Occupant protection device

• US 20040232665A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Takata Petri Ulm GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata Petri Ulm GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Einsiedel, Heinrich, Rasch, Georg, Bendig, Udo, Schluppkotten, Julius, Boin, Manuela
• Granted Patent: US 7,134,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An occupant protection device having an inflatable airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant in the rear compartment of a vehicle. The airbag being designed is fastened in the roof region of the vehicle so that, when inflated, the airbag at least partially covers both the side wall and/or the side window of the vehicle and also the rear window and/or the rear wall of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An occupant protection device for protecting a vehicle occupant in the rear compartment of a vehicle comprising an airbag fastened in the roof region of the vehicle so that, when inflated, the airbag at least partially covers both a side wall and/or a side window of the vehicle and also a rear window and/or a rear wall of the vehicle.

2. Occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is integrated in the roof region so that the airbag is concealed by a rooflining and/or by a roof covering.

3. Occupant protection device according to claim 1 wherein the airbag, when inflated, has two airbag regions which are arranged at a right angle to each other and of which a first region, at least partially covers the side wall and/or side window of the vehicle and a second region at least partially covers the rear window and/or rear wall of the vehicle.

4. Occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the first airbag region is integrated in a first roof section of the vehicle roof and the second airbag region is integrated in a second roof section of the vehicle roof, the first roof section running along the lateral roof frame as far as the rear pillar of the vehicle and the second roof section extending along a rear cross member.

5. Occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is stored in a holding container which is fastened in the roof region of the vehicle.

6. Occupant protection device according to claim 5, wherein the holding container has a first sub-container which is situated in the first roof section, and in that the holding container has a second sub-container which is connected to the first sub-container in the region of the rear pillar and is situated in the second roof section.

7. Occupant protection device according to claim 6, wherein the first airbag region is stored in the first sub-container of the holding container and the second airbag region is stored in the second sub-container of the holding container.

8. Occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the airbag is connected to a filling tube for inflating the airbag.

9. Occupant protection device according to claim 8, wherein the filling tube has a first and a second filling tube section, the first filling tube section being situated in the first roof section and the second filling tube section being situated in the second roof section.

10. Occupant protection device according to claim 8, wherein a gas generator which is fixed in the region of the rear pillar of the vehicle is connected to the filling tube.

11. Occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the airbag is shaped so that the second airbag region unfolds as it inflates between a head restraint of the occupant'"'"'s seat and the rear window or rear wall.

12. Occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein a cold gas generator or a hybrid gas generator is connected gas generator to the airbag.