Luftsack, vorzugsweise OPW-Luftsack, für ein Fahrzeug

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag, preferably an OPW airbag, which is configured to be set from an uninflated state to an inflated state by an inflation operation to protect an occupant of a vehicle. According to the invention, it is provided that the airbag has at least two fabric layers which are connected to one another in such a way that a plurality of airbag chambers are formed, wherein in the inflated state the airbag chambers are each formed as tubular chambers, which extend and/or are arranged transversely and/or obliquely and/or parallel to a depth direction of the airbag in the inflated state in such a way that the outer shape of the airbag assumes the shape of a tube, in particular a tube with an oval or elliptical cross-section or a hollow cylinder with a circular cross-section.

Claims

1. An airbag, comprising a one-piece woven airbag, which is configured to be set from an uninflated state to an inflated state by an inflation operation to protect an occupant of a vehicle, wherein the airbag has at least two fabric layers, comprising two fabric layers in certain regions and/or three fabric layers in certain regions, which are connected to one another in such a way that a plurality of airbag chambers are formed, wherein the airbag chambers in the inflated state are each formed as tubular chambers which extend and/or are arranged transversely and/or obliquely and/or parallel to a depth direction of the airbag in the inflated state in such a way that the outer shape of the airbag assumes the shape of a tube, comprising a tube with an oval or elliptical cross-section or a hollow cylinder with a circular or ring-shaped cross-section.

2. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of airbag chambers formed as tubular chambers are arranged offset in the circumferential direction in the inflated state, so that the arrangement of the plurality of airbag chambers forms a tubular cover or a hollow cylinder wall and/or the outer shape of the airbag assumes the shape of a tube or a hollow cylinder.

3. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of airbag chambers formed as tubular chambers extend in the inflated state in the axial direction of the airbag formed in the shape of the tube or hollow cylinder and are radially offset with respect to one another in such a way that a group of inner airbag chambers arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction and a group of outer airbag chambers arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction are formed.

4. The airbag according to claim 3, wherein the tubular inner airbag chambers and the tubular outer airbag chambers have different diameters and/or the tubular inner airbag chambers have larger diameters than the tubular outer airbag chambers and/or have the same or different filling volumes.

5. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the at least two, fabric layers for forming the airbag in the form of the tube or hollow cylinder are connected to one another in such a way that the fabric layers form a tubular cover or a hollow cylinder wall in the inflated state of the airbag (10), in the axial direction of which the airbag chambers extend, and two side end portions of the fabric layers running in the axial direction are joined together.

6. The airbag according to claim 5, wherein the at least two fabric layers in the side end portions are joined or woven into one layer, so that the side end portions form single-layer seam portions which are joined together by sewing.

7. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises three fabric layers at least in certain regions, namely a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer and a third fabric layer, wherein the second fabric layer is arranged between the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer, wherein the three fabric layers are woven together in such a way that outer airbag chambers extending in the axial direction and arranged offset in the circumferential direction are formed between the first fabric layer and the second fabric layer and inner airbag chambers extending in the axial direction and arranged offset in the circumferential direction are formed between the second fabric layer and the third fabric layer, wherein the outer and inner airbag chambers during their respective inflation operations cause a curvature outwards in portions to form the tube or the hollow cylinder.

8. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is formed as an OPW airbag with warp threads and weft threads woven into the woven fabric layers, wherein the warp threads and weft threads are woven together in such a way that the airbag has a first partial region (ETB) and a second partial region (ZTB) as well as an airbag chamber-forming region (LKB), wherein the first partial region (ETB) is arranged between the airbag chamber-forming region (LKB) and the second partial region (ZTB), wherein the warp threads and weft threads in the second partial region (ZTB) are woven together in such a way that the second partial region (ZTB) has at least one generator mouth for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag or a connection for connecting a generator and is formed in two layers, wherein the warp threads and weft threads in the airbag chamber-forming region (LKB) are woven together in such a way that the airbag chamber-forming region (LKB) comprises the plurality of airbag chambers and is formed in three layers, and wherein the warp threads and weft threads of the second fabric layer emerge from the second fabric layer in the first partial region (ETB) and float completely between the first fabric layer and the third fabric layer and are incorporated into the first fabric layer and/or into the third fabric layer in the second partial region.

