WO2010010066A2

WO2010010066A2 - Airbag package and method for producing an airbag package

Info

Publication number: WO2010010066A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/059302
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliver Glöckler; Markus Burri
Original assignee: Takata-Petri Ag
Priority date: 2008-07-23
Filing date: 2009-07-20
Publication date: 2010-01-28
Also published as: DE102008034824B4; DE102008034824A1; WO2010010066A3

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag package comprising an airbag (2), at least one chamber (20) of the airbag (2) that can be inflated to protect a passenger and that is folded into a package, at least one fastening tab (21) of the airbag (2) projecting from the chamber (20) for fastening the airbag (2) to a motor vehicle, and a protective cover (3) which surrounds at least sections of the airbag (2) and which closely rests against the airbag. The protective cover (3) is produced of a shrink film (30) which is adapted and designed to contract around the airbag (2) under the effect of heat to closely rest against the airbag (2). The protective cover (3) has at least one opening (300, 301) out of which the at least one fastening tab (21) projects from the protective cover (3), the at least one opening (300, 301) being designed as a peripheral gap extending around the chamber when looking at its cross-section.

Description

Airbag package and method for producing an airbag package

description

The invention relates to an airbag package according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for producing an airbag package.

Such an airbag package comprises an airbag which has at least one inflatable to a vehicle occupant and folded into a package or shirred chamber, which protrudes from that chamber at least one fastening tab, which serves for securing the airbag or the airbag package to a motor vehicle, said Fixing tab may have a through opening, which can be penetrated by a fastener. Furthermore, such a gas bag package has a gas bag at least partially enclosing and close to the gas bag protective case, wherein the protective cover is at least partially formed of a shrink film, which is contracted for tight contact with the gas bag under the action of heat to the gas bag. In this case, the shrink film is a sheet-like structure in contrast to a woven or knitted fabric.

The problem underlying the invention is to provide an improved airbag package and a method for producing such a gas bag package.

This problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

Thereafter, it is provided that the protective cover has at least one opening from which protrudes the at least one fastening tab from the protective cover, which opening may be formed as an interruption surrounding the chamber, ie, the protective cover has at least two separate, the gas bag (chamber ) encompassing portions, wherein said at least one fastening tab protrudes from a portion of the chamber which is not encompassed by the protective cover. Of course, it is also conceivable to arrange the at least one fastening strap completely within the protective cover.

The opening may, in a further modification, also be formed in the protective cover itself, that is to say in the form of a section of the protective cover, which is preferably slot-shaped, the fastening tabs protruding from those slot-shaped openings out of the protective cover.

The at least one opening may also be formed in a modification by interrupting a connection of two parts of the protective cover, wherein those parts may be formed contiguous or non-contiguous. Preferably, it is an interruption of a weld, which represents a connection of said parts.

The abovementioned openings are preferably located - based on a condition of the airbag package intended for use in a motor vehicle - on an upper side of the airbag package facing the vehicle roof, while an exit area on the protective cover which is preferably formed on the underside of the airbag package facing away from the upper side is formed on the protective jacket Inflate the airbag can pierce. Preferably, the exit region is a perforation of the protective cover or a corresponding weakened weld of the protective cover.

The protective cover may have a plurality of said openings and fastening tabs associated with the individual openings.

The advantage of the solution according to the invention is that the fastening straps, despite enveloping the airbag with a protective cover that serves the protection and dimensional stability of the airbag package, are easily accessible.

If the fastening straps are enclosed in the protective cover, they are further advantageously stiffened by the protective cover, which facilitates the mounting of the airbag package, since the fastening straps protrude with a certain dimensional stability from the airbag package.

Surrounding or encompassing in cross-section means in the present case that the protective envelope surrounds the chamber (gas bag) in cross-section through 360 °, ie, a coherent area of the protective envelope circumscribes the chamber (gas bag) closed by 360 °. Preferably, the collapsed chamber extends longitudinally along an extension direction. This means that the chamber which has been folded into a package has a greater spatial extent along the direction of extent than along spatial directions running perpendicular to the direction of extent. Along this direction preferably extends the said weakened region of the protective cover.

