MXPA97008283A - A method for folding a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraining system, a bended gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraining system and a device to carry out the met - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for folding a gas bag (10) for a vehicle occupant restriction system, comprising the following steps: First, the gas bag (10) is spread on a base (16). ). Then, the edge (14) of the inflation opening (12) of the gas bag (10) is fixed. Next, a plate (19) is arranged parallel to the base (16) and at a distance therefrom, so that the gas bag (10) lies between the base (16) and the plate (19). Then, the interior of the gas bag (10) is actuated by pressure, so that the gas bag (10) is unfolded between the base (16) and the plate (19). Finally, the wall of the gas bag (10) is compressed in several places distributed on its circumference. The invention also relates to a gas bag bent through this method, and to a device for carrying out this method

Description

A METHOD FOR FOLDING A GAS BAG FOR A VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINING SYSTEM. A FOLDED GAS BAG FOR A SYSTEM OF RESTRICTION OF VEHICLE OCCUPANT AND A DEVICE TO CARRY OUT THE METHOD DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for folding a gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, a bent gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system and also to a device for carrying out the method. A restriction system for a vehicle occupant, usually consists of a source of compressed gas, an activating system for this and also a gas bag, which is in fluid connection with the source of compressed gas and after the ignition of the source of compressed gas can be transferred from a folded state of space saving to an unfolded state, in which it can provide a restricting effect for the occupant of a vehicle. Several requirements are set for the type of bending of the gas bag. In the first place, a transfer should be made as quickly as possible from the gas pocket of the doubled state to the unfolded state. In addition, bending is preferably possible automatically. This reduces the manufacturing costs of the vehicle occupant restraint system. The invention provides a method for folding a gas bag, said method can be carried out first automatically without manual steps, and secondly it can be conducted to a bent gas bag, which can be split into a particularly advantageous shape . The method according to the invention contains the following steps: Firstly, the gas bag is extended on a base. Then, the edge of the inflation opening of the gas exchange is fixed. Next, a plate is arranged parallel to and at a distance from the base, so that the gas bag lies between the base and the plate. Then, the interior of the gas bag is actuated by pressure, so that the gas bag is unfolded between the base and the plate. Finally, the wall of the gas bag is compressed inward in several places distributed on its circumference. In this way, a gas bag is obtained, which is bent together in a very compact manner, but which, however, is easy to unfold. Compared with conventional bending methods, an improvement in the unfolding time of the gas bag could be observed. In addition, a more even unfolding of the gas bag was observed and also an improved opening behavior on a cover protecting the folded gas bag. A gas bag bent by the method according to the invention has a particularly symmetrical unfolding, whereby the placement of the gas bag during the unfolding process is improved. Due to the particularly uniform unfolding of the gas bag, its seams and its fabric are stretched less than in gas bags, which are bent by conventional methods. Because of the improved splitting behavior, only an impact of the wall portions of the split bag of gas on the occupant of a vehicle, which will be restricted, was observed to a clearly lower degree and with a clearly lower energy than in gas bags that are bent through conventional methods. The method according to the invention is suitable both for gas bags on the driver's side, ie gas bags which are two-dimensional in the initial non-pressurized state, as well as for gas bags on the passenger side, which they usually have a three-dimensional shape in the initial non-pressurized state. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the wall to be compressed inwardly through several fold tabs separated from each other, which are coupled along a line in the wall of the gas bag, so that fins are formed that lie between the fold tabs. The bend tabs represent particularly simple means for compressing the wall of the gas bag inward at several sites spaced apart from each other, so that the gas bag folds together compactly. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the wall is compressed inward in two steps, in which in the second step, the fins of the wall, which were formed in the first passage, are compressed inwardly. . In this way, a gas bag, particularly bent, is obtained, the wall of which, however, is bent very evenly. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the fold tabs to be compressed towards the interior of the gas bag along a straight line. In this way, the method according to the invention can be realized in a particularly simple way. In addition, provision is made for the fold tabs to be displaced in a parallel manner when compressed in the interior of the gas bag. This method is advantageous in particular in gas bags on the passenger side, since through the parallel displacement of the fold tabs, still a gas bag, which has an elongated initial shape, can be unfolded together in a form particularly compact. