Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh

Trw Automotive Gmbh

Trw Occupant Restraint Systems Gmbh & Co. Kg

Zf Passive Safety Systems US Inc.

Audi Ag

Werner Freisler

Daniel Elija

Benjamin Weimer

Timo Abele

Gerd Zischka

Dirk Schultz

Simon Schmid

Sven Oliver Tamme

Bernd Kleinmann

Erik Hanle

Marc Elstner

Kurt F Fischer

Douglas M Gould

Alexander Heilig

Hylus Ranjit Raj Jayakar

Bernd Jakobs

Alexandra E Smith

Franz Fürst

Robert Mohr

Tobias Klenk

Christoph Grundheber

Walter Krönes

Tomasz Pys

Klaus Bernhard

Markus Schlipf

Frederic Myers

Theresa Betz

Annabelle Munding

Kalus Bernhard

Nico Maier

Matthias Schramm

Niko Edelmann

A vehicle occupant restraint system () comprises a vehicle seat () including a backrest () with a seat back surface (), wherein the seat back surface () is provided for a vehicle occupant seated in the vehicle seat () to lean there against, and comprises an airbag module () integrated in the vehicle seat () which includes an airbag () being L-shaped in a horizontal section plane. The airbag () has a fillable cushioning portion () forming a first leg of the L which is positioned along a seat longitudinal direction (L) spaced from the seat back surface (), and a fillable connecting portion () forming a second leg of the L which connects the cushioning portion () to the vehicle seat (). The airbag () includes at least one stabilizing element () which counteracts a force (F) acting on the cushioning portion () and being directed away from the seat back surface (), if the vehicle occupant impacts a baffle (), so as to stabilize the cushioning portion () relative to the connecting portion ().

Vehicle occupant restraining system

The invention describes an airbag module (), specifically a knee airbag module, comprising at least a module housing (), an airbag, specifically a knee airbag, and an inflator (), as well as a holding element (), the holding element () including a seat () for the inflator () and enclosing the inflator () at least partly, in particular in a cage-like manner, the holding element () including securing elements () at least for securing the holding element () and the airbag to the module housing (), the holding element () and/or the module housing () comprising a fixing element () for fixing the inflator () in the holding element (). The invention further describes a method for replacing an inflator () of an airbag module ().

Airbag module, method for exchanging a gas generator of an airbag module, and method for producing an airbag module

The invention describes a holding device () for holding and releasing a tensioning means () of a vehicle safety system. The holding device () includes a pyrotechnical actuator assembly () for holding and, in terms of signals, specifically releasing the tensioning means (), wherein the actuator assembly () comprises a plastic base () in which a pyrotechnical unit () including a propelling charge and an igniter () is accommodated and held, wherein the pyrotechnical unit () has a rear side () and an opposite front side (), and a tensioning means holder () which is adjacent to the front side () of the pyrotechnical unit () and covers the same and which is detachably supported on the plastic base (). The holding device () additionally includes a reinforcing element () which is supported to be axially movable between a first position and a second position, wherein the reinforcing element () in a second position is disengaged from the tensioning means holder () and in a first position is at least partially accommodated in the tensioning means holder () and mechanically reinforces the same. Furthermore, an airbag module () is described.

Holding device and airbag module

The invention relates to an airbag module () of a vehicle occupant restraint system, specifically a knee airbag module, comprising a folded inflatable airbag () for restraining a vehicle occupant, a module housing () which includes a flexible airbag sheath () at least partially enclosing the folded airbag (), and comprising a module cover () which includes fasteners () for fastening the module cover () to the module housing (), wherein the flexible airbag sheath () of the module housing () is fixed directly to said fasteners (), and wherein at least one flexible anchoring element (') is provided which extends between the folded airbag () and the module cover () and limits or prevents expansion of the folded airbag () toward the module cover ().

Airbag module of a vehicle passenger restraint system

A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a vehicle seat () which includes a backrest () with a seat back surface (), the seat back surface () being provided for a vehicle occupant () seated in the vehicle seat () to lean against the same, and comprising an airbag module () integrated in the vehicle seat () which includes an airbag () being U-shaped in a horizontal section plane, wherein the airbag () includes an L-shaped restraining portion () and an L-shaped supporting portion (), wherein the L-shaped restraining portion () has a fillable cushioning portion () forming a first leg of the L which is positioned along a seat longitudinal direction (L) spaced apart from the seat back surface () and which includes a baffle () being directed toward the seat back surface () and being provided to cushion the vehicle occupant (), if he/she is displaced forward along the seat longitudinal direction (L), and includes a fillable connecting portion () forming a second leg of the L which connects the cushioning portion () to the vehicle seat (), wherein the L-shaped supporting portion () includes a fillable first bearing portion () forming a first leg of the L and being positioned along a seat longitudinal direction (L) behind the backrest () and a second bearing portion () forming a second leg of the L which connects the first bearing portion () to the vehicle seat (), wherein the connecting portion () of the restraining portion () and the second bearing portion () of the supporting portion () form a transverse leg () of the U, wherein the supporting portion () includes a bearing surface () directed toward the backrest () and counteracts a load (F) being directed away from the seat back surface () and acting on the restraining portion (), if the vehicle occupant () impacts the baffle (), so as to stabilize the restraining portion () relative to the vehicle seat ().

Vehicle passenger restraint system

A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a vehicle seat () including a backrest () having a seat back surface (), and an airbag module () integrated in the vehicle seat () including an airbag () which is L-shaped in a horizontal section plane and includes a cushioning portion () positioned along a seat longitudinal direction (L) spaced apart from the seat back surface (), as well as a connecting portion () connecting the cushioning portion () to the vehicle seat (). A fillable head protection chamber () projecting from the cushioning portion () along a seat vertical direction (H) which includes a head cushioning surface () facing the seat back surface () is arranged on the cushioning portion ().

