Protection system for a front passenger in a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a passenger protection system (1) for the front passenger of a motor vehicle, the protection system (1) comprising a housing (11) intended to be housed in a dashboard and under a windshield of the motor vehicle, an airbag (12) housed in the housing (11), a triggering device configured to allow the inflation of the airbag (12) and its deployment out of the housing (11), at least one restraint strap (13) for the airbag (12), a lower end of the restraint strap (13) being fixed to the housing (11) and a free end of the restraint strap (13) being connected to the airbag (12). Each restraint strap (13) is configured to extend between the airbag (12) and a windshield of the motor vehicle when said airbag (12) is deployed and to prevent contact between the airbag (12) and the windshield during its deployment. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig.2.

Description

Title of the invention: Protection system for a front passenger of a motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of the protection of occupants of a motor vehicle, and more specifically the protection of the passenger seated next to the driver during a collision. More particularly, the invention relates to a protection system for a front passenger of a motor vehicle.

[0002] In the prior art, numerous airbags are known that are used to deploy in the event of a collision to provide a restraint surface for the head of a front passenger. Such airbags are integrated into protective systems that include a triggering device configured to initiate airbag inflation under certain specific acceleration conditions following a collision. These airbags are housed in a casing, the casing itself being integrated into a portion of the vehicle's dashboard located in front of the front passenger seat.

[0003] Certain protective systems are known to be integrated into a part of the dashboard facing the front passenger seat, i.e., integrated into the glove compartment. With such protective systems facing the front passenger seat, the airbag deployment was optimal because it occurred directly in front of the passenger's torso in the event of a collision. However, the drawback of such protective systems is a reduction in the space available for storing personal belongings in the glove compartment.

[0004] Therefore, in order to circumvent this problem and to preserve as much space as possible in the glove compartment, the protective system was positioned further forward in the dashboard, that is, closer to the windshield of the vehicle. Consequently, since it could not be directly extracted from the rear of the dashboard, the side facing the front passenger seat, the airbag is now extracted upwards, directly opposite the windshield.

[0005] To properly fulfill its role of protecting the head and / or torso of the front passenger during deployment, the shape of these airbags and / or the dynamics of their deployment have been modified to adapt to these new integrations.

[0006] However, a residual drawback remains, consisting of the impact between the deploying airbag and the part of the windshield located directly below the housing in which it is located. Indeed, due to the deployment kinematics of the airbags, the pressure exerted by them on the windshield during their deployment is considerable, and can sometimes lead to damage to the front windshield, i.e. cracking or even breaking it.

[0007] Such a situation is not desirable because it could cause very serious damage to the airbag, such as its puncture for example, leading to the total loss of the desired safety function.

[0008] The present invention aims to provide a new protection system for a front passenger in order to address at least largely the previous problems and to lead to other advantages.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to improve the deployment of the airbag and to prevent the bursting or cracking of the windshield located directly above it.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to propose such a protection system which is easy to implement and at a lower cost.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a protection system for a front passenger of a motor vehicle, the protection system comprising:

[0012] - a housing intended to be housed in a component of the vehicle's dashboard automobile;

[0013] - an inflatable cushion housed in the casing;

[0014] - a triggering device configured to allow the inflation of the cushion inflatable outside of the casing;

[0015] - at least one airbag restraint strap, a first end of at least one restraint strap being attached to the casing and a second end of at least one restraint strap being attached to an outer face of the airbag.

[0016] In the protection system according to the invention, at least one restraint strap is configured to extend between the airbag and a windshield of the motor vehicle when said airbag is deployed in order to reduce the extension of the airbag along a vertical axis during its deployment.

[0017] In the context of the present invention, a longitudinal axis, a lateral axis, and a vertical axis are defined with respect to the motor vehicle on which the protection system according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be mounted. More particularly, the transverse axis is understood as a direction taken between one lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis is understood as a direction extending from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, inside, and outside refer to such a transverse axis. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis is understood as being taken along a direction extending from front to back or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the transverse axis. The adjectives The terms front, front, and rear refer to this longitudinal axis. The vertical axis is understood to be defined as a line extending from the wheels of the motor vehicle to the roof of the vehicle, or vice versa, with the vertical axis being simultaneously perpendicular to both the transverse and longitudinal axes. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper, refer to this vertical axis.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the housing forms a compartment for the airbag when it is folded. The housing is delimited by peripheral edges. The housing is intended to be reinstalled in the dashboard of a motor vehicle; the housing is, for example, made of plastic. At an upper edge, the housing has a pivoting or removable partition to allow the airbag to be deployed from the housing during its deployment. More generally, the housing is configured to allow such deployment of the airbag from the compartment formed by the housing, in which the airbag is held when folded.