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the wall of the gas bag is compressed along lines, which are perpendicular to the base and to the plate. In this way, it is ensured that the wall of the gas bag, when unfolded, merely has to move out substantially without changing its direction, so that the gas bag reaches its completely unfolded form. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that after the wall of the gas bag has been compressed through the fold tabs, the wall is pushed together through fold slides towards the inside of the wall. gasbag. Due to the combination of fold tabs and fold slides, the method according to the invention can be carried out with a particularly small effort. The fold tabs, which were first moved towards the wall of the gas bag, basically determine the folding pattern that will be obtained. However, instead of compactly folding the entire wall of the gas bag through a plurality of fold tabs, the wall can be pushed together in a compact manner through fewer fold slides in a simple form. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the wall is pushed into the interior of the gas bag through four fold slides, in which each two fold slides lie opposite each other in pairs, and in which are used four fold tabs, which lie opposite each other in pairs. The use of four fold tabs and four slides represents a good compromise, in which, on the one hand, a reproducible folding of the gas bag is obtained, while, on the other hand, the effort to carry out the method keep small. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the interior of the gas bag is operated with an excess pressure of less than 100000 Pa, in order to unfold the gas bag between the base and the plate. This pressure is sufficient, on the one hand, to ensure a complete unfolding of the gas bag between the base and the plate, and, on the other hand, it is not so high that the penetration of the fold tabs into the wall of the bag of gas is opposed to excessively high resistance. Preferably, the interior of the gas bag is provided with a pressure of approximately 50000 Pa. This value has proven to be sufficient in tests. According to one embodiment of the invention, it is further provided that after the action by pressure, the gas contained inside the gas bag can escape during the compression of the fold tabs or of the fold slides. In this way, the energy that will be applied when compressing the fold tabs or the fold slides towards the wall of the gas bag is kept at a low value. In addition, it is provided that after folding the gas bag, a partial vacuum is applied to its interior. In this way, the folded gas bag can be transferred to an even more compact shape, while at the same time ensuring that the folded gas bag, in particular after the removal of the fold elements, maintains its folded shape before that it be fixed elsewhere. Preferably, the base is provided to be disposed at a distance from the plate, which corresponds approximately to the packing height of the bent gas bag. The packing height in this respect represents the height at which the folded gas bag has inside an assembly provided for it to be adapted. When the distance between the base and the plate corresponds to this packing height, the gas bag, which is bent through the fold tabs or fold slides, can be inserted directly into the assembly, without it having that be bent over or reconfigured. The invention also provides a bent gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system, which contains an inflation opening in the wall of the gas bag, characterized in that the wall of the gas bag runs in the alloys that They lie adjacent to each other. Said gas bag can be unfolded in a particularly advantageous manner. Regarding the resulting advantages, reference must be made to the previous explanations. According to a preferred embodiment of the bent gas bag, it is provided that the wall fins, observed in a plane parallel to the plane of the inflation aperture, run approximately radially with respect to the center of the gas bag. In this way, a particularly uniform unfolding behavior of the gas bag occurs. According to the preferred embodiment, it is further provided that the gas bag has a substantially flat upper side and substantially flat bottom side parallel thereto, the plane of the inflation opening being parallel to the plane defined by the bottom side. A gas bag, bent in such a manner, can be adapted in a particularly space-saving manner, in assembly, as provided inside a vehicle steering wheel or on a vehicle instrument panel. The invention also relates to a device for folding a gas bag, with a base on which a gas bag to be folded can be extended, a clamping device by means of which the edge of the opening of the gas can be fixed. inflation, a plate that can be arranged parallel to the base and at a distance from it, with a device for applying pressure to the inside of the gas bag, fixed through the fixing device, and also several displaceable folding tabs between a position at a distance from the circumference of the gas bag between the base and the plate and a position in which the wall of the gas bag is compressed towards its interior, the distance between the base and the plate being selected from so that the gas bag unfolded between the base and the plate has a markedly flattened shape. With said device, a gas bag can be bent together in a particularly simple and advantageous manner. With regard to the advantages of a gas bag bent together through this device, reference should be made to the above explanations. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the fold tabs are displaceable in a straight line. A displacement of the fold tabs in a straight line can be achieved structurally in a particularly simple way. According to one embodiment of the invention, provision is made for the fold tabs to be movable in a manner parallel to a portion of their adjustment path. A parallel displacement of the fold tabs actually requires a greater structural effort; this effort is, however, justified, since the means of said device still in a gas bag on the passenger side, which has an elongated shape in the extended state between the base and the plate, can be folded together in particular in compact form. Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the subclaims. The invention is described in more detail below with reference to two preferred embodiments, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic top view of a gas bag on the side of a conductor and a device according to the invention, by means of which the method according to the invention can be carried out, the device being illustrated in an initial state; Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of the gas bag and the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic top view of the gas bag and the device of Figure 1, the device being illustrated in an intermediate state; Figure 4 shows a diagrammatic top view of a variant of the device illustrated in Figures 1 to 3; Figure 5 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a gas bag according to the invention, which was bent together by means of a device according to the invention according to Figures 1 to 3 and is arranged on a flywheel vehicle address; Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic top view of a gas bag on the passenger side and a device according to the invention, by means of which the method according to the invention can be carried out, the device being illustrated in a initial state; Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic top view of a gas bag according to the invention, which was folded together through the device of Figure 6 according to the invention, using the method according to the invention; Figure 8 shows a diagrammatic top view of a gas bag on the passenger side, which is provided to be bent together through a method according to the invention, according to a second embodiment; Figure 9 illustrates the gas bag of Figure 8 after a first bending step; Figure 10 shows the gas bag of Figure 9 after the bending step; Figure 11 shows the gas bag of Figure 10 after the last bending step; Figure 12 shows in a diagrammatic perspective view, the gas bag of Figures 8 to 11, which after bending, is disposed on a gas bag module; Figure 13 shows in diagrammatic top view a gas bag on the side of a passenger, which is provided to be bent together by a method according to the invention, and according to a third embodiment; Figure 14 shows the gas bag of Figure 13 after a first bending step; Figure 15 shows the gas bag of the Figure after a second bending step; Figure 16 shows the gas bag of Figure 15 after an additional bending step; and Figure 17 shows the gas bag of Figure 16 after the last bending step. In Figures 1 and 2, a device according to the invention is diagrammatically illustrated, through which, using the method according to the invention, a gas bag, likewise illustrated in these Figures, can be bent together. An example of such a folded gas bag is illustrated in Figure 5. The gas bag 10 illustrated is a gas bag on the driver's side, ie, a gas bag in the initial non-pressurized state usually has a shape, which is capable of being extended flat. Said gas bag consists, for example, of two pieces of fabric congruent to each other and is designed as a two-dimensional gas bag. The gas bag 10 has an inflation opening 12 and also an edge 14 of the inflation bag 12. The device according to the invention contains a base 16., on which the gas bag 10 to be bent can be extended, and also a holding device 18, through which the edge 14 of the inflation opening 12 of the gas bag 10 can be fixed to the base 16. The device according to the invention also contains a plate 19, which can be arranged parallel to the base 16 and at a distance "a" (see Figure 2) thereof, so that the gas bag that will be folded is located between the base 16 and the plate 19. The device according to the invention also contains several fold tabs 20, which are arranged around the gas bag, which is going to be bent, generally radially with respect to to its center and move along this radial direction. The fold tabs 20 can be moved through any drive device 22, for example, hydraulic cylinders or the like. The driving device 22 for each bending tab 20 is secured to a support ring 24 diagrammatically illustrated. For better clarity, in Figs. 1 and 3 in each case, only two drive devices 22 are illustrated. In addition, only the fold tab 20 and the drive 22 on the left side are illustrated in Fig. 2. As can be seen from Figure 1, the device according to the invention is symmetrically constructed. The device according to the invention finally also contains a device 26 for the application of pressure, by means of which the interior of the gas bag 10 can be operated through a desired pressure. The method according to the invention is carried out with the device described in the following way: First, the gas bag 10 is disposed on the base 16. Then, the edge 14 of the inflation opening 12 is fixed to through the holding device 18. Subsequently, the plate 19 is disposed at the predetermined distance "a" from the base 16 and parallel thereto. The distance between plate 19 and base 16 corresponds to the packing height for the bent gas bag. Then, the gas bag 10 is unfolded through the device 26 for the application of pressure between the base 16 and the plate 19. Values less than 100000 Pa have proved to be adequate values for the pressure to unfold the gas bag. Preferably, 50000 Pa are used. In the unfolded state, the gas bag 10 has a considerably flattened shape; its height, measured perpendicularly on the plane defined by the inflation opening 12, is clearly smaller than its diameter in a direction parallel to this plane.

