AIRBAG MODULE, METHOD FOR EXCHANGING A GAS GENERATOR OF AN AIRBAG MODULE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN AIRBAG MODULE

Abstract

The invention describes an airbag module (10), specifically a knee airbag module, comprising at least a module housing (12), an airbag, specifically a knee airbag, and an inflator (16), as well as a holding element (14), the holding element (14) including a seat (18) for the inflator (16) and enclosing the inflator (16) at least partly, in particular in a cage-like manner, the holding element (14) including securing elements (20) at least for securing the holding element (14) and the airbag to the module housing (12), the holding element (14) and/or the module housing (12) comprising a fixing element (24) for fixing the inflator (16) in the holding element (14). The invention further describes a method for replacing an inflator (16) of an airbag module (10).

Claims

1. An airbag module (10), in particular a knee airbag module, comprising at least a module housing (12), an airbag, specifically a knee airbag, and an inflator (16), characterized by a holding element (14), the holding element (14) including a seat (18) for the inflator (16) and enclosing the inflator (16) at least partly, in particular in a cage-like manner, the holding element (14) including securing elements (20-22) at least for securing the holding element (14) and the airbag to the module housing (12), the holding element (14) and/or the module housing (12) comprising a fixing element (24) for fixing the inflator (16) in the holding element (14).

2. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (14) comprises a positioning element (26), and the inflator (16) comprises a positioning element seat (28), or the inflator (16) comprises a positioning element (26) and the holding element (14) comprises a positioning element seat (28).

3. The airbag module according to claim 2, wherein the holding element (14) includes at least two positioning element seats (26), in particular that the holding element (14) is suited for receiving inflators (16) of different overall size.

4. The airbag module (10) according to claim 2, wherein the positioning element (26) is formed in the holding element (14) as a resilient dot embossing (61).

5. The airbag module (10) according to claim 2, wherein the positioning element (26) and the positioning element seat (28) are configured as a bayonet lock, or wherein the positioning element (26) is configured as a wedge-shaped longitudinal notch (70) and the positioning element seat (28) is configured as wedge-shaped groove (68) corresponding to the wedge-shaped longitudinal notch (70).

6. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element (24) is configured as a recess (30) directed into a housing interior of the module housing (12) or is configured as a pin element (118) disposed in the housing interior of the module housing (12).

7. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element (24) is formed integrally with a positioning fixation device (62), in particular as a spring element (120).

8. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (14) comprises a diffusor (32) for the inflator (16) which includes an outer wall (34) enclosing the inflator (16) at least partly in a discharge area (36) in the circumferential direction, the outer wall (34) of the diffusor (32) having an interruption edge (44) substantially extending in the longitudinal direction (L) and, when the inflator (16) is activated, is bent open along said interruption edge (44) and defines an outflow direction for the gas.

9. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the inflator (16) comprises a removing aid (74).

10. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (14) comprises at least one anti-bending device (112) in the region of the diffusor (32).

11. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element (24) comprises a spring element (76), the spring element (76) being operatively connected to a bracing device (78).

12. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element (24) is configured as a latching seat (84) disposed in the holding element (14) for receiving a latching element (86) disposed on the inflator (16).

13. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the holding element (14) comprises a female thread (98) as a fixing element (24) which corresponds to a male thread (96) arranged on the inflator (16), in particular wherein the holding element (14) is configured as a cage-like tube having a female thread or as an airbag nut (100) which is sewn into the airbag particularly in the area of an inflation mouth of the airbag, and the male thread (96) is secured to a generator nut (102) secured to the inflator (16).

14. The airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the fixing element (24) comprises a fixing bolt (90) which engages particularly in a fixing bolt seat (92) disposed on or in the inflator (16).

