Airbag arrangement
View Patent ↗A vehicle airbag arrangement comprises a deployable airbag having a packed state and a deployed state, and a gas generator adapted to supply gas to deploy the airbag from the packed state to the deployed state. At least during initial deployment of the airbag, the gas generator may emit a gas flow substantially in a pre-selected direction. When the airbag is in the packed state, a portion of the airbag forms a starting pocket comprising two panels with an intermediate apex which extend substantially parallel to the pre-selected direction, the starting pocket positioned with the intermediate apex aligned with the pre-selected direction, such that the starting pocket, during the initial deployment of the airbag, initially receives the gas flow, thereby deploying the starting pocket in the pre-selected direction. Such an airbag arrangement may be included in a vehicle seat. A corresponding method of packing an airbag may achieve the airbag arrangement.
1. An airbag arrangement for a vehicle, comprising:
a deployable airbag having a packed state and a deployed state;
a gas generator adapted to supply gas to deploy the airbag from the packed state to the deployed state, the gas generator being adapted to, at least during an initial deployment of the airbag, emit a gas flow substantially in a pre-selected direction;
wherein the pre-selected direction is substantially in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and
wherein, when the airbag is in the packed state, a portion of the airbag forms a starting pocket comprising two panels with an intermediate apex, the panels extending substantially parallel to the pre-selected direction, the starting pocket positioned with the intermediate apex aligned with the pre-selected direction such that the starting pocket, during the initial deployment of the airbag, initially receives the gas flow and is deployed in the pre-selected direction.
2. The airbag arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the starting pocket is adapted to be deployed by the gas flow flowing substantially in the pre-selected direction during deployment of the airbag.
3. The airbag arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the two panels of the starting pocket are arranged towards the gas generator, such that the gas flow emitted during the initial deployment is emitted in between the two panels.
4. The airbag arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag in the packed state further comprises at least one additional panel at at least one side of the starting pocket, the additional panel preferably having a panel width substantially corresponding to a length of the starting pocket.
5. The airbag arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein the airbag comprises a same number of additional panels at either side of the starting pocket.
6. The airbag arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein the airbag comprises more additional panels at one side of the starting pocket than at the other side of the starting pocket.
7. The airbag arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the gas generator is arranged asymmetrically within the airbag.
8. The airbag arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein a cross-sectional length axis of the airbag differs from the pre-selected direction when the airbag is fully deployed.
9. The airbag arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag in its packed state further comprises at least one tear seam connecting two adjacent panels, the tear seam being adapted to break during deployment of the airbag.
10. The airbag arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a portion of the starting pocket comprises a reinforcing fabric layer at a location corresponding to where the gas flow emitted in the pre-selected direction initially hits the starting pocket.
11. The airbag arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag arrangement further comprises a tubular structure leading from the gas generator into the starting pocket.
12. The airbag arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag further comprises at least one airbag seam forming a gas flow channel arranged to collect the gas flow during the initial deployment, thereby guiding the gas flow in the pre-selected direction.
13. The airbag arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a side wall of the gas generator comprises a first notch on a side of the gas generator corresponding to the pre-selected direction, wherein the gas flow is emitted through the first notch substantially in the preselected direction.
14. The airbag arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein the side wall of the gas generator further comprises a second notch positioned opposite to the first notch.
15. The airbag arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein the airbag arrangement further comprises a deflector, the gas generator being attached to the deflector, such that the second notch is at least partly blocked during deployment of the airbag by the deflector.
16. A seat of a vehicle, the seat comprising an airbag arrangement, the airbag arrangement comprising:
a deployable airbag having a packed state and a deployed state;
a gas generator adapted to supply gas to deploy the airbag from the packed state to the deployed state, the gas generator being adapted to, at least during an initial deployment of the airbag, emit a gas flow substantially in a pre-selected direction;
wherein the pre-selected direction is selected such that the airbag will be deployed into a space between the seat and a side of the vehicle;
wherein the pre-selected direction is substantially in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle; and
wherein, when the airbag is in the packed state, a portion of the airbag forms a starting pocket comprising two panels with an intermediate apex, the panels extending substantially parallel to the pre-selected direction, the starting pocket positioned with the intermediate apex aligned with the pre-selected direction such that the starting pocket, during the initial deployment of the airbag, initially receives the gas flow and is deployed in the pre-selected direction.
17. A method of packing an airbag for a vehicle, comprising:
pre-selecting a deployment direction of the airbag, a gas generator being adapted to deploy the airbag from a packed state to a deployed state, the gas generator further adapted to, at least during an initial deployment of the airbag, emit a gas flow substantially in the pre-selected deployment direction, the pre-selected deployment direction being substantially in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
forming a starting pocket in the airbag comprising two panels with an intermediate apex;
aligning the starting pocket in the pre-selected deployment direction of the airbag with the panels extending substantially parallel to the pre-selected deployment direction, such that the starting pocket, during the initial deployment of the airbag, initially receives the gas flow and is deployed in the pre-selected deployment direction; and
folding and/or rolling the airbag except for the starting pocket, at at least one side of the starting pocket.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
varying an amount of airbag fabric at either side of the starting pocket based on the pre-selected deployment direction.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein varying the amount of airbag fabric at either side of the starting pocket comprises selecting a number of additional panels at either side of the starting pocket and selecting widths of the additional panel(s).
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising varying the amount of airbag fabric at either side of the starting pocket based on whether the location of the gas generator is symmetric or asymmetric within the airbag.