[0019] In the context of the present invention, the triggering device is configured to allow the deployment and inflation of the airbag. The triggering device is remotely controlled and / or includes its own activation means. The triggering device comprises a gas reservoir fluidly coupled to the airbag, the gas contained in the reservoir being transferred into the airbag during its deployment and inflation. During this transfer, the volume of the airbag increases and the airbag deploys out of the casing.

[0020] In the context of the present invention, the airbag is a sealed, airtight bag configured to hold the gas contained in the reservoir when the protection system according to the invention is activated. The airbag can be of any shape and any size in the context of the present invention. However, the invention is limited here to airbags and protection systems for the passenger next to the driver, that is, in the front seat of the motor vehicle.

[0021] In the context of the present invention, the restraint strap acts as a constraint on the free deployment of the airbag in a preferred direction, namely the vertical axis. In other words, the restraint strap prevents the airbag from deploying completely towards the windshield, along the vertical axis. Conversely, the restraint strap allows the airbag to be kept at a distance from the windshield opposite the housing during deployment and / or once deployed, i.e., once inflated, or to provide gentle support for the airbag against the windshield. According to the invention, the strap is not designed inside the airbag, that is, inside the pocket containing the gas used to inflate the airbag. Conversely, the restraint strap is located outside the airbag, making it easier to insert.

[0022] Thus, the protection system conforming to the first aspect of the invention solves the technical problem by limiting the pressure of the airbag against the windshield by reducing its vertical extension. The presence of the restraint strap forces the airbag to deploy rearward, that is, toward the passenger seat—along the longitudinal axis—rather than upward, along the vertical axis, toward the windshield. This advantageous configuration thus reduces the pressure exerted by the airbag against the windshield and limits the risk of impact and / or cracking and / or breakage of the windshield, subsequently reducing the risk of puncturing the airbag.

[0023] The protection system according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the technical characteristics forming these improvements being able to be taken alone or in combination:

[0024] - at least one retaining strap is located at the level of a front edge of the housing. In other words, at least one restraint strap extends between the airbag and the windshield of the motor vehicle when said airbag is deployed from its casing. Thus, at least one restraint strap is attached to the casing at a front edge of said casing. When the airbag deploys from its casing, the restraint strap constrains its extension along the vertical axis, so as to prevent said airbag from striking the opposite windshield, or from striking said windshield too forcefully;

[0025] - a length of at least one restraint strap is less than a distance taken between the housing and the windshield along the vertical axis, possibly the restraint strap includes means for adjusting the length of the restraint strap in order to be able to adjust the restraint strap to the different types of motor vehicles, according to the inclination of the windshield and the relative position of the housing with respect to the windshield, relative to the vertical axis;

[0026] - in particular, according to a first embodiment, the length of the at least a restraint strap is such that the airbag, when deployed, does not touch the windscreen of the motor vehicle. Optionally, the length of at least one restraint strap is such that the airbag, when deployed, lightly touches the windscreen of the motor vehicle, i.e. that the airbag exerts minimal pressure on the windscreen, for example less than 0.1 bar;

[0027] - in particular, according to a second embodiment, the length of the at least a restraint strap is such that the airbag, when deployed, does not touch the windscreen of the motor vehicle. Possibly, the length of at least one restraint strap is such that, when the airbag is deployed, it lightly touches the windscreen of the motor vehicle, i.e. that the airbag exerts minimal pressure on the windscreen, for example less than 0.1 bar;

[0028] - the protection system includes an inflatable bag associated with at least one The airbag is located in front of the airbag, and is configured to be inflated upon deployment of the airbag. In the context of the present invention, the airbag is separate from the airbag. The airbag is a second airbag, configured to be inflated upon deployment of the airbag. When the protection system is inactive, the airbag is housed in the casing with the airbag. When the protection system is activated, the airbag is deployed from the casing with the airbag.

[0029] - when the airbag is deployed, the airbag is located in a position intermediate between said airbag and the windshield of the motor vehicle, this advantageous configuration makes it possible to increase the contact area between the windshield and the airbag, thus reducing the pressure on the windshield and limiting the risks of cracks or breakage of said windshield;

[0030] - the inflatable bag is associated with the triggering device to control its Inflation. In particular, according to a first embodiment, the inflatable bag is fluidly coupled to the airbag via at least one connecting conduit linking said airbag to said inflatable bag. According to a second embodiment, the inflatable bag comprises its own inflation means.

[0031] According to a second aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising a protection system conforming to the first aspect of the invention or to any of its improvements, the protection system being associated with a front passenger seat of the motor vehicle.

