Inflatable head protection system for occupants of motor vehicles

• US 6,890,000 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Schaper, Jens, Sertl, Hans-Peter, Taubenberger, Josef, Meister, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US09/864,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20010045732A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/733, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

An inflatable head protection system for occupants of a motor vehicle is provided which has an air bag which is inflated laterally of the head in the event of a side impact and prevents the displacement of the head. The head protection system has a belt guiding duct, the belt strap of a seat belt extending through this belt guiding duct. In order to be able to follow the belt strap movements, the head protection system is swivellably fastened by way of a ball joint on the upper edge of a seat backrest.

Claims

1. A head protection system for an occupant of a motor vehicle, comprising:

an inflatable air bag which, in an inflated condition, extends laterally over an occupant'"'"'s shoulder between the occupant'"'"'s head and adjacent vehicle body parts;

a seat belt, which in use extends over the occupant'"'"'s chest area;

a belt guiding duct of the air bag, wherein a belt strap of the seat belt extends through the belt guiding duct; and

a joint about which the air bag is swivelled so as to be vertically adjustable, said air bag being fastened to an upper edge area of the seat backrest via the joint while being rotatable in itself.

2. The head protection system according to claim 1, wherein said joint is a ball joint including a ball case fastened on the seat backrest and a spherical joint part rotatably held in the ball case and connected with the head protection system.

3. The head protection system according to claim 2, further comprising a gas generator arranged in the seat backrest, said gas generator inflating the air bag via the ball joint.

4. An inflatable head protection system for an occupant of a motor vehicle, comprising:

an air bag system which, in an inflated condition, extends laterally over an occupant'"'"'s shoulder between the occupant'"'"'s head and adjacent vehicle body parts;

a belt guiding duct formed on the air bag system; and

a swivellable joint operably coupled with the air bag system to variably adjust the height of the air bag system in accordance with a size of the occupant,

wherein said joint is a ball joint having a ball case fastenable on a seat backrest and a spherical joint part rotatably held in the ball case and coupled with the air bag system.