IP Library Granted Patent US 8,038,169
Granted Patent B2
US 8,038,169 · App. 12/266,489 · Granted Oct 18, 2011

Restraint system for front vehicle occupants

Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,038,169
App. No.
12/266,489
Granted
Oct 18, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A restraint system is provided that includes, but is not limited to at least one airbag module having an airbag having at least one chamber for front vehicle occupants in a vehicle, a space at a distance from the windshield between dashboard and front vehicle occupant being fillable using the airbag by unfolding. To improve the vehicle comfort and the passenger safety according to the current and future requirements and provide more interior space, the airbag module is fastenable to a vehicle body structure forming the front vehicle interior, the restraint system being implemented using an airbag enlarged by a depth (T) of a dashboard.

Claims (29)

1. A restraint system for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag module comprising an airbag;

at least one chamber of the airbag for a front vehicle occupant on a passenger side of the vehicle; and

a space at a distance to a windshield of the vehicle between a dashboard and a front vehicle occupant position that is adapted to fill with an unfolding of the airbag, wherein:

the dashboard is left out on the passenger side of the vehicle leaving a dashboard-free space;

the airbag module is fastened to a windshield crossbeam, the windshield crossbeam supporting a bottom side of the windshield; and

the airbag unfolding in an inflated state from the dashboard-free space in a direction of the front vehicle occupant position.

2. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag has a lateral airbag extension for cushioning in relation to at least one lateral A-column.

3. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag has an upper airbag extension for cushioning in relation to a front roof frame structure.

4. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag has a leg airbag for cushioning foot extremities.

5. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag has a lateral airbag extension for cushioning in relation to a central console.

6. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein a separate leg airbag module is situated for a foot area that is particularly coupled to an upper airbag module for activation.

7. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag has at least one of a thorax chamber or a head chamber.

8. The restraint system according claim 6 , wherein the airbag of the upper airbag module envelops an entire front contour of a vehicle occupant.

9. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag is implemented as a multi-chamber airbag.

10. The restraint system according to claim 9 , wherein the multi-chamber airbag has at least one tear seam that partition a plurality of chambers.

11. The restraint system according to claim 9 , wherein the multi-chamber airbag has an overflow opening.

12. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag module has a gas generator having at least one triggering stages.

13. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag module has a variable gas generator.

14. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag comprises at least one light airbag fabric for each section of the airbag.

15. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag is folded in a chamber under vacuum.

16. The restraint system according to claim 1 , wherein the dashboard is exclusively situated on a driver side of a front vehicle interior of the vehicle.

17. The restraint system according to claim 16 , wherein the airbag is adapted to enlarge by a depth (T) of the dashboard.

18. The restraint system according to claim 1 , the front vehicle occupant position corresponding to the passenger side of a front vehicle interior of the vehicle, wherein the dashboard does not occupy space in front of the front vehicle occupant position.

19. The restraint system of claim 1 , further comprising a second airbag module fastened to the windshield crossbeam, the second airbag module including a leg airbag for cushioning foot extremities.

20. A restraint system for a vehicle, comprising:

an airbag module comprising an airbag, the airbag module being fastened to a windshield crossbeam supporting a bottom side of a windshield of the vehicle;

at least one chamber of the airbag for a front vehicle occupant on a passenger side of a front vehicle interior of the vehicle; and

a dashboard exclusively situated on a driver side of the front vehicle interior to provide a dashboard-free space on the passenger side of the front vehicle interior, the airbag unfolding in an inflated state from the dashboard-free space in a direction of the front vehicle occupant.

Assignments (12)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034384/0758 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025781/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025324/0515 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 5, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025315/0046 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0909 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0237 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0313 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023126/0914 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023155/0769 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022554/0538 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0448 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2009
From: RICK, ULRICH
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022176/0018 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2007 052 974 · Nov 7, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090121462A1 · May 14, 2009