Gas-fillable support means for a motor vehicle and motor vehicle equipped therewith

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11827170-B2
Application number	US-201917289931-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 14, 2019
Priority date	Oct 31, 2018
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. 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 a hose, and wherein the hose is constructed of polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate;
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 of the hose;
wherein the gas-fillable support has a second operating state which exists after the gas generator is activated and which has a second volume of the hose which is greater than the first volume of the hose;
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 and wherein the gas-fillable support increases a rigidity of the motor vehicle in the second operating state when installed in the motor vehicle; and
a head airbag that is connected to the gas-fillable support and is disposed above the gas-fillable support and a knee airbag that is connected to the gas-fillable support and is disposed below the gas-fillable support.

2. The support apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a strap which is connected to the gas-fillable support and is connectable to a portion which is connected to the body.

3. A motor vehicle, comprising:
a body; and
a gas-fillable support secured to the body, wherein the gas-fillable support is connectable to a gas generator, wherein the gas-fillable support is a hose, and wherein the hose is constructed of polyamide or polyethylene terephthalate;
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 of the hose;
wherein the gas-fillable support has a second operating state which exists after the gas generator is activated and which has a second volume of the hose which is greater than the first volume of the hose;
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;
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-fillable support against an apparatus which is operationally connected to the body.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Girisch Juergen
• Schmid Bernhard

Classifications

• B60R21/206 Primary

  in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees · CPC title

• B60R21/16

  Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags ({protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; } connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00) · CPC title

• B60R21/205

  in dashboards · CPC title

• B60R21/231

  characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration · CPC title

• B60R21/2338

  Tethers · CPC title