Of course, in the present case, the gas bag may also have a plurality of interconnected or separate chambers. The term chamber therefore generally means an inflatable for the protection of an occupant part of the airbag, so an airbag cover which defines at least one gas-filled interior of the airbag.

Preferably, the shrink film is welded to form the protective cover, so that the protective cover has a preferably extending along the direction of extension weld. The protective cover can in this case have two interconnected - preferably integrally molded together - parts that are hinged to each other. To form the protective cover, these parts are then welded together along mutually adjacent edge regions of those parts. Of course, the protective cover can also be assembled from non-contiguous parts. In this case, the protective cover preferably has two welds, along which e.g. two parts of the protective cover to form the protective cover are connected together. Preferably, those welds are transverse to said extension direction, preferably along the vertical axis of the vehicle, opposite.

In the case of openings in the form of said circumferential interruptions, the protective cover is formed by a plurality of unconnected protective cover parts, which are separated from each other by the said interruptions. In this case, the folded-up chamber has first sections along the extension direction, which have no fastening tabs and second sections, from each of which a fastening tab projects. In this case, those first sections along the extension direction are connected to each other via said second sections of the chamber. The protective sleeve parts then closely surround the first sections in cross-section, ie they circulate those first sections transversely to the direction of extension of the chamber. Because these sheath members are shrink-wrapped, they can contract when heated tightly around the chamber, ie, around the first portions of the compartmentalized compartment. The second Sections of the chamber are exposed, so that the fastening straps formed thereon are easily accessible.

In the case where the fastening tabs in one modification are completely enclosed in the protective cover, ie are surrounded on all sides by the latter, the said weld of the cover can be designed such that it encompasses the fastening tabs by 180 ° in each case Extension plane along which extend the (flat spread) mounting tabs.

Preferably, the at least one chamber is folded along the direction of extent so as to form a compact, longitudinally extended package along the direction of extent. Of course, the chamber can also be chaotically folded or rolled (rolled folding). Likewise, any combination of the above types of folding is possible.

The protective cover on the one hand serves to protect the airbag against abrasive effects and on the other hand guarantees the dimensional stability of the airbag package by pressing the individual layers of the folded airbag against each other. By means of the shrink film, the airbag or the said chamber of the airbag can thus be selectively compacted (compressed).

Particularly preferably, the gas bag is designed as a side gas bag, which is set up and provided to deploy to protect a motor vehicle occupant between a lateral region of a motor vehicle and the motor vehicle occupant. Preferably, this is a head-end gas bag configured to deploy between a side window of a motor vehicle and a head of an occupant to be protected so that the occupant's head can dive into the deployed (inflated) airbag. The at least one folded chamber of such a side airbag extends in a state intended installed in a motor vehicle, preferably along the vehicle longitudinal axis along.

However, the said protective cover can also be used with advantage in other types of gas bag.

Furthermore, the problem according to the invention is solved by a method for producing an airbag package according to the features of claim 7. The method according to the invention provides the following steps:

Providing an airbag, with at least one chamber, which is inflatable for the purpose of protecting a vehicle occupant, and at least one fastening strap protruding from the chamber, for fastening the airbag to a motor vehicle,

- Merge the chamber into a package, and

- Surround the airbag with a shrink film to form a protective cover such that at least one opening is provided, through which the at least one fastening tab is freely accessible, that is not covered by the protective cover, said opening as a chamber in cross-section circulating interruption is trained.

In an alternative modification, the at least one fastening strap can also be enclosed in the protective cover.

So that the protective cover can contract as closely as possible around the gas bag, it is at least partially made of shrink film, so that the protective cover shrinks during heating of the protective cover during the manufacture of the airbag package to the chamber such that it encloses these sections closely in cross section.

