Method and apparatus for restraining an occupant of a vehicle upon a side impact against the vehicle

• US 5,524,924 A
• Filed: 11/15/1993
• Issued: 06/11/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Steffens, Charles E. Jr., Brown, Louis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): FERRITER, KARIN L
• Application Number:
  US08/153,074
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728 R, 280/728 B, 280/730 A, 280/734, 280/735, 280/729, 280/743 R, 280/743 A, 280/739
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2161 the cover being displaced towards the occupant during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle occupant shoulder restraint (51) is located on a vehicle door (16) and is inflatable from a stored condition on the door to an inflated condition between the door and the shoulder area of an occupant. When inflated, the occupant shoulder restraint (51) engages the shoulder of the occupant. A vehicle occupant upper rib restraint (52, 53) is located on the vehicle door (16) and is inflatable from a stored condition on the door to an inflated condition between the door and the upper rib area of the occupant. When inflated, the shoulder restraint (51) extends further into the vehicle passenger compartment than the upper rib restraint (52, 53). When inflated, the occupant rib restraint (52, 53) engages upper the rib area of the occupant. A vehicle occupant head restraint (210) is located on the vehicle door (16) and is inflatable from a stored condition on the door to an inflated condition between the door and the head of the occupant. When inflated, the occupant head restraint (210) engages the head of the occupant. The occupant head restraint (210) is inflated into position to restrain the head of the occupant after the occupant shoulder restraint (51) has been inflated and has restrained the shoulder of the occupant.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a vehicle front, rear, and side, said apparatus comprising:

vehicle occupant shoulder protection means located on the vehicle side and inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the shoulder area of an occupant of the vehicle and for, when inflated, engaging the shoulder area of the occupant;

vehicle occupant upper rib protection means other than said shoulder protection means located on the vehicle side and inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the upper rib area of the occupant and for, when inflated, engaging the upper rib area of the occupant;

sensor means for sensing a side impact against the vehicle;

means for directing inflation fluid into said vehicle occupant shoulder protection means and said vehicle occupant rib protection means when a side impact against the vehicle is sensed by said sensor means;

an actuatable inflator for, when actuated, releasing inflation fluid to be directed into said occupant shoulder protection means and said occupant upper rib protection means;

said occupant shoulder protection means including a first inflatable portion defining a first chamber into which inflation fluid from said inflator flows to inflate said first portion when a side impact against the vehicle occurs;

said occupant upper rib protection means including a second inflatable portion defining a second chamber into which inflation fluid from said inflator flows to inflate said second portion when a side impact against the vehicle occurs; and

each of said first and second portions including vent valve means for releasing inflation fluid from the chamber of the respective portion to control the pressure in the chamber of the respective portion, said vent valve means of said first portion opening when the pressure in said first chamber reaches a first predetermined pressure, said vent valve means of said second portion opening when the pressure in said second chamber reaches a second predetermined pressure which is lower than said first predetermined pressure.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein (i) said occupant shoulder protection means has an innermost occupant contact point in the passenger compartment which lies in a first vertical plane extending in the forward and rearward directions of travel of the vehicle when said occupant shoulder protection means is inflated, and (ii) said occupant upper rib protection means has an innermost occupant contact point in the passenger compartment which lies in a second vertical plane extending in the forward and rearward directions of travel of the vehicle when said occupant upper rib protection means is inflated, said first and second vertical planes lying parallel with a central vertical plane which extends in the forward and rearward directions of travel of the vehicle and divides the vehicle in half in the forward and rearward directions of travel of the vehicle, said first vertical plane lying closer in distance to said central vertical plane than said second vertical plane.

3. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a vehicle front, rear, and side, said apparatus comprising:

vehicle occupant shoulder protection means located on the vehicle side and inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the shoulder area of an occupant of the vehicle and for, when inflated, engaging the shoulder area of the occupant;

vehicle occupant upper rib protection means other than said shoulder protection means located on the vehicle side and inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the upper rib area of the occupant and for, when inflated, engaging the upper rib area of the occupant;

sensor means for sensing a side impact against the vehicle;

means for directing inflation fluid into said vehicle occupant shoulder protection means and said vehicle occupant rib protection means when a side impact against the vehicle is sensed by said sensor means;

an actuatable inflator for, when actuated, releasing inflation fluid to be directed into said occupant shoulder protection means and said occupant upper rib protection means;

said occupant shoulder protection means including a first inflatable portion defining a first chamber into which inflation fluid from said inflator flows to inflate said first portion when a side impact against the vehicle occurs;

said occupant upper rib protection means including a second inflatable portion defining a second chamber into which inflation fluid from said inflator flows to inflate said second portion when a side impact against the vehicle occurs;

said first portion of said occupant shoulder protection means being located adjacent the shoulder area of the occupant to protect the shoulder area of the occupant from the vehicle side when said first portion is inflated and the shoulder area of the occupant engages said first portion;

said second portion of said occupant upper rib protection means being located adjacent the upper rib area of the occupant to protect the rib area of the occupant from the vehicle side when said second portion is inflated and the upper rib area of the occupant engages said second portion; and

vehicle occupant head restraint means located on the vehicle side and inflatable from a stored condition on the vehicle side to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the head of the occupant and for, when inflated, engaging and restraining the head of the occupant, said occupant head restraint means including a third inflatable portion defining a third chamber into which inflation fluid from said first chamber of said first portion flows to inflate said third portion only after said first portion has been inflated and has engaged the shoulder area of the occupant, said third portion being located adjacent the head of the occupant to protect the head of the occupant from forcibly striking an object when said third portion is inflated.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising pad means associated with said first and second portions for acting between said first and second portions and the occupant.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising at least one tether strap interconnecting the vehicle side and said pad means and for limiting movement of said pad means and said first and second portions into the vehicle passenger compartment when said first and second portions are inflated.

6. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a vehicle front, rear, and side, said apparatus comprising:

vehicle occupant protection means inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the side of an occupant of the vehicle;

said vehicle occupant protection means including an inflatable first portion for, when inflated, engaging and protecting the torso of the occupant and an inflatable second portion for, when inflated, engaging and restraining the head of the occupant;

sensor means for sensing a side impact against the vehicle;

means for directing inflation fluid into said first portion to inflate said first portion when a side impact against the vehicle is sensed by said sensor means; and

means for inflating said second portion into position to restrain the head of the occupant only after said first portion has been inflated and has engaged and protected the torso of the occupant.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising an actuatable inflator for, when actuated, releasing inflation fluid to be directed into said first portion of said occupant protection means.

8. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said first and second portions of said occupant protection means, when inflated, is tubular in shape and has its longitudinal central axis extending along the forward and rearward directions of travel of the vehicle.

9. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said first portion defines a chamber and includes vent valve means for releasing inflation fluid from said chamber to control the pressure in said chamber, said vent valve means of said first portion opening when the pressure in said chamber reaches a predetermined pressure.

10. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said means for inflating said second portion includes at least one passage interconnecting said first and second portions and for, when opened, allowing inflation fluid to flow from said first portion to said second portion only after said first portion has been inflated and engaged by the torso of the occupant.

11. A method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle having a vehicle front, rear, and side during a side impact against the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a source of inflation fluid;

inflating a vehicle occupant torso protection means from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the side of an occupant of the vehicle and the vehicle side in response to a side impact against the vehicle;

engaging the torso of the occupant by the inflated vehicle occupant torso protection means;

only after initially engaging the torso of the occupant by the inflated torso protection means, inflating a vehicle occupant head restraint means to an inflated condition between the head of the occupant and the vehicle side; and

protecting the head of the occupant by the inflated vehicle occupant head restraint means by restraining sideward movement of the head of the occupant.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said vehicle occupant torso protection means comprises a shoulder area protection means and an upper rib area protection means and further including the steps of inflating said shoulder area protection means and said upper rib area protection means into the occupant compartment of the vehicle with said shoulder area protection means being inflated a greater distance into the occupant compartment than said upper rib area protection means.

