Crew protection system
First Claim
1. An occupant protection apparatus comprising an air bag device for deploying an air bag between a steering wheel and an occupant and an impact-energy-absorption-type steering column, and adapted to absorb impact energy of the occupant during a vehicle collision event, characterized in that both the air bag device and the impact-energy-absorption-type steering column are of a variable energy absorption load type;
- and when the energy absorption loads of the air bag device and the impact-energy-absorption-type steering column are varied, the energy absorption loads are varied in the same direction in such a manner that the energy absorption load of the impact-energy-absorption-type steering column is maintained equal to or greater than the energy absorption load of the air bag device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant protection apparatus includes an air bag device 20 for deploying an air bag between a steering wheel 11 and an occupant H and an impact-energy-absorption-type steering column 12 equipped with an energy-absorbing mechanism 30, and absorbs impact energy of the occupant H during a vehicle collision event. Both the air bag device 20 and the energy-absorbing mechanism 30 are of a variable energy absorption load type. When their energy absorption loads are varied, the energy absorption loads change in the same direction.
13 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An occupant protection apparatus comprising an air bag device for deploying an air bag between a steering wheel and an occupant and an impact-energy-absorption-type steering column, and adapted to absorb impact energy of the occupant during a vehicle collision event, characterized in that
both the air bag device and the impact-energy-absorption-type steering column are of a variable energy absorption load type; - and when the energy absorption loads of the air bag device and the impact-energy-absorption-type steering column are varied, the energy absorption loads are varied in the same direction in such a manner that the energy absorption load of the impact-energy-absorption-type steering column is maintained equal to or greater than the energy absorption load of the air bag device.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12)
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6. An occupant protection apparatus comprising an air bag device for deploying an air bag between a steering wheel and an occupant and an impact-energy-absorption-type steering column, and adapted to absorb impact energy of the occupant during a vehicle collision event, characterized in that
both the air bag device and the impact-energy-absorption-type steering column are of a variable energy absorption load type capable of increasing and decreasing the energy absorption load from an assumed energy absorption load in accordance with kinetic energy of a driver; - and when the energy absorption loads of the air bag device and the impact-energy-absorption-type steering column are varied from the assumed energy absorption load, the energy absorption loads are varied in the same direction.
- View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14)
Specification