Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-10
2001-09-11
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S730100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286860
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to an airbag retention system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Airbag retention systems in the area of the pelvis of a passenger are known. With these known systems, airbags are placed on a lap belt, or a seat belt is formed as an airbag.
Thus, an airbag for seat belts is known from DE 43 06 528 A1 wherein an airbag pocket is fitted onto the existing belt and is connected to a compressed air line as well as to a compressed air generator and release mechanism. The advantage of this belt airbag is that as opposed to airbags that are stored on the steering wheel or on parts of the vehicle body in front of the passenger, this airbag is attached directly to the passenger, i.e., it is located right in the area where it is to exert its protective effect. With this arrangement, the upper part of the body and the head are additionally protected by the airbag. However, the area of the pelvis is as before only restrained by the lap belt. The lap belt's taut fit against the body and the lap belt's small contact surface area against the body can lead to injury in the event of a crash.
Furthermore, an inflatable seat belt unit is known from DE 42 32 041 A1 wherein at least a part of a section that is in contact with a passenger in a vehicle is formed in a bag-like shape. In the inactivated state, the bag-like section retains a belt-like shape. In the event of a crash, the seat belt is inflated and unfolded by gas. With this seat belt unit, the seat belt itself is thus formed in sections as an airbag. The contact bearing face of the seat belt is enlarged through the inflation of the bag-like section so that the strain on the body through the belt in the event of a crash is reduced. An additional protection of the upper body and head cannot however be achieved with this arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to further reduce the risk of injury for the passenger in the event of a crash.
With an airbag retention system that is arranged in the area of the lower part of the body of the passenger according to the invention, an inflatable gas bag is provided that in the inactivated state lies loosely on the body of the passenger and that has two ends by means of which it can be fixed on a component part of the motor vehicle wherein at least one end is detachably fastened on the motor vehicle. More particularly, a gas bag is provided that in the inactive state lies loosely on the upper thighs of the passenger.
As opposed to the known belt airbag, the gas bag arranged according to the invention does not lie fixed against the body in the inactivated state. In the event of a crash this gas bag is also inflated in the pelvic area both towards the passenger and towards the vehicle structural assembly opposite the passenger, e.g., towards the dashboard or the backrest of the front seat. The gas bag that adjoins the passenger at the bottom then spreads out upwards and along the body of the passenger whereby the passenger is also brought into an upright sitting position so that the head of the passenger is located in the upright position prior to the complete unfolding of the gas bag. The risk of injury through the gas bag spreading out upwards from the bottom is thereby reduced.
The retention action of the retention system according to the invention is based on a combined traction and compression strain of the gas bag. Thus, the gas bag adjoining the body of the passenger is already stressed and drawn in in the pelvic area in the first unfolding phase. At the same time, a compressive strain is produced through the gas bag being supported on the upper thighs. As the passenger moves further forward and the gas bag continues to unfold this gas bag is additionally supported on parts of the vehicle structure such as a steering wheel, dashboard, front window, or back of a front seat.
The ends of the gas bag are fixable on the motor vehicle through holders to the side or behind the passenger. The ends of the gas bag for fitting on the holders are designed narrower than the remaining area of the gas bag. Furthermore, it is expedient if the gas bag in the inactivated state is folded inside a cover that is torn open by the unfolding gas bag in the event of a crash.
It is advantageous if one end of the gas bag is connected by a supply line or diffuser pipe to a gas generator that is mounted on or next to the vehicle seat, on or in the central tunnel, on the floor, on the side wall, or on another part of the vehicle. It is then possible to hang the gas bag in the same way as a belt by its other end on the vehicle wall when not in use.
When the gas bag is spread out, the narrow ends of the gas bag can lie next to each other at a distance, be inclined relative to each other, or be arranged behind each other. In the first two mentioned cases the gas bag when spread out has a shape similar to a horseshoe wherein the centre area is substantially wider than the ends. In the case where the ends are arranged behind each other, these ends and the gas bag have either a substantially common axis, or the axes of the ends and of the gas bag are approximately at a right angle to each other.
The gas bag can have different shapes, e.g. a fan, cushion, circular, lens, trapezoidal, or bone shape. Particularly, for the protection of the driver, it is expedient to use a fan or bone shaped gas bag so that as the gas bag unfolds from below it does not press the arms to the side so that the hands can no longer hold the steering wheel.
In a further design, the gas bag has at least one partition provided with apertures to form a multi-chamber airbag whereby the base surface of the partitions corresponds to the shape of the inflated gas bag. It is thereby possible to unfold certain sections of the gas bag with a time delay. The same effect can also be achieved if the gas bag is divided by at least one seam into several chambers that communicate with each other. The gas bag thereby has in the inflated state a surface structure that is like an air mattress.
For the additional tautening of the gas bag in the inflated state, at least one band or cord can run loose in and along the outer edge of the spread-out gas bag whereby one end of the band is fixed inside the gas bag and the other end is fixed outside of the gas bag.
In a further design, at least one additional gas bag is provided that unfolds in a different direction from the main gas bag. Thus, for example, an additional gas bag can be provided that extends into the foot area or into the head area.
Preferably, the detachable end of the gas bag has a locking unit that can engage in a lock and in which the end of the gas bag runs as a flat strip. The locking unit can be formed according to that of a belt.
The end of the gas bag on the side of the gas generator is preferably fixed on a supply line or a diffuser pipe on or in which a gas generator is provided. In a further design, it is proposed that the area of the gas bag on the gas generator side sits on a supply line end pipe and is enclosed there by a first holder part, that the end of the gas bag is inserted over the holder part and is enclosed by at least a second holder part, wherein the first and second holder parts adjoin one another next to the supply pipe or diffuser pipe, are connected together there, and are connectable with the vehicle.
In a further embodiment, the area of the gas bag on the gas generator side sits on a supply end pipe and is enclosed by a wedge ring. The end of the gas bag is inverted over the wedge ring and is enclosed by a clamping part provided with an inner cone.
In a further embodiment, the gas generator is fixed in a diffuser pipe on the motor vehicle and is connected by a curved, flexible, or rigid supply pipe to a supply line end pipe running inclined upwards towards the front and on which is fixed the end of the gas bag on the gas generator side.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 36587 (2000-02-01), Tanaka et al.
patent: 3146460 (1964-09-01), Henderson
patent: 3430979 (1969-03-01), Terry et al.
patent: 3706463 (1972-12-01), L
Adomeit Heinz-Dieter
Braun Eleonore
Hahn Daniel
Culbreth Eric
Foley & Lardner
Lum L.
Petri AG
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