Vehicle with a gas bag arrangement of a vehicle occupant restraint system

• US 9,446,733 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Pausch, Tobias, Mller, Ingo, Steiner, Torsten, Schfisch, Kay, Meissner, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wilhelm, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US14/417,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20150203066A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2334 Expansion control features

Abstract

This invention relates to a gas bag arrangement of a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag arrangement comprising:

• • a gas bag (1) which includes at least one inflatable chamber (11) with a first and a second portion (111, 112); and
  • at least one connecting element (51, 51′, 52) which connects the first and the second portion (111, 112) with each other such that the first and the second portion (111, 112) extend at an angle to each other, wherein
  • the first and the second portion (111, 112)—based on the mounted and inflated condition of the gas bag (1)—extend at least approximately parallel to a plane defined by the vehicle height and vehicle length direction (z, x) and the connecting element (51, 51′, 52) extends on a side of the gas bag (1) facing away from the vehicle occupant (2) to be protected and points towards the vehicle front, wherein
  • the gas bag arrangement is arranged and formed for the protection of the upper body and/or the head of a passenger or a vehicle occupant (2) located on a rear seat of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle with a gas bag arrangement of a vehicle occupant restraint system, the gas bag arrangement comprising:

a gas bag which includes at least one inflatable chamber with a first and a second portion; and

a plurality of connecting elements arranged one behind the other along the vehicle length direction, wherein each connecting element connects the first and the second portion of the inflatable chamber, and

wherein each of the connecting elements is configured to hold the inflatable element in a bent or kinked condition such that the first and the second portion extend at an angle to each other;

wherein the first and the second portion—

based on the mounted and inflated condition of the gas bag—

extend at least approximately parallel to a plane defined by the vehicle height and vehicle length directions and the connecting element extends on a side of the gas bag facing away from the vehicle occupant to be protected and points towards the vehicle front, and

wherein the gas bag arrangement is arranged and formed for the protection of the upper body and/or the head of a passenger or a vehicle occupant located on a rear seat of the vehicle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first and the second portion of the gas bag extend in the inflated gas bag and towards each other against the vehicle forward driving direction.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable chamber of the gas bag is formed oblong.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein in the inflated and bent or kinked condition, the gas bag faces the vehicle occupant to be protected.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the connecting elements includes an additional inflatable region pointing away from the vehicle occupant.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable chamber of the gas bag—

as seen in transverse vehicle direction—

has a U-shaped or V-shaped design.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by a plurality of inflatable chambers of the gas bag, which each include a first and a second portion which via several connecting elements are connected with each other such that they extend at an angle to each other.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the connecting elements is formed in the form of a strap which in the mounted condition of the gas bag arrangement extends in vehicle height direction.

9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein to at least one of the chambers two connecting elements spaced from each other are associated, which are arranged one behind the other as seen in vehicle length direction.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in the inflated condition the gas bag extends behind a backrest of at least one front seat of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag of the gas bag arrangement is arranged such that in the inflated condition the gas bag supports on a vehicle inner structure.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag is arranged in or on the roof of the vehicle or in the backrest of a vehicle seat.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in the inflated condition of the gas bag an end of the first portion of the inflatable chamber is arranged in or on the roof of the vehicle.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein in the inflated condition the gas bag supports on a structure located in or on the roof of the vehicle with the end of the first portion of the inflatable chamber, and supports on another vehicle inner structure with an end of the second portion of the inflatable chamber.