Device for the absorption of impact energy especially for automotive vehicles

Claim 1

Device for absorption of impact energy especially for automotive vehicles, comprising foldable and collapsible first bag means made of a gas-tight materiAl sealed completely around, foldable and collapsible second bag means made of a gas-porous material, said second bag means being of smaller dimensions than said first bag means and being arranged inside of said first bag means, and high-pressure generator means for producing an explosive inflating effect, said generator means being operatively connected with said first bag means by way of said second bag means whereby said second bag means is inflated prior to inflation of said first bag means upon actuation of said generator means, said second bag means being shaped similarly to said first bag means, the walls of said second bag means being approximately equally closely spaced from corresponding walls of said first bag means over substantially the entire circumference of said second bag means when said device is in the fully inflated condition, said first and second bag means having a congruent inlet opening, a plurality of flange rings being provided for connecting said bag means together in a gas-tight manner in the zone of the inlet opening by connecting means interconnecting said flange rings.