Passenger protection device for a vehicle, and vehicle

Abstract

A passenger protection device for a vehicle includes an airbag assigned to at least one passenger in a rear compartment of the vehicle. The airbag can be activated and filled with a gas in the event of an imminent collision of the vehicle being detected or in the event of a collision. The airbag is formed such that that it is deployed in the activated and filled condition between a front vehicle seat and an upper body region, as well as a between the front vehicle seat and a knee and lower leg region of the passenger.

Claims

1. A passenger protection device for a vehicle, the passenger protection device comprising: an airbag assigned to at least one passenger in a rear compartment of the vehicle, wherein, in event of an imminent collision of the vehicle being detected or in the event of a collision, the airbag is activated and filled with a gas, wherein the airbag has a form such that when the airbag is deployed in the activated and filled condition, the airbag is configured to be interposed between a front vehicle seat and a lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger and configured to be interposed between the front vehicle seat and a knee and lower leg region of the passenger, wherein the airbag is fluidically connected to a gas generator for deployment of the airbag, the gas generator, upon activation, releases the gas filling the airbag, wherein the airbag has a support structure that is fillable with the gas at least in a first region configured to press the pelvic region of the passenger towards a rear of the vehicle and to protect the lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger so that support structure bearing structures, which encase at least one bearing volume, are stretched by sucking in surrounding air through at least one inflow opening into an interior of the first region and forming the at least one bearing volume, wherein the airbag has a second region adjacent to the first region and configured to protect the knee and lower leg region of the passenger, the second region is a single fillable region, wherein the second region is fluidically connected to the support structure of the first region, and wherein the support structure is tubular.

2. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the first region of the airbag comprises two bearing volumes.

3. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein, in the filled and deployed condition, the airbag extends at least over a width of the front vehicle seat.

4. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the support structure and the bearing structures form the bearing volume.

5. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the gas generator is attached to the vehicle floor in a footwell assigned to vehicle seat on which the at least one passenger is positioned.

6. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein at least sections of the gas generator are arranged beneath the front vehicle seat.

7. The passenger protection device of claim 1, wherein the airbag is directly attached to the gas generator.

8. A vehicle, comprising: a front vehicle seat; a rear vehicle seat upon which at least one passenger is positioned; and an airbag configured to protect the at least one passenger, wherein, in event of an imminent collision of the vehicle being detected or in the event of a collision, the airbag is activated and filled with a gas, wherein the airbag has a form such that when the airbag is deployed in the activated and filled condition, the airbag is configured to be interposed between a front vehicle seat and a lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger and configured to be interposed between the front vehicle seat and a knee and lower leg region of the passenger, wherein the airbag is fluidically connected to a gas generator for deployment of the airbag, the gas generator, upon activation, releases the gas filling the airbag, wherein the airbag has a support structure that is fillable with the gas at least in a first region configured to press the pelvic region of the passenger towards a rear of the vehicle and to protect the lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger so that support structure bearing structures, which encase at least one bearing volume, are stretched by sucking in surrounding air through at least one inflow opening into an interior of the first region and forming the at least one bearing volume, wherein the airbag has a second region adjacent to the first region and configured to protect the knee and lower leg region of the passenger, the second region is a single fillable region, wherein the second region is fluidically connected to the support structure of the first region, and wherein the support structure is tubular.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the first region of the airbag comprises two bearing volumes.

10. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein, in the filled and deployed condition, the airbag extends at least over a width of the front vehicle seat.

11. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the support structure and the bearing structures form the bearing volume.

12. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the gas generator is attached to the vehicle floor in a footwell assigned to vehicle seat on which the at least one passenger is positioned.

13. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein at least sections of the gas generator are arranged beneath the front vehicle seat.

14. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the airbag is directly attached to the gas generator.