15. A method for replacing an inflator (16) of an airbag module (10) according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: loosening securing elements (20-22) to release a holding element (14) and an airbag from a module housing (12) of the airbag module (10), and to release a fixation of the inflator (16) in the holding element (14) produced directly and/or indirectly via the securing elements (20-22), and/or loosening the fixing element (24) to release the fixation of the inflator (16) in the holding element (14), removing the old inflator (16) from the holding element (14), inserting a new inflator (16) into the holding element (14), fastening the securing elements (20-22) to secure the holding element (14) and the airbag to the module housing (12) and to secure the inflator (16) directly and/or indirectly in the holding element (14), or fixing the fixing element (24) to fix the inflator (16) in the holding element (14).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, when fastening the securing elements (20-22), the inflator (16) is braced in the holding element (14) by a fixing element (24) disposed on the module housing (12) and/or integrated in the module housing (12).

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the inflator (16) is fixed in the holding element (14) by a fixing element (24) disposed on/in the holding element (14) or corresponding to the holding element (14), wherein fixation can be effectuated in a separate method step or by interaction when fastening the securing elements (20).

18. A method for manufacturing an airbag module (10), in particular an airbag module (10) according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module (10) comprises at least a module housing (12), an airbag, an inflator (16) and a holding element (14) for the inflator (16), the method comprising the steps of: inserting the holding element (14) into the folded airbag to create an airbag package or inserting the holding element (14) into the unfolded airbag and subsequently folding the airbag (16) to create an airbag package, thermosetting the folded airbag package at a temperature which is above the safety ignition temperature, specifically at a temperature of more than 90° C., inserting the thermoset airbag package into the module housing (12), and inserting and fastening the inflator (16) in the holding element (14).

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the inflator (16) is a tubular inflator (16).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0059] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be evident from the following description of an embodiment not to be understood in a restricting manner as well as based on the drawings, wherein:

[0060] FIG. 1 a) shows a schematic sectional view across a first embodiment of an airbag module according to the invention and b) shows a perspective detail view of a plug element of the inflator of the airbag module,

[0061] FIGS. 2 a) and b) show perspective views of a first embodiment of a holding element of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a perspective side view of the holding element according to FIG. 2,

[0063] FIGS. 4 a) and b) show perspective views of a second embodiment of a holding element of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0064] FIG. 5 shows a perspective side view of the holding element according to FIG. 4,

[0065] FIGS. 6 a) and b) show perspective views of a third embodiment of a holding element of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0066] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a holding element of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0067] FIG. 8 shows a bottom view of the holding element according to FIG. 7,

[0068] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a discharge area of an embodiment of an inflator configured corresponding to a holding element according to FIG. 7,

[0069] FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a diffusor of the holding element according to FIG. 7 which comprises a first embodiment of an addition position fixation device,

[0070] FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of a diffusor of the holding element according to FIG. 7 which comprises a second embodiment of an additional position fixation device,

[0071] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a discharge area of an embodiment of an inflator configured corresponding to a holding element according to FIG. 13,

[0072] FIG. 13 shows a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a holding element of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0073] FIG. 14 is a top view onto the holding element according to FIG. 13,

[0074] FIG. 15 shows a partial view of an airbag module according to the invention in the area of a plug element of the inflator with a) a fastened holding element and b) a released holding element,

[0075] FIG. 16 shows a partial view of an airbag module according to the invention with a sixth embodiment of a holding element and an inserted inflator,

[0076] FIG. 17 shows a partial view of the airbag module and the inflator according to FIG. 16 without the holding element,

[0077] FIG. 18 shows a partial view of an axial end of the holding element according to FIG. 16,

[0078] FIGS. 19 a) and b) show perspective views of a seventh embodiment of a holding element and of an inflator of an airbag module according to the invention,

[0079] FIGS. 20 a) to c) show different detail views of axial ends of the holding element according to FIG. 19,

[0080] FIG. 21 shows a schematic sectional view across an inflator and an eighth embodiment of a holding element,

[0081] FIG. 22 a) shows a schematic sectional view across a nineth embodiment of a holding element and b) shows an embodiment of an inflator corresponding to the holding element,

[0082] FIG. 23 shows a schematic sectional view across an inflator and a tenth embodiment of a holding element,

[0083] FIGS. 24 a) and b) show a schematic sectional view across an inflator and an eleventh embodiment of a holding element, and

[0084] FIG. 25 a) shows a schematic sectional view across an inflator and a twelfth embodiment of a holding element and b) shows a view of an axial end of the inflator and the holding element.

