheel-side fold 42, and another, separate tear seam 46 for the detachable connection of the two airbag layers of the passenger-side fold 44. However, to minimize manufacturing effort, in a preferred, fourth embodiment of the front airbag 22 according to Figure 5, all airbag layers of the steering wheel-side and passenger-side folds 42, 44 are detachably connected to one another, in particular by means of a single tear seam 46.

[0064] Figure 6 shows a perspective interior view of the motor vehicle 10 with the front airbag 22 fully deployed (see also Figure 1). The tear seam 46 has accordingly already torn, although the original course of the tear seam 46 for the detachable connection of the occupant-side fold 44 is still indicated by dotted lines.

[0065] The V-shaped tear seam geometry shown as an example in Figure 6 is also illustrated in Figure 7a). Other alternative geometries for the tear seam 46 include, for example, a double-V seam as shown in Figure 7b) and a W-seam as shown in Figure 7b). ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03 September 2025 300488- WO-PCT

[0066] - 9 -

[0067] 7c), an inverted V-seam according to Figure 7d), a flattened V-seam according to Figure 7e), or a vertical parallel seam according to Figure 7f). The seam geometry is selected based on a desired deployment characteristic of the front gas bag 22, although of course other alternative seam shapes are conceivable.

[0068] Regardless of the specific seam design, at the beginning of the airbag deployment, the dimension 40 (see Figure 1) of the front airbag 22 is shortened by the tear seam 46, preventing the front airbag 22 from "flaring out" too far towards the occupant 24. Only after the front airbag 22 has reached a certain alignment between the vehicle steering wheel 16 and the occupant 24 (see Figures 2 to 5) does the increasing internal pressure release the tear seam 46, causing the free end 30 of the airbag to then unfold downwards and no longer in the longitudinal direction 41 towards the rear, towards the occupant 24. In this way, unwanted contact between the occupant and the free end 30 of the airbag during deployment is reliably prevented.

[0069] Figures 8 and 9 show two different mounting positions of the gasbag module 18, which is attached to or in the instrument panel 14.

[0070] As shown in Figure 8, the airbag module 18 is mounted in the instrument panel 14 directly behind the display device 36, for example, a monitor. In this so-called basic position, the airbag module 18 is located close to the occupant 24, so that after module deployment, the deployment path to the vehicle occupant is comparatively short. A disadvantage of this mounting position is the high stress on the windshield 12, since the airbag module 18 opens upwards and the deploying front airbag 22 is deflected at the windshield 12 in the direction of the occupant 24, as indicated by arrow 48 in Figure 8. Therefore, measures may be necessary to reduce the deployment pressure of the front airbag 22 on the windshield 12 and to prevent breakage of the windshield 12.

[0071] To reduce the stress on the windshield 12, the gas bag module 18, as shown in Figure 9, is attached to (or in) the instrument panel 14 such that the gas flow direction when exiting the gas generator 28 is approximately parallel to the windshield 12, as indicated by arrow 50 in Figure 9. In this so-called windshield root position, the gas bag module 18 is arranged in the area of ​​the windshield root, i.e., in a contact area with the windshield 12. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03 September 2025 300488- WO-PCT

[0072] - 10 - and instrument panel 14, wherein a gap 52 between the windscreen 12 and the instrument panel 14 forms a firing channel for the gas bag module 18, in which the front gas bag 22 unfolds when the gas bag module 18 is activated. Since the front gas bag 22 does not have to be deflected by the windscreen 12 in this case, the stress on the windscreen 12 after module deployment is significantly lower compared to mounting the gas bag module 18 in the basic position according to Figure 8.

[0073] In addition, head-up displays are increasingly being used on the driver's side, which project warnings or information directly onto a section of the windscreen 12 in front of the driver.

[0074] As shown in Figure 9, a device 54 for a head-up display is arranged below the firing channel between the gas bag module 18 and the vehicle steering wheel 16. When the gas bag module 18 is mounted in the basic position according to Figure 8, the gas bag module 18 is positioned significantly closer to the vehicle steering wheel 16, making the integration of the device 54 for a head-up display impossible or at least extremely difficult.

