Occupant protection device for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

Occupant protection device (13) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising a gas bag (15) which is deployable as a result of propellant gas pressure and extends along a side roof rail (7) connecting to a vehicle pillar (3, 4, 5) of the vehicle body (8), and comprising a roof liner (9) mounted on the vehicle body (8), wherein a storage space (14) for the folded gas bag (15) is formed between the roof rail (7) and the roof liner (9), wherein the roof liner (9) is adjustably mounted on the vehicle body (8) such that it provides an outlet area (17) for the gas bag (15) which deploys as a result of said propellant gas pressure from the storage space (14) downwards towards the vehicle, and wherein the gas bag (15) and the roof liner (9) extend at least to the area of ​​a rear and / or front vehicle pillar (5, 3) extend and the headliner (9) at least in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar (5,3) is adjusted to the vehicle body (8) in such a way that the headliner (9) in the area of ​​this vehicle pillar (5, 3) provides a first outlet area (17) from the storage space (14) downwards for the gas bag (15) which expands as a result of propellant gas pressure, characterized in that the headliner (9) in the area of ​​this vehicle pillar (5, 3) additionally provides a second outlet area (20) from the storage space (14) upwards for the gas bag (15) which expands as a result of propellant gas pressure, and that the headliner (9) in the area of ​​the respective vehicle pillar (5, 3) has two fixing points (24, 25) each for attaching the headliner (9) to the vehicle body (8) by means of a retaining strap (22, 23).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an occupant protection device for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. According to claim 8, the invention further relates to a motor vehicle with such an occupant protection device.

[0002] For the purposes of this description, the usual direction of travel of a motor vehicle is denoted by "-x" ("minus x"), the direction opposite to its usual direction of travel is denoted by "+x" ("plus x"), the horizontal direction perpendicular to the x-direction to the right, viewed from the usual direction of travel (-x), is denoted by "+y", the horizontal direction perpendicular to the x-direction to the left, viewed from the usual direction of travel (-x), is denoted by "-y", the vertical direction perpendicular to the x-direction upwards is denoted by "+z", and the vertical direction perpendicular to the x-direction downwards is denoted by "-z". This notation of spatial directions in Cartesian coordinates corresponds to the coordinate system generally used in the automotive industry.In addition, terms such as “front”, “rear”, “top”, “bottom” and terms with similar meanings, including the terms “right” and “left”, are used in the way in which they are normally used to indicate direction on a motor vehicle.

[0003] Occupant protection devices have been known for some time in vehicle construction. These devices comprise one or more airbags that are triggered by sensors in the event of a crash, thus protecting the vehicle occupant from physical injury or at least reducing such injury. An airbag is understood to be a gas bag that, when exposed to propellant gas, is converted from a folded initial position into an unfolded, inflated state, on which at least one body part of an affected vehicle occupant is then supported in the event of a crash. Airbags are arranged in a wide variety of locations in the passenger compartment. In addition to driver and front passenger airbags, side airbags in the door panel and / or vehicle seat, knee airbags, belt airbags, and so-called head airbags are also known. The invention relates to the latter.

[0004] In this respect, DE 10 2009 005 900 A1 discloses an occupant protection device with a so-called head-side airbag with multiple inflatable chambers. This airbag is accommodated in the roof frame paneling of the vehicle and, in the event of a side collision, unfolds along the side windows into the passenger compartment downwards or vertically, in order to protect a vehicle occupant from impact with vehicle-fixed components. A retaining strap extends along the lower edge section of the airbag and runs between a non-displaceable attachment point on an A-pillar of the vehicle and a similarly non-displaceable attachment point on a D-pillar of the vehicle. On the vehicle side, the retaining strap is held exclusively at said attachment points. In addition, to reliably fix the inflated airbag, the retaining strap is non-displaceably attached to the inflatable chambers of the airbag.

[0005] Furthermore, from US 2007 / 0096440 A1, a headliner assembly for a vehicle with a headliner and an inflatable airbag is known as an occupant protection device. The headliner has a front portion and a rear portion and is configured to extend beneath the airbag. The airbag is further configured to extend downward along a side of the vehicle upon inflation. The rear portion of the headliner is connected to a rear part of the vehicle by means of a tether such that the tether controls the movement of the headliner during deployment of the airbag. In particular, it is provided that the tether cooperates with the headliner to define a hinge line on the headliner near a side edge such that the headliner is bendable along the hinge line during deployment of the airbag.This is intended to direct the roof lining to direct the deployment of the airbag downwards and to the side of the vehicle.