Preferably, said parts are cut from at least one shrink film prior to welding or heating. Alternatively, after welding, the two parts are cut from at least one shrink-film layer, which is unwound in particular from a roll.

In one variant of the method, therefore, the protective cover is initially cut from a shrink-film layer and then the folded gas bag (chamber) is surrounded by that cut shrink-film. The shrink film is then welded to form the protective cover and then heated so that it assumes its tight against the gas bag condition. In this case, the shrink film is preferably cut into a butterfly shape, that is, it has after cutting two along an axis hinged and interconnected parts that can be welded together to form the protective cover. Alternatively, the protective cover is formed by at least two parts which are not connected before welding and which are welded together in such a way that two weld seams are formed which extend transversely to the extension part. Direction of the folded into a package chamber opposite each other and each extending along that extension direction.

Alternatively, the shrink wrap or its parts may be welded in the aforesaid ways prior to cutting the shrink wrap or shrink wrap parts to form the wrap. Also, the protective wrapper can be shrunk by heating before cutting the shrink wrap. After welding or shrinking, the protective cover is then cut along the weld (or seams). In the event that the shrink film is welded prior to cutting, the shrink film is preferably supplied from one or more rollers and separated only after the welding or shrinking of those roles (blank). In the case where the shrink wrap is composed of two discontinuous parts, each of the two parts is provided as part of a shrink film layer, which is preferably unwound from each roll associated with the shrink film layer.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments with reference to the figures. Show it:

1 shows a schematic, fragmentary and perspective view of a gas bag package; and

Fig. 2 is a schematic, fragmentary and perspective view of another airbag package.

FIG. 1 shows an airbag package 1 with a gas bag 2 folded into a package in the form of a side airbag which extends longitudinally along an extension direction x which runs parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis x at a side airbag 2 intended for use in a motor vehicle. The airbag 2 or a chamber 20 (airbag cover) of the airbag 2, which defines a gas-filled interior of the airbag 2, is folded by folding that chamber 20 along the direction of extension x to said package, said folding in the manner of a zigzag Zack folding is designed, in which approximately equal, along the extension direction x extending regions (layers) of the chamber 20 come to rest on each other. From a - related to the intended installation state of the airbag 2 - the upper edge of the folded into a package chamber 20 are transverse to the extension direction x a plurality of fastening tabs 21, 22 from (there are exemplified two such fastening tabs 21, 22), the for fixing the airbag package 1 on a motor vehicle, and preferably on a roof rail of the motor vehicle, are set up and provided. In this case, those fastening tabs 21, 22 each have a through opening 21a, 22a, which can be penetrated by a suitable fastening means for fixing the airbag package 1 on a motor vehicle.

In order to protect the collapsed airbag 2 and to preserve the elongated, slender shape of the airbag package 1, the airbag package 1, an outer, the airbag 2 surrounding protective cover 3, which is cut from a shrink film 30 such that the shrink film 30 and the protective cover 3 has two parts 30a, 30b which can be folded in mirror symmetry with respect to an axis, each having an edge region 31a, 31b extending along the embedding direction x, wherein those edge regions 31a, 31b are welded together to form the (unshrunk) protective cover 3 are. A corresponding weld seam 32 extends along the extension direction x and surrounds the fastening tabs 21, 22 in each case in their plane of extent, which - in the present case - based on the installation state of the airbag package 1 - by the vehicle longitudinal axis x and the vertical vehicle axis z is clamped. In order to keep the airbag package 1 in its compact state, the protective cover 3 cut from the shrinking film 30 is heated, so that the shrinking film 3 contracts tightly around the airbag 2 by the shrinking process of the shrinking film 30 introduced thereby. Here, the individual layers of the folded airbag 2 are compressed, which gives the airbag package 1 its dimensional stability.

