Occupant restraint system located in the rear passenger compartment of a motor vehicle

• US 7,204,510 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2002
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Hensel, Joerg, Maly, Peter, Bossenmaier, Alban, Bruhnke, Ulrich, Frenzel, Klaus, Guenak, Murat
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown, Drew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/485,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20050121886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,781 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/986 Side-rests B60N2/2872, B60N2/885 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2078 in rear seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21512 the lid being displaced towards the occupant during deployment B60R2021/2161, B60R2021/21525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/215 characterised by the covers for the inflatable member B60R21/2176 takes precedence

Abstract

In order to provide an occupant restraint system located in the rear passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, which system increases the safety of vehicle occupants and at the same time can be produced simply and therefore cost-effectively, an occupant restraint system located in the rear passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, having a side airbag module which comprises a gas bag and a gas generator and is arranged next to that side of a rear seat which faces the side body is proposed, a cover being provided in front of the side airbag module in the direction of travel, and the cover consisting of elastically deformable material and being an integral component of a side member of the rear seat or of an arm support arranged in the region of the side body.

Claims

1. An occupant restraint system located in a rear passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, comprising a side airbag module which comprises a gas bag and a gas generator and which is arranged next to a side of a rear seat that faces a side body of the motor vehicle so as to deploy in a direction of vehicle travel, a cover being provided in front of the side airbag module in the direction of vehicle travel and joined thereto by a seam, wherein the cover includes elastically deformable material and is an integral component of an arm support arranged in the region of the side body, the elastically deformable material being arranged to absorb energy initially released upon deployment of the side airbag module gas bag and to be interposed between a vehicle passenger and the deployed gas bag without destruction of the seam such that the cover can be folded away thereafter.

2. The occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover includes foam.

3. The occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover is covered with a fabric.

4. The occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cover forms an airbag lid.

5. The occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the side airbag module is arranged in the side panel.

6. The occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the side airbag module is arranged in such a manner that it is deployed forward, when looking in the direction of travel.

7. The occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arm support is fastened releasably to the panel at least in the region of the cover.