Device for passenger protection in a vehicle

• US 6,113,132 A
• Filed: 06/28/1999
• Issued: 09/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Personvagnar AB (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Saslecov, Venti
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US09/308,149
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for protecting passengers (5) in vehicles (1) with at least one seat (4) arranged in connection to the rear part of the vehicle (1), which seat is arranged so that said passenger (5) when travelling in the seat (4) faces said rear part, comprising at least one inflatable element (6; 6'"'"'), a sensor for detecting a predetermined collision-like state of the vehicle (1), and means (8) for inflating the element (6; 6'"'"') in case of said state. The invention is characterized in that said element (6; 6'"'"') in an inactive, non-inflated state is arranged in connection to said rear part and, in an active, inflated state is arranged to assume an extension between said passenger and said rear part. By means of the invention, an improved airbag device for protecting passengers in a rearwards facing extra seat in a vehicle is provided.

Claims

1. A device for protection of passengers in vehicles with at least one seat arranged in connection to the rear part of the vehicle, which seat is arranged so that said passenger, when travelling in the seat, faces said rear part, comprising at least one inflatable element, a sensor for detecting a predetermined collision-like state of the vehicle and means for inflating the element in case of said state, wherein said element in an inactive, non-inflated state is arranged in connection to the two upper and rear corners of the body structure of the vehicle, where in the element in an active, inflated state is arranged so as to expand away from said corners in a direction towards the vertical line of symmetry of the vehicle, thereby assuming a position between said passenger and said rear part.

2. The device according to claim 1,

wherein said rear part comprises a rear window, and wherein said element is fixedly attached to the body structure of the vehicle, said active state constitutes a curtain between said passenger and said rear window.

3. The device according to claim 1,

wherein said element is arranged, when inflated, to expand in a direction which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the vehicle.

4. The device according to claim 1,

wherein said element in its inactive state comprises an essentially tube-shaped component, with said means for inflation being connected to at least one end part of said element.

5. A device for protection of passengers in vehicles with at least one seat arranged in connection to the rear part of the vehicle, which seat is arranged so that said passenger, when travelling in the seat, faces said rear part, comprising at least one inflatable element, a sensor for detecting a predetermined collision-like state of the vehicle and means for inflating the element in case of said state, wherein said element in an inactive non-inflated state is arranged in connection to said rear part, and in an active inflated state is arranged to assume an extension between said passenger and said rear part.

6. The device according to claim 5,

further comprising an inflatable element, arranged with an essentially horizontal extension in connection to said rear part, with the element in said active state expanding in an essentially vertical direction.

7. The device according to claim 6,

wherein said inflatable element is arranged to expand in an upwards direction, alternatively in a downwards direction, along said rear part.

8. The device according to claim 5,

further comprising at least one inflatable element arranged with an essentially vertical extension in connection to said rear part, with said element being arranged to expand in said active state in an essentially horizontal direction from the side of the vehicle.

9. A device for protecting passengers in a vehicle of the station wagon kind which comprises a seat arranged in the luggage compartment of the vehicle, which seat faces rearwards, with said passengers, when travelling in the seat, thus facing the rear end part of the vehicle, comprising at least one inflatable element, a sensor for detecting a predetermined collision-like state of the vehicle, and means for inflating said element in case of said state, wherein said element in an inactive, non-inflated state, is arranged in connection to said rear end part, and in an active inflated state is arranged to assume an position between said passenger and said rear end part, thereby forming a curtain having a thickness which is considerably smaller than its width and length.

10. A method for protecting passengers in vehicles with at least one seat arranged in connection to the rear part of the vehicle, said seat being arranged so that said passenger when travelling in the seat faces said rear part, and at least one inflatable element, comprising

detecting a predetermined collision-like state of the vehicle and

inflating the element in case of said state, wherein said inflation of the element is controlled so that the element expands away from the two upper and rear corners of the body structure of the vehicle and in a direction towards the vertical line of symmetry of the vehicle, the element thereby assuming a position between said passenger and said rear part.

11. The method according to claim 10,

wherein said inflation of the element takes place in a direction which is essentially perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the vehicle.

12. The method according to claim 10,

wherein said detection relates to a state which corresponds to a predetermined retardation in the rearwards direction of the vehicle.