Passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle comprising such a passenger compartment

Abstract

Motor vehicle passenger compartment and motor vehicle comprising such a passenger compartment. The invention relates to a motor vehicle passenger compartment comprising: - a footwell (15), adapted to receive the feet of an occupant, delimited at the front by a transverse panel separating said passenger compartment from an engine compartment of said motor vehicle, - an airbag module (19) comprising a protective bag (23) capable of moving from a retracted position to a deployed position by actuation of a generator designed to trigger upon impact with said motor vehicle, said airbag module (19) comprising a housing inside which said protective bag is enclosed when it occupies said retracted position. According to the invention, the housing of the airbag module is mounted inside the footwell of said passenger compartment. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising such a passenger compartment. Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: Passenger compartment of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle comprising such a passenger compartment Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, in particular to the field of passive safety of motor vehicles.

[0002] The invention relates more particularly to a motor vehicle interior and a motor vehicle comprising such a interior. Prior art

[0003] The passenger compartment of a motor vehicle typically comprises a dashboard in which are integrated, for example, in particular, a steering wheel, an on-board computer, one or more storage spaces, ventilation flaps of the ventilation system, one or more front safety airbags.

[0004] The dashboard conventionally extends transversely relative to the motor vehicle, substantially over its entire width, from one lateral edge to the other of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0005] Frontal safety airbags typically include a driver's airbag, integrated into the steering wheel opposite the driver's seat, and a passenger airbag, integrated into the dashboard opposite the front passenger seat.

[0006] In the event of a collision, the driver's airbag and the passenger airbag deploy in a substantially longitudinal direction relative to the motor vehicle, so as to protect the driver opposite the steering wheel and the passenger opposite the dashboard on the passenger side.

[0007] For aesthetic purposes and in order to gain living space within the passenger compartment, it may be considered to reduce the length of the dashboard.

[0008] More particularly, it is envisaged to reduce the length of the dashboard substantially by half and, in this case, the half-dashboard extends substantially opposite the driver's seat only.

[0009] According to another configuration also envisaged for aesthetic purposes, the dashboard extends over the entire width of the passenger compartment, but its depth along the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle is reduced compared to the depths of the dashboards conventionally used in the prior art.

[0010] Thus, when the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle is equipped with such a half-dashboard, or when the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle has a dashboard of reduced depth, the passenger airbag can no longer be installed opposite the driver's seat, which creates a significant safety problem for the front passenger. Statement of the invention

[0011] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and to this end relates to a motor vehicle interior comprising: - a footwell, adapted to accommodate the feet of an occupant, delimited in the front part by a transverse apron separating said passenger compartment from an engine compartment of said motor vehicle, - an airbag module comprising a protective bag capable of moving from a retracted position to a deployed position by actuating a generator designed to be triggered upon impact of said motor vehicle, said airbag module comprising a housing inside which said protective bag is enclosed when it occupies said retracted position, said passenger compartment being remarkable in that said housing of said airbag module is mounted inside said footwell of said passenger compartment.

[0012] Thus, by providing a passenger compartment whose airbag module housing is mounted inside the footwell, the protective bag of the airbag module deploys from the footwell opposite the passenger seat in the event of an impact suffered by the motor vehicle.

[0013] Thus, the passenger compartment according to the invention may comprise a dashboard extending over only a portion of the width of the passenger compartment or a dashboard extending over a reduced depth compared to conventional dashboards. Also, the passenger compartment according to the invention may not comprise a dashboard.

[0014] Thanks to the present invention, it is possible to give the passenger compartment the desired aesthetics and to gain habitable space within the passenger compartment while guaranteeing the safety of the passenger occupant of the motor vehicle in front of whom the protective bag of the airbag module deploys during an impact.

