DE10050216A1 - Occupant protection system for motor vehicle has at least one airbag which when inflated is tensioned between connecting points so that at least driver's or passenger's side region of front windscreen, or rear windscreen, is covered - Google Patents

Abstract

The occupant protection system has at least one airbag (3,4) which when inflated is tensioned between connecting points (7-9) in such a way that at least the driver's side region (13) and/or passenger's side region (14) of the front windscreen (15) and/or the rear windscreen is covered by the airbag to reduce the danger of the occupant, especially when not strapped in, of being hurled through the windscreen, especially in the case of the vehicle rolling over and particularly when the windscreen becomes detached from the vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to an occupant protection device for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, according to the preamble of claim 1.

A generic occupant protection device for a motor vehicle is from the US 5,602,734 known. This occupant protection device has at least one airbag on, which is folded in the non-activated basic state in the area of a Front window is arranged on the vehicle body and in the activated state in Vehicle interior at least partially covering the windscreen area is inflatable.

To this end, an airbag module is specifically arranged in the front roof edge area after activation an airbag from the roof area in front of the Inflates the windscreen area between the windscreen and a vehicle occupant. This airbag comprises two chambers, of which a first chamber on the Windscreen is applied while a second chamber more towards the vehicle occupant is inflated.

A similar structure of an occupant protection device for a motor vehicle is also out US 5,562,302, in which an airbag in the passenger area of one Dashboard is inflatable upwards in front of the windscreen, this being Airbag a relatively large-volume torso airbag part and a relatively small volume Head airbag part includes.

Furthermore, from DE 42 35 761 A1 an occupant protection device for a Motor vehicle known in which a multi-chamber airbag in front of a windshield is inflatable. The airbag is here in the folded state in the area of Dashboard arranged. The additional chambers are at a lower pressure  inflatable as a balloon-shaped, large-volume inner chamber. This is supposed to start a relatively gentle impact may be possible.

With such occupant protection devices, the force of an impact can be reduced Vehicle occupants are damped, the airbags here each on the Support the windscreen.

In the event of a rollover as a vehicle rollover, there is a risk that Example by strong deformations of the vehicle roof, the front window and also the Rear window can be detached from the vehicle. Especially for one the vehicle occupants who are not wearing their seat belts are then there Danger of this, if necessary, getting out of the vehicle through the windscreen area and the rear window area is thrown out. Such a thing Can be thrown out with the airbags described above Occupant protection devices cannot be prevented on a regular basis, as these the windshield has been removed by the vehicle occupant through the Windshield area can be pushed through and thus their Can not or only poorly perform the protective function.

From GB 2045695 an occupant protection device for a motor vehicle is known, in which a transparent plate is arranged in the vehicle interior in front of the windscreen which is made of an energy absorbing material, so that in the case of a In the event of a head impact on this transparent plate, part of the impact energy can be absorbed. To ensure adequate ventilation between the transparent The plate and the front window must be provided with a heater for this area be installed. Such a structure is optically unsightly and overall not very practical. In addition, there is also a rollover in such a structure the risk that the transparent plate is damaged or detached and therefore yours Protective function can no longer fulfill.

From US 5,322,322 there is a safety device in connection with a Side airbag of a motor vehicle known, in which the side airbag in the case of its Activation tubular and diagonally across the side window area is formed extending. The side airbag is here between two vehicle-side Fastening points excited. The tension is created by the training of the  Side airbags made of a material that is shortened when inflated. This is required because the side airbag is folded around the side window is arranged around and thus has a greater length than this in the inflated side airbag extending diagonally across the side window area is the case. This is only intended to support a side impact.

A similar structure in connection with a side airbag is known from DE 196 54 490 A1 known in which a special tightening device for tightening the side airbag in activated state is provided.

A side airbag is also known from DE 195 42 436 A1, which can be found in inflated state extends diagonally across the side window area, this Side airbag is assigned a support device that is activated for the inflated Side airbag a side support against an outward on the side airbag directed force forms.

