WO2016075108A1

WO2016075108A1 - A safety arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2016075108A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/076148
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ken Lindberg; Martin Östling; Robert Persson
Original assignee: Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date: 2014-11-12
Filing date: 2015-11-10
Publication date: 2016-05-19
Also published as: GB201420115D0; GB2532231A; GB2532231B

Abstract

A safety arrangement (1) for use with a vehicle (19). The arrangement (1) comprises an air-bag (2) which is configured to be inflated by a source of gas. The air-bag (2) has a first end (3), a second end (4) and a central portion (5) between the first and second ends (3, 4). A first elongate tether (14) is attached to the air-bag (2), with one end of the first tether (14) being attached to the air-bag (2) substantially at or adjacent the first end (3) of the air-bag (2) and the other end of the first tether (14) being attached to part of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2). The safety arrangement further comprises a second elongate tether (15) which is attached to the air-bag (2), one end of the second tether (15) being attached to the air-bag (2) substantially at or adjacent the second end (4) of the air-bag (2) and the other end of the second tether (15) being attached to part of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2). When the air-bag (2) is inflated, the tethers (14, 1 5) restrict movement of the ends (3, 4) of the air-bag 2 to produce bent portions (16, 17). The bent portions (16, 17) are configured to contact a vehicle such that a cavity is formed between the bent portions (16, 17), at least part of the central portion 5 of the air-bag (2) and part of the vehicle (19).

Description

A Safety Arrangement

The present invention relates to a safety arrangement, and more particularly relates to a safety arrangement comprising an air-bag for use with a vehicle.

If a vehicle is involved in a crash situation in which the vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the pedestrian is typically thrown onto the windscreen of the vehicle. This can result in serious injury to the pedestrian. In order to minimise injury to a pedestrian involved in such a collision, it is known to provide a pedestrian-protecting air-bag which inflates to cover at least part of the windscreen of a vehicle. The inflated air-bag provides a cushion which absorbs energy as the pedestrian strikes the air-bag thereby minimising the risk of injury to the pedestrian. However, in a conventional pedestrian- protecting air-bag, a very large force exerted on the air-bag by a pedestrian striking the air-bag may deflate a portion of the air-bag fully, causing the pedestrian to strike the windscreen through the deflated air-bag. A pedestrian can therefore potentially still face serious injury, even when a pedestrian- protecting air-bag is deployed.

There is a need for an improved safety arrangement for protecting a pedestrian involved in a frontal collision with a vehicle.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved safety arrangement for use with a vehicle.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safety arrangement for use with a vehicle, the arrangement comprising an air-bag which is configured to be inflated by a source of gas, the air-bag having a first end, a second end and a central portion between the first and second ends a first elongate tether attached to the air-bag, one end of the first tether being attached to the air-bag substantially at or adjacent the first end of the air-bag and the other end of the first tether being attached to part of the central portion of the air-bag and a second elongate tether attached to the air-bag, one end of the second tether being attached to the air-bag substantially at or adjacent the second end of the air-bag and the other end of the second tether being attached to part of the central portion of the air-bag, wherein, upon inflation of the air-bag, the tethers restrict movement of the first and second ends of the air-bag to produce bent portions of the air-bag at the first and second ends of the air-bag, and, in use, the bent portions contact a vehicle so that the central portion of the air-bag is spaced apart from the vehicle and a cavity is formed between the bent portions, at least part of the central portion of the air-bag and part of the vehicle. Preferably, the arrangement further comprises a third elongate tether attached to the air-bag, one end of the third tether being attached to the air-bag substantially at or adjacent the first end of the air-bag and the other end of the third tether being attached to part of the central portion of the air-bag, wherein, the first and third tethers are spaced apart from one another at the respective upper and lower edges of the air-bag.

Conveniently, the arrangement further comprises a fourth elongate tether attached to the air-bag, one end of the fourth tether being attached to the air- bag substantially at or adjacent the second end of the air-bag and the other end of the fourth tether being attached to part of the central portion of the air- bag, wherein, the second and fourth tethers are spaced apart from one another at the respective upper and lower edges of the air-bag.