The protective cover 3 can already be cut in advance, so that the (folded) airbag 2 can already be enveloped in the production of the airbag package 1 with the ready-cut protective cover 3 or shrinking film 30. Alternatively, the shrink film 30 may be supplied in the form of at least one shrink film layer of at least one roll. Two bonded portions of that shrink film layer are then wrapped around the folded airbag 2 and welded together. Thereafter, the welding (and possibly the shrinking of the two shrink film areas) takes place. Only then is the already welded (and possibly shrunken protective cover 3) cut to size. Furthermore, the protective cover 3 can, of course, be formed from a plurality of shrink-film layers to be joined together. For example, it is possible to feed a first shrink-film layer from a first roll, from which first shrink-film layer a first part 30a of the protective cover 3 is formed and to feed a second shrink-film layer from another second roll, from which second shrink-film layer is opposite to the first part 30a second part 30b of the protective cover 3 is formed. The two parts 30a, 30b are then connected to one another by means of a circumferential weld seam or two weld seams 32, 62 lying opposite one another along the vertical vehicle axis. Then the protective cover 3 along this weld (or seams) can be cut and possibly shrunk beforehand.

A modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 provides that the weld 32 extends in contrast to Figure 1 along the extension direction x only between the mounting tabs 21, 22 and between a mounting tab 21 and an adjacent end faces S of the folded chamber 20 (there are two end faces S facing each other along the extension direction x, only one end face S is shown in the figures). In this way, the weld 32 is interrupted, the corresponding interruptions 80 form slot-shaped openings 300, 301, through which the fastening tabs 21, 22 protrude from the protective cover 3. In addition, a further weld seam 62 can be provided, which lies along the vertical vehicle axis z of a weld 32 and preferably extends parallel to this (not visible in the figures). This additional additional weld 62 on the underside of the airbag package 1 can simultaneously form an exit region 70 described above. Alternatively, such an exit region 70 may be present instead of or in addition to the weld 62. In a further modification of the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the openings 300, 301 are not formed by interruptions 80 of the weld 32, but by itself formed in the protective cover 3 breakthroughs, for example, by cutting out (punching) or cutting the protective cover 3 (shrink film 30) are generated. That is, in such an opening 300, 301, which is preferably slit-shaped, so that an associated fastening tab 21, 22 can be passed out through the exact fit of such opening 300, 301 of the protective cover 3, the opening 300, 301 of a homogeneous edge region encased in protective casing material which surrounds the opening 300, 301 closed in itself. Such an edge region thus contains no weld seams 32, 62 or other connections of protective sleeve parts 30a, 30b. Also in the present modification may be provided one or two welds 32, 62 of the above type, with those on The underside of the airbag package 1, if necessary, formed weld seam 62 may in turn form an outlet region 70. That exit region 70 may also be provided in addition to such a weld 62 or instead of such a weld (eg, perforation).

The aforesaid welds 32, 62 may further be continuous (if they do not define openings 300, 301) or partially (e.g., to form openings 300, 301 or exit areas 70).

Figure 2 shows a modification of the airbag package 1 shown in Figure 1, wherein in contrast to Figure 1, the protective cover 3 does not completely surround the folded airbag 2. Rather, the folded, along the extension direction x extended chamber 20 of the airbag 2 is divided into first sections 302 and second sections 303, in which the protective cover 3 is interrupted, each two adjacent first sections 302 via a second portion 303 of the folded airbag. 2 connected to each other.

In this case, the second sections 303 of the folded chamber 20 are distinguished from the first sections 302 of that chamber 20 by extending from them (the second sections 303) transverse to the extension direction x one of the fastening tabs 21, 22, wherein at the first sections 302 no fastening tabs are provided.

That the protective cover 3 is formed by individual, unconnected protective cover parts 3a, 3b, 3c, which respectively closely surround the first sections 302 of the folded chamber 20. For this purpose, those protective sheath parts 3a-3c are each made of a shrink film 30, which rotates closed to the respective first section 302 along a direction transverse to the direction of extension x. For this purpose, the respective shrink film 30 is welded along the extension direction x, so that a respective welding seam 32 running along the extension direction x is formed. Upon heating, the respective shrink wrap 30 contracts tightly around the underlying first portion 302 of the packaged-up compartment 20. The present variant according to FIG. 2 can in principle be produced in the same way as the variant according to FIG.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the openings 300, 301 are therefore formed by the second sections 303, which are not covered with shrink film 30. In a further development of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the individual protective sleeve parts 3 a - 3 c Also be integrally connected by possibly integrally formed on the protective cover parts material bridges, so that the protective cover 3 is formed as a whole contiguous.