[0006] Due to a currently favored design of motor vehicles, especially passenger cars, the rear of the vehicle tapers relatively far downwards, placing the head of a rear passenger relatively close to a rear pillar and the vehicle roof. In view of this, there is a need to further improve or optimize passenger protection, especially the protection of the vehicle occupant's head.

[0007] For example, the generic EP 2 957 467 A1 describes an airbag for a motor vehicle which, in the deployed state, has a side chamber, a corner chamber, and a roof chamber. In the folded state, or in the resting state, the airbag is arranged within a cavity formed between the vehicle roof and the headliner. When the airbag is deployed, its side chamber deforms the headliner, thereby creating an exit area for said side chamber. In the deployed state, the roof chamber extends within said cavity between the vehicle roof and the headliner. The corner chamber separates the side chamber from the roof chamber.

[0008] EP 0 943 501 A2 describes a vehicle occupant protection device that incorporates a side curtain airbag and a headliner airbag. In an embodiment similar to the previously described solution, the side curtain airbag deploys to a position within a front window or rear window of the motor vehicle. The headliner airbag deploys, in operation, above the head of a vehicle occupant within a cavity between the vehicle roof and the headliner. Alternatively, this document proposes that the headliner airbag deploy through an opening in the headliner.

[0009] US Pat. No. 6,102,436 A discloses a headliner arranged beneath a vehicle roof structure, comprising elastomer foam. The headliner is suspended from vehicle pillars by means of retaining straps. A motor, in particular a linear drive, is arranged within each pillar and connected to the headliner by means of another retaining strap. If a vehicle rollover is detected by an impact sensor, the motors pull the headliner downward away from the vehicle roof structure and tension the headliner.

[0010] The object of the invention is to create an occupant protection device that is further improved while retaining the advantages of the prior art, thus providing even greater protection for the head of a vehicle occupant. Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle with such an occupant protection device.

[0011] Starting from an occupant protection device for a motor vehicle, with an airbag that can be deployed as a result of the application of propellant gas and extends along a lateral roof pillar connecting the vehicle body, and with a roof liner that is mounted on the vehicle body, wherein a storage space for the folded airbag is formed between the roof pillar and the roof liner, wherein the roof liner is adjustably mounted on the vehicle body in such a way that it provides an exit area for the airbag that deploys as a result of said propellant gas application from the storage space downwards, and wherein the airbag and the roof liner extend at least into the area of ​​a rear-side and / or a front-side vehicle pillar, and the roof liner is adjustably mounted on the vehicle body in such a way that, at least in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar,that the roof lining in the area of ​​this vehicle pillar provides a first exit area from the storage space downwards to the vehicle for the gas bag which is deployed as a result of the propellant gas being applied, the stated problem is solved in that the roof lining in the area of ​​this vehicle pillar additionally provides a second exit area from the storage space upwards to the vehicle for the gas bag which is deployed as a result of the propellant gas being applied, and in that the roof lining in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar has two fixing points for connecting the roof lining to the vehicle body by means of a retaining strap each.

[0012] In view of the state of the art, this advantageously expands the area of ​​protection for the head of the vehicle occupant in question, in particular rear passenger, namely upwards towards the top of the vehicle. In addition to the conventional head protection at the level of the vehicle windows, this also provides head protection beyond this, namely above said windows at the level of the roof pillar and the vehicle roof of the vehicle, as well as in the adjacent area of ​​a neighboring vehicle pillar. Furthermore, this measure advantageously makes it possible to control the roof liner, which moves away from the vehicle body towards the inside of the vehicle as a result of the deploying gas bag, in such a way that it simultaneously provides the first exit area for the gas bag downwards towards the bottom of the vehicle and the second exit area upwards from the said storage space.

[0013] The subclaims describe preferred developments or embodiments of the invention.

[0014] In order to be able to control the movement of the roof lining and the exit behavior of the inflating gas bag from the storage space in a defined manner, it is particularly provided that the fixing points of the roof lining are arranged at a distance from one another as seen in the transverse direction of the relevant vehicle pillar.

[0015] Preferably, the defined movement of the roof lining in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar towards the inside of the vehicle and the required spacing of the same from the vehicle body for the deployment of the gas bag both towards the bottom of the vehicle and towards the top of the vehicle is determined by the choice of the length of the retaining straps and their connection arrangement to the roof lining and the vehicle body.

