Motor vehicle safety device for protecting pedestrians and cyclists

• US 20060151228A1
• Filed: 08/26/2004
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Schmidt, Oliver, Lube, Thomas, Kalliske, Ingo
• Application Number:
  US10/552,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20060151228A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

A motor vehicle safety device for protecting pedestrians and cyclists includes at least one airbag that is connected to a gas generator arranged under the engine hood. The airbag is deployable to protect a pedestrian or a cyclist who strikes the vehicle. To prevent the lateral displacement of the segments of the deployed airbag in front of the A-pillars of the vehicle, the airbag, which is deployed from below the engine hood, includes a section or a chamber near the hood'"'"'s hinges. As a result, the airbag is deployable above the hood along the entire width of the vehicle in front of the lower area of the windshield and the A-pillars. The airbag lateral ends of the airbag extend over the A-pillars in such a way that they are upwardly oriented and additionally fixed after deployment.

Claims

1-19. -19. (canceled)

20. A motor vehicle safety device for protecting pedestrians and cyclists comprising:

an airbag that is configured to be arranged under a hingedly connected hood of the vehicle; and

a gas generator connected to the airbag,

wherein, during inflation, the airbag is configured to lift at least a portion of the hood such that a section of the airbag can thereafter unfold onto an A-pillar and a lower portion of a windshield of the vehicle,

wherein, when unfolded, the airbag is configured to include a chamber located below the hood in the vicinity of one of the hinges of the hood, and a lateral end of the airbag, which is configured to cover the A-pillar, points upward, and

wherein the airbag section, which is configured to unfold onto the A-pillar, is fixed by a restraining member to prevent lateral displacement.

21. The safety device of claim 20, wherein the airbag is configured so that, when inflated, the airbag extends over the entire width of the vehicle into a position in front of both A-pillars.

22. The safety device of claim 20, wherein the restraining member is an intercepting strap.

23. The safety device of claim 20, wherein the restraining member is a tube-shaped airbag.

24. The safety device of claim 20, wherein the restraining member is an intercepting strap or a tube-like airbag that connects the lateral ends of the airbag together.

25. The safety device of claim 20,

wherein the restraining member includes a pair of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags,

wherein a first of the pair of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags connects a first lateral end of the airbag to a portion of the airbag that is located below the hood and on an opposite, second side of the vehicle, and

wherein a second of the pair of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags connects a second lateral end of the airbag to a portion of the airbag that is located below the hood and on an opposite, first side of the vehicle.

26. The safety device of claim 25, wherein the straps or tube-like airbags cross in a central portion of the vehicle.

27. The safety device of claim 20,

wherein the restraining member includes a pair of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags,

wherein a first end of a first of the pair of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags is connected to a first lateral end of the airbag and a second end of the first of the pair of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags is connected to the vehicle, and

wherein a first end of a second of the pair of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags is connected to a second lateral end of the airbag and a second end of the second of the pair of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags is connected to the vehicle.

28. The safety device of claim 27, wherein the second ends of the intercepting straps or tube-like airbags are connected to a central section of a module housing that is part of the vehicle and is located below the hood.

29. The safety device of claim 20,

wherein the restraining member includes two pairs of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags,

wherein a first of the two pairs of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags restrains inner and outer sides of a first lateral end of the airbag, and

wherein a second of the two pairs of intercepting straps or tube-like airbags restrains inner and outer sides of a second lateral end of the airbag.

30. The safety device of claim 20, further comprising a reinforcement mechanism provided in the vicinity of each of the lateral ends of the airbag.

31. The safety device of claim 30, wherein the reinforcement mechanism is a seam.

32. The safety device of claim 30, wherein the reinforcement mechanism is a transparent airbag provided between the lateral ends.

33. The safety device of claim 30, wherein the reinforcement mechanism is a transparent woven fabric insert extending from each lateral end into a central region of the airbag.

34. The safety device of claim 20, further comprising:

a guide system for guiding the lateral ends of the airbag during inflation,

wherein the guide system is connected to the airbag and is provided in the vicinity of the A-pillar.

35. The safety device of claim 34,

wherein the guide system has a guide rail on the A-pillar,

wherein a guide part is provided on the guide rail, and

wherein the guide part is connected to the airbag and is configured to be displaced during inflation of the airbag.

36. The safety device of claim 20, wherein the chamber is fluidly connected to a gas generator via feed lines.

37. The safety device of claim 20, wherein the airbag includes at least one outflow opening for energy absorption.

38. The safety device of claim 20, wherein the airbag is subdivided into at least four chambers by tucks and/or dividing walls.

39. The safety device of claim 38, wherein the airbag comprises an additional chamber connected to the first mentioned chamber and is configured so that a volume can be displaced between the two chambers for energy absorption.