Daimler Ag

Daimler Chrysler Ag

Clark Ruedebusch

Friedrich Reiter

Andreas Hirth

Lutz Quarg

Karl-Heinz Baumann

Christian Burczyk

Till Heinrich

A restraint system for a motor vehicle unfolds from a storage position to a restraint position. The unfolding is carried out by at least one supporting structure that can be inflated by a gas pressure source; and in the restraining position, the occupant is provided with a carrier volume for restraining the occupant in the displacement position, whereby the carrier volume is enclosed by at least one carrier structure. The dimension of the restraint system is adapted to the respective load condition, and the flexible carrier structure is fixed for enclosing the carrier volume by inflating the supporting structure.

Restraint system

The restraining function of support structure airbags in particular and mechanical airbags should be able to be specifically guaranteed in a simple manner. To this end, an air cushion for an airbag of a motor vehicle is provided, having a sleeve with at least one opening and a closure element arranged on the at least one opening in order to at least partially prevent air from flowing from a first direction, Furthermore, the closure element is flexible and has a channel-shaped design at least upon the flow of air from a second direction opposite the first direction. The closure element thus has the effect of a check valve.

Air cushion with a channel-shaped closure element

An airbag for a motor vehicle, comprises a support structure that can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position, and a covering which surrounds a restraint volume of the airbag formed by the support structure in its restraint position. At least one connecting element, which extends inside the restraint volume, connects together the hollow bodies of the support structure and/or the surface areas of the covering.

Airbag, in particular for a motor vehicle

A vehicle occupant restraint system has an airbag, which provides a predetermined support force distribution in the filled (unfolded) state, and at least one energy-absorbing element that is attached to the airbag in order to unfold it or to locally increase the support force thereof. The energy-absorbing element(s) are arranged such that at least one energy absorbing element may apply itself to an occupant, and may at least partially follow the movements of the same at least to a certain extent. The energy-absorbing element has an occupant-protective function, and/or the airbag has a funnel function relative to an occupant to be supported. The occupant is guided toward the center of the airbag during an impact by means of the funnel function, and is possibly also protected laterally by means of the side walls.

Vehicle occupant safety system with energy-absorbing elements, and method of operating same

A restraint system having support elements can be transferred from a storage position to a restraint position. Flexible casing elements are disposed between the support elements and have air flow openings, such that the support elements having the flexible casing elements enclose a restraint volume in the restraint position. A resistance element is disposed at each of the air flow openings in order to impede or prevent the escape of air from the restraint volume compared to the inflow at the respective air flow opening. Such resistance elements may be formed by a second layer, displaced fabric threads, flexible fabric web sections and other elements such that a check valve function is provided.

Restraint system with closeable air flow openings

A restraining system includes a restraining volume that is bounded by a cladding, and is deployable by expansion of the restraining volume, to restrain or protect an object or person. Deployment of the restraining volume by expanding it into a restraining position is performed by a mechanical enlarging unit, rather than by a pyrotechnic gas generator, so that the restraining system may be restored to a storage position following a deployment.

Restraining system

A vehicle has a crash detection device for detecting a crash that introduces a force acting in an effective direction into the vehicle. An acceleration device directly or indirectly cooperates with the crash detection device to absolutely accelerate at least one partial mass of the vehicle against the effective direction in which the force is introduced in case of a crash.

Vehicle occupant protection method and apparatus

A support structure for a vehicle airbag that can be displaced from a storage position to a restraint position by a gas flow, comprises a plurality of hollow bodies that are connected to each other to form a channel system. A device is provided inside the channel system for the targeted influencing of the gas flow.

Support structure for an airbag

A restraint system for a motor vehicle is formed by one or more inflatable supporting structures whose longitudinal extent in the deployed state substantially exceeds their transverse dimension, and which unfold mainly in the direction of their longitudinal extension. During unfolding, the supporting structure, when impacting upon an obstacle does not have the same stability as when it is completely unfolded, and/or does not reach the final volume or the final extension.

Restraint system for a motor vehicle

A safety device for a motor vehicle has a gas generator, an airbag and at least one orifice through which gas flows. The state of fill of the airbag adjusts automatically to each load case by providing an orifice having a duct shape at least in a partial region. The flow resistance in this partial region adjusts automatically as a function of the velocity of the gas flow flowing through the orifice.

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Holzgerlingen, Germany

Clark Ruedebusch