15. A method of deploying an airbag assigned to at least one passenger in a rear compartment of the vehicle, the method comprising: activating and filling the airbag with gas by a gas generator fluidically connected to the airbag in response to detection of an imminent collision of the vehicle or in response to detection of a collision; wherein filling the airbag causes the airbag to move from a stored position to a deployed position in which the airbag is configured to be interposed between a front vehicle seat and a lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger and configured to be interposed between the front vehicle seat and a knee and lower leg region of the passenger, wherein in the deployed position a support structure of the airbag is filled with the gas at least in a first region configured to protect the lower torso and pelvic region of the passenger so that support structure bearing structures encasing at least one bearing volume are stretched, wherein in the deployed position a second region of the airbag, which is adjacent to the first region, is configured to press the pelvic region of the passenger towards a rear of the vehicle and to protect the knee and lower leg region of the passenger, wherein the second region is a single fillable region, wherein the second region is fluidically connected to the support structure of the first region, wherein the support structure is tubular, and wherein the airbag is only activated when a current driving speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined threshold value.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first region of the airbag comprises two bearing volumes.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein, in the filled and deployed condition, the airbag extends at least over a width of the front vehicle seat.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in greater detail below by means of drawings.

(2) Here are shown:

(3) FIG. 1 schematically, a side view of a first embodiment of an airbag for a rear compartment of a vehicle,

(4) FIG. 2 schematically, in a perspective view, a top view of a passenger and an activated airbag in a second embodiment,

(5) FIG. 3 schematically, a side view of the passenger with the activated airbag in the second embodiment,

(6) FIG. 4 schematically, a perspective view of the passenger and the activated airbag in the second embodiment and

(7) FIG. 5 schematically, a further perspective view of the passenger and the activated airbag in the second embodiment.

(8) Parts that correspond to one another are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a side view of a passenger protection means of a passenger protection device formed as an airbag 1 for a vehicle 2, which is depicted partially in the following figures. Here, the airbag 1 is shown in a first embodiment.

(10) The airbag 1 is assigned to a passenger 3 in the rear compartment of the vehicle 2 shown in the following figures and has two regions 1.1 and 1.2.

(11) A first region 1.1 is assigned to an upper body 3.1, in particular a pelvic region of the passenger 3, and a second region 1.2 is assigned to a knee and lower leg region 3.2 of the passenger 3, wherein the airbag 1 extends in the activated and completely deployed condition between a front vehicle seat 4, i.e. a driver's seat or a passenger seat, and the passenger 3 in the rear compartment.

(12) In its operating position, the airbag 1 serves as protection of the passenger 3 if he/she has not put on a seat belt assigned to his/her vehicle seat 5 shown i.a. in FIG. 2.

(13) The passenger protection device having the airbag 1 as passenger protection means is, for example, only able to be activated when the vehicle 2 is driving with a current driving speed not exceeding a predetermined threshold value of, for example, 25 km/h. If the vehicle 2 has a current driving speed exceeding the threshold value, and the passenger 3 has not put on his/her seatbelt, it can be provided that a request is emitted to put on the seat belt. For example, monitoring with respect to putting on the seat belt upon exceeding the predetermined threshold value takes place, wherein monitoring can take place by means of seat occupancy detection, a belt buckle sensor for detecting a belt status and/or by means of detected signals of an interior camera.

(14) The passenger protection device having the airbag 1 is provided for the protection of passengers 3 in the rear compartment of the vehicle 2 if he/she, for example in the event of a straight tailback of the vehicle 2, has taken off the seat belt for comfort reasons and the vehicle 2 collides with an object, for example a vehicle driving ahead.

(15) In order to deploy the airbag 1, the airbag is fluidically connected to a gas generator (not depicted in more detail) and which ignites a pyrotechnic propellant upon activation, whereby a gas is released, by means of which the airbag 1, i.e. its two regions 1.1, 1.2, are able to be supplied. If the airbag 1 is completely deployed in its first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, it has its operating position.

(16) A first region 1.1 of the airbag 1 comprises a tubular support structure 1.1.1, bearing structures 1.1.2 and two bearing volumes 1.1.3.

(17) The support structure 1.1.1 can be supplied with the gas from the gas generator (not depicted in more detail), wherein the gas flows through a second region 1.2 into the first region 1.1 of the airbag 1. The support structure 1.1.1 is filled by the gas supply and is thereby deployed. The vertical sections of the support structure 1.1.1 are thereby erected.

