VEHICLE CABIN WITH AIRBAG SYSTEM

• US 20110140399A1
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: KUHLMANN, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 8,408,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

A vehicle cabin having a vehicle seat is provided and the vehicle seat is aligned in a frontal direction. An instrument panel extends on the front side toward the vehicle seat and forms a foot well in the perpendicular projection onto a projection plane that is defined by a vehicle floor or sections thereof. A leg space extends between the foot well and the vehicle seat, and an airbag system is provided that is integrated at least in sections in the instrument panel and which has a prebag and an airbag. In the inflated state, the airbag is supported on the prebag. In the projection plane, the leg space in the frontal direction is at least twice as long, preferably at least three times as long as the foot well.

Claims

1. A vehicle cabin, comprising:

a vehicle seat substantially aligned in a frontal direction;

an instrument panel extending on a front side toward the vehicle seat;

a foot well extending between the instrument panel and a vehicle floor;

a leg space extending between the foot well and the vehicle seat; and

an airbag system at least integrated in sections in the instrument panel, the airbag system comprising a prebag and an airbag,

wherein in an inflated state the airbag is supported on the prebag in a direction of travel such that that the prebag and the airbag are configured to form a protection for an occupant in the vehicle cabin, and

wherein in a projection plane defined by at least sections of the vehicle floor, the leg space in the frontal direction is at least twice as long as the foot well.

2. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein the leg space in the frontal direction in the projection plane extends over at least approximately 40 cm.

3. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein the leg space in the frontal direction in the projection plane extends over at least approximately 50 cm.

4. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein the leg space in the frontal direction in the projection plane extends over at least approximately 60 cm.

5. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein a shortest distance between an outlet for the prebag in the instrument panel and substantially perpendicular to the projection plane through a point of a seat surface of the vehicle seat adjoining a seat rest in a middle position is greater than approximately 70 cm.

6. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein a shortest distance between an outlet for the prebag in the instrument panel and substantially perpendicular to the projection plane through a point of a seat surface of the vehicle seat adjoining a seat rest in a middle position is greater than approximately 80 cm.

7. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein a shortest distance between an outlet for the prebag in the instrument panel and substantially perpendicular to the projection plane through a point of a seat surface of the vehicle seat adjoining a seat rest in a middle position is greater than approximately 90 cm.

8. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein the prebag and the airbag are connected to a common gas generator.

9. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein in the inflated state the prebag has a first internal pressure that is greater than a second internal pressure of the airbag.

10. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein a first inflation speed of the prebag is greater than a second inflation speed of the airbag.

11. The vehicle cabin according to claim 1, wherein in the inflated state, the airbag has lateral projections which form a side impact protection airbag.

12. A vehicle cabin, comprising:

a vehicle seat substantially aligned in a frontal direction;

an instrument panel extending on a front side toward the vehicle seat;

a foot well extending between the instrument panel and a vehicle floor;

a leg space extending between the foot well and the vehicle seat; and

an airbag system at least integrated in sections in the instrument panel, the airbag system comprising a prebag and an airbag,

wherein in an inflated state the airbag is supported on the prebag in a direction of travel such that that the prebag and the airbag are configured to form a protection for an occupant in the vehicle cabin,

wherein the instrument panel on the front side of the vehicle seat is set back with respect to another section of the instrument panel on the front side of another vehicle seat in order to enlarge the leg space.

13. The vehicle cabin according to claim 12, wherein the prebag and the airbag are connected to a common gas generator.

14. The vehicle cabin according to claim 12, wherein in the inflated state the prebag has a first internal pressure that is greater than a second internal pressure of the airbag.

15. The vehicle cabin according to claim 12, wherein a first inflation speed of the prebag is greater than a second inflation speed of the airbag.

16. The vehicle cabin according to claim 12, wherein in the inflated state, the airbag has lateral projections which form a side impact protection airbag.

17. The vehicle cabin according to claim 12, wherein the prebag is assigned a first gas generator and the airbag is assigned a second gas generator.

18. The vehicle cabin according to claim 12, wherein in the inflated state, the prebag is adapted to form a knee airbag.

19. The vehicle cabin according to claim 12, wherein in the inflated state, the airbag comprises a lateral projection that at least partially form a side impact protection airbag.

20. The vehicle cabin according to claim 12, wherein in the inflated state the prebag has a first volume and the airbag has a second volume that is substantially equal to the first volume.