Internal door cladding provided with a head and/or shoulder anti-shock airbag in the event of side collision and/or rollover and a vehicle provided with said internal door cladding

• US 7,552,940 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH (Forvia SE)
• Original Assignee: Faurecia Innenraum Systeme GmbH (Forvia SE)
• Inventors: Wandtke, Sebastian, Lindemann, Sabine, Zimmerman, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; John Q.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US10/590,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20070170705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/733
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0058 Shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0072 Convertible cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21 in vehicle side panels, e.g. doors pillar mounted arrangements B60R21/213
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• 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

Internal door cladding with an airbag for head and/or shoulder side-collision protection in the event of a side collision and/or rollover, the airbag directional shoot for the airbag being provided with an outlet opening for deploying the airbag in the direction of a head and/or shoulder area and with at least one flap for closing the outlet opening.

Claims

1. An internal door cladding, comprising:

a door rail having at least one airbag flap, the airbag flap having a first plane and a second plane wherein the first plane and the second plane are not coplanar;

an airbag for head and/or shoulder side-collision protection in the event of a side collision and/or rollover located on the door rail of the internal door cladding;

an airbag directional shoot including an outlet opening for deploying the airbag in a direction of a head and/or shoulder area;

said airbag flap for closing the outlet opening; and

a tear line in the decorative layer proximate to the airbag directional shoot that traverses a substantially “

V”

-shaped course along both the first plane and the second plane and includes a sharp inflection point or peak such that upon an unfolding force of the airbag against the airbag flap, a tear is initiated at the inflection point or peak and propagates along the tear line.

2. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, further comprising a collision element located in the airbag directional shoot for initiation of a part of the unfolding force of the airbag on the tear line or for guiding the unfolding airbag towards the tear line.

3. The internal door cladding according to claim 2 wherein the collision element is wedged-shaped.

4. The internal door cladding according to claim 2, wherein the collision element has an angle leg which stands up in the area of the tear line.

5. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, further comprising an angle shaped reinforcement element coupled to the airbag directional shoot.

6. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, wherein the airbag directional shoot has a side limit which runs vertically.

7. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, further comprising a gas generator for deploying the airbag.

8. The internal door cladding according to claim 7, wherein the gas generator is placed in an incorporation position on an opposite side of an instrument panel.

9. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, wherein the airbag flap is designed to swing open towards a side window.

10. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, wherein the airbag flap is placed on a support of the internal door cladding.

11. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, further comprising a further airbag flap for covering the outlet opening, wherein the further airbag flap is designed for pivoting in an opposite direction from the at least one airbag flap.

12. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, further comprising a holding strip for the airbag flap.

13. The internal door cladding according to claim 1, wherein the airbag flap is designed to pivot.

14. The internal door cladding according to claim 6, wherein the limits for the directional shoot are fixed to a support of the internal door cladding, and a housing for the airbag in folded state is formed below a rail of the internal door cladding by means of the limits and the support.

15. The internal door cladding according to claim 14, wherein the housing includes a lance for connection of the airbag to a gas generator.

16. A motor vehicle door, comprising:

an internal door cladding, the internal door cladding having a door rail;

at least one airbag flap located on the door rail, the airbag flap having a first plane and a second plane wherein the first plane and the second plane are not coplanar;

a head and/or shoulder antishock airbag in the event of side collision and/or rollover coupled to the internal door cladding, and including a directional shoot for the airbag, the airbag directional shoot located on the door rail of the internal door cladding having an outlet opening for deploying the airbag towards a head area;

said airbag flap for covering the outlet opening; and

a tear line proximate to the airbag directional shoot that traverses a substantially “

V”

-shaped course along both the first plane and the second plane and includes a sharp inflection point or peak such that, upon an unfolding force of the airbag against the airbag flap, a tear is initiated at the inflection point or peak and propagates along the tear line.

17. The motor vehicle door according to claim 16, wherein the door is a hybrid door.

18. The motor vehicle door according to claim 16, wherein the door is sized and shaped for a cabriolet.