Side impact protective apparatus for a motor vehicle occupant

• US 20040155441A1
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Inventors: Hofmann, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,547,040 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

A side impact protective apparatus is incorporated into a side wall of a motor vehicle, such as a motor vehicle door, and includes a pressure gas source as well as a gas bag inflatable by the latter. The folded together, extended gas bag is arranged along the upper edge of the side wall behind an internal covering in the resting state. The gas bag exits upward upon unfolding in the region of the railing of the side wall through a slot formed between the upper edge of the covering and the side wall and extends upward along the interior of a side window as impact protection for the head region of the motor vehicle occupant. The covering is fastened on the side wall at a distance to both long-sided ends of the gas bag, and a defined weakening is present on the front face of the covering approximately at the height of the pivotal upper edge region. As a result, a great stability of the covering is attained, and a defined exit is assured over a large temperature range when the gas bag unfolds. Thus, when viewed from the side, an ideal connection line through the two spaced fastenings forms a swiveling axis for the pivotal upper edge region of the covering.

Claims

1. A side impact protective apparatus for a motor vehicle occupant which is incorporated into a side wall of a motor vehicle comprising:

a pressure gas source, and

a gas bag which can be inflated by the pressure gas source, the gas bag being folded together and arranged in a resting position along an upper edge of the side wall behind an internal covering and exiting upwardly upon unfolding in the region of a railing in the side wall through a slot formed between the upper edge of the covering and the side wall and extending upward along an interior of a side window as impact protection for the head region of the occupant of the motor vehicle,

wherein the covering is fastened at a distance to two long-sided ends of the gas bag approximately at the height of a lower edge region of the gas bag on the side wall so that, viewed from the side, an ideal connection line forms a swiveling axis for a pivotal upper region of the covering and at the front side of the covering through two spaced fastenings, and

wherein a defined weakening is provided approximately at a height of the pivotal upper region.

2. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side wall is a motor vehicle door.

3. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the two spaced fastenings, viewed in the direction of travel, is a frontally positioned fastening of the covering which runs adjoining an internally positioned door opener of the motor vehicle door.

4. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the two spaced fastenings, viewed in the direction of travel, is a rear-positioned fastening of the covering which is arranged adjoining the defined weakening of the covering.

5. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weakening is defined on the front side of the covering and runs at least segmentally parallel to the external contour of the covering turned toward the passenger space.

6. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the weakening is arranged at a slight distance to an arch-like external contour of the covering.

7. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weakening is formed by several bore holes arranged at a distance to one another, wherein centers of the bore holes lie on a common, arch-like formed central line, and wherein a connection bar is arranged between two adjoining bore holes.

8. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weakening is formed by slit-like openings joined to and arranged at a distance from one another.

9. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weakening is a front face weakening formed by at least one penetrating V-shaped or semicircular tool-dropping indentation on a carrier element of the covering.

10. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rear-positioned face fastening and the weakening of the covering are covered by a superimposed protective cap.

11. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an embedded net-like fabric insert is provided inside a carrier element of the covering at least adjoining the side impact protective apparatus.

12. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the weakening is formed by several bore holes arranged at a distance to one another, wherein centers of the bore holes lie on a common, arch-like formed central line, and wherein a connection bar is arranged between two adjoining bore holes.

13. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the weakening is formed by slit-like openings joined to and arranged at a distance from one another.

14. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the weakening is a front face weakening formed by at least one penetrating V-shaped or semicircular tool-dropping indentation on a carrier element of the covering.

15. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an embedded net-like fabric insert is provided inside a carrier element of the covering at least adjoining the side impact protective apparatus.