Arrangement of an inflatable lateral head protection system in a motor vehicle

• US 6,079,735 A
• Filed: 09/28/1998
• Issued: 06/27/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Stavermann, Joerg, Fallmann, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BRITTON, MICHAEL NMN
• Application Number:
  US09/161,475
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23184 Tubular air bags connected to the vehicle at their two extremities

Abstract

An inflatable lateral head protection system of a passenger car, having an air bag which, via its end sections, is fastened to suitable points, particularly to the A-column as well as to the C-column. In the non-inflated condition, the air bag is covered following the course of the roof member between the A-column and the C-column. Various alternatives are provided for fastening the air bag on the roof member and for the covering. Either separate covering parts may be provided, they may form a preassembly unit together with the air bag, or the headlining of the vehicle interior may be constructed correspondingly in order to accommodate the air bag which is fastened, for example, via a VELCRO™ fastener system, to the roof member and which may be situated in a protective hose.

Claims

1. An arrangement of an inflatable lateral head protection system in a motor vehicle with a vehicle body including a roof member, an A-column, and a C-column, and a vehicle interior headlining covering said roof member, said arrangement comprising:

an air bag having end sections fastened to the vehicle body at least at a first point on the A-column and at a second point proximate the C-column,

said air bag being covered in a non-inflated condition and essentially following a course of a roof member between the A-column and the C-column,

said air bag being coupled to one of the roof member and the vehicle interior headlining, wherein said air bag is wrapped in a protective hose and said air bag and said hose are covered in a separate covering.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the air bag and the hose are fastened to the roof member and covered by the vehicle interior headlining.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the air bag and the hose are fastened to the roof member via a hook and loop fastener system.

4. An arrangement of a head protection system according to claim 1, wherein the headlining is screwed to the vehicle body along with a holding grip.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the air bag and the hose are fastened to the vehicle interior headlining.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein in said non-inflated condition, the air bag is covered, following a partial area of the A-column, by the separate covering part.

7. An arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the air bag and the hose are fastened to the vehicle interior headlining via a hook and loop fastener system.

8. An arrangement of a head protection system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the separate covering part and the headlining is screwed to the vehicle body along with a holding grip.

9. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the separate covering part is a housing-type covering part which forms a preassembly unit and which is fastened to one of the roof member and the vehicle interior headlining.

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, wherein in said non-inflated condition, the air bag is covered, following a partial area of the A-column, by the housing-type covering part.

11. An arrangement of a head protection system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the housing-type covering part and the headlining is screwed to the vehicle body along with a holding grip.

12. A method of making an inflatable lateral head protection system in a motor vehicle with a vehicle body including a roof member, an A-column, and a C-column, and a vehicle interior headlining covering said roof member, said method comprising the acts of:

wrapping an air bag in a flexible protective hose;

fastening end sections of an air bag to the vehicle body at least at a first point on the A-column and at a second point proximate the C-column;

covering said air bag and said flexible protective hose in a non-inflated condition such that said air bag essentially follows a course of a roof member between the A-column and the C-column; and

coupling said air bag to one of the roof member and the vehicle interior headlining.