Automatically inflatable gas cushion for the protection of the passengers of vehicles

A gas cushion for the protection of passengers of vehicles, especially of motor vehicles, which is automatically inflatable upon exceeding a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and which is accommodated in a hollow space means disposed opposite the passengers, said hollow space means being closed off by a cover means adapted to be pushed out of a retaining means when the gas cushion is set into operation, characterized in that cover-opening means are provided for opening the cover means independently of the inflating gas cushion means, the cover opening means are operable in dependence on the response of a sensor means serving the purpose of setting the gas generator means into operation, said cover-opening means includes at least one explosive charge separate from the gas generator means which is triggered at the latest together with the gas generator means, and in that a pipe having an open and closed end is provided, the explosive charge is accommodated in the pipe, the closed end of said pipe is secured at the cover means and the open end of said pipe is directed away from the passengers and is supported at a fixed vehicle part.

A gas cushion arrangement comprising:

• an inflatable gas cushion means, means for selectively inflating said gas cushion means, housing means for accommodating said gas cushion means in a deflated condition, cover means for covering said housing means with said gas cushion means in the deflated condition, and means for displacing said cover means away from said housing means independently of the inflating gas cushion means by said inflating means.