Load distribution element for an air-bag

• US 6,962,368 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2003
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hjerpe, Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/642,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20040070182A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 280/751, 280/753, 280/730.1, 180/90.6, 296/75, 296/97.23
• US Class Current: 280/751
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/06 of footrests
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/066 with protection systems against abnormal g-forces
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0046 Feet
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21525 the lid being fixed on the bag, or forming part of the bag wall, or the bag itself being used as wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2161 the cover being displaced towards the occupant during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23176 specially adapted for foot protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/04 Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment

Abstract

An air-bag is adapted to be positioned on the floor pan of a vehicle in the foot-well, to be located beneath the feet of an occupant of the vehicle. The air-bag unit is an upper cover located above an air-bag. On inflation of the air-bag, the cover is lifted from its initial position to an elevated position. The cover includes two sections inter-connected by a hinge-line. On inflation of the air-bag, part of the cover adjacent the hinge-line is elevated to a greater extent than the portions of the cover which are remote from the hinge-line.

Claims

1. A load distribution element to be mounted in a vehicle and adapted to be beneath at least one foot of an occupant of the vehicle, the load distribution element comprising a plate, where the plate has a first region of a predetermined strength and at least one further region of a greater strength, the region of greater strength comprising at least a first area to be located beneath a predetermined part of a foot of an occupant of the vehicle and further comprising an inflatable air-bag to be located between the element and the floor of the vehicle.

2. The load distribution element according to claim 1, wherein the first area is to be located beneath the heel of the foot of the occupant.

3. An element according to claim 2 wherein said first area is dimensioned to be located beneath the heels of two feet of the occupant.

4. An element according to claim 2 wherein the further region incorporates a second area which extends adjacent one edge of the element and is adapted to be located under one side of the foot of the occupant.

5. An element according to claim 4 wherein the element includes at least one relatively weak area which has a strength which is less than said predetermined strength.

6. An element according to claim 5 wherein the relatively weak area is adjacent the second area and is adapted to be located under the other side of the foot of the occupant.

7. An element according to claim 2 wherein the further region of a greater strength incorporates two further areas which extend adjacent two opposite sides of the element and are adapted to lie under side parts of feet of an occupant.

8. An element according to claim 7 wherein the element includes at least one relatively weak area which has a strength which is less than said predetermined strength.

9. An element according to claim 8 wherein there are two said relatively weak areas located respectively adjacent said two further areas and adapted to lie under the other side parts of the feet of the occupant.

10. The load distribution element according to claim 1 wherein the element is substantially rectangular and the further region of greater strength incorporates another area which extends across the element and is spaced from said first area.

11. The load distribution element according to claim 1 wherein the element includes at least one relatively weak area which has a strength which is less than said predetermined strength.

12. The load distribution element according to claim 1 further comprising padding to be located between the element and the floor of the vehicle.

13. An element according to claim 1 wherein the element forms part of the upper cover of a housing containing the air-bag.

14. An element according to claim 13 wherein the housing is a damp-proof sealed housing.

15. An element according to claim 13 wherein the element is connected to the rest of the upper cover by a hinge-line.