Inflatable head protection system for the lateral area of a passenger car

• US 6,189,918 B1
• Filed: 09/28/1998
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Stavermann, Joerg
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINNER, TONY H
• Application Number:
  US09/161,470
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/743.2, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An air bag is provided which extends from the front seats to the rear seats of a passenger car, is constructed in the manner of a cushion and is fastened to the roof member as well as to at least one fastening point respectively of the A-column and of the C-column of the vehicle body. In order to be able to arrange the air bag in a non-inflated condition along the roof member, the air bag is folded essentially along a connection line of the two fastening points on the vehicle body columns, and at least two recesses cut by the connection line are provided in the cushion surface of the air bag.

Claims

1. An inflatable head protection system for a side area of a passenger vehicle having a front seat and a rear seat, comprising:

an air bag coupled to a vehicle body, said air bag being arranged in a folded manner along a vehicle body frame part in a non-inflated condition,

said air bag extending at least from an area adjacent said front seat to an area adjacent said rear seat,

said air bag being fastened to said frame part, to at least a first fastening point on a vehicle body A-column and to at least a second fastening point on a vehicle body C-column,

said air bag being folded essentially along a connection line defined by said first and second fastening points,

said air bag defining at least two openings in a surface thereof, said recesses being intersected by said connection line.

2. A head protection system according to claim 1, wherein said air bag is a cushion-type air bag.

3. A head protection system according to claim 1, wherein sides of said recesses located opposite said frame part are spaced from a lower edge of said air bag opposite said frame part.

4. A head protection system according to claim 1, wherein one of said recesses is situated closer to a gas generator for filling the air bag, and wherein a side of said one of said recesses located adjacent said frame part is spaced from an upper edge of said air bag.

5. A head protection system according to claim 3, wherein one of said recesses is situated closer to a gas generator for filling the air bag, and wherein a side of said one of said recesses located adjacent said frame part is spaced from an upper edge of said air bag.

6. A head protection system according to claim 1, wherein said air bag has an essentially airtight construction.

7. A head protection system according to claim 1, wherein darts are provided to create different cross-sections in said air bag.

8. An air bag for an inflatable head protection system for a side area of a passenger vehicle having a front seat and a rear seat, said air bag comprising:

a first portion to be coupled to an A-column of the vehicle;

a second portion to be coupled to a roof member of the vehicle proximate said front seat; and

a third portion to be coupled to a C-column of the vehicle,

a first opening being defined between said first and second portions, and a second opening being defined between said second and third portions.

9. An air bag according to claim 8, wherein said air bag includes an inflatable connection web communicating lower ends of said first portion and said second portion.

10. An air bag according to claim 8, wherein said air bag includes an inflatable connection web communicating lower ends of said second portion and said third portion.

11. An air bag according to claim 9, wherein said air bag includes an inflatable connection web communicating lower ends of said second portion and said third portion.

12. An air bag according to claim 8, wherein said air bag includes an inflatable connection web communicating upper ends of said first portion and said second portion.

13. An air bag according to claim 9, wherein said air bag includes an inflatable connection web communicating upper ends of said first portion and said second portion.

14. An air bag according to claim 11, wherein said air bag includes an inflatable connection web communicating upper ends of said first portion and said second portion.