Airbag arrangement

• US 6,398,254 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2001
• Issued: 06/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata (Europe) Vehicle Safety Technology GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Maidel, Jochen, David, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/858,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20010042975A1
• Time in Patent Office: 383 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.2, 280/729, 280/743.1, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0072 Convertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle has an airbag arrangement, which has an airbag module mounted to or integrated with the vehicle door. The module has a housing in which at least one inflatable airbag stored in the module in a folded state. The housing has an elongated outlet opening that extends substantially the entire length of the inflated airbag, and a support section that supports and braces the airbag, in the inflated state, under pressure against the support section so that the airbag becomes self-supporting. The inner peripheral region of the outlet opening can form the support section. Alternatively, the inner peripheral region of an outlet opening formed in a door panel can form the support section. The self-supporting air bag is particularly applicable for a convertible or topless vehicle.

Claims

1. A side airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle, comprising:

an airbag module integrated with a door of the vehicle, the airbag module having an elongated outlet opening and a support section; and

an inflatable airbag stored in the airbag module, in a folded state,

wherein the outlet opening is dimensioned to extend substantially over the entire length of the airbag, in an inflated state thereof, through which the airbag exits the airbag module as the airbag inflates,

wherein the support section exclusively braces the airbag in the inflated state so that the airbag becomes self-supporting.

2. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the support section comprises a peripheral area of the outlet opening.

3. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the door has a door panel that has a complementary outlet opening and the support section comprises at least a peripheral area of the complementary outlet opening.

4. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is substantially airtight to maintain pressure sufficient to protect a passenger, in the inflated state, for at least five seconds for a vehicle rollover protection.

5. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the airbag in the inflated state is dimensioned to extend over more than a half the length of the door.

6. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the airbag in the inflated state is dimensioned to extend substantially over the entire length of the door.

7. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module has a base opposite the outlet opening, the airbag being secured to the airbag module at one of the base and an inner periphery of the outlet opening.

8. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is connected to the airbag module exclusively via the support section.

9. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the airbag further includes an additional protection section that extends beneath a plane of a door parapet line for protecting a passenger'"'"'s leg.

10. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the additional protection section lies along an inner side of the vehicle door, in the inflated state of the airbag, for protecting a passenger'"'"'s knee.

11. A side airbag arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the airbag has a substantially U-shaped reinforcement for limiting the inflation volume.

12. A side airbag module for a vehicle door, comprising:

an airbag housing adapted for mounting to the vehicle door; and

an inflatable airbag stored in the airbag housing, in a folded state;

wherein the airbag housing has an elongated outlet opening through which the airbag exits as the airbag is inflated and a support section for supporting and bracing the airbag in an inflated state,

wherein the outlet opening is dimensioned to extend substantially over the entire length of the airbag in the inflated state,

wherein the support section exclusively supports the airbag in the inflated state so that the airbag becomes self-supporting.

13. A side airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the support section comprises a peripheral area of the outlet opening.

14. A side airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the airbag or airbag with the housing is substantially airtight to maintain pressure sufficient to protect a passenger, in the inflated state, for at least five seconds for a vehicle rollover protection.

15. A side airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the airbag in the inflated state is dimensioned to extend over more than a half the length of the door.

16. A side airbag module according to claim 15, wherein the airbag in the inflated state is dimensioned to extend substantially over the entire length of the door.

17. A side airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the housing has a base opposite the outlet opening, the airbag being secured to the airbag module at one of the base and an inner periphery of the outlet opening.

18. A side airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the airbag is connected to the airbag module exclusively via the support section.

19. A side airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the airbag further includes an additional protection section that is adapted to extend beneath a plane of a door parapet line for protecting a passenger'"'"'s leg.

20. A side airbag module according to claim 19, wherein the additional protection section is adapted to lie along an inner side of the vehicle door, in the inflated state of the airbag, for protecting a passenger'"'"'s knee.

21. A side airbag module according to claim 12, wherein the airbag has a substantially U-shaped reinforcement for limiting the inflation volume.

22. A vehicle comprising:

at least one door;

a seat positioned adjacent to the door;

a side airbag module comprising;

an airbag housing mounted to the vehicle door; and

an inflatable airbag stored in the airbag housing, in a folded state,

wherein the airbag housing has an elongated outlet opening through which the airbag exits as the airbag is inflated and a support section for supporting and bracing the airbag in an inflated state thereof,

wherein the outlet opening is dimensioned to extend substantially over the entire length of the airbag in the inflated state thereof, and

wherein the support section exclusively supports the airbag in the inflated state so that the airbag becomes self-supporting.

23. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the support section comprises a peripheral area of the outlet opening.

24. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the door has a door panel that has a complementary outlet opening, and the support section comprises at least a peripheral area of the complementary outlet opening.

25. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the airbag or the airbag and the housing is substantially airtight to maintain pressure sufficient to protect a passenger, in the inflated state, for at least five seconds for a vehicle rollover protection.

26. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the airbag in the inflated state extends over more than a half the length of the door.

27. A vehicle according to claim 26, wherein the airbag in the inflated state extends substantially over the entire length of the door.

28. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the airbag module has a base opposite the outlet opening, the airbag being secured to the airbag module at one of the base and an inner periphery of the outlet opening.

29. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the airbag is connected to the airbag module exclusively via the support section.

30. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the airbag further includes an additional protection section that extends beneath a plane of a door parapet line for protecting a passenger'"'"'s leg.

31. A vehicle according to claim 30, wherein the additional protection section lies along an inner side of the vehicle door, in the inflated state of the airbag, for protecting a passenger'"'"'s knee.

32. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the airbag has a substantially U-shaped reinforcement for limiting the inflation volume.

33. A vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the vehicle is convertible, without a B-frame.