DESCRIPTION

[0085] FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view across an embodiment of an airbag module 10 according to the invention. The airbag module 10 comprises at least a module housing 12, a holding element 14, an inflator 16 and an airbag the representation of which was renounced for reasons of clarity.

[0086] The holding element 14 comprises a seat 18 for the inflator 16 which encloses the inflator 16 at least partly in a cage-like manner. Further, the holding element 16 comprises securing elements 20, in this case securing bolts 21 and securing nuts 22 via which at least the holding element 14 and the airbag can be secured to the module housing 12. Via the securing elements 20 to 22, furthermore the airbag module 10 can be arranged in a vehicle, for example as a knee airbag module in a lower area of the dashboard.

[0087] In the shown embodiment, the holding element 14 comprises a positioning element 26 and the inflator 16 comprises a positioning element seat 28 by which the inflator 16 can be positioned at a predetermined position in the holding element 14.

[0088] The positioning element 26 is disposed on the holding element in the area of the diffusor 32. The positioning element seat 28 is disposed in the inflator 16 in the discharge area 36. The inflator 16 comprises, on the end opposite to the discharge area 36 in the longitudinal direction L, a plug element 38 via which the inflator 16 of the airbag module 10 can be connected, e.g., via a control and/or ignition line, to a control unit of the vehicle, specifically an airbag control device of the vehicle. In the area of the plug element 38, the inflator 16 in the shown embodiment has a removing aid 74 on which the inflator 16 can be gripped via pliers, for example, particularly when it is removed from the holding element 14 or when it is inserted into the holding element 14.

[0089] The module housing 12 comprises a fixing element 24 by which the inflator can be fixed in the holding element 14. The fixing element 14 in the form of a recess 30, in this case a bead 30, engages in an opening 40 of the holding element 14, when the holding element 14 is fastened to the module housing 12 via the securing elements 20 to 22, and forces the inflator 16 against an inner wall 42 of the holding element 14. In this way, the inflator 16 is fixed in the holding element 14. In addition, via said non-positive fixation, noise caused by vibrations of the inflator 16 in the holding element 14 can be easily prevented.

[0090] In the airbag module 10 according to the invention of FIG. 1, for replacing the inflator 16 it is not necessary to dismantle the whole airbag module 10. In order to replace the inflator 16, at first only the securing elements 20 to 22 are loosened so far that the inflator 16 is no longer forced against the inner wall 42 of the holding element by the bead 30 of the module housing 12. Subsequently, the inflator 16 to be replaced can be removed from the holding element 14 via the removing aids 74 and a new inflator 16 can be inserted. Then, the securing elements 20 to 22 are fastened again, causing the bead 30 of the module housing to force the new inflator 16 against the inner wall 42 of the holding element 14 and to thus fix the inflator 16 in the holding element 14.

[0091] It is another advantage of the airbag module 10 according to the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1 that the holding element 14 acts as a placeholder for the inflator 16, when the airbag module is manufactured, and in this way the inflator 16 can be inserted, for example, as late as at the end of the manufacturing process. This allows in particular that the airbag package consisting of the folded airbag and the holding element 14 can be fixed in a thermosetting process by heating and subsequent cooling under pressure, without a maximum admissible thermosetting temperature of the inflator 16 having to be considered.

[0092] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a first embodiment of the holding element 14 that is manufactured as a punched and bent part and has a substantially square cross-section with rounded corner regions. The holding element 14 comprises securing elements 20 configured as securing bolts 21 which are press-fitted into the holding element 14, for example. In order to be able to press-fit the securing elements 20 into the holding element 14 after the punching and bending process, the holding element 14 includes installation openings 114. Alternatively, the securing elements 20 can be secured to the holding element 14 also by other manufacturing methods, such as by welding, as a matter of course.

