Roll bar protection system for motor vehicles

• US 6,352,285 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ISE Innomotive Systems Europe GmbH
• Original Assignee: ISE Innomotive Systems Europe GmbH
• Inventors: Jesse, Rainer, Schulte, Michael, Nass, Michael, Nowack, Reinhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DRAPER, DEANN L
• Application Number:
  US09/505,563
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 280/756, 280/753, 280/751, 297/403, 297/410, 297/216.12, 297/216.13
• US Class Current: 280/756
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/809 vertically slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/135 automatically during an accident
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

A roll bar protection system for motor vehicles comprising an outer box profile forming a case for the components of the roll bar protection system, being mounted firmly on the vehicle, an inner box profile, able to move in the outer box profile via guide elements which is designed as a roll bar and accommodates a fast drive for its extension into the upper end protection position in event of danger, and a drive arrangement for a continuous movement of the inner box profile, consisting of an electric motor/gearing arrangement with a threaded spindle of predetermined length, as well as a tie-bar which can be moved in the outer box profile, having a nut for engagement with the threaded spindle, and which is detachably connected to the inner box profile.

Claims

1. A roll bar protection system for motor vehicles, being associated with a vehicle seat, comprising:

an outer box profile forming a case for components of the roll bar protection system, said outer box profile adapted to be mounted firmly on the vehicle,

an inner box profile, able to move in the outer box profile via guide elements, which is designed as a roll bar and accommodates a fast drive for extension into an upper end protection position in event of danger, and

a drive arrangement for extension and retraction movement of the inner box profile comprising an electric motor/gearing arrangement with a threaded spindle of predetermined length, a tie-bar which can be moved in the outer box profile, and a nut for engagement with the threaded spindle, said drive arrangement detachably connected to the inner box profile, said fast drive including a compression spring having one end connected to an upper crosspiece of the inner box profile and another end connected to said tie-bar of said drive arrangement, and said drive arrangement being in linear relationship with said fast drive.

2. The roll bar protection system according to claim 1, wherein a head support cushion forming a headrest is formed on an upper piece of the inner box profile.

3. The roll bar protection system according to claim 1, wherein at least one other lengthwise shaped body, guided in the outer box profile, is fastened to the tie-bar, on which a head support cushion forming a headrest is formed in an upper region adapted to face a passenger, in front of the inner box profile.

4. The roll bar protection system according to claim 1, wherein guide rollers as the guide elements are arranged on the inner box profile and guide slots for guiding the guide rollers and the tie-bar are formed in the outer box profile.

5. The roll bar protection system according to claim 1, wherein the inner box profile is connected via a release system which releases this box profile in event of danger, to an actuator which can be activated in event of danger, which is firmly mounted on the tie-bar.

6. The roll bar protection system according to claim 5, wherein a locking latch with toothed profile is hinged by a shaft on the inner box profile, being detachably connected via the release system to the actuator which is activated in event of danger.

7. The roll bar protection system according to claim 6, wherein a toothed rod is firmly mounted inside the outer box profile, with which the toothed profile of the locking latch can be brought into engagement in event of danger after release of the locking latch by the release system, using compression springs which engage with the locking latch.

8. The roll bar protection system according to claim 7, wherein the locking latch is fashioned as a two-arm lever, with a longer upper arm and a shorter lower arm, there being mounted on the longer upper lever arm, where the compression springs engage, the toothed profile, and on the shorter lower lever arm a detent bolt for a detachable engagement with a hook-shaped locking element of the actuator, forming the release system.

9. The roll bar protection system according to claim 7, wherein the locking latch is fashioned as a single-arm lever, which is hinged at its upper on the inner box profile by the shaft, being provided in an intermediate section where the compression springs engage with the toothed profile, and at its lower end is arranged a detent bolt for a detachable engagement with a hook-shaped locking element of the actuator, forming the release system.

10. The roll bar protection system according to claim 6, wherein an entry bevel is formed on the actuator for the lower end of the locking element.

11. The roll bar protection system according to claim 4, wherein the lower end of the driving compression spring is fastened to the actuator or directly to the tie-bar.

12. The roll bar protection system according to claim 1, wherein both the inner and the outer box profile are curved as circular arcs and the outer box profile is adapted to be fastened behind the vehicle seat.

13. The roll bar protection system according to claim 12, wherein the outer box profile is fastened to a rear wall behind the vehicle seat.

14. A roll bar protection system for motor vehicles, being associated with a vehicle seat, comprising:

an outer box profile forming a case for components of the roll bar protection system, said outer box profile adapted to be mounted firmly on the vehicle,

an inner box profile, able to move in the outer box profile via guide elements, which is designed as a roll bar and accommodates a fast drive for extension into an upper end protection position in event of danger, and

a drive arrangement for extension and retraction movement of the inner box profile comprising an electric motor/gearing arrangement with a threaded spindle of predetermined length, a tie-bar which can be moved in the outer box profile, and a nut for engagement with the threaded spindle, said drive arrangement detachably connected to the inner box profile, and wherein guide rollers as the guide elements are arranged on the inner box profile and guide slots for guiding the guide rollers and the tie-bar are formed in the outer box profile.

15. The roll bar protection system according to claim 14, wherein at least one other lengthwise shaped body, guided in the outer box profile, is fastened to the tie-bar, on which a head support cushion forming a headrest is formed in a upper region adapted to face a passenger, in front of the inner box profile.

16. The roll bar protection system according to claim 14, wherein the fast drive includes a pretensioned driving compression spring having one end connected to an upper crosspiece of the inner box profile and another end connected to the tie-bar of the drive arrangement.

17. The roll bar protection system according to claim 14, wherein the inner box profile is connected via a release system which releases this box profile in event of danger, to an actuator which can be activated in event of danger, which is firmly mounted on the tie-bar.

18. The roll bar protection system according to claim 17, wherein a locking latch with toothed profile is hinged by a shaft on the inner box profile, being detachably connected via the release system to the actuator which is activated in event of danger.

19. The roll bar protection system according to claim 18, wherein a toothed rod is firmly mounted inside the outer box profile, with which the toothed profile of the locking latch can be brought into engagement in event of danger after release of the locking latch by the release system, using compression springs which engage with the locking latch.

20. The roll bar protection system according to claim 19, wherein the locking latch is fashioned as a two-arm lever, with a longer upper arm and a shorter lower arm, there being mounted on the longer upper lever arm, where the compression springs engage, the toothed profile, and on the shorter lower lever arm a detent bolt for a detachable engagement with a hook-shaped locking element of the actuator, forming the release system.