Furthermore, it is known from DE 298 06 081 U1, a tubular side airbag to be provided for both a front side window and a rear side window, which is arranged in a snake shape and at certain attachment points in the Side area is attached.

A diagonally running in the side window area when inflated Side airbag is also known from DE 195 47 449 A1.

DE 196 11 575 describes an occupant protection device with a side airbag known, in the inflated state by means of straps in the use position is tense.

A diagonal side airbag in the side window area is also from the DE 197 26 782 A1 known, in which a long band within the airbag body is arranged and an end region of the airbag body and an end region of the band are attached to the vehicle. The other end of the band is activated of an inflator so that the airbag is aligned diagonally Use position can be brought under inflation and expansion.  

Tensioning of the inflated side airbag is also from the DE 197 04 051 A1 and from DE 196 39 617 A1 and DE 197 07 347 A1.

From DE 43 37 656 A1 an occupant protection device for motor vehicles is known, a fabric layer for side impact protection in the side window area a rest position in the roof in a position of use between one Vehicle occupants and a side window area of the motor vehicle can be brought. The Tissue is pulled down using a pulling device.

All of these previously described occupant protection devices with a side airbag common that with these only a protection and support for one Side impact can occur. The vehicle occupants are thrown out, especially the improperly unbuckled vehicle occupants through the windscreen and / or rear window area of a vehicle in one Rollover in which the front window and / or the Rear window is detached from the vehicle is not possible with such structures.

To keep the occupants in their seating position when the vehicle rolls over as a rollover hold, it is known from US 3,804,435, in connection with a bulldozer as Construction site vehicle known to inflate multiple airbags around the driver its upper body and head area jammed when inflated and fix. A disadvantage of such a structure is that such an inflation of several airbags in the direction of a vehicle occupant to fix it overall is relatively aggressive, so that due to the inflating airbags the danger impairment of the vehicle occupant. Such a structure is therefore not very practical.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide an occupant protection device for a vehicle, especially for a motor vehicle, with which even in the event of a rollover, where the front window and / or rear window due to strong deformation of the roof is released from the vehicle, the risk of the occupants being thrown out by the Front window area and / or rear window area can be reduced.

This object is achieved with the features of claim 1.  

According to claim 1, at least one airbag is in the non-activated, folded Ground state is at least partially tubular around the windscreen area and / or arranged and extending around a rear window area connection points arranged at a distance from one another on the edge of the pane, preferably in the area of the airbag ends, connected in such a way that the at least one Airbag in the activated, inflated state, preferably by shortening and / or Tightening that is stretched between the connection points.

This ensures that at least the driver-side area and / or the area of the front window and / or the rear window on the passenger side so with the at least one airbag is covered that with this the risk of Throwing out, in particular of non-buckled vehicle occupants by the Front window area and / or rear window area especially in the case of a Rollovers if the windscreen has been detached from the vehicle and / or Rear window can be reduced by catching the vehicle occupants. Not even in the case With such a structure, detached disks are an advantageous support and Energy absorption possible.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the Occupant protection device with at least one on a seat belt arrangement arranged sensor device is coupled, said sensor device is preferably designed as a belt buckle sensor. This sensor device admits a sensation of an improperly worn seat belt of the Vehicle occupants may activate the occupant protection device in Dependence on an actual sensed by a rollover sensor device or impending rollover. This ensures that, for example, a rollover and an improperly buckled vehicle occupant Occupant protection device can be activated, so that a rollover and a if necessary take out the windshield or the rear window effective protection against at least one airbag in the windscreen area the ejection can be built up. Should the inmate or inmates be buckled up properly, could then e.g. B. just a passenger airbag the area of the dashboard or a steering wheel airbag that are optimal are matched to the seating position then assumed by the occupant.  