[0093] The holding element 14 further has an opening 40 in which a fixing element 24, 30 of the module housing 12 (see FIG. 1) can engage, for example. Moreover, the weight of the holding element 14 can be reduced by the opening 40. The holding element 14 further comprises a diffusor 32 for the inflator 16 which is formed in the holding element of FIGS. 2 and 3 as diffusor opening 80.

[0094] The holding element 14 comprises two positioning elements 26 in the area of the diffusor 32. The positioning elements 26 are configured in this case as resilient dot embossings 61 facing the interior of the holding element. This allows to insert two different configurations of an inflator 16, in particular two inflators of different performance levels, into the holding element. The resilient dot embossing 61 can be produced in the punching and bending process by the fact that the material of the holding element is removed or, resp., punched out in the region around the dot embossing except the two spring arms 124. As an alternative to the dot embossing 61 facing the interior of the holding element, a protrusion of any design facing the interior of the holding element can be disposed on/in the holding element 14, such as in the form of a material thickening in the region of the spring arms 124, for example a weld bead disposed in the region of the spring arms (not shown).

[0095] The holding element 14 comprises, at the end opposite to the diffusor 32, a first embodiment of additional positioning fixation devices 62 which are in the form of resilient clip elements. The positioning fixation devices 62 are provided especially for fixing the inflator 16 in the holding element 14, before the holding element 14 and the inflator 16 are secured in the module housing or to the vehicle structure via the securing elements 20. To this end, the positioning fixation devices 62 shown here are formed integrally with fixing elements 24 as a spring element 120.

[0096] In the shown embodiment, the inflator 16 is pre-fixed in the holding element 14, after being inserted into the seat 18 of the holding element 14, at least by the positioning fixation device 62 opposite to the securing elements 20. By the positioning fixation device 62 disposed on the holding element 14 on the side of the securing elements 20, the pre-fixation can be additionally intensified. Moreover, the inflator 16 can be forced, when the holding element 14 and the inflator 16 are fastened to the module housing 12, against the side of the holding element 14 opposite to the securing elements 20 by the positioning fixation device 62 disposed on the holding element 14 on the side of the securing elements 20 and thus can be additionally fixed at least non-positively in the holding element 14 within the airbag module 10.

[0097] The positioning fixation device 62 disposed on the holding element 14 on the side of the securing elements 20 can be formed integrally with the holding element 14 or can be disposed on the holding element as a separate component in the manufacturing process.

[0098] The securing element 62 disposed on the side of the holding element 14 opposite to the securing elements 20 moreover acts as an additional fixing element 24 to fix the inflator 16 in the holding element 14, when the holding element 14 and the inflator 16 are fastened in the module housing 12 via the securing elements 20.

[0099] The holding element 14 further comprises anti-bending devices 112 in the area of the diffusor 32. The anti-bending devices 112 are designed such that latching lugs are bent by 90° and engage in corresponding slits. They can prevent the holding element 14 formed as a punched and bent part from inadvertently bending open when the airbag module 10 is activated so that the gas of the inflator 16 substantially flows off through the diffusor opening 80.

[0100] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the holding element 14. As the second embodiment is largely similar to the above-described first embodiment and the elements exhibit the same characteristics, hereinafter substantially the differences of the embodiments will be illustrated. For the parts known from the first embodiment the same reference symbols are used. In this respect, the foregoing explanations are referred to.

[0101] The holding element 14 is equally manufactured as a punched and bent part and has a substantially circular cross-section, the cross-section having a bulge in the area in which the securing elements 20 are disposed.

[0102] Further, the diffusor opening 80 of the diffusor is configured to be larger compared to the holding element 14 of the FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 6 illustrates a third embodiment of the holding element 14 in which for already known elements again the same reference symbols are used and the foregoing explanations are referred to.

[0103] The holding element 14 of FIG. 6 is likewise configured as a punched and bent part but, in contrast to the foregoing embodiments, has no installation openings for the securing elements 20 configured as securing bolts 21, as they were arranged on the holding element 14 already before the punching and bending process, such as by press-fitting or by welding.

