Restraint system for a motor vehicle

• US 8,317,223 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2007
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Hirth, Andreas, Quarg, Lutz, Reiter, Friedrich, Ruedebusch, Clark
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US12/377,529
• Publication Number:
  US 20100259034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,984 Days
• Field of Search: 280/736, 280/738, 280/743.1, 280/729, 280/733
• US Class Current: 280/743.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A restraint system for a motor vehicle is formed by one or more inflatable supporting structures whose longitudinal extent in the deployed state substantially exceeds their transverse dimension, and which unfold mainly in the direction of their longitudinal extension. During unfolding, the supporting structure, when impacting upon an obstacle does not have the same stability as when it is completely unfolded, and/or does not reach the final volume or the final extension.

Claims

1. A restraint system for a motor vehicle comprising:

first, second, and third supporting structures, each of which has a longitudinal extension in a deployed state that substantially exceeds a transverse extension, and each of which unfolds mainly in a direction of the longitudinal extension,

wherein the first, second, and third supporting structures have substantially a same shape in the deployed state,

wherein the first and second supporting structures each have an inlet coupled to receive gas from an external source, and the third supporting structure is configured to receive the gas from the external source via the first and second supporting structures,

wherein at least one of the following is true;

when at least the first and second supporting structures impact upon an obstacle prior to being completely unfolded, the first and second supporting structures do not have a same stability as when the first and second supporting structures are completely unfolded; and

when at least the first and second supporting structures impact upon an obstacle prior to being completely unfolded, the first and second supporting structures do not reach a final volume or a final extension,

wherein in the deployed state the first and second supporting structures extend in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle and the third supporting structure extends in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle,

wherein the third supporting structure is configured along a length of the first and second supporting structures such that the first, second and third supporting structures form an A shape.

2. The restraint system according to claim 1, further comprising a heating device, which heats or supplements aspired or enclosed gas in the deployed state of the first, second, and third supporting structures.

3. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein one of the first, second, and third supporting structures extends with an at least partial overlap of a hard structure of the motor vehicle.

4. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third supporting structures unfolds between first and second occupants as an interaction bag.

5. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third supporting structures are connected to one another by a flexible sheet.

6. The restraint system according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first, second, and third supporting structures and the flexible sheet is produced as a one-piece-woven material.

7. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein:

venting apertures are directed towards an occupant from an enclosed carrier volume; and

said venting apertures are arranged so that they are covered by the occupant who is displaced in a forward direction.

8. The restraint system according to claim 7, wherein the venting apertures are perforations or other passages, which are included in a material enclosing the carrier volume.

9. The restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third supporting structures are inflatable with the gas.

10. The restraint system according to claim 9, wherein said gas is pyrotechnically produced.

11. The restraint system according to claim 9, wherein a carrier volume supported by the first, second, and third supporting structures can be filled by aspiring or enclosing ambient air.

12. The restraint system according to claim 1, further comprising redistribution means for distributing excess gas.

13. The restraint system according to claim 12, wherein the redistribution means redirects the excess gas into an adjacent supporting structure.

14. The restraint system according to claim 12, wherein the redistribution means effects an increase of a cross section of one of the first, second, and third supporting structures when an interior pressure is too high.

15. The restraint system according to claim 12, wherein the redistribution means is a pressure-relief valve, through which the excess gas escapes to the environment or to adjacent supporting structures.

16. A vehicle restraint system comprising:

first, second, and third inflatable supporting structures,

wherein

said first, second, and third supporting structures have substantially a same shape a in the deployed state;

said first and second supporting structures each have an inlet coupled to receive gas from an external source, and the third supporting structure is configured to receive the gas from the external source via the first and second supporting structures,

said first, second, and third supporting structures each has a longitudinal dimension that substantially exceeds a transverse dimension;

said first, second, and third supporting structures are each deployable from an uninflated storage position to an inflated operational position;

in said uninflated storage position, said first, second, and third supporting structures are each rolled up or folded along the longitudinal dimension, so that during inflation, each of the first, second, and third supporting structures unrolls or unfolds longitudinally into a substantially tubular configuration; and

when at least one of the first, second, and third supporting structures impacts an obstacle during inflation, further inflation and unrolling of said at least one of the first, second, and third supporting structures is precluded,

wherein in the deployed state the first and second supporting structures extend in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle and the third supporting structure extends in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle,

wherein the third supporting structure is configured along a length of the first and second supporting structures such that the first, second and third supporting structures form an A shape.