Vehicle occupant restraint system and method of restraining a vehicle occupant

• US 8,544,881 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2011
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abele, Timo, Aranzulla, Daniele
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US13/279,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20120267881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 280/732, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an airbag module (16) disposed in an instrument panel (14) the airbag (18) of which extends when inflated from a receipt in the instrument panel (14) into the interior of the vehicle (10). A supporting structure (20) for the airbag (18) on a side of the airbag (18) facing a windscreen (12) is configured so that it supports the airbag (18) against the forces occurring when a vehicle occupant immerses in the airbag (18).

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising:

an airbag module (16) disposed in an instrument panel (14) the airbag (18) of which when inflated extends from a receipt in the instrument panel (14) into the interior of the vehicle (10),

wherein a supporting structure (20) extends around the airbag (18) and is provided on the side of the airbag (18) facing a windscreen (12), the supporting structure being fixed to the airbag (18) and being configured to support the airbag (18) against the forces occurring when a vehicle occupant immerses in the airbag (18).

2. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein prior to activation of the airbag (18) the supporting structure (20) is arranged below the instrument panel (14) and together with the airbag (18) moves out into the interior of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the airbag (18) when deployed is not in contact with the windscreen (12).

4. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the area of the instrument panel (14) where the airbag module (16) is arranged is aligned substantially horizontally and an outlet opening (30) of the airbag module (16) is directed substantially upwards.

5. The vehicle occupant restraint system according claim 1, wherein the supporting structure (20) has at least one fastening element mounted to the instrument panel (14).

6. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure (20) has at least one fastening element mounted to the airbag module (16).

7. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure (20) has at least one flexible member which is adjacent to the airbag (18) at the windscreen side.

8. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 7, wherein the supporting structure (20) has a supporting sail (22) a large area of which is adjacent to the airbag (18) and which absorbs the shifting forces occurring.

9. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure (20) includes at least one restraint (24).

10. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein for the supporting structure (20) two fastening points (26) are provided that are spaced apart laterally from the airbag (18).

11. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure (20) is arranged to influence during deployment of the airbag (18) the direction of deployment thereof.

12. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure (20) is arranged below the uppermost point of the airbag (18) when inflated.

13. A method of restraining a vehicle occupant making use of a restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure (20) together with the instrument panel (14) solely absorbs the shifting forces exerted by a usual dummy immersing in the airbag (18) during a head-on collision.

14. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the receipt in the instrument panel (11) is closed by a cover prior to inflation of the airbag (18), the supporting structure (20) being free of connection to the cover when the airbag (18) is deployed.

15. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the supporting structure (20) facing the windscreen conforms to the shape of the airbag (18) during inflation of the airbag (18).

16. The vehicle occupant restraint system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure (20) comprises a supporting sail (22) having a first area and a restraint (24) having a second area smaller than the first area, the supporting sail (22) being positioned between the restraint (24) and the airbag (18).