[0104] The holding element 14 has a substantially square cross-section. In contrast to the holding element 14 according to the first embodiment, the positioning elements 26 are disposed on the sidewall opposite to the diffusor opening in the holding element 14 rather than in one of the sidewalls adjacent to the diffusor opening 80. In addition, the holding element 14 has, apart from the opening 40 in which a fixing element 24 of the module housing 12 can engage, further openings 41 which substantially serve for optimizing the weight of the holding element 14. The openings 41 in the area of the diffusor 32 can further allow for an additional lateral gas outlet, when the airbag module 10 and, thus, the inflator is activated.

[0105] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a fourth embodiment of the holding element 14 which is manufactured as a tube. The holding element 14 comprises securing elements 20 in the form of securing bolts 21 which are welded to the holding element 14 or are press-fitted in the holding element 14, for example. Further, openings 40 are shown by which the weight of the holding element 14 is reduced and in which a fixing element 24, 30 of the module housing 12 (see FIG. 1) can engage.

[0106] The holding element 14 comprises a diffusor 32 for the inflator 16 including an outer wall 34 which encloses the inflator 16 at least partially in a discharge area 36 of the inflator 16 in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 10). The outer wall 34 of the diffusor 32 has an interruption edge 44 extending substantially in the longitudinal direction L. When the inflator 16 is activated, the outer wall 34 is bent open along said interruption edge 44, allowing an outflow direction for the gas and, resp., the gas flow to be defined. In order to enable such bending open and to restrict the expansion of the diffusor along the longitudinal direction L, an interruption 46 is introduced to the holding element 14, which interruption 46 may be a predetermined breaking point in further embodiments (not shown).

[0107] In the area of the diffusor 32 of the holding element 14, the positioning element 26 is introduced as a bulge facing the interior of the holding element, in this case as a dot embossing 60.

[0108] FIG. 9 shows the discharge area of an inflator 16 corresponding to the holding element 14 of FIGS. 2 to 8. The discharge area 36 has a plurality of discharge openings 37 through which the gas of the inflator 16 can flow out when the latter has been activated.

[0109] In the discharge area 36, a positioning element seat 28 is disposed which is configured together with the positioning element 26 in the manner of a bayonet lock. The positioning element seat 28 is in the form of a groove 48 having a first leg 50 and a second leg 52 which are aligned with each other in V-shape, the leg tail of the first leg 50 and the leg head of the second leg 52 forming the tip 56 of the V-shape. The groove 48 is widened at the first leg 50 in the area of the leg head 54 and tapers toward the tip 56 of the V-shape so that the finding and insertion of the positioning element 26 in the form of a bulge is facilitated. In the shown embodiment, the latching position in which the inflator 16 is in the predetermined position in the holding element 14 is determined by the leg tail 58 of the second leg 52.

[0110] In particular in a holding element 14 according to the first three embodiments (FIGS. 2 to 6), the positioning element seat 28 can also be configured as an indentation in the form of the resilient dot embossing 61, in particular as a circular or oval indentation (not shown).

[0111] FIG. 10 shows a detail view of the diffusor 32 of the holding element 14 comprising a second embodiment of an additional position fixation device 62. The position fixation device 62 serves for generating an axial force upon the inflator to intensify the functionality of the bayonet lock formed of the positioning element 26 and the positioning element seat 28. For this purpose, the position fixation device 62 comprises a spring region 64 by which the inflator 16 is forced into the latching position of the bayonet lock. The position fixation device 62 shown here further comprises a buffer element 66 via which it can be controlled, for example, how far the outer walls 34 of the diffusor 32 of the holding element 14 can bend open, when the inflator 16 has been activated.

