Side impact restraint device

• US 20050184493A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Acker, Dominique, Hofmann, Sven
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,904 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0044 Chest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0058 Shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2765 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A side impact restraint device for protection of an occupant (24a; 24b) sitting on a vehicle seat (10) in a motor vehicle includes a gas bag (18). The gas bag (18) unfolds between a lateral structure of the vehicle and the occupant (24a; 24b). In the inflated state, the gas bag (18), viewed in longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has an upper section (20) and a lower section (22) widened compared with the upper section (20). In the inflated state of the gas bag, the lower section (22) extends at the height of the thorax region of the occupant and the section (20) extends beyond the height (H) of a door rail (16) of the lateral structure of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A side impact restraint device for protection of an occupant (20a;

20b), sitting on a vehicle seat (10) in a motor vehicle, the device comprising

a gas bag (14), which unfolds between a lateral structure (12) of the vehicle and the occupant (20a;

20b),

characterized in that

the gas bag (14) has an outflow opening (24) which is arranged in a region of the gas bag (14) facing the occupant (20a;

20b), the vertical position of the outflow opening (24) being selected so that it is not covered by the upper body of a small occupant (20a).

2. The side impact restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that the outflow opening (24) is located in a region (26) which in relation to the hip joint (27) of the occupant (20a;

20b) extends between a height (h₁) of 400 mm and a height (h₂) of 550 mm.

3. The side impact restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas bag (18) unfolds out from the vehicle seat (10).

4. The side impact restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas bag (14) has a further outflow opening (22) which is arranged in a region of the lower section (18) of the gas bag (14) not facing the occupant (20a;

20b).

5. The side impact restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that an arrangement for deflecting the outflowing gas is provided at the outflow opening (24).

6. The side impact restraint device according to claim 5, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a fabric piece (28) arranged on the outer side of the gas bag (14) over the outflow opening (24).

7. The side impact restraint device according to claim 6, characterized in that the fabric piece (28) comprises a first fabric section (30) lying directly over the outflow opening (24), the first fabric section (30) having an opening (32) corresponding to the outflow opening (24), and a second fabric section (34) covering the outflow opening (24) and the opening (32) formed in the first fabric section (30), the second fabric section (34) being fastened on the first fabric section (30) so that the gas emerging through the outflow opening (24) can only escape on a side facing away from the occupant (20a;

20b).

8. The side impact restraint device according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas bag (14) in the inflated state, viewed in longitudinal direction of the vehicle, has an upper section (16) and a lower section (18) widened compared with the upper section (16), the lower section (18) extending solely above the hip joint (27) of the occupant (20a;

20b).