[0016] To optimize the deployment behavior of the gas bag, the retaining straps are dimensioned and connected at one end to the assigned fixing point of the roof lining and the other end to the vehicle body, such that as the gas bag unfolds, the roof lining, which adjusts inward in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar, lifts off the vehicle pillar evenly on both sides in the transverse direction of the vehicle pillar. "Evenly" is understood to mean that, in the area essential to the invention, namely in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar, the roof lining, contrary to the prior art, largely performs no movement around a longitudinal axis, but rather, viewed in the transverse direction of the vehicle pillar, lifts off the vehicle pillar evenly on both sides inward, thus providing the two exit areas for the inflating gas bag.

[0017] A functionally reliable embodiment of the invention can be achieved by arranging the gas bag in the folded state between the two fixing points of the roof lining.

[0018] To advantageously minimize assembly effort, the safety straps preferably have a common attachment point on the vehicle body. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment of the invention, but also encompasses an alternative embodiment in which the safety straps each have a separate attachment point on the vehicle body.

[0019] In order to offer the vehicle occupant in question a defined area of ​​protection for the head, in particular also towards the top of the vehicle, the gas bag has at least one transverse extension in the area of ​​the vehicle pillar in question which, when deployed, emerges from the storage space towards the top of the vehicle or forms such a transverse extension.

[0020] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle with an occupant protection device of the type described above.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment schematically illustrated in the drawings. However, it is not limited to this embodiment, but encompasses all embodiments defined by the patent claims. They show: Fig. 1 shows a highly schematic interior view of the vehicle compartment of a motor vehicle equipped with an occupant protection device according to the invention, wherein a gas bag of the occupant device is shown both in a folded and in an unfolded, inflated state, Fig. 2 the passenger compartment Fig. 1 with a view from the vehicle interior to a rear vehicle pillar including an associated roof lining section, Fig. 3 the vehicle column Fig. 2 without roof lining with a view of a gas bag arranged below the roof lining and attached to the vehicle body and deployable by means of propellant gas, Fig. 4 an interior view of the roof lining section of the vehicle pillar according to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 together with the gas bag arranged in a storage space formed between the roof lining and the vehicle body in the folded state of the same, and Fig. 5 the passenger compartment Fig. 1 with a view from the inside of the vehicle of the said rear vehicle pillar including the associated roof lining section with the gas bag deployed.

[0022] Fig. 1 shows an interior view of the passenger compartment 1 of a motor vehicle 2, in this case a passenger car, with a view from the vehicle interior onto the left side of the motor vehicle 2. The motor vehicle 2 has on both sides, viewed from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle, a first, front-side vehicle pillar 3, also referred to as the A-pillar, a second, middle vehicle pillar 4, also referred to as the B-pillar, and a third, rear-side vehicle pillar 5, also referred to as the C-pillar. Of these vehicle pillars 3, 4, 5, as already explained above, only the vehicle pillars 3, 4, 5 on the left side of the vehicle are shown for the sake of simplicity. Fig. The lateral roof beam 7 of the vehicle body 8, shown in FIG. 3 and supporting a vehicle roof 6, connects the vehicle pillars 3, 4, and 5 to one another. Within the passenger compartment 1, the vehicle roof 6 has a so-called roof lining 9, which is also occasionally referred to as a molded headliner (cf. Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 4, Fig. 5). According to this exemplary embodiment, the roof lining 9 extends into both the front vehicle pillar 3 (A-pillar) and the rear vehicle pillar 3 (C-pillar). In addition, Fig. 1 also a driver's seat 10 of a front row of seats and a rear bench seat 11, the backrest 12 of which is arranged in the area of ​​the rear vehicle pillar 5.

[0023] The motor vehicle 2 further comprises an occupant protection device 13. This device has a storage space 14 formed between the roof pillar 7 and the roof lining 9, in which a folded gas bag 15 is arranged (cf. Fig. 4). The gas bag 15 can be deployed or inflated by applying propellant gas. Fig. 1 shows the gas bag 15 very schematically both in a folded state (dashed lines) and in an unfolded, inflated state (continuous lines). Fig. 3 also shows said gas bag 15 in a folded state, fixed to the vehicle body 8 or its roof pillar 7. According to this exemplary embodiment, the gas bag 15 extends from the front vehicle pillar 3 (A-pillar) along the roof pillar 7 to the rear vehicle pillar 5 (C-pillar), specifically to at least an area of ​​the rear vehicle pillar 5 in which the head of a rear passenger (not shown in the drawing) placed on the seat bench 11 is typically positioned.