[0112] FIG. 11 also shows a detail view of the diffusor 32 of the holding element 14, wherein a third embodiment of an additional position fixation device 62 is illustrated in FIG. 11. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the position fixation device 62 is disposed on the diffusor 32 in alignment with the positioning element 26 and the securing elements 40. The position fixation device 62 can be arranged, for example, via an adhesive connection. The position fixation device 62 protrudes into the interior of the holding element toward the interruption edge 44, the portion of the position fixation device 62 protruding into the interior of the holding element being in the form of a spring region 64.

[0113] FIG. 12 illustrates the discharge area 36 of an inflator 16 with another alternative embodiment of the positioning element seat 28. In FIGS. 13 and 14, a fifth embodiment of the holding element 14 is shown which has a positioning element 26 corresponding to the positioning element seat 28 of the inflator 16. The fifth embodiment is similar to the afore-described fourth embodiment. For the parts known from the preceding embodiments the same reference symbols are used. In this respect, the foregoing explanations are referred to.

[0114] The positioning element 26 of the holding element 14 is a wedge-shaped longitudinal notch 70 and the positioning element seat 28 of the inflator 16 is a wedge-shaped groove 68 corresponding to the wedge-shaped longitudinal notch 70. In the embodiment of FIGS. 13 and 14, the holding element 14 is manufactured as a punched and bent part. The securing bolts 21 can equally be welded to the holding element or can be inserted in dedicated securing element seats not shown here. The holding element 14 may further comprise fixing elements 24 in the form of outer wall segments 72. The outer wall segments can be forced, when the holding element 14 is fastened in the module housing 12 via a fixing element 24 of the module housing 12, for example (see FIG. 1), against the inflator 16 and can thereby (additionally) fix the latter in the holding element 14.

[0115] FIG. 15 illustrates a partial view of an airbag module 10 according to the invention with a holding element 14 secured/fastened in FIG. 15 a) and with a holding element 14 released in FIG. 15 b).

[0116] The module housing 12 has an (additional) fixing element 24 in the area of the plug element 38 of the inflator 16. In the fastened state of the holding element 14, the additional fixing element 24 moreover acts as a position fixation device 62 which prevents an axial movement of the inflator 16. In addition, in this embodiment removal of the inflator 16 in the fastened position is prevented by the fixing element 24. In order to be able to remove the inflator from the holding element 14, at first the securing elements 20 must be released so that the holding element 14 and the inflator 16 are in the removing position shown in FIG. 15 b).

[0117] FIG. 16 illustrates another embodiment of a module housing 12 in the form of a module holder 12 for a fabric module housing as well as a sixth embodiment of a holding element 14 with an inserted inflator 16 of an airbag module 10 according to the invention.

[0118] The holding element 14 according to the sixth embodiment comprises a fixing element 24 that is formed integrally with a positioning fixation device 62 as a spring element 120. The spring element 120 comprises a latching area 122 which is suited for engaging in an inflator neck portion 116 of the inflator 16 (see FIG. 18).

[0119] The module housing 12 also includes a fixing element 24 which in this case is a bent pin element 118 (see also FIG. 17). When fastening the holding element 14 with the inflator 16 to the module housing 12, the pin element 118 engages in the inflator neck portion 116 of the inflator 16, thereby fixing the inflator 16 at least positively in the holding element.

[0120] FIGS. 19 a) and b) schematically illustrate the insertion of the inflator 16 into a seventh embodiment of the holding element 14. In the area of the diffusor 32, the holding element 14 comprises an embodiment of a position fixation device 62 which is in the form of a pin-shaped stop, see FIGS. 20 a) and b).

[0121] The holding element 14 moreover comprises a positioning element 26 which, in connection with the corresponding positioning element seat 28 of the inflator 16, maintains the inflator 16 at a predetermined position in the holding element 14 and prevents rotation, for example.

[0122] Moreover, the holding element 14 comprises a fixing element 24 which, in the fastened state of the holding element 14, prevents an axial movement of the inflator 16. Furthermore, the fixing element 24 of the holding element 14 prevents the inflator 16 from being removed in the fastened state. In order to be able to remove the inflator 16 from the holding element 14, at first the fastening elements 20 must be released.