[0075] Figures 10 to 12 each show a schematic longitudinal section through an embodiment of the gasbag module 18, in which at least one retaining strap 56 is provided, which has a first retaining strap end 58 attached to the impact surface 32 of the front gasbag 22 and an opposing second retaining strap end 60. Furthermore, an activatable retaining strap release device 62 is provided, which is connected to the second retaining strap end 60 in a non-activated state and releases the second retaining strap end 60 in an activated state.With the safety strap release device 62 not activated, the front airbag 22 assumes a first contour according to Figure 11, in which movement of the impact surface 32 towards the occupant 24 is limited by the at least one safety strap 56, and with the safety strap release device 62 activated, it assumes a second contour according to Figure 12, in which the impact surface 32 can move unhindered by the at least one safety strap 56 towards the occupant 24.

[0076] This results in an adaptive front airbag 22 on the driver's side, which provides good restraint regardless of the steering wheel design and whose deployment geometry can be advantageously adapted to the seating position of the occupant 24. With the progressive development of automated driving functions, this seating position of the occupant 24 also varies to a greater extent on the driver's side. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03 September 2025 300488- WO-PCT

[0077] - 11 - traditional driving position close to the steering wheel 16 in manual driving mode and a reclined, relaxed comfort position in automated or autonomous driving mode. Accordingly, the first contour of the front accelerator pedal 22 would then be assigned to manual driving mode and the second contour of the front accelerator pedal 22 to automated or autonomous driving mode.

[0078] As indicated in Figures 10 to 12, the catch strap release device 62 is attached to or inside the module housing 26.

[0079] The safety strap release device 62 is, for example, a pyrotechnically or electrically driven actuator that releases the second end of the safety strap 60 upon receiving an electrical signal. The existing module housing 26 of the gas bag module 18 can serve as a stable support to which the safety strap release device 62 is securely and reliably attached. According to another embodiment, the gas generator 28 housed in the module housing 26 forms a stable support, with the safety strap release device 62 then being attached directly to the gas generator 28 or integrated into the gas generator 28.

[0080] Furthermore, Figures 10 to 12 illustrate the temporal sequence of an unfolding procedure of the front gasbag 22.

[0081] After detecting a restraint situation for the occupant 24, who is in a reclined, relaxed comfort position, the gas generator 28 is triggered in a first step to fill the front gas bag 22 with generator gas. In process step a), the front gas bag 22 initially unfolds into the gas bag contour shown in Figure 10.

[0082] In the following process, the internal pressure of the gasbag is increased by releasing further generator gas until the detachable connection between the gasbag layers of the two folds 42, 44 at the free gasbag end 30, formed by a tear seam 46, is released. The front gasbag 22 then assumes its first contour according to Figure 11 in process step b).

[0083] In process step c), the retaining strap release device 62 is activated depending on the occupant position, whereby the retaining strap release device 62 is only activated after the releasable connection in process step b) has been released, if necessary, i.e., when the occupant 24 is in the comfort position. After activation of the retaining strap release device 62, the front airbag 22 assumes its second contour as shown in Figure 12. ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03 September 2025 300488- WO-PCT

[0084] - 12 -

[0085] This unfolding process results in a defined and controlled gasbag unfolding, in which the front gasbag 22 always assumes the first contour in process step b) before moving from the first contour to the second contour if necessary by activating the catch band release device 62.

[0086] Since the front airbag 22 has a larger volume when deployed into its second contour than when deployed into its first contour, the gas generator 28 is optionally a two-stage gas generator 28, in which a second generator stage is only triggered when the restraint strap release device 62 is also activated and deployment of the front airbag 22 into its second contour is therefore desired. Alternatively, a separate auxiliary generator can be provided, which is operated analogously to the second generator stage. In this way, the internal pressure in the second contour of the front airbag 22 can be increased if this is desired for occupant restraint.