[0024] The folded gas bag 15 is permanently attached to the vehicle body 8 at both ends during deployment and is fastened to the vehicle body 8 between them by means of a plurality of fastening means 16 that can be released during deployment. Said fastening means 16 can, for example, comprise detachable hook-and-loop fasteners not shown in the drawing (see Fig. 3 and Fig. 4).

[0025] As far as the present embodiment is concerned, the roof liner 9 is, on the one hand, adjustably mounted on the vehicle body 8 over the entire extension area of ​​the gas bag 15 in such a way that it provides a first exit area 17 for the gas bag 15, which unfolds as a result of the said propellant gas being applied, from the storage space 14 downwards into the passenger compartment 1. This means that the first exit area 17 is formed at a lower edge 18 of the roof liner 9 delimiting the storage space 14. In the unfolded, inflated state, the gas bag 15 extends beyond said edge 18 downwards into the vehicle like a curtain (cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 5).

[0026] In the area of ​​the rear vehicle pillar 5, the roof liner 9 forms an upper edge 19 that delimits the storage space 14 towards the top of the vehicle. At least in the area of ​​the rear vehicle pillar 5, the roof liner 9 is adjustably mounted on the vehicle body 8 in such a way that it additionally provides a second exit area 20 for the gas bag 15, which deploys as a result of the said propellant gas exposure, from the storage space 14 towards the top of the vehicle into the passenger compartment 1. In this regard, the gas bag 15 has a transverse extension 21 in the area of ​​the rear vehicle pillar 5 that, when deployed, exits or is directed towards the top of the vehicle from the storage space 14, or forms such a transverse extension 21 (cf. Fig. 1 and Fig. 5).

[0027] As already explained above, said exit areas 17, 20 are caused by a defined adjustment of the roof lining 9 toward the inside of the vehicle as a result of the propellant gas being applied to the gas bag 15 and its unfolding or inflation. In order to limit the movement of the roof lining 9 and further the exit areas 17, 20 in a defined manner, the roof lining 9 is connected to the vehicle body 8 in the area of ​​the rear vehicle pillar 5 by means of retaining straps 22, 23. Fig. 4, two retaining straps 22, 23 are provided, each of which is secured at one end to a fixing point 24, 25 of the roof lining 9 and at the other end to a common connection point 26 on the vehicle body 8. The vehicle body 8 has been omitted for the sake of clarity.

[0028] Again Fig. As can be further seen in Figure 4, the fixing points 24, 25 are arranged at a distance from one another, as seen in the vertical direction of the vehicle (z-direction). The folded gas bag 15 is arranged between the two fixing points 24, 25. The advantages of such an arrangement have already been described above. According to this exemplary embodiment, the limiting straps 22, 23 extend from the roof lining 9 in a V-shape to the aforementioned connection point 26 on the vehicle body 8. The connection point 26 is preferably arranged outside the roof lining 9 on the rear vehicle pillar 5 of the vehicle body 8, as shown here.

[0029] However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment of the invention, but also includes retaining straps 22, 23 which are fixed at a distance from one another in separate connection points 26 (not shown in the drawing) on ​​the vehicle body 8 and which run next to one another, for example parallel to one another (not shown in the drawing).

[0030] The said defined movement of the roof liner 9 in the area of ​​the rear vehicle pillar 5 towards the inside of the vehicle and the required spacing of the same from the vehicle body 8 for the deployment of the gas bag 15 both towards the bottom of the vehicle and towards the top of the vehicle is essentially determined by the choice of the length of the retaining straps 22, 23 and their connection arrangement to the roof liner 9 and the vehicle body 8.

[0031] Preferably, the retaining straps 22, 23 are dimensioned in such a way and are connected at one end to the associated fixing point 24, 25 of the roof liner 9 and at the other end to the common connection point 26 or separate connection point 26 (not shown in the drawing) of the vehicle body 8, that the roof liner 9, which is adjusted inwards by the gas bag 15 unfolding in the area of ​​the rear vehicle pillar 5 as a result of the said propellant gas exposure, is adjusted evenly. A uniform adjustment of the roof liner 9 should be understood to mean that it is adjusted in the area essential to the invention, namely in the area of ​​the rear orrear vehicle pillar 5, contrary to the prior art, largely does not move around a longitudinal axis, but rather, viewed in the transverse direction of the rear vehicle pillar 5, lifts off evenly on both sides from the rear vehicle pillar 5 towards the inside of the vehicle and thus provides the two exit areas 17, 20 for the inflating gas bag 15.

