Occupant protection apparatus

• US 20030222489A1
• Filed: 05/15/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Japan GK
• Original Assignee: Takata Corporation (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takedomi, Akifumi, Kumagai, Masayoshi, Tanaka, Tadashi
• Granted Patent: US 6,896,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/216.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An occupant protection apparatus protects an occupant sitting on a seat adjacent to a side door of a vehicle when a side collision or a rollover occurs. The occupant protection apparatus includes a push-up device for pushing up a part of a hip portion of the occupant adjacent to the side door when the side collision or the rollover occurs. In the occupant protection apparatus, when the side collision of the vehicle occurs, the push-up means pushes up the part of the occupant'"'"'s hip to tilt an upper body of the occupant away from the side door. It is preferable that the push-up device includes an inflatable bag and a gas generator for inflating the bag.

Claims

1. An occupant protection apparatus for protecting an occupant sitting on a seat adjacent to a side door of a vehicle body, comprising:

push-up means disposed in the seat for pushing up a part of a hip portion of the occupant adjacent to the side door when a side collision or a rollover of the vehicle occurs.

2. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said push-up means comprises an inflatable bag to be provided in the seat and a gas generator attached to the inflatable bag for inflating the same.

3. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an airbag disposed inside the vehicle for expanding in a space between the side door and the occupant when the side collision or the rollover occurs.

4. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said inflatable bag is provided less than half of the seat in a width direction of the seat.

5. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said inflatable bag is inclined in the seat such that a door side is located higher than a side opposite to the door side.

6. An occupant protection apparatus for protecting an occupant, comprising:

a seat situated adjacent to a side door of a vehicle, and

push-up means disposed inside the seat for pushing up a part of a hip portion of the occupant adjacent to the side door when a side collision or a rollover of the vehicle occurs, said push-up means including an inflatable bag situated at a door side of the seat and a gas generator attached to the inflatable bag for inflating the same.

7. An occupant protection apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said inflatable bag is provided less than half of the seat in a width direction of the seat, and is inclined in the seat such that a door side is located higher than a side opposite to the door side.