Advantageously, the first and second elongate tethers are each portions of a single combined elongate tether, wherein one end of the combined tether is attached to the air-bag substantially at or adjacent the first end of the air-bag and the other end of the combined tether is attached to the air-bag substantially at or adjacent the second end of the air-bag, and wherein a central portion of the combined tether is slideably attached to the central portion of the air-bag at two respective spaced apart positions on part of the central portion of the air-bag.

Preferably, the tethers are configured to retain each of the bent portions at an angle which is between 10° and 85° relative to an elongate portion of the central portion of the air-bag. Conveniently, the air-bag comprises two reduced inflation regions about which the respective ends of the air-bag bend as the air-bag inflates.

Advantageously, each reduced inflation region is a non-inflatable region of the air-bag.

Preferably, the central portion of the air-bag comprises an elongate non- inflatable region which extends at least partly along the length of the central portion of the air-bag. Conveniently, the safety arrangement further comprises a housing which at least partly houses the air-bag and the tethers when the air-bag is not inflated, the housing being configured to be mounted to a vehicle at a position which is adjacent the lower edge of the windscreen of the vehicle. Advantageously, the housing is mounted to a vehicle adjacent the lower edge of the windscreen of the vehicle so that, upon inflation of the air-bag, the air- bag at least partly covers the windscreen of the vehicle and the bent portions at least partly cover the A-pillars of the vehicle. Preferably, the bent portions of the air-bag are bent about bend lines which are substantially parallel to the respective A-pillars of the vehicle. Conveniently, the air-bag is an integrated side curtain air-bag which is configured to be mounted within a vehicle so that, upon inflation of the air-bag, the air-bag at least partly covers a side window of the vehicle. So that the present invention may be more readily understood, embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a partially formed air-bag of a safety arrangement of an embodiment of the invention in an uninflated form,

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the air-bag of figure 1 in an inflated form,

Figure 3 is a diagram showing the air-bag of figures 1 and 2 in an inflated form and mounted in position on a vehicle,

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a partially formed air-bag of a further embodiment of the invention in an uninflated form, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the air-bag of figure 4 with the air-bag in an inflated form,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of the air-bag shown in figure 5, and Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an air-bag of a still further embodiment of the invention.

Referring initially to figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a safety arrangement 1 of an embodiment of the invention comprises an elongate or generally elongate air-bag 2. The air-bag 2 comprises a first end 3, a second end 4 and a central portion 5 which is positioned between the first and second ends 3, 4. In this embodiment, the air-bag 2 is formed from two layers of woven fabric 6, 7 which are superimposed on one another (only one of the fabric layers 6 is visible in figure 1 ). The fabric layers 6, 7 are attached to one another by stitching which provides a gas impermeable or a substantially gas impermeable seam 8 which extends around the periphery of the edges of the fabric layers 6, 7.

It is to be appreciated that, in other embodiments of the invention, the air-bag 2 comprises additional fabric layers or seams. In further embodiments, the air- bag 2 is not formed from superimposed layers of fabric, but is instead formed from one-piece woven fabric.

In certain embodiments of the invention, the airbag 2 is provided with at least one vent aperture which is configured to allow gas to be vented from the air- bag 2 once the air-bag 2 is inflated, in order to control the deflation of the air- bag.

The air-bag 2 comprises a gas inlet (not shown) which is configured to be coupled to a source of gas so that the air-bag 2 is inflated by gas passing from the source of gas into the air-bag 2 through the inlet. The source of gas is, for instance, a pyrotechnic gas generator.

