Air bag for vehicles
The invention relates to a gas bag ( 10 ) for vehicles, having in an inflated state a lower cushion portion ( 22 ) and an upper cushion portion ( 20 ) adapted for restraining a vehicle occupant ( 16 ), and a dividing portion ( 24 ) between the cushion portions ( 20, 22 ) which is formed by wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) extending into the interior of the gas bag ( 10 ) in a direction away from the cushion portions ( 20, 22 ).
1. A gas bag ( 10 ) for vehicles, having in an inflated state a lower cushion portion ( 22 ) and an upper cushion portion ( 20 ) that are sequentially inflated and adapted for restraining a vehicle occupant ( 16 ), and a dividing portion ( 24 ) between the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ) which is formed by two wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) extending into the interior of the gas bag ( 10 ) in a direction away from the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ), at least one tether ( 26 ) extending from the dividing portion ( 24 ) to a side of the gas bag ( 10 ), wherein the tether ( 26 ), when tensioned, has a fixed length throughout inflation of the gas bag ( 10 ) such that the two wall portions lie one against the other in an inflated condition of the gas bag ( 10 ).
2. The gas bag of claim 1 wherein the at least one tether ( 26 ) extends towards the side of the gas bag ( 10 ) which is facing away from the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ).
3. The gas bag of claim 2 wherein the end of the tether ( 26 ) facing away from the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ) is attached at the inflation opening ( 30 ).
4. The gas bag of claim 1 wherein the dividing portion ( 24 ) is formed by two different fabric panels ( 34 , 36 ) of the gas bag.
5. The gas bag of claim 1 , having an inflation opening ( 30 ) which is arranged at a rear side of the lower cushion portion ( 22 ), the upper cushion portion ( 20 ) being inflated via an overflow passage ( 32 ) formed between the dividing portion ( 24 ) and the gas bag wall which is facing away from the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ).
6. The gas bag of claim 1 , having an inflation opening ( 30 ) which is arranged at a front side of the upper cushion portion ( 20 ), the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) being inflated via an overflow passage ( 32 ) formed between the dividing portion ( 24 ) and the gas bag wall which is facing away from the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ).
7. The gas bag ( 10 ) of claim 1 , being a driver gas bag.
8. The gas bag ( 10 ) of claim 1 , being a passenger bag.
9. The gas bag ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the dividing portion ( 24 ) extends substantially horizontally through the vehicle.
10. The gas bag ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein inflation fluid cannot flow into one of the upper cushion portion ( 20 ) and the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) without first flowing into the other of the upper cushion portion ( 20 ) and the lower cushion portion ( 22 ).
11. The gas bag ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) is inflated prior to the upper cushion portion ( 20 ) being inflated.
12. The gas bag ( 10 ) of claim 1 , wherein a majority of the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) is positioned entirely below the upper cushion portion ( 20 ).
13. The gas bag of claim 1 wherein the tether ( 26 ) acts on the dividing portion ( 24 ) to divide the gas bag ( 10 ) into the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) and the upper cushion regardless of the degree to which the gas bag ( 10 ) inflates.
14. The gas bag of claim 1 , wherein the two wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) lie one against the other in the inflated condition of the gas bag ( 10 ) such that a vehicle occupant striking only the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) is restrained by only the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) regardless of the degree to which the gas bag ( 10 ) inflates.
15. The gas bag of claim 1 , wherein the tether ( 26 ) has a first end connected to the dividing portion ( 24 ) and a second end connected to the gas bag ( 10 ), the distance between the first and second ends of the tensioned tether ( 26 ) being constant throughout inflation of the gas bag ( 10 ).
16. A gas bag ( 10 ) for vehicles, having in an inflated state a lower cushion portion ( 22 ) and an upper cushion portion ( 20 ) adapted for restraining a vehicle occupant ( 16 ), and a dividing portion ( 24 ) between the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ) which is formed by wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) extending into the interior of the gas bag in a direction away from the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ), wherein the dividing portion ( 24 ) is formed from two wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) which in an inflated condition of the gas bag lie one against the other, wherein an intermediate cushion portion ( 50 ) is arranged between the lower and the upper cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ), a dividing portion ( 24 ) being formed between the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) and the intermediate cushion portion ( 50 ), and between the intermediate cushion portion ( 50 ) and the upper cushion portion ( 20 ).
17. A gas bag ( 10 ) for vehicles, having in an inflated state:
a lower cushion portion ( 22 ) and an upper cushion portion ( 20 ) adapted for restraining a vehicle occupant ( 16 ); and
a dividing portion ( 24 ) between the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ) formed by two wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) extending into the interior of the gas bag in a direction away from the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ), the two wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) in the inflated state of the gas bag ( 10 ) lying one against the other,
wherein the dividing portion is formed by at least one tether ( 26 ) secured between the two wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) forming the dividing portion ( 24 ) and extending towards the side of the gas bag ( 10 ) facing away from the cushion portions ( 20 , 22 ), the tether ( 26 ) maintaining the two wall portions of the gas bag ( 10 ) together such that a vehicle occupant striking only the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) is restrained by only the lower cushion portion ( 22 ) regardless of the degree to which the gas bag ( 10 ) inflates.