In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the at least an airbag to enlarge the cover area in the windshield area and / or in the rear window area a net and / or a fabric layer in front of that at least one airbag not covered pane area are stretched. On such a network or such a fabric layer takes in the folded state only a little installation space away and can very well together with the tubular stowed at least one airbag folded around the pane area become. In the activated state of the safety device, there is on the one hand effective coverage both by the airbag and by the network and / or Fabric layer possible. The network and / or the fabric layer are advantageous connected on the one hand to the airbag and on the other hand to the vehicle body, wherein the net and / or the fabric layer are dimensioned so that they are inflated Airbag condition is tensioned. This will be a particularly effective one Restraint function reached. The airbag or airbags are advantageously so large inflated in the windscreen area and / or rear window area that they with as little material as possible the particularly critical area within the Cover the pane area.

In principle, the airbags can be connected to a tensioning device ensures that the airbags are activated and inflated in the Windscreen area and / or in the rear window area are stretched. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, however, the at least one airbag is made a material that is shorter in length when inflated.

Furthermore, basically only a single airbag can be provided, which is so over the Windshield area and / or rear window area is stretched that this both the driver side area and the passenger side area for the body covers an effective restraint. A particularly advantageous cover of the front window area and / or the rear window area results with a structure in which at least two airbags are provided, the Connection points are arranged on the pane edge area so that a first and the second airbag each diagonally in the pane area in front of a driver's side area and extend a passenger side area. So that with relatively little Effective protective barrier against ejection created especially by non-buckled vehicle occupants.  

In a particularly preferred specific embodiment, the two are diagonal airbags parallel to each other from bottom left to right aligned above or vice versa. In an alternative embodiment, the also an advantageous cover of the windshield area and / or Rear window area, the two diagonal airbags are each starting from a lower column area upwards to a middle one roof-side pane edge area led. Alternatively, the two can be diagonal running airbags but also starting from an upper pillar area led downward to a middle, windshield-side pane edge area his.

In both embodiments, the column-side connection points on the opposite sides are each at the same height, whereby for a particular advantageous coverage of the critical area preferably between the column-side Connection points another airbag, preferably for a triangular one Arrangement of the airbags in front of the pane area, which is inflatable and tensionable. With Such a structure has a particularly advantageous restraint function optimized material expenditure achieved.

The two can more preferably be located in a central pane edge region converging airbags there in a single common connection point on Pane edge area be kept. The airbags are basically preferably fixed via fastening straps at the connection points, which with the free airbag ends are connected.

In a further preferred alternative embodiment is in a middle roof-side and in a central windshield-side pane edge area as well as each one connection point each in a central column-side pane edge area provided, with a between each adjacent pair of connection points Airbag is inflatable and tensionable. In total there are four airbags in the Front window area and / or rear window area inflatable, which also a particularly preferred advantageous coverage of this area for a particular effective restraint of the occupants against being thrown out.  

Depending on the embodiment of the occupant protection device, each of the airbags can be one separate gas generator can be assigned, which preferably all activated at the same time become. Alternatively, however, a gas generator for several airbags or one Gas generator can be provided for a group of airbags, the connection to the airbags are manufactured, for example, by gas lances. The airbags can single-stage and, if necessary, also multi-stage depending on the given installation situation be trained.

The occupant protection device preferably has a rollover sensor device Detection of an actual or impending rollover as vehicle rollover, through which the occupant protection device can be activated. In addition to fast Response times also achieved high functional reliability.

To achieve a long service life for the airbags and these are preferably made of a gas-impermeable fabric or a gas-tight one coated fabric.

The invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a drawing.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic plan view of a windshield portion of a first embodiment of the occupant protection device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the occupant protection device according to FIG. 1 with a net additionally stretched in the windscreen area, FIG.

Fig. 3 shows a further alternative embodiment with diagonal and parallel to one another airbag,

Fig. 4 shows a further alternative embodiment, also with diagonal and parallel to one another airbag,

Fig. 5 shows another alternative embodiment with a triangular air bag assembly,

Fig. 6 shows a further alternative embodiment of a triangular-shaped air-bag arrangement, and

Fig. 7 shows a further alternative embodiment with four inflatable in the windshield area airbags.