Subsequently, the fold tabs 20 are compressed towards the center of the gas bag 10 at the last of the position shown in Figure 1 and 2, where they are located at a distance from the periphery of the split gas bag 10. This can be seen in Figure 3. Each of the fold tabs 20 compressed in the gas bag 10 forms an indentation and between two adjacent indentations a wall flap 28 is formed. As the fold tabs 20 are compressed in the bag of gas 10, the device 26 for the application of pressure makes it possible for a portion of the volume present inside the gas bag 10 to be displaced. Here, any desired pressure, which is advantageous for bending, can be maintained inside the gas bag. However, it is also possible that during the bending of the gas bag, the volume present therein can escape without obstruction. In Figures 1 to 3, fold tabs 20 are illustrated, which are each understood in a plane and move in this plane. All the double tabs 20 move towards a central axis C of the gas bag, which is perpendicular to the plane of the inflation opening 12. In addition, the fold tabs 20 are disposed perpendicular to the base 16 and the plate 19 and have a height corresponding to the distance "a". However, other modalities are also advisable. For example, the fold tabs 20 can be disposed non-radially with respect to the axis C, but they can run obliquely, so that the imaginary extension plane of the two fold tabs each intersect in front of the center line C. Bending tabs can also be used, the extension plane of which is not perpendicular to the base 16 and the plate 19. Also, the number of bending tabs used can be increased or reduced. In Figure 4, a variant of Figures 1 to 3 is illustrated. The difference is that two sets of fold tabs are provided, particularly the known fold tabs of Figures 1 to 3 and also additional fold tabs 21. , of which only one is illustrated in Figure 4 for the purpose of greater clarity. Each bending tab 21 of the second group is disposed between two adjacent bending tabs 20 of the first group. In a second step, the fold tabs 21 are compressed towards the wall flaps 28 forming the first fold tabs 20 in the first folding step, in order to further bend the gas bag. With this bending step, therefore, each wall fin 28 formed in the first bending step is divided into two wall fins. A partial vacuum can be applied to the interior of the gas bag 10 by means of the device 26 for the depression application, after the gas bag 10 has been bent through the fold tabs 20 or 21 to the desired shape, in order to fix the gas bag bent in the obtained shape or to fold it together in a more compact form. In this state, the fold tabs can also be removed from the gas bag without altering its shape. In Figure 5, a bent gas bag is illustrated, which was obtained by means of the device or method of Figures 1 to 4, and is disposed on the steering wheel 30 of a diagrammatically illustrated vehicle. In Figure 5, the compact shape of the folded gas bag is clearly seen to form a package with a flat upper side and a flat bottom side. The individual wall fins 28 are arranged in a star shape around the center of the bent gas bag. The bent gas bag has a packing height "a", which corresponds to the height of an assembly provided for the gas bag. To fix the gas bag, a band 32 is provided around the latter. In Figure 6, a further embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically shown. In contrast to Figures 1 to 4, wherein a gas bag is illustrated on the driver's side, in Figure 6 a gas bag is folded on the passenger side. This gas bag generally can not be extended flat in a plane in the initial non-pressurized state, for that reason it is designated as a three-dimensional gas bag. As seen in Figure 6, the arrangement of the fold elements 20 is adapted to the shape of the outer periphery of the gas bag, which is inflated between the base 16 and the plate 19, which are not illustrated in FIG. this figure; the fold tabs 20, therefore, are arranged along a rounded rectangle. In addition to the different shape of the gas bag illustrated in Figure 6, it is folded substantially in the same manner as the gas bag illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. In Figure 7, the gas bag of the gas can be seen. Figure 6, folded by means of the fold tabs 20. Since a passenger gas bag is generally adapted in an elongated assembly, the gas bag is bent into a rectangular shape. Also in this case, the formed wall fins run approximately radially with respect to the center of the bent gas bag. In Figure 8, a gas bag is illustrated on the passenger side, which is provided to be bent through a method according to the invention, according to an additional embodiment. For better clarity, only the fold tabs used for bending are illustrated here; also in this embodiment, the device has the known additional components of Figures 1 and 2, in particular the base and the plate between which the gas bag is unfolded at its packing height. After unfolding, first, the first fold tabs 120, which are arranged parallel to the longer longitudinal axis x of the gas bag 10, move towards the interior of the gas bag. Here, the fold tabs 120 first move in a straight line in the defined plane, thus, into the interior of the gas bag 10, and subsequently move in a parallel manner with each other, and finally move one towards the other. the other, again, in the plane defined between them. In the final position obtained in this