Vehicle occupant restraint system

A folding table device () for a vehicle seat comprises a table top (), an articulated arm (), an articulation (), an airbag () as well as an inflator () connected to the airbag () by means of which the airbag () is inflatable. The table top () can be adjusted via the articulation () including the articulated arm () about a pivot axis (S) from a rest position into a use position and from the use position into the rest position. Further, the airbag () and the inflator () are attached to the table top (). Accordingly, the distance (a) of the center of gravity () of the inflator () from the pivot axis (S) is smaller than the distance (A) of the center of gravity () of the folded airbag () from the pivot axis (S). In addition, there is provided a vehicle comprising a vehicle seat and a folding table device () of this type.

Folding table device and vehicle having a folding table device

The present disclosure describes a module base element for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising at least one module carrier for receiving at least one airbag module, wherein the airbag module comprises at least one airbag and the airbag is connected to a gas source, especially a gas generator, and comprising a hinged arm having at least one hinged element so that the module carrier can be moved from an idle position to an operating position and from an operating position to an idle position, and comprising a lap restraint element. The present disclosure further describes a vehicle occupant protection system for protecting a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat comprising at least one restraint element, wherein at least one restraint element of the vehicle occupant protection system is disposed in a module base element according to the present disclosure.

Module base element for a vehicle occupant protection system and vehicle occupant protection 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

The invention relates to an airbag module () comprising a restraint airbag () which is inflated in a situation of restraint and, in an inflated state, has a restraining effect on an occupant (), and at least one backup member () which, in a restraining state, is at least in portions in contact with the inflated restraint airbag () and is configured so that it backs the restraint airbag () and in particular absorbs a force (F) applied to the restraint airbag () by contacting a vehicle occupant (), wherein, in the inflated state, the restraint airbag () is interposed between the backup member () and the vehicle occupant (), wherein the backup member () is arranged, in an initial state, on or in the airbag module. The invention also relates to a vehicle seat and a vehicle comprising an airbag module according to the invention.

Airbag module, vehicle seat having an airbag module, and vehicle

A frontal airbag for vehicle occupants comprises a contact panel () facing the vehicle occupant in the inflated state. Inside the airbag tension means (') which restrain portions of the contact panel () in the inflated state of the frontal airbag () are arranged on the contact panel () so that, in the mounted and inflated state, the contact panel () forms plural indentations () extending vertically from the view of the associated occupant. The frontal airbag () optionally may take a first completely inflated state and a second completely inflated state with a larger airbag volume than in the first state, wherein a release device () is assigned to at least several of the tension means (&#x2032;) and, when the release device is not activated, the frontal airbag () only reaches the first state and, when the release device () is activated, the contact panel () bulges in the area of the released tension means (&#x2032;) further toward the occupant so as to enable the second state.

Frontal airbag

A vehicle occupant restraint system () comprises a front airbag () and an auxiliary airbag () both of which are assigned to a joint vehicle seat (), wherein, prior to its deployment, the auxiliary airbag () is arranged in a roof region of the vehicle and, in the filled state, as a further front airbag extends ahead of a vehicle occupant () and between the front airbag () and the vehicle occupant () in the assigned vehicle seat () and bears against the front airbag ().

Vehicle-occupant restraint system having an additional airbag

The present disclosure describes a module base element for a vehicle occupant protection system comprising at least one module carrier for receiving at least one airbag module wherein the airbag module comprises at least one airbag and the airbag is connected to a gas source, especially a gas generator, and comprising a hinged arm having at least one hinged element so that the module carrier can be moved from an idle position to an operating position and from an operating position to an idle position, and comprising a lap restraint element. The present disclosure further describes a vehicle occupant protection system for protecting a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat comprising at least one restraint element, wherein at least one restraint element of the vehicle occupant protection system is disposed in a module base element according to the present disclosure.

A knee airbag unit () of a vehicle occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle is described. The knee airbag unit () comprises an airbag module (), which has a module holder (), a gas generator () and a flexible, non-inherently rigid module housing () that at least partially surrounds the gas generator () and the airbag in the untriggered state, wherein the gas generator (), the airbag and the flexible module housing () are fastened to the module holder (). Also provided is a cover () forming a module covering and defining an outer side in the installed state of the knee airbag unit (), which is connected to the airbag module (). Furthermore, there is an edge-side means () securing the cover () against lowering, originating from the module holder ().

Knee airbag unit of a vehicle occupant restraint system of a motor vehicle

The invention describes a vehicle occupant restraint system () comprising a control unit and at least two restraint elements () for the protection of lower extremities () in the area of a footwell () of a vehicle of a vehicle occupant seated in a particular vehicle seat of the vehicle, wherein a first restraint element () is configured as a knee airbag module (), wherein a second restraint element () is provided for mounting into the footwell () of the vehicle, especially in an area of the footwell () of the vehicle arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction (x) ahead of the knee airbag module (), wherein, in a situation of restraint, the control unit can differentiate between different given situations, wherein the given situation can be determined via a vehicle seat position and parameters relating to vehicle occupants, wherein, in the situation of restraint, when a situation is given in which the vehicle seat () is in a position shifted backwards, especially in a position shifted backwards compared to the standard position, and the vehicle occupant is a short and/or light person, the control unit only activates the foot airbag module () of the second restraint element ().

Growing community of inventors

Heubach, Germany

Werner Freisler