In FIG. 1, a passenger protection device 1 for a front disc portion 2 for a motor vehicle, schematically and by way of example.

This occupant protection device 1 comprises two airbags 3 , 4 which, in the non-activated, folded basic state 5, are arranged in a tube-shaped manner, at least partially extending around the windshield area 2 , and at connection points 7 , 8 , 9 arranged at a distance from one another on the window edge area 6 by means of fastening belts 10 , which Area of the airbag ends are arranged, are connected.

The airbags 3 , 4 are made of a material that shortens in length when inflated, so that the airbags 3 , 4 are tensioned in the activated state of the occupant protection device 1 by shortening between the connection points 7 and 9 and 8 and 9 , as is also the case is visible in FIG. 1.

In this tensioned state, the two diagonally extending airbags 3 , 4 each extend from a lower pillar area of the A-pillars 11 , 12 upwards to a central, roof-side pane edge area and are fixed there via the fastening straps 10 at the common connection point 9 .

With the airbags 3 , 4 which can be stretched in the activated state in the windshield area 2 , both a driver's side area 13 and a passenger's side area 14 of the windshield area 2 are covered, so that there is a risk of the vehicle window area 2 being thrown out, in particular, by the windshield area 2 in the event of a rollover when the vehicle rolls over Detached windscreen 15 , which is shown here only for the sake of clarity to define the pane edge area 6 , can be reduced by catching the vehicle occupants by means of the airbags 3 , 4 .

Each of the airbags 3 , 4 is assigned a gas generator 16 , 17 which is arranged in the lower windscreen edge region A-pillar side on the vehicle body and can be activated in the event of a rollover by means of a rollover sensor device (not shown here) which senses an actual or impending rollover.

In the event that the windshield 15 is not released from the vehicle during a rollover, the two airbags 3 , 4 provide effective impact protection. The airbags 3 , 4 are preferably of such a large area that they cover the particularly critical area within the windshield area 2 with as little material expenditure as possible, as is only shown extremely schematically in FIG. 1.

The occupant protection device 1 is preferably coupled to a sensor device, preferably a belt buckle sensor, which, when a seat belt of the vehicle or the vehicle occupants is not properly seated, enables the activation of the occupant protection device 1 in the event of a rollover sensed by the rollover sensor device.

As can also be seen, the connection points 7 , 8 are attached at the same height on opposite vehicle sides on the A-pillar side.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of the embodiment according to FIG. 1, in which the two airbags 3 , 4 are connected to a network 18 , 19 to enlarge the covering area in the front window area 2 , which net is separated from the two airbags 3 , 4 in FIG activated, inflated state can be stretched in the windshield areas not covered by the two airbags 3 , 4 . For this purpose, in addition to being connected to the airbags 3 , 4 , the network 18 , 19 is also connected to the vehicle body.

In FIG. 3, an alternative occupant protection device 20 is shown, which also two airbags 21, 22 has. The airbags 21 , 22 are arranged together with their connection points 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 on the pane edge region 6 such that the two airbags 21 , 22 are guided diagonally and parallel to one another from bottom right to top left and the driver's side region 13 and the respective Cover passenger side area 14 . By way of example, two gas generators 27 , 28 are provided here, which are connected to the respective airbags 21 , 22 via gas lines 29 , 30 . Alternatively, a single two-stage airbag can also be used here.

FIG. 4 shows a further alternative occupant protection device 31 , which differs from that according to FIG. 3 only in that the two airbags 32 , 33 are guided from the bottom left to the top right, so that no further details are given here ,

In FIG. 5, a further alternative occupant protection device 34 is shown, in which the two airbags 35, 36 approximately in the manner of the air bag of Fig. 1 and 2 are arranged, with the difference that the lower attachment points 37, 38 on the A-pillars 11 , 12 are displaced somewhat further upward towards the vehicle roof area 39 , so that a third airbag 40 in the windshield area 2 can be inflated and tensioned between these two connection points 37 , 38 .