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Claims

claims

1. Airbag package for a motor vehicle, with

- An airbag (2);

at least one chamber (20) of the airbag (2) inflatable to protect a vehicle occupant and folded into a package,

- At least one of the chamber (20) protruding fastening tab (21) of the airbag (2) for securing the airbag (2) on the motor vehicle, and

- A the gas bag (2) at least partially surrounding and close to the gas bag (2) adjacent protective cover (3), wherein the protective cover (3) consists of a shrink film (30) is formed, which is designed and intended to fit tightly on Gas bag (2) under the influence of heat to contract the gas bag (2),

characterized in that

the protective sheath (3) has at least one opening (300, 301) from which the at least one fastening tab (21) protrudes from the protective sheath (3), the at least one opening (300, 301) being in the chamber (20) in FIG Cross-section circumferential interruption is formed.

2. Airbag package according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folded chamber (20) along an extension direction (x) extends longitudinally.

3. Airbag package according to claim 2, characterized in that the gas bag (2) has a further fastening tab (22) for attaching the gas bag (2) on a motor vehicle, along the extension direction (x) spaced from the one fastening tab (21) is.

4. Airbag package according to claim 3, characterized in that the protective cover (3) has a further opening (301), from which the further fastening tab (22) protrudes from the protective cover (3).

5. Airbag package according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the shrink film (30) for forming the protective cover (3) is welded, so that the protective cover (3) at least one along the extension direction (x) extending weld (32) having.

6. Airbag package according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one weld seam (32) through the at least one opening (300, 301) is interrupted, so that the weld seam (32) has an interruption (80).

7. A method of manufacturing an airbag package, comprising the steps of:

Providing an airbag (2) with at least one inflatable chamber (20) for protecting a vehicle occupant and at least one fastening tab (21, 22) protruding from the chamber (20) for fastening the airbag (2) to a motor vehicle,

- folding the chamber (20) into a package, and

- Encasing the airbag (2) with a shrink film (30) for forming a protective cover (3) such that the at least one fastening tab (21, 22) from an opening (300, 301) of the protective cover (3) protrudes, said opening (300, 301) is designed as a the chamber (20) in cross-section circulating interruption.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized by heating the shrink film (30), so that the protective cover (3) around the chamber (20) contracts and the chamber (20) at least partially closely surrounds in cross section.

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the chamber (20) is folded into a package so that it along a direction of extent (x) extends longitudinally.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two parts (30a, 30b) of the shrink film (30) to form the protective cover (3) are welded together.

1 1. A method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the protective sheath (3) from at least two mutually different protective sheath parts (3a, 3b, 3c) is formed, each having at least two parts (30a, 30b) which to form the protective cover (3) are welded together.

12. The method according to claim 1 1, characterized in that the at least two protective shell parts (3a, 3b, 3c) for forming the at least one opening (300, 301) in the form of a chamber (20) encircling interruption of the protective cover (3) along the extension direction (x) are arranged adjacent to each other.

13. The method according to claim 7 or claim 12, characterized in that the opening (300, 301) by an interruption of a connection (32) of the two parts (30a, 30b) is formed.

14. The method according to claim 9 and one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the parts (30a, 30b) are connected to each other before welding and in particular along the extension direction (x) to form the protective cover (3) are welded together.

15. The method according to claim 9 and one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the parts (30a, 30b) are not connected to each other before welding and in particular along the extension direction (x) to form the protective cover (3) are welded together , so that two welds (90, 91) are formed, which lie transversely to the extension direction (x) opposite to each other.

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