Gas-Fillable Support Means for a Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Equipped Therewith

Abstract

A support apparatus includes a gas-fillable support that is connectable to a gas generator. The gas-fillable support is securable to a body of a motor vehicle and has a first operating state which exists before the gas generator is activated and which has a first volume. The gas-fillable support has a second operating state which exists after the gas generator is activated and which has a second volume which is greater than the first volume. The gas-fillable support in the second operating state is contactable against a first portion which is operationally connected to the body and is contactable against a second portion which is operationally connected to the body and which is remote from the first end portion. A first mechanical strength of the gas-fillable support in the first operating state is less than a second mechanical strength of the gas-fillable support in the second operating state.

Claims

1.-9. (canceled)

10. A support apparatus, comprising: a gas-fillable support, wherein the gas-fillable support is connectable to a gas generator; wherein the gas-fillable support is securable to a body of a motor vehicle and is extendible in a transverse direction over a length of the body; wherein the gas-fillable support has a first operating state which exists before the gas generator is activated and which has a first volume; wherein the gas-fillable support has a second operating state which exists after the gas generator is activated and which has a second volume which is greater than the first volume; wherein the gas-fillable support in the second operating state is contactable with a first end portion of the gas-fillable support against a first portion which is operationally connected to the body and is contactable with a second end portion of the gas-fillable support against a second portion which is operationally connected to the body and which is remote from the first end portion; wherein a first mechanical strength of the gas-fillable support in the first operating state is less than a second mechanical strength of the gas-fillable support in the second operating state.

11. The support apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a gas-fillable hose connected to the gas-fillable support.

12. The support apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a strap which is connected to the gas-fillable support and is connectable to a portion which is connected to the body.

13. The support apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising an airbag that is connected to the gas-fillable support.

14. The support apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising an airbag that is connected to the gas-fillable support, wherein the airbag is at least temporarily connectable to the gas-fillable hose.

15. The support apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the airbag is a head airbag or a knee airbag.

16. A motor vehicle, comprising: a body; and the support apparatus according to claim 10 secured to the body.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the gas-fillable support is disposed on an end wall of the body.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 16, wherein the gas-fillable support in the second operating state contacts with a first end of the gas-fillable support against an A-pillar of the body and contacts with a second end of the gas-Tillable support against an apparatus which is operationally connected to the body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1A is a simplified plan view of a motor vehicle interior which is located in the front region of a motor vehicle according to the invention and in which a support means according to the invention which is located in a first operating state is arranged;

[0022] FIG. 1B shows the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1A in a second operating state;

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates an alternative to the device shown in FIG. 1B;

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates another alternative to the device shown in FIG. 1B;

[0025] FIG. 4A is a simplified side view of a motor vehicle interior which is located in the front region of a motor vehicle according to the invention and in which an alternative support means which is in a first operating state is arranged; and

[0026] FIG. 4B shows the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4A in a second operating state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1A is a plan view of a portion of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. In specific terms, there is shown a portion of a motor vehicle interior 5 which has an end wall 15 which forms a portion of a body 10, a left A-pillar 20 when viewed in the main travel direction, a right A-pillar 25, a steering wheel column trim 30 including steering wheel 35 and a partially illustrated driver's seat 40 and passenger seat 45. At the end wall 15 there is arranged a support means 50 which is in a first operating state and which comprises a gas generator 55 and which extends in the transverse vehicle direction Q from the left A-pillar 20 as far as the right A-pillar 25. The first operating state refers to the state in which the motor vehicle is in an accident-free state and the support means 50 is not filled with fluid.

[0028] The portion of the motor vehicle 1 illustrated in FIG. 1A is shown again in FIG. 1B, wherein the support means 50 is now in a second operating state. As a result of an accident-related introduction of a force F which according to the embodiment here suddenly acts on the right A-pillar 25, the gas generator 55 produces in the support means 50 which is constructed as a hose a gas which is not shown here and which drives the flank of the support means 50 adjacent to the driver's seat 40 and the passenger seat 45 in the direction of the motor vehicle interior 5. The gas production is maintained until the support means 50 is tightly filled and has a very high mechanical strength, in particular pressure resistance. As can be derived from FIG. 1B, the left end portion 60 of the support means 50 which is filled with gas is in abutment with the left A-pillar 20 and the right end portion 65 of the support means 50 which is filled with gas is in abutment against the right A-pillar 25, whereby there is a distribution of the force F over the right A-pillar 25 into the body 10. Consequently, the support means 50 supports the front region of the motor vehicle interior 5 illustrated in the Figure.

[0029] In FIG. 2, an alternative embodiment to FIG. 1B is illustrated in the second operating state. In this instance, a first support means 50 which is located between the left A-pillar 20 and the steering wheel column trim 30 and a second support means 50 which is located between the steering wheel column trim 30 and the right A-pillar 25 is provided. The first support means 50 has an individual chamber 70 which is tightly filled with a gas not illustrated here by means of a single gas generator 55. In contrast, the second support means 55 has a series of chambers 70 which are fluidically connected to each other and which are tightly filled with gas by means of a gas generator 55 in each case.

[0030] In FIG. 3, another alternative embodiment to FIGS. 1B and 2 is shown in the second operating state. An individual support means 50 which receives a gas generator 55 is tightly filled with gas. It is supported with the left end portion 60 thereof against the left A-pillar 20 and with the right end portion 65 thereof against the right A-pillar 25, but is released from the end wall 15 with the end thereof remote from the driver's seat 40 or the passenger seat 45 and spaced apart from it. Its position in the longitudinal vehicle direction x is according to this embodiment secured by means of a series of catch straps 80 which are distributed over the transverse direction Q and which are connected at one end to the end wall 15, at the other end to the support means 50. The catch straps 80 shown here cover the tightly filled support means over the entire extent thereof in the x direction. However, this is not necessarily the case; instead, there may also be provision for some of the catch straps 80 or all the catch straps 80 to be secured to the end remote from the driver's seat 40 or the passenger seat 45 or the remote side of the support means 50.

[0031] FIG. 4A is a simplified side view of another embodiment of the invention which is in the first operating state. A support means 50, a head airbag 85 and a knee airbag 90 which comprises a plurality of chambers and which each have in this case a gas generator which is not illustrated here are located at an end wall 15.

[0032] In the event of an accident, the support means 50 is tightly filled with gas by means of the gas generator associated therewith and, according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, moved by means of catch straps 80 into a support position remote from the end wall 15. Depending on the severity of the accident, alternatively or additionally the head airbag 85 and/or the knee airbag 90 are also filled with gas.

[0033] The gas generator 55 provided in the respective embodiments is operationally connected to an on-board electronic unit which is provided in a manner known per se in the motor vehicle 1 and which is not shown here for reasons of simplicity so that elements which are known per se and which are found to be advantageous can advantageously be used for detection and operation of the support means 50, the head airbag 85 and/or the knee airbag 90.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0034] 1 Motor vehicle [0035] 5 Vehicle interior [0036] 10 Body [0037] 15 End wall [0038] 20 Left A-pillar [0039] 25 Right A-pillar [0040] 30 Steering wheel column trim [0041] 35 Steering wheel [0042] 40 Driver's seat [0043] 45 Passenger seat [0044] 50 Support means [0045] 55 Gas generator [0046] 60 Left end portion [0047] 65 Right end portion [0048] 70 Chamber [0049] 75 Chambers [0050] 80 Catch strap [0051] 85 Head airbag [0052] 90 Knee airbag [0053] F Load [0054] Q Transverse vehicle direction [0055] x, y, z Cartesian coordinate system according to ISO 4130-1978