Claims

ZF Automotive Germany GmbH 03. September 2025 300488- WO-PCT - 13 - Patentansprüche 1. Front airbag for mounting on or in an instrument panel (14) of a motor vehicle (10) in the direction of travel (20) in front of a vehicle steering wheel (16) for restraining an occupant (24) positioned behind the vehicle steering wheel (16) in the direction of travel (20), wherein the front airbag (22), when fully inflated, extends in an arc from the instrument panel (14) in the direction of travel (20) first rearward and then downward between the occupant (24) and the vehicle steering wheel (16) to a free end (30) and has an impact surface (32) facing the occupant (24) and an opposing support surface (34) facing the vehicle steering wheel (16), wherein the free end (30) of the airbag is initially folded inwards between the impact surface (32) and the support surface (34) when the airbag is deployed.such that, viewed in the longitudinal direction (41) of the vehicle, a steering wheel-side fold (42) with two layers of gasbags and an occupant-side fold (44) with two layers of gasbags are formed, wherein the two layers of gasbags are detachably connected to each other in at least one of the two folds (42, 44), in particular by means of a tear seam (46).

2. Front gasbag according to claim 1, characterized in that all four gasbag layers of the two folds (42, 44) are detachably connected to each other, in particular by means of a single tear seam (46).

3. Gasbag module comprising an inflatable front gasbag (22) according to one of the preceding claims and a module housing (26) in which the folded front gasbag (22) and a gas generator (28) for filling the front gasbag (22) with generator gas are accommodated.

4. Gasbag module according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one retaining strap (56) is provided, which has a first retaining strap end (58) attached to the impact surface (32) of the front gasbag (22) and an opposite second retaining strap end (60), ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 3, 2025 300488-WG-PCT - 14 - wherein an activatable retaining strap release device (62) is provided which, in a non-activated state, is connected to the second retaining strap end (60) and, in an activated state, releases the second retaining strap end (60), wherein, when the retaining strap release device (62) is not activated, the front airbag (22) assumes a first contour in which movement of the impact surface (32) towards the occupant (24) is limited by the at least one retaining strap (56), and when the retaining strap release device (62) is activated, assumes a second contour in which the impact surface (32) can move unhindered by the at least one retaining strap (56) towards the occupant (24).

5. Gasbag module according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining strap release device (62) is attached to or in the module housing (26).

6. Method for unfolding the front gasbag (22) of a gasbag module (18) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by the following steps: a) triggering the gas generator (28) to fill the front gasbag (22) with generator gas; b) unfolding the front gasbag (22) and increasing the internal gasbag pressure until the releasable connection of the two gasbag layers of at least one of the two folds (42, 44) at the free gasbag end (30) is released; c) activating the retaining strap release device (62) depending on the occupant position, wherein the retaining strap release device (62) is activated, if necessary, only after the releasable connection has been released according to step b).

7. Motor vehicle comprising a windscreen (12), an instrument panel (14), a vehicle steering wheel (16) and a gasbag module (18) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the gasbag module (18) is attached to or in the instrument panel (14).

8. Motor vehicle according to claim 7, characterized in that the gas bag module (18) is attached to or in the instrument panel (14) in such a way that the direction of flow of the gas when flowing out of the gas generator (28) is approximately parallel to the windscreen (12).

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the gasbag module (18) is located in the area of ​​a disc root of the motor vehicle (10) ZF Automotive Germany GmbH September 3, 2025 300488-WO-PCT - 15 - is arranged, wherein the gap (52) between the windscreen (12) and the instrument panel (14) forms a firing channel of the gasbag module (18) in which the front gasbag (22) unfolds when the gasbag module (18) is activated.

10. Motor vehicle according to claim 9, characterized in that a device (54) for a head-up display is arranged below the firing channel between the gas bag module (18) and the vehicle steering wheel (16).

Images