9. The airbag according to claim 1, wherein an end face end portion or each of two end face end portions of the airbag configured in the form of the tube or hollow cylinder is connected or closed with a flat clamping element which spans an end face of the hollow cylinder during the inflation operation of the airbag.

Description

[0045] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained below by way of example with reference to the figures.

[0046] These show:

[0047] FIG. 1a) a schematic representation of an airbag according to the invention in a lateral cross-sectional view;

[0048] FIG. 1b) a schematic representation of the airbag according to the invention of FIG. 1a) in a cross-sectional view from above;

[0049] FIG. 1c) a schematic representation of the airbag according to the invention of FIGS. 1a) and 1b) as a steering wheel airbag in a side view;

[0050] FIG. 1d) a schematic representation of the airbag of the invention of FIGS. 1a) and 1b) in a deployed state;

[0051] FIG. 1e) a schematic cross-sectional representation of the airbag according to the invention of FIG. 1d) in a laid-out state;

[0052] FIG. 1f) a schematic representation of the airbag according to the invention of FIG. 1d) in an inflated state in cross-section from above;

[0053] FIG. 2 a schematic perspective view of the airbag of FIGS. 1a)-f) from the side;

[0054] FIG. 3 a schematic perspective view of the air bag of FIGS. 1a)-f) in a further side view;

[0055] FIG. 4 a schematic perspective view of the airbag of FIGS. 1a)-f) from above;

[0056] FIG. 5 a schematic perspective view of the air bag of FIG. 4 from above with a clamping element attached to the end face in the form of an essentially circular piece of flat fabric;

[0057] FIG. 6 a schematic perspective view of the airbag of FIGS. 1a)-f) from below;

[0058] FIG. 7 a schematic perspective view of the airbag of FIGS. 1a)-f) from below;

[0059] FIG. 8 a schematic perspective view of the air bag of FIGS. 1a)-f) in a further view from above with the clamping element attached to the end face;

[0060] FIG. 9 a schematic representation of an airbag according to a further embodiment of the invention;

[0061] FIG. 10 a schematic representation of the airbag of FIG. 9 in a specific application.

[0062] FIGS. 1 to 10 show an airbag or gas bag or airbag 10 according to the invention, which in the embodiments described below is designed or manufactured as an OPW airbag 10, i.e. a so-called one piece woven airbag 10, an airbag 10 woven from one piece.

[0063] The airbag 10 according to the invention is configured to be set from an uninflated state, such as a folded or collapsed state, to an inflated or deployed state, in which the airbag can deploy its protective effect for the occupant, for the protection of an occupant of a vehicle such as a motor vehicle or commercial vehicle in a conventional manner by means of an inflation operation. That is, the airbag 10 is deployed from the uninflated state to the inflated state in a conventional manner in response to activation of an inflation device such as a gas generator, which is activated, for example, when a vehicle collision or the like is detected.

[0064] FIG. 1a) shows a schematic representation of the airbag 10 according to the invention according to one embodiment in a lateral cross-sectional view in an inflated state, while FIG. 1b) shows a schematic representation of the airbag 10 according to the invention of FIG. 1a) in the inflated state in a cross-sectional view from above.

[0065] As shown in the schematic representation of the airbag 10 according to the invention of FIG. 1c) in the side view, the airbag or airbag 10 in the described application or in this embodiment is exemplarily designed as a steering wheel airbag and accordingly provided on a steering wheel 24 in a conventional manner not described in detail here.

[0066] FIGS. 1a) to c) only show the basic and schematic structure of the airbag 10 according to the invention, without going into more detail about its specific woven structure. The structure of the airbag 10 according to the invention is described in more detail below in connection with FIGS. 1d) to 1f).

[0067] In principle, the airbag 10 according to the invention is constructed by a plurality of fabric layers 11, 12, 13, which are explained in more detail below, wherein the airbag 10 is produced by means of the OPW process with two fabric layers in certain regions and with three fabric layers in certain regions.

[0068] In particular, the OPW airbag 10 has a first partial region ETB and a second partial region ZTB as well as an airbag chamber-forming region LKB, wherein the first partial region ETB is arranged between the airbag chamber-forming region LKB and the second partial region ZTB.