FIG. 6 shows an occupant protection device 41 , in which airbags 42 , 43 , 44 are provided, which are arranged in a manner reversed from the embodiment according to FIG. 5, so that this is not dealt with in any more detail.

Finally, FIG. 7 shows a further alternative embodiment of an occupant protection device 45 in which a connection point 50 is provided in a central roof-side pane edge area 54 and in a central windshield-side pane edge area 55 and in each case in a central area of the A-pillars 11 , 12 , 51 , 52 , 53 is arranged. An airbag 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 can be inflated and tensioned between each adjacent pair of these connection points 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , so that an overall parallelogram-like arrangement of the airbags 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 in the windshield area 2 can be achieved.

A structure, as has been described in FIGS. 1 to 7, is in principle also possible in the area of a rear window, but this is not shown here.

Furthermore, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 7 can also each be connected to a network and / or fabric layer, as has already been explained in detail in connection with FIG. 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Occupant protection device

2

Windscreen area

3

air bag

4

air bag

5

ground state

6

Disc edge area

7

access point

8th

access point

9

access point

10

fastening straps

11

A column

12

A column

13

Driver's side area

14

Passenger side area

15

windscreen

16

inflator

17

inflator

18

network

19

network

20

Occupant protection device

21

air bag

22

air bag

23

access point

24

access point

25

access point

26

access point

27

inflator

28

inflator

29

gas pipe

30

gas pipe

31

Occupant protection device

32

air bag

33

air bag

34

Occupant protection device

35

air bag

36

air bag

37

access point

38

access point

39

Vehicle roof

40

air bag

41

Occupant protection device

42

air bag

43

air bag

44

air bag

45

Occupant protection device

46

air bag

47

air bag

48

air bag

49

air bag

50

access point

51

access point

52

access point

53

access point

54

roof-side pane edge area

55

windshield-side pane edge area

Claims (16)