way, the fold tabs are designated with the reference number 20 '. The path covered by the fold tabs 120 is designated with the reference number 120. Wall flaps 28 are formed between the fold tabs 120 'As can be seen in Figure 11, in addition to the fold tabs 20 illustrated It is also possible to use two additional fold tabs 121, which are arranged on the x axis and move along the latter without parallel movement towards the inside of the gas bag 10. In the extreme position, these fold tabs are designated with the reference number 121 'In Figure 10, additional bending tabs 122' can be seen, which extend perpendicularly to the bending tabs 121. These bending tabs 122 'were compressed into the wall flaps large 28 lying on the outside, which are present in accordance with the fold step of Figure 9. The gas bag illustrated in Figure 10, in a state after Since the fold tabs 122 have been compressed, it evokes a clover leaf because of the large wall fins lying on the outside. In FIG. 11, the final step of doubling the gas bag 10 is illustrated. This step consists of the additional bending tabs 123 being compressed in the wall flaps lying on the outside, which are present after the step of previous folded The fold tabs 123 are arranged at an angle of 45 °, each with respect to the x axis. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 to 11, therefore, substantially consists in folding together the gas bag to be bent, through three groups of fold tabs. A first and a second group are used, consisting of the illustrated embodiment of the fold tabs 122 and 123 and lying opposite each other, and also a third group, which consists of the double tabs 120 and 121 and lie between the first and the second group. If it is proved that it is necessary, for each of these groups more bending tabs can be used than the three or six illustrated bending tabs. Then, in each case, smaller wall fins are produced between the individual bending tabs. A partial vacuum is applied to its interior by means of the pressure application device, after the gas bag 10 has been bent together to the desired shape. Then, the fold tabs can be removed from the gasket of the removed gas bag, without this altering its signature. Next, the folded gas bag can either be inserted directly into an assembly provided for it, or it can be provided with a band so that it does not unfold again. In Figure 12, a gas bag 10 is illustrated on a visa in diagrammatic perspective, which was bent together through the method illustrated in Figures 8 to 11. It can be clearly seen that the bent gas bag has a height " a ", which corresponds to the packing height and is given by the distance at which the plate 19 is disposed from the base 16. Furthermore, it can be seen that the bent gas bag consists of a plurality of wall fins 28 that lie adjacent to each other. These wall fins run from the outside inward and also substantially perpendicular to the upper side of the bent gas bag. In Figure 13, a gas bag 10 is illustrated on the passenger side, which is provided to be bent together by a further embodiment of the invention. For this purpose, fold tabs 220 or 221 are used, which are arranged lying opposite each other, in pairs. These fold tabs 220 and 221 compress the wall of the gas bag 10, which also in this embodiment is split between a base and a plate of the device for bending the gas bag, inwards towards the interior of the gas bag on four lines separated from each other. In this way, four wall fins 28 are formed, which are arranged in the shape of a clover leaf. In the next step (Figure 15), two fold slides 230, which run parallel to the x axis, move perpendicular to this axis towards the center of the gas bag. Then, the fold tabs 221 are withdrawn to the outside (Figure 16). In the next step, two additional bending runners 231, which extend perpendicularly to the x axis and to the bending runners 230, are pushed together from the outside towards the interior of the gas bag 10 (Figure 17). As a final step, the fold tabs 220, which are perpendicular to the slides 231, are removed from the bent gas bag. The gas bag is now completely folded together. The method according to the invention is based as a whole in the following two main steps: First, the gas bag is split between a base and a plate, which are separated from each other with the height of the bag of bent gas that will be obtained, and then the entire wall of the gas bag is pushed together towards the center of the gas bag. This can be presented either completely through fold tabs or through a combination of fold tabs and fold slides. All the modalities of the method according to the invention have in common the fact that the wall of the gas bag is not bent together in precisely planar flat layers, but rather is pushed together in a plurality of wall fins. These wall fins are provided in each case precisely by the bending tabs used; however, inside a wall fin, the course of the wall is not defined. Consciously, it is taken into account that the fold pattern respectively obtained from the gas bag differs slightly from fold to fold. These slight differences are not important, however, for the unfolding of the gas bag; only by the wall fins, given by the bending tabs, is a splitting procedure, which is reproducible at any time. For this unfolding process, too, the deformations of the wall of the gas bag, which arise within a wall flap when pushing the wall together are not important.

