Occupant protection device

• US 7,134,683 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Takata Petri Ulm GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: BMW AG (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bendig, Udo, Schluppkotten, Julius, Boin, Manuela, Einsiedel, Heinrich, Rasch, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEDMAN, LAURA
• Application Number:
  US10/673,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20040232665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/729, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/749, 280/755, 280/756
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An occupant protection device having an inflatable airbag for protecting a vehicle occupant in the rear compartment of a vehicle. The airbag being designed is fastened in the roof region of the vehicle so that, when inflated, the airbag at least partially covers both the side wall and/or the side window of the vehicle and also the rear window and/or the rear wall of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An occupant protection device for protecting a vehicle occupant in a rear compartment of a vehicle comprising:

an airbag fastened in a roof region of the vehicle so that, when inflated, the airbag at least partially covers one of a side wall, a side window, or a combination thereof of the vehicle and also covers one of a rear window, a rear wall, or a combination thereof of the vehicle;

wherein the airbag is connected to a filling tube for inflating the airbag; and

wherein the filling tube has a first filling tube section and a second filling tube section, the first filling tube section being situated in a first roof section and the second filling tube section being situated in a second roof section.

2. Occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is integrated in the roof region so that the airbag is concealed by one of a rooflining, a roof covering, or a combination thereof.

3. Occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag, when inflated, has two airbag regions which are arranged at a right angle to each other and of which a first region at least partially covers one of the side wall, the side window, or a combination thereof of the vehicle and a second region at least partially covers one of the rear window, the rear wall, or a combination thereof of the vehicle.

4. Occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the first airbag region is integrated in the first roof section of the vehicle roof and the second airbag region is integrated in the second roof section of the vehicle roof, the first roof section running along a lateral roof frame as far as a rear pillar of the vehicle and the second roof section extending along a rear cross member.

5. Occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the airbag is shaped so that the second airbag region unfolds as it inflates between a head restraint of the occupant'"'"'s seat and the rear window or rear wall.

6. Occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the airbag is stored in a holding container which is fastened in the roof region of the vehicle.

7. Occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein a cold gas generator or a hybrid gas generator is connected to the airbag.

8. An occupant protection device for protecting a vehicle occupant in a rear compartment of a vehicle comprising:

an airbag fastened in a roof region of the vehicle so that, when inflated, the airbag at least partially covers one of a side wall, a side window, or a combination thereof of the vehicle and also covers one of a rear window, a rear wall, or a combination thereof of the vehicle,

wherein the airbag is stored in a holding container which is fastened in the roof region of the vehicle, and

wherein the holding container has a first sub-container which is situated in a first roof section, and the holding container has a second sub-container which is connected to the first sub-container in the region of a rear pillar and is situated in a second roof section.

9. Occupant protection device according to claim 8, wherein a first airbag region is stored in the first sub-container of the holding container and a second airbag region is stored in the second sub-container of the holding container.

10. Occupant protection device according to claim 9, wherein the airbag is connected to a filling tube for inflating the airbag.

11. Occupant protection device according to claim 10, wherein the filling tube has a first filling tube section and a second filling tube section, the first filling tube section being situated in the first roof section and the second filling tube section being situated in the second roof section.

12. Occupant protection device according to claim 10;

wherein a gas generator which is fixed in the region of the rear pillar of the vehicle is connected to the filling tube.