[0069] In the second partial region, the airbag 10 is formed in two layers, where the two fabric layers 11 and 13 are connected to each other in such a way that a generator mouth 18 is formed for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag 10 or a connection area for connecting a generator, via which the airbag 10 can be filled with gas.

[0070] The airbag chamber-forming region LKB, on the other hand, is formed in three layers, with the three fabric layers 11, 12 and 13 being connected to one another in such a way that a plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 (exemplified in FIGS. 14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3, 14.sub.BK, . . . and 16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.8) are formed, as shown in FIGS. 1a) and 1b).

[0071] In the case shown, the airbag chambers 14, 16 in the inflated state of the airbag 10 are each designed as at least in portions tubular chambers or airbag chambers which extend parallel to a depth direction of the airbag 10 in the inflated state and are arranged in such a way that the outer shape of the airbag 10 assumes the shape of a tube or a hollow cylinder with a circular or ring-shaped cross-section. The depth direction of the airbag 10 thus essentially corresponds to the axial direction of the tube or the hollow cylinder (illustrated by the axis a in FIG. 1a)), which the airbag 10 forms in the inflated state.

[0072] As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 1a) and 1b), the plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16, which are formed as at least in portions tubular airbag chambers, are arranged offset in the circumferential direction in the inflated state, so that their arrangement forms a tubular cover or a hollow cylinder wall and thus the outer shape of the airbag 10 takes the shape of the tube or the hollow cylinder.

[0073] In FIG. 1b), it can be seen in particular that the plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 formed as tubular chambers extend in the inflated state in the axial direction of the airbag 10 formed in the shape of the tube or hollow cylinder and are offset radially relative to one another in such a way that a first group or first plurality of inner airbag chambers 16 arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction and another, second group or second plurality of outer airbag chambers 14 arranged next to one another in the circumferential direction are formed. The tubular inner airbag chambers 16 have larger diameters than the tubular outer airbag chambers 14, which are radially adjacent further out, and therefore have a larger filling volume for the same axial length.

[0074] As can also be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1b), the fabric layers 11, 12, 13 are joined together to form the airbag 10 in the form of the tube or hollow cylinder in such a way that the fabric layers 11, 12, 13 form a tubular cover or hollow cylinder wall in the inflated state of the airbag 10, in the axial direction of which the airbag chambers 14, 16 extend, and two side end portions 221 and 222 of the fabric layers running in the axial direction are joined together, for example sewn, glued or welded. For this purpose, the fabric layers 11, 12, 13 are woven into a single layer in the side end portions, which will become apparent from the following description of the more detailed structure of the airbag 10 in connection with FIGS. 1d) to 1f), so that the side end portions 22.sub.1 and 22.sub.2 form at least partially single-layer seam portions 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2 which are joined together.

[0075] In connection with FIGS. 1d) to 1f), the specific or detailed structure of the airbag 10 is now described.

[0076] FIG. 1d) shows a schematic representation of the airbag 10 according to the invention of FIGS. 1a) and 1b) in a laid out or spread out and uninflated state, in which the seam portions 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2 are not yet connected or sewn together and the respective fabric layers 11, 12, 13 lie on top of one another. FIG. 1e), on the other hand, shows a schematic representation of the airbag 10 according to the invention of FIG. 1d) in cross-section, in which the fabric layers 11, 12, 13 lying on top of one another are shown slightly pulled apart for better illustration. FIG. 1f) shows a schematic representation of the airbag 10 of the invention of FIG. 1d) in a fully inflated state in cross-section from above, in which the seam portions 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2 are connected.

[0077] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 1d), the airbag 10 is formed as an OPW airbag with warp threads running in the warp direction K and weft threads running in the weft direction S, which are woven in certain regions into the two woven fabric layers 11 and 13, namely in the second partial region ZTB, and in certain regions into the three woven fabric layers 11, 12, 13, namely in the airbag chamber-forming region LKB. However, the warp and weft directions K and S can also be reversed.