Claims (9)

1. - A method for folding a gas bag (10) for a vehicle occupant restriction system, comprising the following steps: the gas bag (10) is extended on a base 816); the edge (14) of the inflation opening (12) of the gas bag (10) is fixed: a plate (19) is arranged parallel to and at a distance from the base (16), so that the bag of gas (10) lies between the base (16) and the plate (19); the interior of the gas bag (10) is actuated by pressure, so that the gas bag (10) is unfolded between the base (16) and the plate (19); - the wall of the gas bag (10) is compressed inwards in several places distributed on its circumference.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the wall is compressed inwardly through several fold tabs (20, 21; 120, 121, 122, 123; 220, 221) separated from each other, which they are coupled along a line on the wall of the gas bag (10), so that wall flaps (28) are formed between the fold tabs (20, 21; 120, 121, 122, 123; 220 , 221).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the wall is compressed in two steps, where in the second step, the wall fins (28), which were formed in the first step, are compressed into.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the fold tabs (20, 21; 120, 121, 122, 123; 220, 221) are compressed towards the interior of the gas bag (10) at along a straight line.

5. The method according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the fold tabs (120) are displaced in a parallel manner to that which is compressed towards the interior of the gas bag (10).

6. The method according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein the bending tabs (20, 21; 220, 221) move along trajectories, which intersect each other on an intersection line (C). 7 - The method according to claim 6, wherein the intersection line (C) runs through the center of the gas bag (1 0). 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the intersection line (C) runs through the center of the inflation aperture (12). 9. The method according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein each two fold tabs (20, twenty-one; 122, 123; 220, 221) move on trajectories, which intersect each other at an intersection line, which runs through the front of the gas bag. 10 - The method according to claim 9, wherein the line of intersection runs through the inflation opening (12) of the gas exchange (10). 11 - The method according to any of claims 2 to 10, wherein the wall of the gas bag (10) is compressed inward along lines, which are perpendicular to the base (16) and to the plate (19) 12. The method according to any of claims 2 to 11, wherein after the wall of the gas bag (10) has been pushed inwardly through the fold tabs (220, 221), the The wall is pushed together into the gas bag (10) by means of fold slides (230, 231). 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the wall is pushed towards the interior of the gas bag (10) through four fold slides (230, 231), where each two fold slides ( 230 or 231) lie opposite each other in pairs, and where four fold tabs (220, 221) are used, which lie opposite each other in pairs. 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein first, two wall parts, lying opposite each other, are pushed into the gas bag (10) through two fold slides ( 230) lying opposite one another, the fold tabs (221) lying in the region of these fold slides (230) are taken out of the gas bag (10), and subsequently the wall portions associated with the remaining bending slides (231) are pushed into the gas bag (10) through these bending runners (231), the bending tabs (220) that lie in the region of these doubles sliders (231) being taken out of the gas bag (10). 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the gas bag is pushed together through the fold slides (230, 231) afterwards, the fold tabs (220, 221) have been removed from the inside of the bag. the gas bag (10). 16 - The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the interior of the gas bag (10) is operated with an excess pressure of less than 100000 Pa, in order to unfold the gas bag (10) between the base (16) and the plate (19). 1

