Side impact protective apparatus for a motor vehicle occupant

• US 7,547,040 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2004
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dr Ing hc F Porsche AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Dr. Ing. H.C.F. Porsche Ag
• Inventors: Hofmann, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; John Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm; Timothy
• Application Number:
  US10/770,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,959 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/732
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2013/0287 integrating other functions or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

A side impact protective apparatus is incorporated into a side wall of a motor vehicle, such as a motor vehicle door, and includes a pressure gas source as well as a gas bag inflatable by the latter. The folded together, extended gas bag is arranged along the upper edge of the side wall behind an internal covering in the resting state. The gas bag exits upward upon unfolding in the region of the railing of the side wall through a slot formed between the upper edge of the covering and the side wall and extends upward along the interior of a side window as impact protection for the head region of the motor vehicle occupant. The covering is fastened on the side wall at a distance to both long-sided ends of the gas bag, and a defined weakening is present on the front face of the covering approximately at the height of the pivotal upper edge region. As a result, a great stability of the covering is attained, and a defined exit is assured over a large temperature range when the gas bag unfolds. Thus, when viewed from the side, an ideal connection line through the two spaced fastenings forms a swiveling axis for the pivotal upper edge region of the covering.

Claims

1. A side impact protective apparatus for a motor vehicle occupant that is incorporated into a door of a motor vehicle that includes an external sheet and a door interior element, said apparatus comprising:

a pressure gas source,

a one-piece covering (11) including a downward projecting shoulder (22) at its upper edge that reaches behind a part of said door interior element to suspend the covering from said door interior element, and

a gas bag (6) having respective longitudinal ends which can be inflated by the pressure gas source, the gas bag being folded together and arranged in a resting position behind the covering, and, when inflated by the pressure gas source, releasing the downward projecting shoulder and exiting upwardly in a region of a side wall railing through a slot formed between the upper edge of the covering and a side window, thereby extending upward along an interior of the side window as impact protection for a head region of the occupant,

wherein the covering is connected on opposed peripheral sides of the covering with the door of the motor vehicle by two detachable spaced fastenings (32, 33) and wherein an ideal connection line (31) is defined on the one-piece covering through the two detachable spaced fastenings such that a swiveling axis is formed by the ideal connection line for pivoting an upper edge region (28) of the one-piece covering on the ideal connection line, and

wherein a cross front face (34) of the covering includes a weakening (35) defined therein, wherein the cross front face extends substantially perpendicular to a face of the covering that faces a passenger space (20) of the motor vehicle and wherein the weakening runs parallel to an external contour (40) of the covering turned towards the passenger space, and wherein the one-piece covering is tearable in a region of the weakening when the upper edge region (28) of the one-piece covering pivots.

2. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the spaced fastenings, viewed in a direction of travel, is a frontally positioned fastening of the covering which adjoins an internally positioned door opener of the motor vehicle door.

3. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of the spaced fastenings, viewed in a direction of travel, is a rear-positioned fastening of the covering which is arranged adjoining the weakening.

4. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weakening is formed by bore holes.

5. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the weakening is formed by slit-like openings.

6. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the rear-positioned fastening and the weakening are covered by a superimposed protective cap.

7. The side impact protective apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an embedded net-like fabric insert is provided inside a carrier element of the covering at least adjoining the side impact protective apparatus.