Vehicle passenger-restraining device and method

• US 7,607,511 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Issued: 10/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sunabashiri, Yukisada
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Freedman; Laura
• Application Number:
  US11/481,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 180/282, 180/286, 280/730.1, 280/734, 280/735, 297/216.12, 297/216.13, 297/216.16, 297/216.18, 297/216.19, 701/45
• US Class Current: 180/282
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

A vehicle passenger-restraining device has a rollover detection device that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle, a front airbag that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle, and a pushing device that pushes the passenger forward when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle passenger-restraining device, comprising:

a rollover detection device that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle;

a front airbag that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle; and

a pushing device that starts to push the passenger forward against the deployed front airbag so that the passenger is held by the deployed front airbag after the front airbag starts to deploy when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 1, further comprising

a front distance estimating means for estimating a distance in front of the passenger that is between the passenger and a side member of the vehicle that is positioned to the front of the passenger, wherein

the pushing device pushes the passenger forward when the front distance estimating device estimates that the distance in front of the passenger is a predetermined value or more.

3. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 2, wherein

the distance in front of the passenger is detected using information pertaining to a seating condition of the passenger.

4. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 3, wherein

the information pertaining to the seating condition comprises a body weight of the passenger.

5. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 3, wherein

the information pertaining to the seating condition comprises a seat slide position.

6. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 3, wherein

the information pertaining to the seating condition comprises a seatback reclining angle.

7. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 1, further comprising

a seatbelt wearing detection device that detects whether a seatbelt is worn by the passenger, wherein

the pushing device pushes the passenger forward when the seatbelt wearing detection device detects that the seatbelt is not being worn.

8. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 1, wherein

the pushing device that pushes the passenger forward is a rear airbag that deploys between an upper body of the passenger and a seatback of a seat in which the passenger is seated.

9. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 1, wherein

the pushing device that pushes the passenger forward is a reclining drive device that tilts a seatback of a seat in which the passenger is seated forward.

10. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 1, wherein

the pushing device that pushes the passenger forward is a seat slide drive device that moves a seat in which the passenger is seated forward.

11. A vehicle passenger-restraining device, comprising:

a rollover detection device that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle;

a front airbag that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle; and

a pushing device that pushes the passenger forward against the deployed front airbag so that the passenger is held by the deployed front airbag when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle,

the pushing device that pushes the passenger forward operating under a seating condition comprising a physical size of the passenger being relatively small, a seat slide position being at a middle location, a seatback reclining angle being relatively small, and a seatbelt not being worn.

12. A vehicle passenger-restraining device, comprising:

a rollover detection device that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle;

a front airbag that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle; and

a pushing device that pushes the passenger forward against the deployed front airbag so that the passenger is held by the deployed front airbag when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle,

the pushing device that pushes the passenger forward operating under a seating condition comprising a physical size of the passenger being relatively average, a seat slide position being at a rear location, a seatback reclining angle being relatively large, and a seatbelt not being worn.

13. A vehicle passenger-restraining device, comprising:

a rollover detection device that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle;

a front airbag that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle; and

a pushing device that pushes the passenger forward against the deployed front airbag so that the passenger is held by the deployed front airbag when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle,

the pushing device that pushes the passenger forward not operating under a seating condition comprising a physical size of the passenger being relatively large, a seat slide position being at a front location, and a seatback reclining angle being relatively small.

14. A vehicle passenger-restraining device, comprising:

a rollover detection device that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle;

a front airbag that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle; and

a pushing device that pushes the passenger forward against the deployed front airbag so that the passenger is held by the deployed front airbag when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle,

the pushing device that pushes the passenger forward being a rear airbag that deploys between an upper body of the passenger and a seatback of a seat in which the passenger is seated,

deployment of the rear airbag being started after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed after the deployment of the front airbag has begun.

15. A vehicle passenger-restraining device, comprising:

a rollover detection device that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle;

a front airbag that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle; and

a pushing device that pushes the passenger forward against the deployed front airbag so that the passenger is held by the deployed front airbag when the rollover detection device detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle,

the pushing device that pushes the passenger forward being a rear airbag that deploys between an upper body of the passenger and a seatback of a seat in which the passenger is seated,

a timing in which the aforementioned front airbag reaches a maximum internal pressure and a timing in which the rear airbag reaches the maximum internal pressure being set to be approximately the same timing.

16. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 15, wherein

the front airbag and rear airbag are both maintained at the state of maximum internal pressure for a predetermined period of time.

17. A vehicle passenger-restraining device, comprising:

a rollover detection means that detects or predicts a rollover of the vehicle;

a front airbag means that deploys in front of the passenger when the rollover detection means detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle; and

a moving means that starts to push the passenger forward against the deployed front airbag means so that the passenger is held by the deployed front airbag means after the front airbag means starts to deploy when the rollover detection means detects or predicts the rollover of the vehicle.

18. A vehicle passenger-restraining device, comprising:

means for detecting or predicting a rollover of the vehicle;

means for deploying a front airbag in front of the passenger upon detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle;

means for holding a lower portion of the passenger against a seat in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle; and

means for starting to push an upper portion of the passenger forward, away from a seatback and in direction towards the deployed front airbag such that the passenger is held by the deployed front airbag, in response to starting to deploying the front airbag upon detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle.

19. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 18, further comprising

means for estimating a distance in front of the passenger that is between the passenger and a side member of the vehicle that is positioned to the front of the passenger.

20. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 18, further comprising at least

means for detecting a body weight of the passenger.

21. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 18, further comprising at least

means for detecting a seat slide position.

22. The vehicle passenger-restraining device of claim 18, further comprising at least

means for detecting a reclining angle of the seatback.

23. A vehicle passenger-restraining method, comprising:

detecting or predicting a rollover of the vehicle;

deploying a front airbag that deploys in front of a passenger in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle;

holding a lower portion of the passenger against a seat in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle; and

pushing an upper portion of the passenger forward, away from a seatback, and against the front airbag so that the passenger is held against the front airbag, with the pushing of the upper portion of the passenger starting in response to starting to deploy the front airbag upon detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising

estimating a distance in front of the passenger that is between the passenger and a side member of the vehicle that is positioned to the front of the passenger in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle, wherein

the upper portion of the passenger is pushed forward when the distance in front of the passenger is a predetermined value or more.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising

detecting whether the passenger is wearing a seatbelt in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle, wherein

the upper portion of the passenger is pushed forward when the passenger is not wearing a seatbelt.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising,

in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle, detecting at least a body weight of the passenger.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising,

in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle, detecting at least a seat slide position.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising,

in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle, detecting at least a reclining angle of the seatback.

29. A vehicle passenger-restraining method, comprising:

detecting or predicting a rollover of the vehicle;

deploying a front airbag that deploys in front of a passenger in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle;

holding a lower portion of the passenger against a seat in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle; and

pushing an upper portion of the passenger forward, away from a seatback, and against the front airbag so that the passenger is held against the front airbag, in response to detecting or predicting the rollover of the vehicle,

the pushing of the upper portion of the passenger forward occuring when

a physical size of the passenger is relatively small,

a seat slide position is at a middle location,

a seatback reclining angle is relatively small, and

a seatbelt is not being worn or the physical size of the passenger is relatively average,

the seat slide position is at a rear location,

the seatback reclining angle is relatively large, and

a seatbelt is not being worn.