[0015] According to optional characteristics of the passenger compartment according to the invention: - said protective bag is designed to deploy so as to cover the knees of an occupant and so as to cover at least the thorax of an occupant; - said protective bag is designed to deploy initially in a substantially longitudinal direction, so as to cover the knees of an occupant, in a second time vertically downwards to rest against said footwell and / or against a floor of said passenger compartment and in a third time vertically upwards to cover at least the thorax of an occupant; - said protective bag is further designed to deploy so as to cover the head of an occupant; - said protective bag includes a lower protective pocket suitable for protect the knees of an occupant of said motor vehicle when said protective bag occupies said deployed position, an upper protective pocket arranged in the upper part of said lower protective pocket, adapted to protect at least the thorax of an occupant of said motor vehicle when said protective bag occupies said deployed position, a support pocket arranged in the lower part of said lower protective pocket, adapted to bear against said foot well and / or against said floor; - said upper protective pocket is further adapted to protect the head of an occupant; - said dashboard extends over a length less than the width of said passenger compartment.

[0016] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, remarkable in that said passenger compartment is according to the invention. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the appended drawings in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] partially shows a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment of the invention, seen from above.

[0019] [Fig.2] shows the passenger compartment of the invention, seen from behind in perspective.

[0020] [Fig.3] shows part of the cabin of the invention seen from the side, the protective bag of the airbag module occupying a deployed position.

[0021] [Fig.4] shows a first step of a kinematics of deployment of the bag of airbag module protection.

[0022] [Fig.5] shows a second stage of the kinematics of deployment of the bag of airbag module protection.

[0023] [Fig.6] shows a third stage of the kinematics of deployment of the bag of airbag module protection.

[0024] [Fig.7] partially shows a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle according to a second embodiment of the invention, seen from above. Description of the embodiments

[0025] In the remainder of the description, elements having an identical structure or similar functions are designated by the same reference.

[0026] By convention, longitudinal, vertical and transverse orientations will be adopted, without limitation, indicated by the direct trihedron (L, V, T) designating the longitudinal, vertical and transverse axes of the vehicle.

[0027] In the following, the terms “left”, “right”, “lower” and “upper” are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0028] Similarly, the terms “front” and “rear” are understood in relation to the general orientation of the vehicle as taken in its normal direction of travel.

[0029] Reference is made to [Fig.l] partially showing a passenger compartment 1 of a motor vehicle 3 according to a first embodiment of the invention, in top view.

[0030] The passenger compartment 1 comprises a dashboard 5, extending transversely relative to the motor vehicle 3.

[0031] The dashboard 5 supports, for example, a steering wheel 7 and an on-board computer 9. The steering wheel 7 contains a driver's front airbag module (not shown) intended to deploy opposite the driver in the event of an impact of the motor vehicle 3.

[0032] For aesthetic purposes and in order to gain living space within the passenger compartment 1, the dashboard 5 extends over only a portion of the passenger compartment 1.

[0033] More particularly, the dashboard 5 extends over a length Li less than the width L2 of the passenger compartment 1.

[0034] For example, the length Li may be equal to approximately half the width L2 of the passenger compartment 1, so that the dashboard 5 extends substantially only opposite the driver's seat.

[0035] At its right lateral end 11, the dashboard 5 has a lateral cheek 13.

[0036] The passenger compartment 1 comprises a footwell 15 adapted to receive the feet of the passenger occupant, delimited in the front part by a transverse apron (not shown) separating the passenger compartment 1 from an engine compartment (not shown) whose location is designated by the reference 17. In a known manner, the transverse apron extends substantially transversely relative to the motor vehicle 3 and is constituted by a metal part. In the lower part, the footwell 15 is delimited by a floor 16 of the passenger compartment.

[0037] Reference is made to [Fig.2] showing the passenger compartment 1 seen from behind in perspective.

[0038] The passenger compartment 1 comprises an airbag module 19 which defines, as will be seen in the remainder of the description, a passenger front airbag module, complementary to the driver's front airbag module.

[0039] The airbag module 19 comprises a housing 21, which may for example be made of plastic material.

[0040] The housing 21 contains a protective bag 23 (visible in [Fig.4]) capable of moving from a retracted position in which it is contained in the housing 21 to a deployed position by actuation of a generator (not shown) known to those skilled in the art.

[0041] The generator is designed to be triggered when the motor vehicle 3 is subjected to an impact. For this purpose, the generator is designed to allow the deployment of the protective bag 23 in a reduced time, of the order of 20 ms, in the event of an impact suffered by the motor vehicle 3.

[0042] According to the invention, the housing 21 of the airbag module 19 is mounted inside the footwell 15 of the passenger compartment 1.