1. occupant protection device for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, with at least one airbag, which is arranged folded in the non-activated basic state in the area of a windshield on the vehicle body and in the activated state in the vehicle interior the windshield area is at least partially inflatable covering, characterized in that at least an airbag ( 3 , 4 ; 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ; 35 , 36 , 40 ; 42 , 43 , 44 ; 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ) in the non-activated, folded basic state ( 5 ) is at least partially tubular around the Front window region ( 2 ) and / or a rear window region is arranged to extend around and at connection points ( 7 , 8 , 9 ; 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ; 37 , 38 ; 50 , 51 ) arranged at a distance from one another on the window edge region ( 6 ; 54 , 55 ) , 52 , 53 ), preferably in the area of the airbag ends, is connected such that the at least one airbag ( 3 , 4 ; 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ; 35 , 36 , 40 ; 42 , 43 , 44 ; 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ) in the activated, inflated state, preferably by shortening and / or tightening, between the connection points ( 7 , 8 , 9 ; 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ; 37 , 38 ; 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ) is tensioned in such a way that at least the driver's side area ( 13 ) and / or the passenger's side area ( 14 ) of the front window ( 15 ) and / or the rear window is connected to the at least one airbag ( 3 , 4 ; 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ; 35 , 36 , 40 ; 42 , 43 , 44 ; 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ) is covered so that the risk of them being thrown out by the front window area ( 2 ) and / or rear window area, in particular in the event of a rollover, in particular of non-belted vehicle occupants if the front window ( 15 ) and / or rear window is detached from the vehicle, it can be reduced by catching the vehicle occupants. 2. The occupant protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the occupant protection device ( 1 ; 20 ; 31 ; 34 ; 41 ; 45 ) is coupled to at least one sensor device, preferably a belt buckle sensor, which is arranged on a seat belt arrangement and which is sensed when a seat belt is not properly worn of the vehicle occupant or the activation of the occupant protection device ( 2 , 3 ; 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ; 35 , 36 , 40 ; 42 , 43 , 44 ; 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ) possibly depending on one by a rollover - Sensor device releases sensed actual or impending rollover. 3. Occupant protection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that via the at least one airbag ( 3 , 4 ) to enlarge the covering area, a net and / or a fabric layer ( 18 , 19 ) in front of the at least one airbag ( 3 , 4 ) uncovered pane area can be clamped. 4. Occupant protection device according to claim 3, characterized in that the network or the fabric layer ( 18 , 19 ) is connected on the one hand to the airbag ( 3 , 4 ) and on the other hand to the vehicle body. 5. Occupant protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one airbag ( 3 , 4 ; 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ; 35 , 36 , 40 ; 42 , 43 , 44 ; 46 , 47 , 49 ) from one material that is shortened in length when inflated is produced. 6. Occupant protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two airbags ( 3 , 4 ; 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ; 35 , 36 ; 42 , 43 ) are provided, the connection points ( 7 , 8 , 9 ; 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ; 37 , 38 ; 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ) are arranged on the pane edge area ( 6 ) in such a way that a first and second airbag ( 3 , 4 ; 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ; 35 , 36 ; 42 , 43 ) each extend diagonally in the window area ( 2 ) in front of a driver side area ( 13 ) and a passenger side area ( 14 ). 7. The occupant protection device according to claim 6, characterized in that the two diagonally extending airbags ( 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ) are aligned parallel to one another in each case from the bottom left to the top right or vice versa. 8. The occupant protection device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the two diagonally extending airbags ( 3 , 4 ; 35 , 36 ) are each guided upwards from a lower pillar region in approximately a central, roof-side pane edge region. 9. The occupant protection device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the two diagonally extending airbags ( 42 , 43 ) are each guided downwards from an upper pillar region to approximately a central windshield-side pane edge region. 10. occupant protection device according to claim 6, characterized in that the column-side connection points ( 7 , 8 ; 37 , 38 ) on the opposite sides are each at the same height. 11. Occupant protection device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that between the column-side connection points ( 37 , 38 ) to cover the upper or lower pane area, another airbag ( 40 ; 44 ), preferably for a triangular arrangement of the airbags ( 35 , 36 , 40 ; 42 , 43 , 44 ) in front of the pane area ( 2 ), is inflatable and can be tensioned. 12. Occupant protection device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the two airbags ( 3 , 4 ; 35 , 36 ; 42 , 43 ) converging in a central window edge region have a single common connection point ( 9 ) there on the window edge region. 13. Occupant protection device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in each case a connection point ( 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ) is provided in a central roof-side and in a central windshield-side pane edge region ( 54 , 55 ) and in each case in a central column-side pane edge region and that between each adjacent pair of connection points ( 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ) an airbag ( 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ) is inflatable and tensionable, preferably for a rectangular and / or parallelogram-like arrangement of the airbags ( 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 ) in front of the pane area ( 2 ). 14. Occupant protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one at least one-stage gas generator ( 16 , 17 ; 27 , 28 ) is provided, or each individual airbag ( 3 , 4 ; 21 , 22 ), a group of airbags or all airbags are preferably assigned to gas lances together, if necessary in connection with gas lines ( 29 , 30 ). 15. The occupant protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the occupant protection device ( 1 ; 20 ; 31 ; 34 ; 41 ; 45 ) has a rollover sensor device for detecting an actual or impending rollover as a vehicle rollover, through which the occupant protection device ( 1 ; 20 ; 31 ; 34 ; 41 ; 45 ) can be activated. 16. Occupant protection device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one airbag ( 3 , 4 ; 21 , 22 ; 32 , 33 ; 35 , 36 , 40 ; 42 , 43 , 44 ; 46 , 47 , 49 ) for increasing the service life is made of a gas-tight fabric.