[0032] The above exemplary embodiment focuses on the area of ​​the rear or rear vehicle pillar 5 (C-pillar), which is equipped with the occupant protection device 13 according to the invention. However, it is considered advantageous to additionally or alternatively also configure the occupant protection device 13 according to the invention in the area of ​​the front or front vehicle pillar 3 (A-pillar). Fig.In this respect, Figure 1 shows a transverse extension 27 (dash-dotted line) of the deployed and inflated gas bag 15 directed upwards toward the vehicle in the area of ​​the front vehicle pillar 3 (A-pillar). This measure therefore advantageously also covers an area of ​​the motor vehicle 1 located above the front vehicle pillar 3 (A-pillar) by means of the inflated gas bag 15. List of reference symbols 1 passenger compartment 2 motor vehicles 3 vehicle column 4 vehicle pillar 5 vehicle column 6 Vehicle roof 7 roof beam 8 Vehicle body 9 Headliner 10 Driver's seat 11 Bench 12 Backrest 13 Occupant protection device 14 Storage room 15 gas bag 16 fasteners 17 first exit area 18 lower edge (headliner 9) 19 upper edge (headliner 9) 20 second exit area 21 Transverse extension 22 tether 23 tether 24 Fixation point 25 Fixation point 26 connection point 27 Transverse extension

Claims

[1] Occupant protection device (13) for a motor vehicle (2), with an airbag (15) which can be deployed as a result of the application of propellant gas and which extends along a lateral roof pillar (7) connecting the vehicle pillars (3, 4, 5) of the vehicle body (8), and with a roof liner (9) held on the vehicle body (8), wherein a storage space (14) for the folded airbag (15) is formed between the roof pillar (7) and the roof liner (9), wherein the roof liner (9) is adjustably held on the vehicle body (8) in such a way that it releases an exit area (17) for the airbag (15) which is deployed as a result of said application of propellant gas from the storage space (14) towards the bottom of the vehicle, and wherein the airbag (15) and the roof liner (9) extend at least into the area of ​​a vehicle rear-side and / or a vehicle front pillar (5, 3) and the roof lining (9) is at least in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar (5,3) is mounted on the vehicle body (8) in such a way that it can be adjusted inwards towards the vehicle, that the roof lining (9) in the area of ​​this vehicle pillar (5, 3) releases a first exit area (17) from the storage space (14) towards the bottom of the vehicle for the gas bag (15) which unfolds as a result of the propellant gas being applied, , characterized by that the roof liner (9) in the area of ​​this vehicle pillar (5, 3) additionally releases a second exit area (20) from the storage space (14) towards the top of the vehicle for the gas bag (15) which deploys as a result of the propellant gas being applied, and that the roof liner (9) in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar (5, 3) has two fixing points (24, 25) for connecting the roof liner (9) to the vehicle body (8) by means of a respective retaining strap (22, 23). [2] Occupant protection device (13) according to the preceding claim, characterized bythat, viewed in the transverse direction of the relevant vehicle pillar (5, 3), the fixing points (24, 25) of the roof liner (8) are arranged at a distance from one another. [3] Occupant protection device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the movement of the roof liner (9) in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar (5, 3) towards the inside of the vehicle and the required spacing of the same from the vehicle body (8) for deploying the gas bag (15) both towards the bottom of the vehicle and towards the top of the vehicle is determined by the choice of the length of the retaining straps (22, 23) and their connection arrangement to the roof liner (9) and to the vehicle body (8). [4] Occupant protection device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the retaining straps (22, 23) are dimensioned and connected at one end to the associated fixing point (24, 25) of the roof liner (9) and at the other end to the vehicle body (8) in such a way that, as a result of the unfolding gas bag (15), the roof liner (9), which is adjusted inwards in the area of ​​the relevant vehicle pillar (5, 3), lifts off the vehicle pillar (5, 3) evenly on both sides in the transverse direction of the vehicle pillar (5, 3). [5] Occupant protection device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gas bag (15) is arranged in the folded state between the two fixing points (24, 25) of the roof liner (9). [6] Occupant protection device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the retaining straps (22, 23) have a common or separate connection point (26) on the vehicle body (8). [7] Occupant protection device (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gas bag (15) in the region of the relevant vehicle pillar (5, 3) has or forms at least one transverse extension (21, 27) which, in the event of deployment, emerges from the storage space (14) towards the top of the vehicle. [8] Motor vehicle (2) with an occupant protection device (13) according to one of the preceding claims.

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