Abstract:
Disclosed is an airbag module which can improve working efficiency because it is easy to assemble, reduce weight while maintaining sufficient rigidity, and ensure sufficient safety. The airbag module comprises: a cushion assembly including an airbag cushion; an inflator for supplying gas to the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion; a housing for containing the cushion assembly, and having a through hole for arranging the inflator therethrough; and a cushion support for supporting the cushion assembly, and including through rings for passing the inflator therethrough so as to be supported by the inflator arranged through the through hole.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an airbag module for protecting a driver and a passenger upon a vehicle collision. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Recently, consumers think that the safety of a vehicle, as well as the performance or design of a vehicle, is a very important consideration in choosing a vehicle. Therefore, car manufacturers have established the development of technologies for securing the safety of a vehicle as a primary goal and are devoting themselves to this goal. Under the circumstance of the development of technologies, airbag modules are receiving attention as means for improving the safety of a passenger, and the technologic development for these means are in rapid progress. Also, in recent years, airbag modules are being regarded as an essential item of a vehicle. 
         [0005]    However, an airbag module must have sufficient safety because it carries out the function of protecting a passenger by deploying an airbag cushion. For this, strength of more than a predetermined level should be maintained, and thus parts of the airbag module are made of metal material having a large weight. However, this makes the weight of the airbag module larger, thereby decreasing the energy efficiency of the vehicle. 
         [0006]    Further, the airbag module is constructed by joining various parts, but the joining process is not easy. Hence, although measures for improving working efficiency have been sought, any proper solution for this has not been secured yet. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention has been made in an effort to provide an airbag module which can improve working efficiency, and is made of a lightweight material while maintain sufficient strength. 
         [0008]    To achieve the foregoing object, there is provided an airbag module according to the present invention, comprising: a cushion assembly including an airbag cushion; an inflator for supplying gas to the airbag cushion to deploy the airbag cushion; a housing for containing the cushion assembly, and having a through hole for arranging the inflator therethrough; and a cushion support for supporting the cushion assembly, and including through rings for passing the inflator therethrough so as to be supported by the inflator arranged through the through hole. 
         [0009]    Preferably, the through rings are formed in the same shape as a cross sectional shape of the inflator so that the inflator may be compressed and fitted to the through rings. Preferably, through ring ribs are formed on the surface of the through rings such that the yield stress thereof may be increased. Preferably, through ring rib grooves are formed on the inner surface of the through hole of the housing to keep the gas ejected from the inflator from being leaked out by the compression of the through ring ribs. 
         [0010]    A gas inlet and outlet may be formed on the cushion support such that the gas supplied from the inflator can be introduced into the airbag cushion. 
         [0011]    The cushion assembly may include a cushion cushion rings to be suspended on the cushion support so as to be supported by the cushion support. 
         [0012]    The airbag module may comprise side caps which are fitted to both opposite ends of the inflator arranged through the through hole such that the inflator may be fixed to the housing. Preferably, the side caps are forcedly fitted to the housing. Fixing grooves are formed at the ends of the through hole to which the side caps are fitted, and fixing projections are formed on the surfaces of the side caps such that the side caps may be fitted and fixed to the through hole. 
         [0013]    Side cap ribs may be formed on the surfaces of the side caps in order to increase the yield stress of the side caps. Also, side cap rib grooves may be formed in order to prevent the gas supplied from the inflator from being leaked out by the compression of the side cap ribs. 
         [0014]    Slots may be formed on the outer surface of the inflator which is to be covered by the side caps, and slot projections may be formed on the side caps so that the side caps may be fitted to the slots. 
         [0015]    The present invention has the following effects. 
         [0016]    First, the present invention can improve working efficiency because the connection of the airbag module is made easier. 
         [0017]    Second, the present invention can increase safety by maintaining sufficient rigidity while reducing the number of parts. 
         [0018]    Third, the present invention can reduce self-weight because a strength of a required level can be secured even if the airbag module is made of a lightweight material, such as plastic. 
         [0019]    Fourth, the present invention can cut down costs since sufficient rigidity can be maintained even with cheap materials. 
         [0020]    Fifth, the present invention allows the airbag cushion to be deployed at the right time by suppressing the leakage of the gas generated from the inflator as much as possible. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view showing an airbag module according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing an airbag module according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view showing an airbag module according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view showing an airbag module according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . 
         [0027]    An airbag module  100  of this embodiment includes a cushion assembly  110  for accommodating an airbag cushion (not shown) in a folded state, the airbag cushion being deployed at a high speed by an incoming gas upon collision, an inflator  142  for deploying the airbag cushion by supplying, to the airbag cushion (not shown), a high-pressure gas generated by the explosive force of a chemical reaction in a vehicle collision; a housing  130  for containing the cushion assembly  110 , and having a through hole  132  for arranging the inflator  142  therethrough; and a cushion support  120  for supporting the cushion assembly  110 , and including through rings  124  for passing the inflator  140  therethrough so as to be supported by the inflator arranged through the through hole  132 . 
         [0028]    The cushion assembly  110  preferably includes cushion rings  112  to be suspended on the cushion support  120  such that it is sufficiently supported by the cushion support  120  to secure its position. 