[0032] The motor vehicle advantageously comprises a dashboard extending in front of the front passenger seat, the airbag housing being located within the dashboard. Furthermore, the housing preferably opens onto an upper surface of the dashboard, the upper surface being situated below the windshield of the motor vehicle. Optionally, the airbag housing is located on an upper portion of a rear face of the dashboard and directly opposite the front passenger seat of the motor vehicle.

[0033] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, incorporating, according to all their possible combinations, the different optional features set out here.

[0034] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given by reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0035] [Fig-1] illustrates a three-dimensional view of a motor vehicle passenger compartment equipped with a protection system according to the invention;

[0036] [Fig.2] illustrates a three-dimensional view of a first example of the realization of a protection system conforming to the first aspect of the invention;

[0037] [Fig.3] illustrates an isolated view of the casing without the airbag in the system of protection illustrated on [Fig.2];

[0038] [Fig.4] illustrates a three-dimensional view of a second example of an embodiment of protection system conforming to the first aspect of the invention;

[0039] [Fig. 5] illustrates an isolated view of the casing without the airbag in the system of protection illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0040] Of course, the features, variants, and different embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be conceived comprising only a selection of features, described hereafter in isolation from the other described features, if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0041] In particular, all the variants and embodiments described are combinable with each other if there is no technical obstacle to this combination.

[0042] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0043] In the FIGURES described below, a longitudinal axis X, a lateral axis and a vertical axis Z are defined relative to the motor vehicle 2 on which the system according to the invention is intended to be mounted.

[0044] More specifically, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction between one lateral side of the motor vehicle 2 and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle 2. In other words, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction extending from a passenger side of the motor vehicle 2 to a driver's side of said motor vehicle 2, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, inside, and outside refer to such a transverse axis Y.

[0045] Furthermore, the longitudinal axis X extends as if taken along a direction extending from front to rear or rear to front of the motor vehicle 2. The longitudinal axis X is perpendicular to the transverse axis Y. The adjectives front, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis X.

[0046] Finally, the vertical axis Z is understood to be taken along an axis extending from the wheels of the motor vehicle 2 to the roof of said motor vehicle 2, or vice versa, the vertical axis Z being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis Y and to the longitudinal axis X. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper, refer to this vertical axis Z.

[0047] With reference to [Fig. 1], the invention addresses a protection system 1 for a front passenger of a motor vehicle 2. More particularly, the protection system 1 is configured to be housed in a dashboard 121 of a motor vehicle 2 passenger compartment, so as to be associated with a front passenger seat of the motor vehicle 2. As seen in [Fig. 1], the protection system 1, and in particular the housing 11 housing the airbag 12 of said protection system 1, is configured to be housed under an upper dashboard 112 of the dashboard 121, directly below a front windshield 22 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0048] In this context, and as described above, the invention aims to avoid or mitigate the impact of the airbag 12 against the windshield 22 during its deployment.

[0049] To this end, with reference to FIGURES 2 to 5, the invention addresses a protection system 1 for a front passenger of a motor vehicle 2, the protection system 1 comprising:

[0050] - a housing 11 intended to be housed in a dashboard element 121 of the vehicle automobile 2;

[0051] - an inflatable cushion 12 housed in the casing 11;

[0052] - a triggering device configured to allow the inflation of the cushion inflatable 12 outside of the casing 11;

[0053] - at least one restraint strap 13 of the airbag 12, a first one end of at least one restraint strap 13 being linked to the housing 11 and a second end of at least one restraint strap 13 being linked to an outer face of the airbag 12.

[0054] In the protection system 1 according to the invention, at least one restraint strap 13 is configured to extend between the airbag 12 and a windshield 22 of the motor vehicle 2 when said airbag 12 is deployed in order to reduce the extension of the airbag 12 along a vertical axis Z during its deployment.

[0055] In the embodiments described in FIGURES 2 and 4, the protection system 1 comprises two restraint straps 13. Obviously, the system of The protection 1 could include more or fewer retaining straps 13. The retaining strap(s) 13 are made of a flexible material, such as for example a fabric or a plastic or fibrous material so as to be easily housed in the casing 11.

[0056] Each restraint strap 13, at its lower end, is fixed securely to the housing 11. More particularly, the lower end of the restraint strap 13 is fixed securely to the front edge 111 of the housing 11, near the upper edge 112 of said housing 11. Preferably, the lower end of each restraint strap 13 is fixed to a part of the housing 11 located simultaneously near the front edge 111 and the upper edge 112 of the housing 11. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to constrain the deployment of the airbag 12 to its frontal part, that is to say, its front part located closest to the windshield 22 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0057] The restraint strap(s) 13 are securely attached to the housing 11 by any means, such as, in particular, by welding or stapling or sewing or gluing for example.

