Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh

Audi Ag

Markus Schlipf

Werner Freisler

Simon Schmid

Simon Kramer

Silke Leger

Andreas Geist

Jochen Dünnebier

An airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system has an actively releasable tether element () disposed in an interior () of the airbag () which is connected, at an airbag-side fixation (), permanently to the airbag () in the region of a contact zone () for the occupant, and which comprises a detachable fixing point () for the release. The airbag () can take up a smaller first filled volume (V) in which the tether element () and the detachable fixing point () are not released, and a larger second filled volume (V) in which the tether element () is released at the actively detachable fixing point (). In addition to the tether element (), a tether element restrainer () disposed in the interior () of the airbag () is provided which acts upon a point of action () on a vehicle-side portion () of the tether element () distant from the airbag-side permanent fixation () of the tether element () and which is permanently fixed to a coupling point () distant from the contact zone () so that the vehicle-side portion () of the released tether element () remains connected fixedly to the vehicle via the tether element restrainer ().

Airbag of a vehicle occupant restraint system

A foot protection device for a driver () of a vehicle including pedals comprises an inflatable first airbag () located beneath at least one pedal () which, in the inflated state, extends between a bulkhead () delimiting the footwell and the associated pedal (). The first airbag () in the inflated state and in a lateral view extends from the bulkhead () to the front side of the pedal () and laterally encloses the pedal () to prevent the foot from bending.

Foot protection device

Growing community of inventors

Göppingen, Germany

Markus Schlipf