Protection device

• US 7,226,076 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mattes, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura B.
• Application Number:
  US10/513,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20050177289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,572 Days
• Field of Search: 180/271, 180/274, 280/734, 280/735
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01034 Controlling a plurality of restraint devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees

Abstract

A protection device for a pregnant person in a vehicle is described, a sensor being provided for detecting the pregnant person and a restraint unit being configured in such a way that the usability of the restraint unit is influenceable as a function of a signal of the sensor. The restraint unit may be disabled in the event of an accident or its deployment force may be reduced or it is usable depending on the situation.

Claims

1. A protection device for a pregnant person in a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor (1, 8, 10) which detects whether a person in the vehicle is pregnant, and restraint means (4 through 6) which is activatable in such a way that usability of restraint means (4 through 6) is influenceable as a function of a signal of the sensor (1, 8, 10).

2. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the protection device includes first restraint means (4) which may be disabled in the event of an accident, second restraint means (5) whose deployment force is reducible, and third restraint means (6) which is usable depending on the situation.

3. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein the first restraint means (4) is designed in such a way that it disables a seat belt locking and a seat belt tensioning in the event of a frontal or side or rear impact.

4. The protection device according to claim 3, wherein a display (7) is configured in such a way that the detection of the pregnant person is displayable.

5. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein the second restraint means (5) is configured in such a way that the second restraint means (5) is usable early using a reduced deployment force compared to the case of a non-pregnant person.

6. The protection device according to claim 5, wherein a display (7) is configured in such a way that the detection of the pregnant person is displayable.

7. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein the third restraint means (6) has a knee bag for preventing the person from slipping through the seat belt or a device for retracting the steering wheel or an airbag for cushioning the steering wheel.

8. The protection device according to claim 7, wherein a display (7) is configured in such a way that the detection of the pregnant person is displayable.

9. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein a display (7) is configured in such a way that the detection of the pregnant person is displayable.

10. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein a display (7) is configured in such a way that the detection of the pregnant person is displayable.

11. A protection device for a pregnant person in a vehicle, comprising:

a sensor (1, 8, 10) for detecting the pregnant person and restraint means (4 through 6) which is activatable in such a way usability of restraint means (4 through 6) is influenceablenas as a function of the sensor (1, 8, 10);

wherein the protection device includes first restraint means (4) which may be disabled in the event of an accident, second restraint means (5) whose deployment force is reducible, and third restraint means (6) which is usable depending on the situation; and

wherein the first restraint means (4) disables seat belt locking in the event of a rollover and tensions a lap belt using a power belt tensioner when a predefined roll angle is reached.

12. The protection device according to claim 11, wherein the predefined roll angle is approximately 50°

.

13. The protection device according to claim 12, wherein a display (7) is configured in such a way that the detection of the pregnant person is displayable.

14. The protection device according to claim 11, wherein a display (7) is configured in such a way that the detection of the pregnant person is displayable.