DE102011116444A1 - Safety device e.g. airbag for free seat of e.g. motorcycle, has expansion element which is secured to elastic membrane that is provided for accident-initiated air filling under elastic expansion of the elastic membrane - Google Patents

Abstract

The safety device (1) has a support (3) and an expansion element (2) which is secured to an elastic membrane made of elastomer. The elastic membrane is provided for accident-initiated air filling under elastic expansion of the elastic membrane. An independent claim is included for free seat.

Description

The present invention relates to a safety device for a free-sitting and a free-seat with one or more such safety devices.

For the purposes of the present invention, the term "free-seated person" refers in particular to means of locomotion, in particular vehicles with two or more wheels, on which one or more persons, who are uniformly called drivers for a more compact presentation, sit in such a way that they are in a collision of the means of transport with an obstacle can lift off the means of transport. A free-seat in the sense of the present invention may in particular be a motorcycle, a quad, a manual or scooter, a bicycle, in particular a road bike or mountain bike, a bob or a jet ski. Preferably, a free seat has a saddle.

To protect a motorcyclist in a collision, it is from the EP 2 305 542 A1 Known to arrange a folded airbag frontally in the area of the motorcycle tank, which is filled in an accident, unfolds as a result, and so can catch the motorcyclist.

Such folded air bags disadvantageously have a large pack size and unfavorable deployment kinematics, which impairs their use in generic outdoor seating.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved free-seat.

This object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a safety device for a free-seat has a support and at least one expansion body attached thereto with an elastic membrane which partially or completely delimits at least one cavity which is provided for accident-initiated filling with elastic expansion of the membrane.

In the context of the present invention, a membrane is understood to mean in particular a body whose wall thickness is small in relation to its surface in an elastically undeformed state, in particular a body in which the quotient of wall thickness divided by the surface is at most 0.05% is 0.01% or less, as is the case, for example, with a rectangular plate of 10 cm edge length and 1 mm wall thickness (1 / (100 × 100) = 0.01%). In the context of the present invention, an elastic membrane is understood to mean, in particular, a membrane which is elastically highly deformable, in particular a membrane whose elongation at break is, for example, in the tensile test DIN 53504 is at least 100% and preferably at least 500% and / or whose elastic modulus at room temperature is at most 0.5 GPa, preferably at most 0.1 GPa. In a preferred embodiment, an elastic membrane has one or more elastomers, in a preferred embodiment it consists of this elastomer or these elastomers. An elastomer may in particular be natural or synthetic rubber, rubber, silicone or a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

Such an expansion body can offer the advantage of a smaller pack size compared to known folded air bags. Additionally or alternatively, it may have the advantage of being reused after expansion, in particular, without being refolded, as it elastically deforms back.

In a preferred embodiment, the membrane, at least substantially, in particular to predetermined macroscopic vents, filling fluid-tight. As a result, it is advantageously possible to reduce outflow losses compared to known airbag fabrics and to fill cavities of larger volume and / or faster with the same filling fluid flow, or smaller filling fluid flows are required.

A cavity can, at least substantially, be completely or completely delimited by an elastic membrane in that it is double-walled or hose-like. This provides a lot of expansion material and can thus allow for greater expansion. Likewise, a cavity can also be limited only partially by an elastic membrane in that it is single-walled and, at least substantially fluid-tight, preferably at its edge, connected to the support, which in turn defines a wall of the cavity. Compared to a double-walled version, this can reduce the installation space.

The expansion body or the membrane can be detachably attached to the carrier in a preferred embodiment, in particular by buttons, screws and / or hook and loop fasteners, or non-detachable, in particular materially bonded, preferably by gluing, welding and / or vulcanization, and / or clamping, in particular by caulking to be attached.

In a preferred embodiment, the carrier accommodates one or more expansion bodies in a housing-like manner and has an exit surface for the expansion body (s). This can have one or more flaps and / or tear seams which are opened by the expansion body (s). Likewise, with the cavity empty, the membrane can be exposed to the environment because, unlike folded air bags, it remains elastically in its packing state. In a preferred development, the membrane is at least coated in such a region, which is exposed in the pack state, in order to protect it from environmental influences, in particular weathering, abrasion or the like.

