Device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle

• US 5,984,348 A
• Filed: 06/09/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Specht, Martin, Meyer, Rudolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JASMIN, LYNDA C
• Application Number:
  US09/094,161
• Time in Patent Office: 525 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.2, 280/743.1, 280/729, 280/740
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0072 Convertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

A device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle has a gas cushion which in the undeployed state is arranged in the trim of a vehicle door and in the inflated state extends beyond the lower edge of the window of the door, whereby the gas cushion is supported by at least two inflatable supports on the vehicle door which extend beyond the lower edge of the window of the door.

Claims

1. A device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle comprising a gas cushion which in the uninflated state is arranged in a trim of a vehicle door and in the inflated state extends laterally in the vehicle and beyond a lower edge of the window of the door, characterized in that the gas cushion is supportable on the vehicle door by at least two respective inflatable supports which upon inflation extend beyond the lower edge of the window of the door and wherein the respective inflatable supports are supported on the vehicle door at fastening points in the region in which the supports extend along the vehicle door.

2. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 1, characterized in that the at least two supports are of essentially columnar shape in the inflated state.

3. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 2 wherein each of the at least two supports is formed by a hose which is collapsed in the undeployed state.

4. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 3 wherein the at least two supports are arranged in the interior of the gas cushion.

5. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 4 wherein a substantially higher filling pressure prevails in the supports than in the gas cushion.

6. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 4 wherein a substantially higher filling pressure prevails in the supports than in the gas cushion.

7. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 4 further comprising a thorax gas cushion.

8. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 2 wherein the at least two supports are arranged in the interior of the gas cushion.

9. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 2 wherein a substantially higher filling pressure prevails in the supports than in the gas cushion.

10. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 2 wherein a gas pressure space constructed in the supports form a gas store for replenishing the gas cushion during deployment.

11. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 2 further comprising a thorax gas cushion.

12. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 1 wherein each of the at least two supports is formed by a hose which is collapsed in the undeployed state.

13. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 1 wherein the at least two supports are arranged in the interior of the gas cushion.

14. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 1 wherein a substantially higher filling pressure prevails in the supports than in the gas cushion.

15. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 1 wherein a gas pressure space constructed in the supports form a gas store for replenishing the gas cushion during deployment.

16. The device for protecting against a side impact in a motor vehicle described in claim 1 further comprising a thorax gas cushion.