The air-bag 2 is, in this embodiment, provided with an elongate non-inflatable region 9 which is formed by a seam. The seam connects the two layers 6, 7 to one another to provide the non-inflatable region 9 at least partly along the length of the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2. In other embodiments, the non- inflatable region 9 is formed from further seams or other non-inflatable formations. However, in still further embodiments, the non-inflatable region 9 is omitted. The air-bag 2 comprises first and second reduced inflation regions 10, 1 1 which are provided adjacent the first and second ends 3, 4 of the air-bag 2. Each reduced inflation region 10, 1 1 is spaced apart from the respective end of the air-bag 2. The reduced inflation regions 10, 1 1 are, formed by portions of the layers 6, 7 that are attached to one another, for instance by stitching. Each reduced inflation region 10, 1 1 is configured to restrict the size of inflation of the air-bag to provide respective bend lines 12, 13 about which the first and second ends 3, 4 of the air-bag 2 bend as the air-bag 2 inflates. The function of the bend lines 12, 13 is discussed in more detail below.

The safety arrangement 1 further comprises a first elongate flexible tether 14 which is attached at one end to the air-bag 2 substantially at or adjacent the first end 3 of the air-bag 2. The other end of the first tether 14 is attached to part of the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2. For simplicity purposes figure 1 shows the other end of the first tether 14 during an intermediate manufacturing step in which the end is not yet attached to part of the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2.

The safety arrangement 1 further comprises a second elongate flexible tether 15 which is attached at one end to the air-bag 2 substantially at or adjacent the second end 4 of the air-bag 2. The other end of the second tether 15 is attached to part of the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2. For simplicity purposes figure 1 shows the other end of the second tether 15 during an intermediate manufacturing step in which the end is not yet attached to part of the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2.

Referring now to figure 2 of the accompanying drawings, when the air-bag 2 inflates, the air-bag 2 expands and the first and second tethers 14, 15 restrict the movement of the respective first and second ends 3, 4 of the air-bag 2 to produce bent portions 16, 1 7 of the air-bag 2. The tethers 14, 15 cause the ends 3, 4 of the air-bag 2 to be bent towards one another and in the same or substantially the same direction as one another. The length of the tethers 14, 15 is selected to bend each respective end 3, 4 of the air-bag 2 to a bend angle Θ relative to the elongate access of the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2. In this embodiment, the bend angle Θ is 90° or less and is preferably between 10° and 85°.

In this embodiment, the air-bag 2 is a pedestrian-protecting air-bag which is configured to at least partly cover a portion of a windscreen 1 8 of a vehicle 19, as shown in figures 2 and 3. The safety arrangement 1 comprising the air-bag 2 and the tethers 14, 1 5 is initially folded within a housing (not shown) which is mounted adjacent to a lower edge 20 of the windscreen of the vehicle 1 9. The housing is preferably mounted beneath a rear portion of a hood 21 of the vehicle 1 9 which is configured to be raised as the air-bag 2 inflates, as shown in figure 3. The bent portions 16, 17 are configured to contact the vehicle 19 such that a cavity 22 is formed between the bent portions 16, 1 7 and the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2 and the windscreen 18 of the vehicle 19. The bent portions 16, 17 retain the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2 in a position which is spaced apart from the windscreen 1 8. This spacing distance minimises the risk of injury to a pedestrian striking the air-bag 2 since the air-bag 2 must deform over a greater distance than the thickness of the inflated central portion 5.

The bent portions 16, 1 7 are, upon inflation of the air-bag 2, positioned adjacent respective A-pillars 23, 24 of the vehicle 19. The bend lines 1 2, 13 of the bent portions 16, 17 are parallel or substantially parallel to the respective A-pillars 23, 24. The bent portions 16, 17 at least partly cover the A-pillars 23, 24 of the vehicle 1 9 to provide enhanced cushioning to shield a pedestrian from striking the rigid A-pillars 23, 24. The safety arrangement 1 thereby minimises injury to a pedestrian who is struck by the vehicle 1 9 who might otherwise have struck one of the ridged A-pillars 23, 24, potentially facing serious injury. The bent portions 16, 17 provide a dual purpose of maintaining a cavity 22 between the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2 and the windscreen 18 and providing enhanced cushioning which at least partly covers the A-pillars 23, 24 of the vehicle 19.