13. A method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle having a vehicle front, rear, and side during a side impact against the vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a source of inflation fluid;

inflating a vehicle occupant protection means from a stored condition on the vehicle side to an inflated condition between the occupant of the vehicle and the vehicle side in response to a side impact against the vehicle;

applying a first force by said inflated occupant protection means to the shoulder area of the occupant to protect the shoulder area of the occupant when the shoulder area of the occupant engages said occupant protection means;

applying a second force lower than said first force by said inflated occupant protecting means to the upper rib area of the occupant to protect the upper rib area of the occupant when the rib area of the occupant engages said occupant protection means; and

resisting movement of the head of the occupant relative to the torso of the occupant only after the shoulder area of the occupant and the rib area of the occupant have been engaged and protected by said inflated occupant protection means.

14. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a vehicle door, said apparatus comprising:

vehicle occupant shoulder protection means located on the vehicle door and inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle door and the shoulder area of an occupant of the vehicle and for, when inflated, engaging the shoulder area of the occupant;

vehicle occupant upper rib protection means other than said shoulder protection means located on the vehicle door and inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle door and the upper rib area of the occupant and for, when inflated, engaging the upper rib area of the occupant;

sensor means for sensing a side impact against the vehicle;

means for directing inflation fluid into said vehicle occupant shoulder protection means and said vehicle occupant rib protection means when a side impact against the vehicle is sensed by said sensor means;

an actuatable inflator for, when actuated, releasing inflation fluid to be directed into said occupant shoulder protection means and said occupant upper rib protection means;

said occupant shoulder protection means including a first inflatable portion defining a first chamber into which inflation fluid from said inflator flows to inflate said first portion when a side impact against the vehicle occurs;

said occupant upper rib protection means including a second inflatable portion defining a second chamber into which inflation fluid from said inflator flows to inflate said second portion when a side impact against the vehicle occurs; and

each of said first and second portions, when inflated, being tubular in shape and having a longitudinal central axis which extends along the vehicle door in the forward and rearward directions of travel of the vehicle, said first and second chambers communicating with each other at only one end of said inflated tubular first and second portions.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said first and second portions define a neck region at which said first and second chambers converge and communicate with each other.

16. An apparatus for use in a vehicle having a passenger compartment and a vehicle front, rear, and side, said apparatus comprising:

vehicle occupant shoulder protection means located on the vehicle side and inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the shoulder area of an occupant of the vehicle and for, when inflated, engaging the shoulder area of the occupant;

vehicle occupant upper rib protection means other than said shoulder protection means located on the vehicle side and inflatable from a stored condition to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the upper rib area of the occupant and for, when inflated, engaging the upper rib area of the occupant;

sensor means for sensing a side impact against the vehicle;

means for directing inflation fluid into said vehicle occupant shoulder protection means and said vehicle occupant rib protection means when a side impact against the vehicle is sensed by said sensor means;

an actuatable inflator for, when actuated, releasing inflation fluid to be directed into said occupant shoulder protection means and said occupant upper rib protection means;

said occupant shoulder protection means including a first inflatable portion defining a first chamber into which inflation fluid from said inflator flows to inflate said first portion when a side impact against the vehicle occurs;

said occupant upper rib protection means including a second inflatable portion defining a second chamber into which inflation fluid from said inflator flows to inflate said second portion when a side impact against the vehicle occurs;

said first portion of said occupant shoulder protection means being located adjacent the shoulder area of the occupant to protect the shoulder area of the occupant from the vehicle side when said first portion is inflated and the shoulder area of the occupant engages said first portion;

said second portion of said occupant upper rib protection means being located adjacent the upper rib area of the occupant to protect the rib area of the occupant from the vehicle side when said second portion is inflated and the upper rib area of the occupant engages said second portion; and

vehicle occupant head restraint means located on the vehicle side and inflatable from a stored condition on the vehicle side to an inflated condition between the vehicle side and the head of the occupant and for, when inflated, engaging the head of the occupant, said occupant head restraint means including a third inflatable portion defining a third chamber into which inflation fluid from said first chamber of said first portion flows to inflate said third portion after said first portion has been inflated, said third portion being located adjacent the head of the occupant to protect the head of the occupant from forcibly striking an object when said third portion is inflated;

wherein each of said first and second portions, when inflated, is tubular in shape and has its longitudinal central axis extending along the forward and rearward directions of travel of the vehicle.