[0078] The warp threads and weft threads are woven together in such a way that the airbag 10 forms at least one generator mouth 18 for receiving a gas generator for filling the airbag 10 or a connection region for connecting a generator in the second, two-layer partial region ZTB and the warp threads and weft threads are woven together in the three-layer region LKB forming the airbag chambers, three-layer region LKB forming the airbag chambers, the plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 being formed, wherein the seam portions NA separating the plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16 and running in the warp direction K are indicated only schematically in the weft direction S by two or three groups of seam portions NA arranged next to one another.

[0079] In the first partial region ETB shown in FIG. 1d), which is a transition region between the second partial region ZTB and the airbag chamber-forming region LKB, i.e. is arranged between the second partial region ZTB forming the generator mouth 18 and the region LKB forming the plurality of airbag chambers 14, 16, a transition takes place from the three-layer design of the airbag 10 to a two-layer design of the airbag 10.

[0080] In particular, the airbag 10 has three fabric layers 11, 12, 13 in the airbag chamber-forming region LKB with the multiple airbag chambers 14, 16, namely a first fabric layer 11, a second fabric layer 12 and a third fabric layer 13. The second fabric layer 12 is arranged between the first fabric layer 11 and the third fabric layer 13, whereby, in relation to the hollow cylindrical or tubular airbag 10 in the inflated state, the first fabric layer 11 forms an outer fabric layer or an outer shell of the airbag 10, the second fabric layer 12 forms a middle fabric layer or inner fabric layer of the airbag 10 and the third fabric layer 13 forms an inner fabric layer or inner shell of the airbag 10.

[0081] In the first partial area ETB adjacent to the airbag chamber forming region LKB, the warp and weft yarns of the second or middle fabric layer 12 emerge from the second or middle fabric layer 12 and float completely between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the third or inner fabric layer 13 and are bound into the first or outer fabric layer 11 or into the third or inner fabric layer 13 in the second partial area ZTB adjacent to the first partial area ETB. The fabric layers 11 and 13 of the second partial region ZTB thus have parts of the second or middle fabric layer 12. The second partial region thus connects to the first partial region ETB and finally forms the generator mouth 18 or the connection area for connecting the generator.

[0082] The second, two-layer partial region ZTB, the first partial region ETB adjacent thereto and the three-layer region LKB, which in turn adjoins the first partial region ETB and forms the airbag chambers, are bounded by a circumferential woven seam UWN in the laid-out state of the airbag 10, which is only broken up into the two woven fabric layers 11 and 13 in an inflow section of the second partial region ZTB in order to form an inflow opening in the form of the generator mouth 18 or the connection area, but in which otherwise all warp and weft threads are brought together in one fabric layer.

[0083] As can be seen above all in FIG. 1e), the airbag 10 has the three fabric layers 11, 12, 13 in the region LKB forming the airbag chambers, which forms the plurality of air chambers 14, 16. The three fabric layers 11, 12, 13 are woven together in such a way that outer airbag chambers 14 (14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3, 14.sub.BK,) extending in the axial direction (corresponding to the warp direction K in FIGS. 1d) and 1e)) and offset in the circumferential direction (corresponding to the firing direction S in FIGS. 1d) and 1e)) are formed between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or middle fabric layer 12, and inner airbag chambers 16 (16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.8) extending in the axial direction and offset in the circumferential direction are formed between the second or middle fabric layer 12 and the third or inner fabric layer 13. Their arrangement or this chamber structure causes the outer and inner airbag chambers 14, 16 to bend outwards in portions during their respective inflation operations to form the hollow cylinder, as can be seen in FIG. 1f).

[0084] As can be seen in particular from the cross-sections of FIGS. 1e) and 1f), the outer airbag chambers 14 (14.sub.1, 14.sub.2, 14.sub.3, 14.sub.BK,) between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or middle fabric layer 12 are positioned in relation to inner airbag chambers 16 (16.sub.1, 16.sub.2, . . . , 16.sub.8) between the second or middle fabric layer 12 and the third or inner fabric layer 13 in such a way that one of the outer airbag chambers 14.sub.BK, namely a so-called bridge chamber covering a weave seam WN, is located or arranged on one side in relation to the second or middle fabric layer 12 between two respectively neighbouring inner airbag chambers 16, on the other side in relation to the second or middle fabric layer.

[0085] The inner airbag chambers 16 are thus spaced apart via woven seams WN, formed by the third or inner and second or middle fabric layers 13 and 12. The outer airbag chambers 14, on the other hand, are spaced apart via woven seams WU, formed by the first or outer and second or middle fabric layers 11 and 12.