Referring now to figures 4 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, a safety arrangement of a further embodiment of the invention comprises an identical air-bag 2 to the embodiment described above. The same reference numerals are used to indicate the features of the safety arrangement which correspond to the features of the safety arrangement described above.

The safety arrangement of this further embodiment comprises first and second tethers 25, 26. One end of each of the first and second tethers 25, 26 is attached substantially at or adjacent a respective one of the first and second ends 3, 4 of the airbag 2. The other end of each of the first and second tethers 25, 26 is attached to part of the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2 substantially at or adjacent the seam 8 that extends along the upper edge of the air-bag 2, as shown in figure 5. The safety arrangement of this further embodiment comprises third and fourth elongate tethers 27, 28. Each of the third and fourth tethers 27, 28 is attached at one end to the air-bag 2 substantially at or adjacent a respective one of the first and second ends 3, 4. The third and fourth tethers 27, 28 are spaced apart from the first and second tethers 25, 26. The other ends of the third and fourth tethers 27, 28 are attached to part of the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2 at the seam 8 that extends along the lower edge of the air-bag 2.

The four tethers 25-28 provide the same function of restricting movement of the first and second ends 3, 4 of the air-bag 2 to produce the bent portions 16, 17 as the embodiment described above. The arrangement of the four tethers 25-28 stabilises the bent portions 1 6, 17 due to the tethers 25-28 being attached to the upper and lower edges of the air-bag 2. This helps to minimise the possibility of the bent portions 16, 17 moving or rotating relative to the central portion 5 of the air-bag 2.

Referring now to figure 7 of the accompanying drawings, a safety arrangement of a still further embodiment of the invention comprises an air-bag 2 of the same configuration as the air-bag 2 described above. However, in this embodiment, the safety arrangement comprises a single combined elongate tether 29. Each end of the combined tether 29 is attached to the air-bag 2 substantially at or adjacent a respective one of the first and second ends 3, 4 of the air-bag 2.

The combined tether 29 is slideably attached to the central portion 5 of the air- bag 2 by two spaced apart slideable attachment arrangements 30, 31 that are fixed to the air-bag 2. The slideable attachment arrangements 30, 31 are preferably in the form of loops which are fixed to the air-bag 2, with the combined tether 29 extending slideably through the loops. A first portion of the combined tether 29 forms a first tether 32 which is attached to the first end 3 of the air-bag 2. A second portion of the combined tether 29 forms a second tether 33 which is attached to the second end 4 of the air-bag 2.

It is to be appreciated that the safety arrangement of this still further embodiment functions in a similar manner to the safety arrangement of the embodiment described above and as shown in figures 1 to 3. The first and second tethers 32, 33 formed by portions of the combined tether restrict movement of the first and second ends 3, 4 of the air-bag 2 to produce the bent portions 16, 1 7.

It is to be appreciated that further embodiments of the invention may comprise more than two tethers at each end 3, 4 of the air-bag 2 in order to restrict the movement of the ends 3, 4 to produce the bent portions 1 6, 17. Whilst the embodiments described above comprise an air-bag which functions as a pedestrian-protecting air-bag to cover at least part of a windscreen of a vehicle, in other embodiments the safety arrangement comprises an air-bag to provide protection elsewhere on a vehicle. In further embodiments, the safety arrangement comprises an integrated side curtain air-bag which is mounted within a vehicle and is configured, upon inflation, to at least partly cover a side window of the vehicle in a crash situation. In this embodiment, the bent portions of the air-bag retain a central portion of the air-bag in a position which is spaced apart from a side window of the vehicle to produce a cavity between the central portion of the air-bag and the side window of the vehicle. The bent portions of the air-bag preferably also at least partly cover a pillar within the vehicle. The integrated side curtain air-bag thereby minimises the risk an occupant of the vehicle striking through the inflated air-bag and contacting a side window of the vehicle or pillar within the vehicle.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

