Pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle

• US 6,746,074 B1
• Filed: 06/25/2003
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bauer, Barney, Schulz, Kurt, Kempf, Peter C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/602,871
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 296/187.04, 296/187.06, 296/193.11, 180/69.2, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 293/107
• US Class Current: 296/187.04
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21531 using a strechable wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

A pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle has an airbag having a first wall comprising a flexible layer and a second wall comprising a vehicle body panel. An inflatable interior cavity is formed between the first wall and the second wall. An inflator has a conduit to conduct inflation gas between the first wall and the second wall.

Claims

1. A pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body panel;

a flexible layer attached to said vehicle body panel, said flexible layer being transparent; and

an inflator having a conduit to conduct an inflation gas between said vehicle body panel and said flexible layer, the flexible layer has an inflated condition and a deflated condition, said flexible layer and said vehicle body panel forming a cushion in said inflated condition, the flexible layer forms a first wall of said cushion and said vehicle body panel forms a second wall of said cushion.

2. The pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said conduit comprises a port through said vehicle body panel.

3. The pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle of claim 1 including an adhesive between said flexible layer and said vehicle body panel.

4. The pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle of claim 1 including a vacuum between said flexible layer and said vehicle body panel.

5. The pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said inflator stores a pressurized inflation gas.

6. The pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle of claim 1 including a seal between said flexible layer and said vehicle body panel.

7. The pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle of claim 6 wherein said seal extends around a periphery of said vehicle body panel.

8. The pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said vehicle body panel comprises a vehicle hood.

9. An airbag for protecting a pedestrian impacting a vehicle comprising.

a first wall comprising a flexible layer, said flexible layer being transparent;

a second wall comprising a vehicle body panel; and

an inflatable cavity formed between said first wall and said second wall.

10. The airbag for protecting a pedestrian impacting a vehicle of claim 9 including a port through said vehicle body panel in communication with said inflatable cavity.

11. The airbag for protecting a pedestrian impacting a vehicle of claim 9 wherein said flexible layer is attached to said vehicle body panel by an adhesive.

12. The airbag for protecting a pedestrian impacting a vehicle of claim 9 wherein said flexible layer is attached to said vehicle body panel by a vacuum.

13. The airbag for protecting a pedestrian impacting a vehicle of claim 9 including a seal between said flexible layer and said vehicle body panel.

14. A pedestrian protecting device for a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body panel;

a flexible layer attached to said vehicle body panel, the flexible layer being attached to the body panel by a vacuum; and

an inflator having a conduit to conduct an inflation gas between said vehicle body panel and said flexible layer, the flexible layer has an inflated condition and a deflated condition, said flexible layer and said vehicle body panel forming a cushion in said inflated condition, the flexible layer forms a first wall of said cushion and said vehicle body panel forms a second wall of said cushion.

15. An airbag for protecting a pedestrian impacting a vehicle comprising:

a first wall comprising a flexible layer;

a second wall comprising a vehicle body panel the first wall be attached to the second wall by a vacuum; and

an inflatable cavity formed between said first wall and said second wall.