Vehicle occupant restraint device

• US 6,702,322 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2002
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Dannenhauer, Reiner, Eyrainer, Heinz, Heilig, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/161,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20020149181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/731, 280/732, 280/743.2, 280/729, 280/739, 280/749, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2617 Curtain bag nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor

Abstract

A restraint device for an occupant in a vehicle having a steering wheel, a dashboard with a lower end limiting a footwell, an A-pillar and a windshield, comprises a first gas bag for protecting the thorax area of a vehicle occupant, and a second gas bag for supporting the first gas bag. The second gas bag has a deployed condition and extends at least partly over the windshield of the vehicle in the deployed condition.

Claims

1. A restraint device for an occupant in a vehicle having a steering wheel, a dashboard, an A-pillar and a windshield extending in a first direction obliquely upwardly from said dashboard, and a footwell defined by a lower end of said dashboard and a vehicle floor, said device comprising:

a first inflatable gas bag for, when inflated, protecting the thorax area of a vehicle occupant, and

a second inflatable gas bag, separate from said first gas bag, and inflating through an opening different from an opening through which said first gas bag inflates along said windshield in a direction towards said dashboard,

said second gas bag having a front wall and a rear wall opposite said front wall,

said second gas bag inflating in an elongated shape in a side view and extending over more than a half of the height of said windshield of the vehicle and parallel to said windshield with said front wall facing and contacting said windshield,

said second gas bag, when inflated being supported at said windshield,

said second gas bag, when inflated, having a first dimension extending in said first direction, said first dimension being greater than a second dimension of said second gas bag extending in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and perpendicular to an outer surface of said windshield,

said first gas bag, when inflated, resting against said rear wall of said second gas bag and being supported and maintained in position by a portion of said front wall of said second gas bag resting on said windshield,

said portion of said front wall lying opposite to said portion of said rear wall contacting said first gas bag, said first gas bag, when inflated, being spaced apart from said windshield.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle includes a roof liner and wherein said second gas bag is located in said roof liner.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said second gas bag is located in the region of said dashboard of said vehicle.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said second gas bag is located in the region of said A-pillar of the vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said second has bag when inflated, substantially extends over the entire width of said windshield.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first gas bag is located in said steering wheel of the vehicle.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first gas bag is located in said dashboard of the vehicle.

8. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a third inflatable gas bag which is inflated into said footwell of the vehicle.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first gas bag is located in a lower region of said dashboard defining said footwell.

10. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a gas generator for inflating more than one of said gas bags.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a multi-stage gas generator for inflating said first gas bag.

12. The restraint device according to claim 1 wherein said portion of said rear wall contacting said first gas bag is gas tight and is not in flow connection with each other.

13. A restraint device for an occupant in a vehicle having a steering wheel, a dashboard, an A-pillar and a windshield extending in a first direction obliquely upwardly from said dashboard, and a footwell defined by a lower end of said dashboard and a vehicle floor, said device comprising:

a first inflatable gas bag for, when inflated, protecting the thorax area of a vehicle occupant, and

a second inflatable gas bag, separate from said first gas bag, and inflating through an opening different from an opening through which said first gas bag inflates,

said second gas bag having a front wall and a rear wall opposite said front wall,

said second gas bag inflating in an elongated shape in a side view and extending over more than a half of the height of said windshield of the vehicle and parallel to said windshield with said front wall facing and contacting said windshield,

said second gas bag, when inflated, being supported at said windshield,

said second gas bag, when inflated, having a first dimension extending in said first direction, said first dimension being greater than a second dimension of said second gas bag extending in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction and perpendicular to an outer surface of said windshield,

said first gas bag, when inflated, resting against said rear wall of said second gas bag and being supported and maintained in position by a portion of said front wall of said second gas bag resting on said windshield,

said portion of said front wall lying opposite to said portion of said rear wall contacting said first gas bag, and

a traction system for pulling away said second gas bag when said second gas bag has been inflated, from said windshield after a vehicle collision.