Claims

1 . A safety arrangement for use with a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

an air-bag (2) which is configured to be inflated by a source of gas, the air-bag (2) having a first end (3), a second end (4) and a central portion (5) between the first and second ends (3, 4);

a first elongate tether (14) attached to the air-bag (2), one end of the first tether (14) being attached to the air-bag (2) substantially at or adjacent the first end (3) of the air-bag (2) and the other end of the first tether (14) being attached to part of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2); and

a second elongate tether (15) attached to the air-bag (2), one end of the second tether (15) being attached to the air-bag (2) substantially at or adjacent the second end (4) of the air-bag (2) and the other end of the second tether (15) being attached to part of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2), wherein, upon inflation of the air-bag (2), the tethers (14, 1 5) restrict movement of the first and second ends (3, 4) of the air-bag (2) to produce bent portions (16, 17) of the air-bag (2) at the first and second ends (3, 4) of the air- bag (2), and, in use, the bent portions (16, 17) contact a vehicle (19) so that the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2) is spaced apart from the vehicle (19) and a cavity is formed between the bent portions (1 6, 1 7), at least part of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2) and part of the vehicle (19).

2. The safety arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement further comprises:

a third elongate tether (27) attached to the air-bag (2), one end of the third tether (27) being attached to the air-bag (2) substantially at or adjacent the first end (3) of the air-bag (2) and the other end of the third tether (27) being attached to part of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2), wherein, the first and third tethers (25, 27) are spaced apart from one another at the respective upper and lower edges of the air-bag (2).

3. The safety arrangement of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the arrangement further comprises:

a fourth elongate tether (28) attached to the air-bag (2), one end of the fourth tether (28) being attached to the air-bag (2) substantially at or adjacent the second end (4) of the air-bag (2) and the other end of the fourth tether (28) being attached to part of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2), wherein, the second and fourth tethers (26, 28) are spaced apart from one another at the respective upper and lower edges of the air-bag (2).

4. The safety arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first and second elongate tethers (14, 15) are each portions of a single combined elongate tether (29), wherein one end of the combined tether (29) is attached to the air- bag (2) substantially at or adjacent the first end (3) of the air-bag (2) and the other end of the combined tether (29) is attached to the air-bag (2) substantially at or adjacent the second end (4) of the air-bag (2), and wherein a central portion (5) of the combined tether (29) is slideably attached to the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2) at two respective spaced apart positions on part of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2).

5. The safety arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tethers (14, 15) are configured to retain each of the bent portions (1 6, 17) at an angle which is between 10° and 85° relative to an elongate portion of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2).

6. The safety arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air-bag (2) comprises two reduced inflation regions (10, 1 1 ) about which the respective ends (3, 4) of the air-bag (2) bend as the air-bag (2) inflates.

7. The safety arrangement of claim 6, wherein each reduced inflation region (10, 1 1 ) is a non-inflatable region of the air-bag (2).

8. The safety arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2) comprises an elongate non-inflatable region (9) which extends at least partly along the length of the central portion (5) of the air-bag (2).

9. The safety arrangement of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety arrangement further comprises:

a housing which at least partly houses the air-bag (2) and the tethers (14, 15) when the air-bag (2) is not inflated, the housing being configured to be mounted to a vehicle (19) at a position which is adjacent the lower edge of the windscreen (18) of the vehicle (19).

10. The safety arrangement of claim 9, wherein the housing is mounted to a vehicle (1 9) adjacent the lower edge of the windscreen (1 8) of the vehicle (19) so that, upon inflation of the air-bag (2), the air-bag (2) at least partly covers the windscreen (1 8) of the vehicle (19) and the bent portions (16, 17) at least partly cover the A-pillars (23, 24) of the vehicle (19).

1 1 . The safety arrangement of claim 10, wherein the bent portions (1 6, 17) of the air-bag (2) are bent about bend lines (1 2, 1 3) which are substantially parallel to the respective A-pillars (23, 24) of the vehicle (19).

12. The safety arrangement of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the air-bag (2) is an integrated side curtain air-bag which is configured to be mounted within a vehicle (1 9) so that, upon inflation of the air-bag (2), the air-bag (2) at least partly covers a side window of the vehicle (1 9).