(18) The support structure 1.1.1 forms a framework, wherein the bearing structures 1.1.2 can be stretched by deployment of the support structure 1.1.1, the bearing structures encasing the respective bearing volumes.

(19) When the support structure 1.1.1 is filled, the bearing structures 1.1.2 are stretched, wherein surrounding air is able to be sucked in through at least one inflow opening into an interior of the first region 1.1, whereby the respective bearing volume 1.1.3 is formed.

(20) The second region 1.2 of the airbag 1 protrudes from the first region 1.1 and extends substantially in the vertical direction between the front vehicle seat 4 and the passenger 3 such that, as is depicted in more detail in FIG. 3 in particular, his/her knee and lower leg region 3.2 and also his/her feet 3.3 are protected by means of the airbag 1. The airbag 1 is thereby formed in the second region 1.2 as a single chamber-like fillable region that can be filled with gas.

(21) The gas generator, which is fluidically connected to the airbag 1, is attached to the vehicle floor 7 in a footwell 6 assigned to the vehicle seat 5 of the passenger 3, which is also depicted in more detail in FIG. 3, wherein the airbag 1 is also located there in the unactivated condition. If the airbag 1 is activated, it is deployed from below, i.e., from the footwell 6 in the direction of the vehicle vertical axis upwards.

(22) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a passenger 3 sitting in the vehicle seat 5 and of the activated airbag 1 in a second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the airbag 1 has a bearing volume 1.1.3 encased by the support structure 1.1.1 and the bearing structures 1.1.2.

(23) In FIG. 3, a side view of the passenger 3 sitting in the vehicle seat 5 and the deployed airbag 1 is depicted.

(24) Here, the airbag 1 is depicted in its operating position, in which the airbag 1 extends between the front vehicle seat 4 and the passenger 3.

(25) By means of the bearing volume 1.1.3, a depth of the airbag 1, in particular of the first region 1.1, is able to be adjusted flexibly and automatically depending on a position of the front vehicle seat 4, wherein a protective effect of the airbag 1 is not impaired. This means that a required depth of the airbag 1 for an optimal protective effect of this is automatically adjusted depending on a distance between the passenger 3 and the front vehicle seat 4.

(26) By means of the first region 1.1 of the airbag 1 assigned to the upper body region 3.1, the passenger 3 is fastened to his/her vehicle seat 5 in sections, wherein the first region 1.1, in particular, presses the pelvic region of the passenger 3 in the direction of the vehicle seat 5. The first region 1.1 of the airbag 1 is provided for retention of the pelvis, such that the passenger 3 is fastened to his/her vehicle seat 5.

(27) In particular, the first region 1.1 of the airbag 1 provides protection for a passenger 3 who has not put on his/her seat belt.

(28) If the passenger 3 has put on his/her seat belt, the first region 1.1 holds back the pelvis of the passenger 3, such that the risk of the passenger 3 sliding under the seat belt is at least reduced.

(29) FIG. 4 depicts a lateral perspective view of the passenger 3 in his/her vehicle seat 5 with the activated airbag 1.

(30) It is thereby shown how, in the completely deployed condition of the airbag 1, the second region 1.2 extends in the knee and lower leg region 3.2 of the passenger 3. As a result, contact of the knee and lower leg region 3.2 with the front vehicle seat 4 is ruled out to the greatest extent possible in the event of a collision of the vehicle 2 by means of the second region 1.2.

(31) FIG. 5 shows a further perspective view of the passenger 3 in his/her vehicle seat 5 with the activated airbag 1 in its second embodiment.

(32) Driving without a seat belt on until a predetermined driving speed is reached is possible by means of such an airbag 1 as protection against injury, wherein comfort for the passenger 3 is increased with corresponding safety. Straight tailbacks can thus be more pleasant for a passenger 3 in the rear compartment of the vehicle 2.

(33) Although the present invention has been described above by means of embodiments with reference to the enclosed drawings, it is understood that various changes and developments can be implemented without leaving the scope of the present invention, as it is defined in the enclosed claims.