Gas bag restraint system

US6164696A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Norbert Ellerbrok · Alfdorf, DE
• Helmut SEIBERT · Mutlangen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 23, 1998
• Grant date: Dec 26, 2000
• Expiry date: Jul 23, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R2021/2633
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A gas bag restraint system for vehicle occupants has a multi-stage gas generator and a gas bag which includes an outer wall having wall portions and having at least one fold which is formed by a first holding element. The gas bag is able to gradually take up various discrete inflation volumes in accordance with activated stages of the gas generator and dependent on an internal pressure of the gas bag. The outer wall has the at least one fold in a first, partially inflated state of the gas bag, after ignition of a first stage of the gas generator. In the first state, the outer wall has a portion defining an inflated region of the gas bag and a portion defined by the at least one fold. The fold in the first state is turned over toward the inflated region of the gas bag and is secured by the first holding element to the portion of the outer wall defining the inflated region for forming an inwardly extending pocket. The first holding element is destroyed after a predetermined first internal pressure of the gas bag has been reached.