Passenger protection device for a vehicle, and vehicle

• US 9,896,056 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2015
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Burczyk, Christian, Larsson, Bengt, Merz, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Verley, Nicole T
• Application Number:
  US15/118,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174172A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,109 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0044 Chest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence

Abstract

A passenger protection device for a vehicle includes an airbag assigned to at least one passenger in a rear compartment of the vehicle. The airbag can be activated and filled with a gas in the event of an imminent collision of the vehicle being detected or in the event of a collision. The airbag is formed such that that it is deployed in the activated and filled condition between a front vehicle seat and an upper body region, as well as a between the front vehicle seat and a knee and lower leg region of the passenger.

Claims

1. A passenger protection device for a vehicle, the passenger protection device comprising:

an airbag assigned to at least one passenger in a rear compartment of the vehicle,

wherein, in event of an imminent collision of the vehicle being detected or in the event of a collision, the airbag is activated and filled with a gas,

wherein the airbag has a form such that when the airbag is deployed in the activated and filled condition, the airbag is configured to be interposed between a front vehicle seat and a lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger and configured to be interposed between the front vehicle seat and a knee and lower leg region of the passenger,

wherein the airbag is fluidically connected to a gas generator for deployment of the airbag, the gas generator, upon activation, releases the gas filling the airbag,

wherein the airbag has a support structure that is fillable with the gas at least in a first region configured to press the pelvic region of the passenger towards a rear of the vehicle and to protect the lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger so that support structure bearing structures, which encase at least one bearing volume, are stretched by sucking in surrounding air through at least one inflow opening into an interior of the first region and forming the at least one bearing volume,

wherein the airbag has a second region adjacent to the first region and configured to protect the knee and lower leg region of the passenger, the second region is a single fillable region,

wherein the second region is fluidically connected to the support structure of the first region, and

wherein the support structure is tubular.

2. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the first region of the airbag comprises two bearing volumes.

3. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein, in the filled and deployed condition, the airbag extends at least over a width of the front vehicle seat.

4. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the support structure and the bearing structures form the bearing volume.

5. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the gas generator is attached to the vehicle floor in a footwell assigned to vehicle seat on which the at least one passenger is positioned.

6. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein at least sections of the gas generator are arranged beneath the front vehicle seat.

7. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the airbag is directly attached to the gas generator.

8. A vehicle, comprising:

a front vehicle seat;

a rear vehicle seat upon which at least one passenger is positioned; and

an airbag configured to protect the at least one passenger,

wherein, in event of an imminent collision of the vehicle being detected or in the event of a collision, the airbag is activated and filled with a gas,

wherein the airbag has a form such that when the airbag is deployed in the activated and filled condition, the airbag is configured to be interposed between a front vehicle seat and a lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger and configured to be interposed between the front vehicle seat and a knee and lower leg region of the passenger,

wherein the airbag is fluidically connected to a gas generator for deployment of the airbag, the gas generator, upon activation, releases the gas filling the airbag,

wherein the airbag has a support structure that is fillable with the gas at least in a first region configured to press the pelvic region of the passenger towards a rear of the vehicle and to protect the lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger so that support structure bearing structures, which encase at least one bearing volume, are stretched by sucking in surrounding air through at least one inflow opening into an interior of the first region and forming the at least one bearing volume,

wherein the airbag has a second region adjacent to the first region and configured to protect the knee and lower leg region of the passenger, the second region is a single fillable region,

wherein the second region is fluidically connected to the support structure of the first region, and

wherein the support structure is tubular.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first region of the airbag comprises two bearing volumes.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein, in the filled and deployed condition, the airbag extends at least over a width of the front vehicle seat.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the support structure and the bearing structures form the bearing volume.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the gas generator is attached to the vehicle floor in a footwell assigned to vehicle seat on which the at least one passenger is positioned.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein at least sections of the gas generator are arranged beneath the front vehicle seat.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the airbag is directly attached to the gas generator.

15. A method of deploying an airbag assigned to at least one passenger in a rear compartment of the vehicle, the method comprising:

activating and filling the airbag with gas by a gas generator fluidically connected to the airbag in response to detection of an imminent collision of the vehicle or in response to detection of a collision;

wherein filling the airbag causes the airbag to move from a stored position to a deployed position in which the airbag is configured to be interposed between a front vehicle seat and a lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger and configured to be interposed between the front vehicle seat and a knee and lower leg region of the passenger,

wherein in the deployed position a support structure of the airbag is filled with the gas at least in a first region configured to protect the lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger so that support structure bearing structures encasing at least one bearing volume are stretched,

wherein in the deployed position a second region of the airbag, which is adjacent to the first region, is configured to press the pelvic region of the passenger towards a rear of the vehicle and to protect the knee and lower leg region of the passenger, wherein the second region is a single fillable region,

wherein the second region is fluidically connected to the support structure of the first region,

wherein the support structure is tubular, and

wherein the airbag is only activated when a current driving speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined threshold value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first region of the airbag comprises two bearing volumes.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein, in the filled and deployed condition, the airbag extends at least over a width of the front vehicle seat.