A free-seat may have one or more safety devices, in particular to protect different areas of the driver or drivers. Additionally or alternatively, a safety device may each comprise two or more expansion bodies fastened to the carrier. Various safety devices and / or expansion bodies can be jointly or selectively activated in a preferred development, in particular according to a collision direction. Additionally or alternatively, an expansion body may have two or more cavities, which in a preferred embodiment communicate with each other and are filled together. It can be provided between two cavities a fluid flow control means, in particular a valve or a throttle, to represent a predetermined filling profile of the cavities.

In a preferred embodiment, a filled expansion body in a vehicle longitudinal transverse plane, vehicle longitudinal high plane and / or vehicle high-transverse plane has an L, U or V-like cross section with a central part and at least one, in particular two, in contrast, angled side parts. The vehicle longitudinal transverse plane is the plane which is parallel to a vehicle longitudinal axis and a vehicle transverse axis, as a vehicle longitudinal high plane corresponding to a plane which is parallel to a vehicle longitudinal axis and a vehicle vertical axis, as a vehicle longitudinal axis. High-transverse plane is a plane that is parallel to a vehicle's vertical axis and a vehicle's transverse axis. An expansion body having a U- or V-like cross section in a vehicle longitudinal transverse plane advantageously protects a driver in a collision in the direction of travel with the central part. The side panels can center the driver and / or protect against lateral obstacles. An expansion body having an L-like cross-section in a vehicle longitudinal high-level advantageously protects a driver in the direction of travel with the central part, the side part which engages over the driver can intercept the driver and / or protect him from hindrance , An expansion body having a U-shaped or V-shaped cross-section in a vehicle high-transverse plane advantageously protects a driver in the manner of a roll bar. Two or three of the aforementioned embodiments may be combined. Middle part and side part (s) may be formed by the same or different cavities.

A carrier of a safety device can be releasably attached to the free-seat, in particular by buttons, screws, hook-and-loop fasteners, straps or the like. This can allow the retrofitting of existing heaters. For example, a wearer may be strapped onto a motorcycle tank or a bicycle stem.

Likewise, a carrier of a safety device can also be permanently attached to the free-seat, in particular integrally formed therewith. This increases the compactness and safety. In particular, a carrier may be an integrated part of a panel, in particular handlebar cover, a tank, seat or a display instrument or, preferably cohesively, be connected to this.

An expansion body may be arranged in a preferred embodiment for expansion in the direction of travel in front of a driver in order to protect him in particular in a frontal collision. Additionally or alternatively, an expansion body can be arranged for expansion behind a driver in order to protect him in particular in a rear-end collision. Additionally or alternatively, an expansion body can be set up to expand over a driver in order to intercept it in particular and / or to protect it in the event of a rollover. Additionally or alternatively, an expansion body for expansion can be arranged next to a driver in order to protect him in particular in a side impact.

In a preferred embodiment, a filling fluid source is provided. This can have a control device, which is set up on the basis of an activation signal which, for example, from one or more distance, deceleration, deformation and / or force sensors is transmitted to the control device to fill one or more cavities of the expansion body or the expansion body. For this purpose, the control device can in particular have a computing unit for processing the activation signal, a valve device for fluidically connecting the filling fluid source to the cavity or the cavities, and / or an ignition device for pyrotechnic release of filling fluid. For the purposes of the present invention, a filling fluid source is set up for accident-initiated filling, in particular when it automatically initiates the filling, in particular carries it out as soon as an imminent or occurred accident has been detected.

The filling fluid source may in particular comprise one or more pyrotechnic and / or compressed gas generators. These may be connected to the cavity (s) via one or more fill fluid lines and spaced from the expansion body. In a preferred development, the filling fluid source has one or more micro gas generators (MGG). These can be formed in a preferred development as a structural unit with an expansion body and in particular be arranged directly on or even in a cavity of the expansion body. In a preferred embodiment, the fill fluid source is at least partially attached to the carrier.

In a preferred embodiment, an expansion body and / or the filling fluid source to a venting means for adjusting the damping characteristic and / or the filling pressure. The venting means may in particular comprise one or more openings, valves and / or throttles, which allow a flow, in particular escape, of filling fluid, preferably at a predetermined fluid rate. In a preferred embodiment, the venting means is variable, such as by valves open, closed and / or adjusted. Additionally or alternatively, one or more valves and / or throttles between two or more cavities communicating with each other may be provided to specify the filling and / or venting characteristic.