[0058] In all embodiments provided for by the invention, the restraint strap(s) extend from the housing 11 to an upper part of the airbag 12. Of course, the upper part of the airbag 12 is considered here when the airbag 12 is deployed and / or during its deployment.

[0059] In order to limit the upward extension of the airbag 12, a length of the restraint strap 13 is less than the height that the airbag 12 would reach without the restraint strap 13. In other words, the length of the restraint strap 13 is less than the height taken along the vertical axis Z between the upper face 211 of the housing 11 and the windshield 22 measured directly below the housing 11.

[0060] According to a first embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the airbag 12 is partially retained and constrained forward and upward by two restraint straps 13. The restraint straps 13 are distributed along the transverse axis Y in order to constrain the airbag 12 along its entire width.

[0061] According to a second embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, which incorporates the technical features of the first embodiment, the protection system 1 also includes an airbag 14 attached to the restraint straps. The airbag 14 is located in an intermediate position between the lower end of the restraint straps—that is, at the level of the housing 11—and the free end 131 of said restraint straps. The airbag 14 is thus configured to deploy in the immediate vicinity of the windshield 22, or even to extend against the windshield 22.

[0062] The technical effect of the airbag 14 is to increase the contact area against the windshield 22 during the deployment of the airbag 12 and to limit the pressure against the windscreen 22 and, finally, to reduce the risks of bursting or cracking of the windscreen 22 which could lead to a puncture of the airbag 12 and the total loss of the safety function of the protection system 1.

[0063] In summary, the invention relates to a passenger protection system 1 for the front passenger of a motor vehicle 2, the protection system 1 comprising a housing 11 intended to be housed in a dashboard 121 and under a windshield 22 of the motor vehicle 2, an airbag 12 housed in the housing 11, a triggering device configured to allow the inflation of the airbag 12 and its deployment out of the housing 11, at least one restraint strap 13 for the airbag 12, a lower end of the restraint strap 13 being attached to the housing 11 and a free end 131 of the restraint strap 13 being attached to the airbag 12. Each restraint strap 13 is configured to extend between the airbag 12 and a windshield 22 of the motor vehicle 2 when said airbag 12 is deployed and to prevent contact between the airbag 12 and the windshield 22 during its deployment.

[0064] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the various features, forms, variants, and embodiments of the invention can be combined with one another in various ways, provided they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable.

Claims

Demands

1. A protection system (1) for a front passenger of a motor vehicle (2), the protection system (1) comprising: - a housing (11) intended to be housed in a dashboard component (121) of the motor vehicle (2); - an airbag (12) housed in the housing (11); - a triggering device configured to allow inflation of the airbag (12) outside the housing (11); - at least one restraint strap (13) for the airbag (12), a first end of the at least one restraint strap (13) being connected to the housing (11) and a second end of the at least one restraint strap (13) being connected to an outer face of the airbag (12);characterized in that at least one restraint strap (13) is configured to extend between the airbag (12) and a windshield (22) of the motor vehicle (2) when said airbag (12) is deployed in order to reduce the extension of the airbag (12) along a vertical axis (Z) during its deployment.;

2. A protection system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein at least one retaining strap (13) is located at a front edge (111) of the housing (11).

3. A protection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one restraint strap (13) extends between the airbag (12) and the windscreen (22) of the motor vehicle (2) when said airbag (12) is deployed out of the housing (11).

4. Protection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a length of at least one restraint strap (13) is less than a distance taken between the housing (11) and the windscreen (22) along the vertical axis (Z).

5. A protection system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the length of at least one restraint strap (13) is such that the airbag (12), when deployed or during its deployment, does not touch the windscreen (22) of the motor vehicle (2).

6. A protection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the protection system (1) comprises a inflatable bag (14) associated with at least one shoulder strap and located in front of the airbag (12), the inflatable bag (14) being configured to be able to be inflated during the deployment of the airbag (12).

7. Protection system (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein when the airbag (12) is deployed, the airbag (14) is located in an intermediate position between said airbag (12) and the windshield (22) of the motor vehicle (2).

8. Protection system (1) according to any one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the inflatable bag (14) is associated with the triggering device to control its inflation.

9. Motor vehicle (2) comprising a protection system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the protection system (1) being associated with a front passenger seat of the motor vehicle (2).

10. Motor vehicle (2) according to the preceding claim, wherein the motor vehicle (2) comprises a dashboard (121) which extends forward of the front passenger seat, the housing (11) retaining the airbag (12) being housed in the dashboard (121).

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