[0123] In the further embodiments shown below, for the parts known from the previously shown embodiment, the same reference symbols are used and merely the differences are discussed in detail. In this respect, the foregoing explanations are referred to.

[0124] FIG. 21 illustrates an eighth embodiment of the holding element 14 which is manufactured as a tube. The holding element 14 has a diffusor opening 80 in the discharge area 36 of the inflator 16. The fixing element is disposed in the holding element 14 and comprises a spring element 76. The spring element 76 is wave-shaped, with a bracing device 78 acting on the wave crest 82 of the wave-shaped spring element 76. Via the bracing device 78, the spring element 76 can be braced against the inflator 16, thereby fixing the inflator 16 non-positively in the holding element 14. The bracing device 78 comprises a screw element in the embodiment shown here.

[0125] FIGS. 22 a) and b) show a nineth embodiment of the holding element 14 and the inflator 16. The holding element 14 includes a diffusor opening 80 in the discharge area 36 of the inflator 16. The fixing element 24 in this embodiment is a latching seat 84. The latching seat 84 is a seat for a latching element 86 disposed on the inflator 16. In the embodiment shown here, each of the holding element 14 and the inflator 16 includes two latching seats 84 and two latching elements 86. The latching element 86 is a spring system including spring elements 88 so that the inflator 16 can be released from the fixation in the holding element 14 by compressing the spring elements 88. The inflator 16 is further fixed in the holding element 14 by the latching element 86 and the latching element seat 64 at a predetermined position.

[0126] FIG. 23 illustrates a tenth embodiment of the holding element 14 as well as of a corresponding inflator 16. The fixing element 24 disposed in the holding element 14 comprises a fixing bolt 90 disposed in a fixing element seat 94. In order to fix the inflator 16 at a predetermined position in the holding element 14, the inflator 16 in the shown embodiment further comprises a fixing bolt seat 92. In another embodiment not shown, the inflator can also be designed without such fixing bolt seat 92 and, for being fixed in the holding element 14, can only be forced against the inner wall 42 of the holding element by the fixing bolt 92.

[0127] FIGS. 24 a) to c) illustrate an eleventh embodiment of the holding element 14 and of a corresponding inflator 16. The holding element 14 is configured as an airbag nut 100 in the embodiments of FIGS. 24 b) and c). The airbag nut 100 can be sewn into the airbag via the securing elements in the form of airbag seats 23 in the area of the inflation mouth. In addition, the airbag seats 23 can be provided to be further used for securing the holding element 14 in the form of the airbag nut 100 to the module housing 12, see FIG. 24 b). Alternatively, additional securing elements 20, such as securing bolts 21, for securing the holding element 14 and the airbag to the module housing 12 can be provided on the airbag nut 100, see FIG. 24 c). The holding element 14 in the form of the airbag nut 100 comprises a female thread 98 as fixing element 24. As an alternative to the airbag nut 100, the holding element 14 can be a cage-like tube into which a female thread 98 is introduced to the inner wall (not shown).

[0128] The inflator 16 comprises a male thread 96 corresponding to the female thread 98 which allows to screw the inflator 16 into the holding element 14. The male thread 96 can be disposed directly in an outer cover 104 of the inflator 16 (not shown) or on a generator nut 102 disposed on the inflator 16. The generator nut 102 including the male thread 96 can be secured, for example by an adhesive connection such as by welding, to the outer cover 104 of the inflator 16.

[0129] FIGS. 25 a) and b) illustrate a twelfth embodiment of a holding element 14 and a corresponding inflator 16. The fixing element 24 is in the form of a spring element 76. The inflator 16 can comprise, as shown in FIG. 16, a receiving nut 106 for receiving the spring element 76 by which receiving nut 106 the inflator 16 can be fixed at a predetermined position in the holding element 14. The holding element 14 further comprises a positioning fixation device 62 which is a clamping bracket 108 in this case and forces the inflator 16 in the longitudinal direction axially against the end face 110 of the holding element 14.