Airbag arrangement

• US 7,854,448 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BMW AG (Bayerische Motoren Werke AG), Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rasch, Georg, Gloeckler, Oliver, Passmann, Ralf, Einsiedel, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amores; Karen Jane J
• Application Number:
  US12/285,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20090102169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/728.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An airbag arrangement for restraining an occupant of a motor vehicle. The vehicle roof is bounded by lateral roof edge regions extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and also bounded by a front window cross member extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A first section of the folded-up airbag can be arranged along a lateral roof edge region. A second section can be angled away from the first section transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the second section of the airbag is arranged along a longitudinal side of the front window cross member. The airbag can be disconnected from the vehicle body in the region of the second section or be connected releasably thereto when the airbag is deployed. Therefore, when the airbag is deployed, the entire second section can be deployed freely.

Claims

1. An airbag arrangement for restraining an occupant of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a longitudinal axis and a vehicle roof and wherein the vehicle roof is bounded by lateral roof edge regions extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and by a front window cross member extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the arrangement comprises:

an airbag configured to be inflated in order to protect the occupant,

wherein the airbag is folded prior to inflation, the folded airbag including a first section and a second section, and

wherein the first section of the folded airbag is arranged along a lateral roof edge region and the second section is arranged angled away from the first section transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle,

wherein the second section of the airbag is arranged along the front window cross member,

wherein the second section of the airbag extends from a bending point to a free end lying opposite to the bending point and no fastening means for providing permanent fastening are fitted between the bending point and the free end of the second section so that when the airbag is deployed, the entire second section can be deployed freely,

wherein the second section of the airbag is designed and arranged so as to fold down, when deployed, onto a vehicle body pillar, the pillar running from a front end of the lateral roof edge region in the direction of the vehicle floor, and

wherein the second section is arranged along a longitudinal side of the front window cross member, which longitudinal side —

as viewed along the forward direction of travel running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle —

forms a front end of the front window cross member.

2. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein the pillar is an A-pillar of the vehicle body.

3. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second section is fastened to the front window cross member, the fastening taking place exclusively via a releasable fastening mechanism which releases the second section from the window cross member when the airbag is deployed.

4. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second section is surrounded by an airbag covering which is fastened to the window cross member.

5. The airbag arrangement of claim 4, wherein the airbag covering is configured to tear open when the airbag deploys.

6. The airbag arrangement of claim 4, wherein the airbag covering is fastened to the window cross member with a releasable fastening mechanism and is released from the window cross member when the airbag is deployed.

7. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein the second section is arranged above a roof lining provided on the vehicle roof.

8. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein the first section of the airbag is fastened to a lateral roof edge region of the vehicle roof;

and wherein the first section deploys downward when the airbag is inflated, and remains connected by an upper section to the roof edge region.

9. The airbag arrangement of claim 8, wherein the first section of the airbag is fastened to the lateral roof edge region via fastening tabs of the airbag.

10. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein the airbag has a plurality of chambers.

11. The airbag arrangement of claim 1, wherein the airbag has a ventilation opening for the adaptation of the internal pressure of the airbag.

12. An airbag arrangement for restraining an occupant of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a longitudinal axis and a vehicle roof and wherein the vehicle roof is bounded by lateral roof edge regions extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and by a front window cross member extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the arrangement comprises:

an airbag configured to be inflated in order to protect the occupant,

wherein the airbag is folded prior to inflation, the folded airbag including a first section and a second section,

wherein the first section of the folded airbag is arranged along a lateral roof edge region and the second section is arranged angled away from the first section transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle,

wherein the second section of the airbag is arranged along the front window cross member,

wherein the second section of the airbag extends from a bending point to a free end lying opposite to the bending point and no fastening means for providing permanent fastening are fitted between the bending point and the free end of the second section so that when the airbag is deployed, the entire second section can be deployed freely,

wherein the second section is fastened to the front window cross member, the fastening taking place exclusively via a releasable fastening mechanism which releases the second section from the window cross member when the airbag is deployed, and

wherein the second section is arranged along a longitudinal side of the front window cross member, which longitudinal side —

as viewed along the forward direction of travel running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle —

forms a front end of the front window cross member.

13. An airbag arrangement for restraining an occupant of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has a longitudinal axis and a vehicle roof and wherein the vehicle roof is bounded by lateral roof edge regions extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and by a front window cross member extending transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, wherein the arrangement comprises:

an airbag configured to be inflated in order to protect the occupant,

wherein the airbag is folded prior to inflation, the folded airbag including a first section and a second section,

wherein the first section of the folded airbag is arranged along a lateral roof edge region and the second section is arranged angled away from the first section transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle,

wherein the second section of the airbag is arranged along the front window cross member,

wherein the second section of the airbag extends from a bending point to a free end lying opposite to the bending point and no fastening means for providing permanent fastening are fitted between the bending point and the free end of the second section so that when the airbag is deployed, the entire second section can be deployed freely,

wherein the second section is surrounded by an airbag covering which is fastened to the window cross member,

wherein the airbag covering is fastened to the window cross member with a releasable fastening mechanism and is released from the window cross member when the airbag is deployed, and

wherein the second section is arranged along a longitudinal side of the front window cross member, which longitudinal side —

as viewed along the forward direction of travel running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle —

forms a front end of the front window cross member.