[0086] Due to this arrangement, combined with the respective designs of the airbag chambers 14 and 16 with different diameters in cross-section, the curvature of the airbag 10 is achieved radially outwards, which results in the tubular or cylindrical shape of the airbag 10 when the respective seam portions 22.sub.1 and 22.sub.2 are connected.

[0087] These airbag chambers 14.sub.BK or bridge chambers push the airbag 10 or the chamber structure from the inner and outer airbag chambers 14, 16 into a curvature via the chambers 14 adjacent to them, which leads to the aforementioned tubular or hollow-cylindrical shape of the airbag 10. The bridge chambers act as a kind of hinge.

[0088] FIGS. 2 to 8 show schematic perspective representations of the airbag 10 of FIGS. 1a)-f) in different views.

[0089] As can be seen from the side views in FIGS. 2 and 3, the airbag 10 has a cylindrical or hollow-cylindrical shape in the inflated state. This is achieved in particular by the chamber structure of the inner and outer airbag chambers 14, 16 described above and the seam portions 22.sub.1, 22.sub.2 sewn together.

[0090] FIGS. 4 and 5 show schematic perspective views of the airbag 10 in different views from above.

[0091] In FIGS. 5 and 8 it can be seen in particular that an end face end portion of the airbag 10 in the form of the tube or hollow cylinder is closed with a flat clamping element 20, which spans one end face of the hollow cylinder during the inflation operation of the airbag 10. The clamping element 20 is preferably a flat and in this case circular fabric piece or flat fabric piece.

[0092] The inflation operation of the OPW airbag 10 according to the invention described above is thus as follows:

[0093] When the inflation device in the form of the gas generator is activated, gas flows from the second, two-layer partial region ZTB, which forms the generator mouth 18, first into the first partial region ETB and from there into the three-layer region LKB, which forms the airbag chambers 14 and 16. In particular, the gas flows from the first partial region ETB between the first or outer fabric layer 11 and the second or middle fabric layer 12, whereby the outer airbag chambers 14 are filled with gas. Furthermore, the gas flows almost simultaneously between the second or middle fabric layer 12 and the third or inner fabric layer 13, so that the inner airbag chambers 16 are filled. Because the airbag chambers 14, 16 are filled with gas and the side end portions 22.sub.1 and 22.sub.2 of the fabric layers are connected to each other, the airbag 10 takes on the shape of a tube or wooden cylinder when inflated, stretching the flat fabric piece 20 attached to the end face when the inflated state of the airbag 10 is reached.

[0094] FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of an airbag 10 according to a further embodiment of the invention. In the description of this embodiment, only the differences to the airbag 10 of the previous embodiment will be discussed.

[0095] In this embodiment, the airbag 10 is not a steering wheel airbag, but is designed as a side airbag. The structure of the airbag 10 corresponds to that of the airbag 10 of the previous embodiment, with the difference that no clamping element 20 is provided at its front ends, as this is not necessary for the application of this embodiment example.

[0096] FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of the airbag 10 of FIG. 9 in a specific application. As can be seen therein, the airbag 10 in this case is arranged in the form of an elongated tube at the side of the window of a vehicle in the activated and inflated state.

[0097] The features of the invention which are disclosed in the above description, in the drawings and in the claims may be essential for implementing the invention both individually and in any desired combination.

List of Reference Signs

[0098] 10 Airbag/Gasbag

[0099] 11 outer or first fabric layer

[0100] 12 middle or second fabric layer

[0101] 13 inner or third fabric layer

[0102] 14 outer airbag chambers

[0103] 16 inner airbag chambers

[0104] 18 generator mouth or connection area

[0105] 20 clamping element (flat fabric piece)

[0106] 22.sub.1 seam portion

[0107] 22.sub.2 seam portion

[0108] 24 steering wheel

[0109] a axis of the hollow cylindrical/tubular airbag

[0110] NA seam portion

[0111] WN woven seam

[0112] WU woven seam

[0113] UWN surrounding woven seam

[0114] ETB first partial region or transition region

[0115] ZTB second partial region

[0116] LKB airbag chamber-forming region