GB2341357A

GB2341357A - An air bag arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2341357A
Application number: GB9920500A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Anthony Corrigall; Richard James Ashmore
Original assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Current assignee: MG Rover Group Ltd
Priority date: 1998-09-11
Filing date: 1999-09-01
Publication date: 2000-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2019-09-01
Also published as: GB9819733D0; GB9920500D0; GB2341357B

Abstract

In a motor vehicle (5) an air bag arrangement comprising an elongate air bag (1) and a restraint mechanism (7) is secured adjacent an upper door jamb in order to engage an occupant (12) after deployment and during impact or roll over scenarios. The restraint mechanism (7) providing a broader range of angular presentations acceptable for engagement with the occupant (12) in order to protect that occupant (12) during side impact and roll-over scenarios. Typically, the restraint arrangement will comprise straps or bands or a net or a sheet of material typically presented in an angular relationship which is a truncated or chamfer surface to the normal motor vehicle (12) interior cabin perimeter.

Description

2341357 - 1 AN AIR BAG ARRANGEMENT The present invention relates to an air

bag arrangement and more particularly to an air bag arrangement used adjacent a motor vehicle door in order to protect occupants from side impacts and roll-over of the vehicle.

Occupant safety within a motor vehicle is clearly an important concern.

In order to protect a vehicle occupant, various design features are incorporated within the vehicle to reduce or diminish potential injury to the occupant. In particular, it has become relatively commonplace to provide air bags within a motor vehicle, which upon deployment provide an energy absorption cushion to the occupant. These air bag arrangements can be presented at a multitude of angles and inflation rates in order to best protect the occupant.

The present invention is particularly concerned with regard to side impacts and the potential for vehicle roll over injury to the occupant.

It is known to provide a so-called inflatable tube structure (ITS) air bag arrangement to protect an occupant. One such (ITS) system is illustrated in German patent No. 19547494 (Mercedes-Benz).

Essentially, in such (ITS) systems, an inflatable tube, ie. air bag is presented upon deployment at an angle beside the occupants head between a roof position adjacent the so-called B post or door lock post of a motor vehicle whilst the other end of the inflatable tube air bag is secured adjacent the so-called A post or door hinge post of a vehicle. Thus, the inflatable tube is presented at an angle extending substantially where the side window glass of the vehicle is provided. The inflatable tube clearly providing a cushion upon which the occupants head, etc, can engage in order to protect that occupant from percussive side impact injury.

Unfortunately, a simple inflatable tube system (ITS) does not resiliently present itself during the inherent jostling of a motor vehicle impact collision. Furthermore, during vehicle roll over, it will be appreciated that only a relatively narrow band constituted by the width of the inflated tube is provided to protect the occupant. In such circumstances, it win be appreciated that the potential protection for the occupant is not of the level desired by motor vehicle manufacturers. Thus, motor vehicle manufacturers attempt to provide additional static padding and other energy absorption protection mechanisms within the vehicle in order to protect the occupant. Such additional features can be both expensive in terms of component costs and manufacturing along with detrimental in terms of design aesthetics.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide an air bag arrangement which substantially relieves the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an air bag arrangement for a motor vehicle, the arrangement comprising an elongate air bag stowed prior to deployment about a motor vehicle upper door jamb and deployed to extend across that door with restraint means extending from that elongate air bag to the upper door jamb in order to provide engagement with the vehicle occupant over a broad range of angular presentations particularly consistent with vehicle roll over and that range of angular presentations being defined by the periphery of the deployed elongate air bag and where the restraint means is coupled about the upper door jamb.

Preferably, the restraint means comprises straps or a net or a fabriclplastic sheet of sufficient resilience to restrain an occupant during the vehicle impact or roll-over scenario.

Typically, the restraint means will be secured about the upper door jamb of the motor vehicle at an inboard position away from the door jamb in order to provide a chamfered surface truncation of the vehicle cabin volume such that that chamfered surface truncation is provided for engagement with the occupant. Thus, the restraint means will be anchored inboard and away from the upper door jamb by a distance of at least 30 cms.

In order to facilitate rapid deployment of the air bag arrangement, the air bag will be stowed along with the restraint means behind rupturable surfaces about the upper door jamb and also roof lining of the motor vehicle.

Normally, the elongate air bag will extend from the so-called A post or front hinge post of the motor vehicle to the B post, ie. front door lock post of the vehicle or behind that B post in order to present the elongate air bag and the restraint means appropriately to the occupant during an impact or roll-over scenario.

i An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way 10 of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a pictorial schematic front elevation of an air bag arrangement; and Figure 2 is a pictorial schematic plan elevation of the air bag arrangement depicted in Figure 1.

As indicated above, it is known to provide an inflatable tube air bag which is deployed adjacent the side windows of a motor vehicle upon detection of a sufficiently violent impact. This inflatable tube air bag extends typically from the A post or front vehicle door hinge post rearwards of the vehicle cabin in order to present the inflatable tube at the appropriate height for engagement with an occupant of a vehicle.

Unfortunately, by its very nature an inflated tube air bag can only provide a limited band of cushion engagement with an occupant. Thus, there is a relatively wide range of possible approach angles at which the occupant is inappropriately engaged by the tubular air bag and therefore not protected. In particular, if the occupant is raised or the vehicle roof deformed, it will be appreciated that the air bag provides little protection. Such lifting of the occupants from their seat or deformation of the vehicle roof can particularly occur during vehicle roll-over. Finally, it will be appreciated that a limited band of protection is provided by a tubular air bag with regard to impact between the occupant and side windows. It will be understood that side windows can be particularly injurious due to the potential for glass lacerating the occupant.

In accordance with the present invention, an inflatable tube air bag 1 is secured through tethers 2, 3 about an upper door jamb 4 of a motor vehicle 5. Prior to deployment, the air bag arrangement including the inflatable tube air bag 1 is located within the door jamb 4 and also between the roof lining and the vehicle body (not shown). However, as depicted in Figures 1 and 2, in a deployed configuration the air bag 1 extends across a side window 6 in order to engage an occupant during an impact or collision