         [0029]    Also, the cushion support  120  preferably includes a gas inlet and outlet  122  formed thereon such that gas supplied from a gas ejection opening  142  of the inflator  140  arranged through the through rings  124  can be supplied to the airbag cushion provided at the cushion assembly  110 . 
         [0030]    The way the components are joined together in this embodiment will be described. 
         [0031]    The cushion rings  112  are suspended and fixed to the cushion support  120  so that the cushion assembly  110  may be supported by the cushion support  120  to secure its position. Then, the cushion support  120  joined to the cushion assembly  110  is contained in the housing  130 , and thereafter the inflator  140  is inserted into the through hole  132  so as to pass through both the through hole  132  and the through rings  124 , thus fixing the cushion support  120  to the housing  130 . Resultantly, the cushion assembly  110  is firmly arranged in the housing  130 . 
         [0032]    Hereinafter, the advantages of the airbag module in this embodiment will be described. 
         [0033]    As discussed above, the airbag module  100  of this embodiment is not fastened by connection means, such as bolts and nuts, so no additional fastening means are required. 
         [0034]    Further, if the airbag module is manufactured by connecting means such as bolts and nuts, a local stress concentration is generated in the connected regions. Due to this, it is difficult to manufacture an airbag module by using a material, such as plastic, having a relatively weak rigidity compared with metals but having a small weight. In this embodiment, however, the connection of the airbag module is done by the inflator, which is a component of the airbag module, so there is no room for a local stress concentration. Resultantly, a material, such as plastic, having a weak rigidity but being lightweight can be used. 
         [0035]    Hereinafter, an airbag module  200  according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
         [0036]    The construction and operation of the airbag module  200  according to this embodiment are substantially identical to those of the airbag module  100  according to the first embodiment, except that through ring ribs  226  are formed on through rings  224 , and through ring rib grooves  234  are formed on the inner surface of a through hole  232 . Therefore, a repeated description of the airbag module  100  according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be omitted. 
         [0037]    Through ring ribs  226  for increasing yield stress are formed on the through rings  224  provided on the cushion support  220  to keep the through rings  224  from being damaged by a stress exerted to the through rings  224  when the inflator  140  is attached through the through rings  224 . Further, through ring rib grooves  234  are formed on the inner surface of the through hole  232  of a housing  230  to keep the gas ejected from the inflator  140  from being leaked out by the compression of the through ring ribs  226 . 
         [0038]    As discussed above, gas is supplied from a gas ejection opening  142  of the inflator  140 . Although there is a possibility that the gas might be leaked out between the cushion support and the housing, the through ring ribs  226  and the through ring rib grooves  234  are attached to each other to prevent the leakage of the gas. Therefore, a large amount of gas is supplied to the airbag cushion, and resultantly the deployment speed of the airbag cushion becomes higher, thereby making it possible to deploy the airbag cushion at the right time. 
         [0039]    Hereinafter, an airbag module  300  according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
         [0040]    The construction and operation of the airbag module  300  according to this embodiment are substantially identical to those of the airbag module  200  according to the second embodiment, except that the airbag module  300  further includes a side cap  350 . Therefore, a repeated description of the airbag module  200  according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be omitted. 
         [0041]    The airbag module  300  includes side caps  350  which are fitted to both opposite ends of the inflator  140  arranged through the through hole  232  such that the inflator  140  may be sufficiently fixed to the housing  230 . 
         [0042]    By including the side caps  350 , the inflator  140  is pushed back in a direction that the inflator  140  passes through the through hole  232 , thereby preventing the airbag module from being disconnected. Also, if the side caps  350  are arranged to be forcedly fitted into the housing  230 , this prevents the gas ejected from the inflator from being leaked out through the through hole  232 , thereby ensuring the deployment of the airbag cushion at the right time. 
         [0043]    Hereinafter, an airbag module  400  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0044]    The construction and operation of the airbag module  400  according to this embodiment are substantially identical to those of the airbag module  300  according to the third embodiment, except for the construction of side caps  450  and the shape of the inner surface of a through hole. Therefore, a repeated description of the airbag module  300  according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be omitted. 
         [0045]    In the airbag module  400  according to this embodiment, fixing grooves  436  are formed at the ends of the through hole  432  to which the side caps  450  are fitted, and fixing projections  452  are formed on the surfaces of the side caps  450  such that the side caps  450  may be fitted and fixed to the through hole  432 . 
         [0046]    Optionally, side cap ribs  454  may be formed on the surfaces of the side caps  450  in order to increase the yield stress of the side caps  450  and strengthen the rigidity of the side caps  450 . Also, side cap rib grooves  432  capable of compressing the side cap ribs  454  may be formed in order to prevent the gas supplied from the inflator  440  from being leaked out along the through hole  432 . 
         [0047]    Optionally, slots  444  may be formed on the outer surface of an inflator  440  so as to prevent the inflator  440  from rocking or prevent the attachment thereof from becoming incomplete, and slot projections  451  may be formed on the side caps  450  so that the side caps  450  may be fitted to the slots  444 . 
         [0048]    As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, but it is just for illustration only and those skilled in the art will understand that there are various modifications and equivalent other embodiments therefrom. Accordingly, the sincere technical scope of the invention should be defined based on the technical spirit of the appended claims. 
         [0049]    The present invention can be used in the technology of development of an airbag module that secures the safety of a passenger in a vehicle collision.