[0043] Thus, the deployment of the protective bag 19 is carried out from the footwell 15 of the passenger compartment, which makes it possible to have a protective bag which deploys opposite the passenger seat while benefiting from a dashboard which can extend over only part of the width of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

[0044] The housing 21 of the airbag module 19 is fixed inside the footwell 15 for example by means of a fixing support (not shown). The fixing support is, for example, positioned close to a trim piece 25 delimiting the footwell 15 in the rear part. The fixing support may comprise a fixing lug rigidly fixed inside the footwell 15, and one or more fixing lugs on which the housing 21 of the airbag module 19 is fixed. The fixing support adopts a shape allowing effective holding of the housing 21 of the airbag module 19 when the generator is triggered in the event of an impact of the motor vehicle 3, which makes it possible to avoid significant recoil of the airbag module 19 when the generator is triggered and to ensure optimal inflation of the protective bag 23. In one embodiment, the fixing support is for example made of steel.

[0045] Reference is made to [Fig. 3] showing a part of the passenger compartment 1 seen from the side, the protective bag 23 of the airbag module 19 occupying its deployed position.

[0046] According to one arrangement, the protective bag 23 is designed to deploy so as to cover the knees 27 of an occupant 29.

[0047] For this purpose, the protective bag 23 comprises a lower protective pocket 31, adapted to protect the knees 27 of the occupant 29 when the protective bag occupies its deployed position.

[0048] The protective bag 23 further comprises a support pocket 33, adapted to allow the protective bag 23 to rest against the footwell 15 and / or against the floor 16 of the passenger compartment 1 when it occupies its deployed position.

[0049] According to another arrangement, the protective bag 23 comprises an upper protective pocket 35 arranged in the upper part of the lower protective pocket 31 and adapted to protect at least the thorax 37 of the occupant 29 when the protective bag 23 occupies its deployed position.

[0050] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the protective bag 23 is further designed to deploy so as to cover the head 39 of the occupant 29. For this purpose, the upper protective pocket 35 is further adapted to protect the head 39 of the occupant 29.

[0051] The airbag module 19 is thus a combined airbag module, adapted to cover different areas of the occupant's body.

[0052] However, in an embodiment not shown in the figures, the protective pocket upper 35 is designed to cover only the occupant's chest 31 when the protective bag 23 is deployed.

[0053] The lower protective pocket 31, the support pocket 33 and the upper protective pocket 35 are obtained by any method known to those skilled in the art, for example by sewing.

[0054] Reference is made to figures 4 to 6 showing the deployment kinematics of the protective bag 23 of the airbag module 19, the passenger compartment 1 being seen from the side.

[0055] When the generator is triggered following an impact of the motor vehicle, the protective bag 23 initially deploys in a substantially longitudinal direction, causing the deployment of the lower protective pocket 31 (step E1 shown in [Fig.4] and [Fig.3]).

[0056] Thus, the protective bag 23 initially deploys so as to cover the occupant's knees, which form the part of the occupant's body that would be the first to be impacted during an impact.

[0057] Thus, during this first step, the protective bag 23 is extracted from the housing 21 in which it is initially retracted, until it arrives opposite the passenger seat.

[0058] In a second step, the protective bag 23 continues its deployment in a substantially vertical and downward direction, causing the deployment of the support pocket 33 (step E2 shown in [Fig.5] and in [Fig.3]) until it rests against the foot cellar 15 and / or against the floor 16, as shown by the arrows 41 in [Fig.5].

[0059] In a third step (step E3 in [Fig. 3]), the protective bag 23 continues its deployment in a substantially vertical direction, upwards. The upper protective pocket 35 of the protective bag 23 deploys until it covers at least the occupant's chest.

[0060] When the upper protective pocket 35 is adapted to protect the head 39 of the occupant 29, the protective bag 23 continues during step E3 its deployment to cover the head of the occupant, as represented by the arrows 43 in [Fig.6].

[0061] Thanks to the present invention, in the event of an impact suffered by the motor vehicle 3, the protective bag 23 of the airbag module 19 deploys from the footwell 15 opposite the passenger seat.