A membrane can be formed in one or more layers. In particular, reinforcing elements such as tapes, surface elements or nets, preferably of textile material, which have a greater modulus of elasticity and therefore expand less during filling, can be arranged locally on a membrane. Reinforcing elements may in particular be connected in a materially bonded manner in places or essentially with a complete side with the inner and / or outer side of the membrane, for example glued, welded, laminated or vulcanized on or vulcanized. The elastic membrane then expands during filling substantially tied by locally connected thereto and acting as tethers reinforcing elements or next to the completely associated with her reinforcing elements, so that they influence the shape and expansion characteristics of the filled membrane.

Further advantageous developments of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments. This shows, partially schematized:

1 a motorcycle with a safety device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2A a section along the line II-II in 1 by an expansion body of the safety device; and

2 B a section along the line II-II in 1 by a modified expansion body of the safety device.

1 shows in a rear view a free seat according to an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a motorcycle 1 , On the bench is a carrier 3 with a micro gas generator (not shown) and an expansion body 2 fixed, which has an elastic membrane defining a cavity which is provided for accident-initiated filling with elastic expansion of the membrane.

1 shows the expansion body 2 with filled cavity. The membrane is inflated in the manner of a balloon. Streaked is a head K of a driver indicated. 2A shows a section along the line II-II in 1 that is, in a vehicle longitudinal transverse plane in which the U-like cross section of the expansion body with a central part 2.1 and two contrasting side panels 2.2 is recognizable. Again, dashed head K of the driver is indicated.

It can be seen that the driver is protected in a head-on collision by the expanded expansion body. In particular, he can be intercepted, steered over an obstacle and / or his impact on the Obstacle are muffled. One recognizes further that the side parts 2.2 center the driver's head K and also protect against lateral obstacles. In the embodiment, middle part 2.1 and side panels 2.2 formed by a continuous cavity. In a modification, not shown, the side parts 2.2 also be formed by their own cavities, preferably with the middle part 2.1 communicate forming cavity.

2 B shows in 2A corresponding manner, a section along the line II-II in 1 by a modified expansion body according to another embodiment of the present invention. Corresponding elements are denoted by identical reference numerals, so that below only the differences from the above-described embodiment will be discussed.

In 2 B has the expansion body in the vehicle longitudinal transverse plane, ie the image plane of the 2 B , a V-shaped cross-section with a central part 2.1 and two contrasting side panels 2.2 on, with the middle part 2.1 essentially by a transition radius between the side parts 2.2 is formed.

Although exemplary embodiments have been explained in the foregoing description, it should be understood that a variety of modifications are possible. It should also be noted that the exemplary embodiments are merely examples that are not intended to limit the scope, applications and construction in any way. Rather, the expert is given by the preceding description, a guide for the implementation of at least one exemplary embodiment, with various changes, in particular with regard to the function and arrangement of the components described, can be made without departing from the scope, as it turns out according to the claims and these equivalent combinations of features. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 1 Motorcycle (Freestanding) 2 expansion body 2.1 midsection 2.2 side panel 3 carrier K Head (driver)

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 2305542 A1 [0003]

Cited non-patent literature

• DIN 53504 [0008]

Claims (9)

Safety device for a free-seat ( 1 ), with a carrier ( 3 ) and an expansion body attached thereto ( 2 ) with an elastic membrane which partially or completely delimits a cavity which is provided for accident-initiated filling under elastic expansion of the membrane. Safety device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic membrane comprises at least one elastomer, in particular thereof. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support ( 3 ) an exit surface for an expansion body ( 2 ) or the, in particular coated, membrane is exposed at unfilled cavity. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the safety device comprises a plurality of expansion bodies fastened to the carrier and / or at least one expansion body has a plurality of cavities. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a filled expansion body ( 2 ) in a vehicle longitudinal transverse plane, vehicle longitudinal high-level and / or vehicle high-transverse plane an L, U or V-like cross-section with a central part ( 2.1 ) and at least one oppositely angled side part ( 2.2 ) having. Safety device according to one of the preceding claims, with a filling fluid source. Free-seat, in particular motorcycle ( 1 ), Quad, scooter, bicycle, bob or jet ski, with at least one safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support ( 3 ) a safety device detachable or non-detachable at the free-seat ( 1 ), in particular integrally formed therewith. Patio chair ( 1 ) according to claim 7, wherein an expansion body ( 2 ) is integrated in a, in particular front, panel, in particular handlebar cover or a display instrument. Patio chair ( 1 ) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein an expansion body ( 2 ) is set up for expansion in the direction of travel before, behind, over and / or next to a driver (K).

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