7. The method according to claim 16, wherein the interior of the gas bag (10) is operated with a pressure of approximately 50000 Pa. The method according to any of claims 2 to 17, in where the gas contained inside the gas bag (10) after the application of pressure can escape when the bending tabs (20, 21; 120, 121, 122, 123; 220, 221) or fold slides (230, 231) are compressed inwardly. 19. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a partial vacuum is applied to the interior of the gas bag 810) after bending the gas bag (10). 20. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gas bag (10) is fixed in its state after bending. 21. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base (16) is arranged at a distance (a) from the plate (19), which corresponds to approximately the packing height of the gas bag bent (10). 22. A bent gas bag for a vehicle occupant restraint system with an inflation opening 812) in the wall of the gas bag (10), wherein the wall of the gas bag (10) runs in the wall fins (28), which lie adjacent to each other. 23.- The gas bag folded according to the claim 22, wherein the wall fins (28), observed in a plane parallel to the plane of the inflation opening (12), run approximately radially with respect to the center of the gas bag (10). 24.- The gas bag folded according to the claim 23, wherein the wall fins (28), observed in a plane parallel to the plane of the inflation aperture (12), generally run in a star shape. 25. The gas bag folded according to any of claims 22 to 24, wherein it has a substantially flat upper side and a substantially flat bottom side parallel thereto, the plane of inflation opening 812) being parallel to the plane defined by the bottom side. 26. The bent gas bag according to claim 25, wherein it has a substantially circular periphery. 27. The bent gas bag according to claim 25, wherein it has a substantially rectangular periphery. 2

8. The bent gas bag according to any of claims 25 to 27, wherein the wall fins (28) between the upper side and the lower side run substantially perpendicular to the upper side and the lower side. 2

9. A device for folding a gas bag, with a base (16) on which a gas bag (10) is to be folded, it can be extended, a clamping device (18) by means of which the edge ( 14) of the inflation opening (12) can be fixed, a plate (19), which can be arranged parallel to the base (16) and at a distance (a) from it, a device (26) for the application of pressure inside the gas bag (10) fixed through the clamping device (18), and several fold tabs (20, 21; 120, 121, 122, 123; 220, 221) movable between a position a a distance from the periphery of the gas bag (10), which is unfolded between the base (16) and the placea (19), and a position in which the wall of the gas bag (10) is compressed towards inside it, the distance (a) between the base (16) and the plate (19) being thus selected that the gas bag, which is unfolded between the base (16) and the plate (19) has a form to considerably flat. 30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the fold tabs (20, 21; 120, 121, 122, 123; 220, 221) are displaceable in a straight line. 31. The device according to claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the fold tabs (120) are movable in a parallel manner along a portion of their trajectory towards the interior of the gas bag. 32. The device according to any of claims 29 to 31, wherein the bend tabs (20, 21; 120, 121, 122, 123; 220, 221) are separated from each other in a uniform manner. 33. The device according to any of claims 29 to 32, wherein the fold tabs (20, 21) are divided into two groups, each fold tab (20) of a group being disposed between the two tabs of adjacent bends (21) of the other group. 34. The device according to any of claims 29 to 33, wherein the fold tabs (20, 21) are arranged in a star shape. 35.- The device according to any of claims 29 to 31, wherein the bending tabs (120, 121, 122, 123) in the displaced state towards the interior of the gas bag are arranged in three groups, two groups lying opposite one another containing several fold tabs (122, 123), wherein the planes defined by them intersect between yes on a line of intersection, and a group that lies between the two groups that contains several fold tabs (120, 121), which are parallel to each other. 36.- The device according to any of claims 29 to 35, wherein fold slides are provided (230, 231), which can be coupled with a longitudinal side of the gas bag (10) and are displaceable in a direction perpendicular to this longitudinal side. 37.- The device according to claim 36, where four fold slides (230.231) are provided, which lie opposite each other in pairs. 38.- The device according to any of claims 29 to 37, wherein a device (26) for the application of pressure to the interior of the gas bag (10) is present. 39.- The device according to claim 38, wherein the device (26) for the application of pressure can apply a partial vacuum to the interior of the gas bag (10). 40.- The device according to claim 38, wherein the device (26) for applying pressure to the interior of the gas bag (10) can apply an excess pressure of the order of 50000 to 100000 Pa. 41. - The device according to any of claims 29 to 40, wherein the distance (a) between the plate (16) and the base (19) corresponds to the packing height of the gas bag (10), which it's going to be folded