[0062] Thus, the dashboard 5 can extend over only a part of the width L2 of the passenger compartment 1, which makes it possible to give the passenger compartment 1 the desired aesthetic and to gain habitable space within the passenger compartment 1, while guaranteeing the safety of the passenger occupant of the motor vehicle opposite whom the protective bag 23 of the airbag module 19 deploys during an impact.

[0063] Reference is made to [Fig.7] partially showing a passenger compartment 101 of a motor vehicle 103 according to a second embodiment of the invention, in top view.

[0064] The passenger compartment 101 comprises a dashboard 105, extending transversely relative to the motor vehicle 103.

[0065] As for the dashboard 5, the dashboard 105 supports, for example, a steering wheel 7 and an on-board computer 9. The steering wheel 7 contains a driver's front airbag module (not shown) intended to deploy opposite the driver in the event of an impact of the motor vehicle 103.

[0066] Unlike the dashboard 5, the dashboard 105 extends over the entire width of the passenger compartment 101, but its depth along the longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle 103 is reduced compared to the depths of a dashboard conventionally used in the prior art, shown in dotted lines in [Fig.7] and designated by the reference 205.

[0067] In the same way as for the passenger compartment 1, in the passenger compartment 101, the airbag module 19 is mounted in the footwell 15 and its operation is identical to what has just been described for the passenger compartment 1.

[0068] According to another variant embodiment, not illustrated in the figures, the airbag module 19 is integrated into the footwell 15 of a passenger compartment no longer comprising any dashboard.

[0069] Regardless of the type of passenger compartment, the airbag module 19 can be mounted inside the footwell 15, in the middle of the footwell relative to the vertical direction, or in the upper part of the footwell.

[0070] As goes without saying, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of this motor vehicle passenger compartment and of this motor vehicle comprising such a passenger compartment, described above solely as illustrative examples, but on the contrary it embraces all the variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Passenger compartment (1, 101) of a motor vehicle (3, 103), comprising: - a footwell (15), adapted to receive the feet of an occupant, delimited in the front part by a transverse apron separating said passenger compartment (1, 101) from an engine compartment of said motor vehicle (3, 103), - an airbag module (19) comprising a protective bag (23) capable of passing from a retracted position to a deployed position by actuation of a generator designed to be triggered during an impact of said motor vehicle (3, 103), said airbag module (19) comprising a housing (21) inside which said protective bag (23) is enclosed when it occupies said retracted position, said passenger compartment (1, 101) being characterized in that said housing (21) of said airbag module (19) is mounted inside said footwell (15) of said cabin (1, 101).

2. Passenger compartment (1, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that said protective bag (23) is designed to deploy so as to cover the knees of an occupant and so as to cover at least the thorax of an occupant.

3. Passenger compartment (1, 101) according to claim 2, characterized in that said protective bag (23) is designed to deploy in a first step (El) in a substantially longitudinal direction, so as to cover the knees of an occupant, in a second step (E2) vertically downwards to bear against said footwell (15) and / or against a floor (16) of said passenger compartment (1, 101) and in a third step (E3) vertically upwards to cover at least the thorax of an occupant.

4. Passenger compartment (1, 101) according to claim 2, characterized in that said protective bag (23) is further adapted to deploy so as to cover the head of an occupant.

5. Passenger compartment (1, 101) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said protective bag (23) comprises: - a lower protective pocket (31), adapted to protect the knees of an occupant of said motor vehicle (3, 103) when said protective bag (23) occupies said deployed position, - an upper protective pocket (35), arranged in the upper part of said lower protective pocket (31), adapted to protect at less the thorax of an occupant of said motor vehicle (3, 103), when said protective bag (23) occupies said deployed position, - a support pocket (33), arranged in the lower part of said lower protective pocket (31), adapted to bear against said foot cellar (15) and / or against said floor (16).

6. Passenger compartment (1, 101) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said upper protective pocket (35) is further adapted to protect the head of an occupant.

7. Passenger compartment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a dashboard (5), characterized in that said dashboard (5) extends over a length (Li) less than the width (L2) of said passenger compartment (1).

8. Motor vehicle (3, 103) comprising a passenger compartment (1, 101), characterized in that said passenger compartment (1, 101) is according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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