FR3105125A1 - AIR BAG VEHICLE DEPLOYING FROM THE ROOF BETWEEN A SEAT AND A DASHBOARD - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle comprises: - a roof (2), - a dashboard (3) installed in front of at least one seat, - a protection device (5) comprising an inflatable bag (6) secured to the roof (2) initially being folded and associated with a pyrotechnic trigger (10) responsible for inflating the bag (6) in the event of reception of an alert signal so that it deploys downwards and between the seat and the dashboard (3) , and - a blocking device (9) secured to the dashboard (3) and rising partially above the dashboard (3) and in front of the seat in the event of reception of the warning signal to block the translation of the bag (6) when a passenger seated on the seat strikes it during a forward translation. Figure to be published with abstract: Fig. 3

Description

AIRBAG VEHICLE DEPLOYING FROM THE ROOF BETWEEN A SEAT AND A DASHBOARD

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to vehicles comprising a roof (or roof) and a dashboard installed in front of at least one seat, and more specifically the protection of each passenger seated on this seat.

State of the art

Many vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise a roof (or roof) partially delimiting a passenger compartment comprising a front part in which a dashboard is fixedly installed in front of at least one front seat intended to accommodate at least one passenger.

In many vehicles, in the event of an impact that is at least partially frontal, the protection of the front passenger, seated on the front seat located next to the driver's seat, is ensured by a protective device which is installed in the dashboard. This protection device comprises a parallelepipedal casing placed under a wall (or hatch) placed in the continuity of the upper face of the dashboard and housing an inflatable bag (or "airbag") which is initially folded and a pyrotechnic trigger. The latter is responsible for inflating the bag, immediately and very quickly, in the event of receiving an alert signal, so that it deploys downwards and upwards and forwards of the seat to protect the chest of the front passenger when the latter translates forwards due to an at least partially frontal impact suffered by the vehicle and/or sudden braking.

A main drawback of this type of protective device lies in the fact that the inflation of the bag takes place in particular in the direction of the bust of the front passenger, at high speed, which violently pushes towards the latter an object that he is in the process of holding or handling, such as an electronic tablet, a mobile phone, a game console or a book, and therefore risks injuring him.

It has also recently been proposed to use a protection device comprising an inflatable bag secured to the roof (or roof) of the vehicle while being initially folded up and a pyrotechnic trigger responsible for inflating the bag, immediately and very quickly, in the event of reception of a warning signal, so that it first deploys forwards along the windshield, then downwards and in front of the seat to protect the chest of the front passenger when the latter translates forwards due to an impact at least partially from the front suffered by the vehicle and/or sudden braking. When the front passenger hits the deployed bag, the latter is blocked by both the windscreen and the dashboard and therefore does not risk moving. However, this solution has the same drawback as that described in the previous paragraph. Indeed, the inflation of the bag takes place in particular in the direction of the chest of the front passenger, at high speed, which violently pushes towards the latter an object that he is holding or handling, and therefore risks injuring him. In addition, the bag has a very large volume and therefore even folded it occupies a relatively large space under the roof (or pavilion). In addition, the large volume of the bag combined with the complexity of its shape make it expensive.

The aim of the invention is therefore in particular to improve the situation.

Presentation of the invention

It proposes in particular for this purpose a vehicle comprising a roof, a dashboard installed in front of at least one seat, and at least one protective device comprising an inflatable bag secured to the roof while being initially folded and associated with a pyrotechnic trigger responsible for inflating the bag if an alert signal is received.

This vehicle is characterized by the fact:

- that the bag is arranged in such a way as to deploy downwards and between the seat and the dashboard,

- and that it comprises a blocking device secured to the dashboard and partially straightening above the dashboard and in front of the seat in the event of reception of the alert signal to block a translation of the deployed bag when a passenger seated on the seat hits it during a forward movement of the vehicle.

Thus, the bag deploys essentially in the transverse and vertical directions (downwards) of the vehicle, and slightly in the longitudinal direction (towards the rear) of the vehicle, and therefore no longer runs the risk of pushing an object violently towards the passenger. is holding or manipulating.

The vehicle according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

- The bag may have, once deployed, the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped;

- the blocking device may comprise a blocking part secured to the dashboard and a mechanism installed in the latter and straightening the blocking part above the dashboard and in front of the seat in the event of reception of the signal from alert, so that the bag deploys between the seat and the blocking piece;

- The blocking part may comprise a first panel mounted to rotate with respect to the dashboard. In this case, the mechanism may be suitable for causing rotation of the first panel to straighten it;

- The dashboard may comprise an upper face in which a housing is defined. In this case, the first panel can be initially housed in this housing by at least partially masking the latter and being located at the same level as this upper face;

- The first panel may comprise a front transverse end, rotatably mounted relative to the dashboard in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and a rear transverse end. In this case, the blocking piece may comprise a second panel mounted for rotation relative to the rear transverse end of the first panel and placed, when the first panel is straightened, in a substantially vertical straightened position so as to serve as a stop for blocking for the bag;

- the second panel can be initially housed in the housing by partially masking the latter in the continuity of the first panel, and by being located at the same level as the upper face of the dashboard;

- in a first embodiment, the mechanism may comprise an electric actuator housed under the blocking part and causing the straightening of the latter in the event of reception of the alert signal;

- In a second embodiment, the mechanism may comprise a spring initially placed in a constrained state by an electrical device, being housed under the blocking piece;

- In a third embodiment, the first panel can be fixedly secured to a rotation axis mounted for rotation relative to the dashboard. In this case, the mechanism may comprise a torsion spring mounted on this axis of rotation being initially placed by an electrical device in a constrained state maintaining the first panel in a folded-down position;

- it may optionally be of the automotive type.

Brief description of figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examination of the detailed description below, and of the appended drawings (obtained in CAD/DAO (“Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Drawing”) with mesh space), on which:

schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, a portion of a front part of an example of a vehicle interior according to the invention,

schematically illustrates, in a side view, the front part of the passenger compartment of Figure 1, during the straightening of the blocking piece and the deployment of the airbag,

schematically illustrates, in a side view, the front part of the passenger compartment of Figure 1, once the blocking piece has been completely straightened and the airbag has been fully deployed, and

schematically illustrates, in a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal and transverse plane, the blocking part of FIGS. 2 and 3 in its initial (dotted line) and final (solid line) positions, as well as the associated cylinder with its final extension.

Detailed description of the invention

The object of the invention is in particular to propose a vehicle 1 comprising a roof (or roof) 2, a dashboard 3 installed in front of at least one front seat 4, and a protection device 5 intended to protect at least one front passenger, seated on this front seat 4, and whose deployment of the airbag 6 does not risk injuring this passenger with an object that he is holding.

In what follows, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle 1 is of the automobile type. This is for example a car, as partially and non-limitatively illustrated in Figures 1 to 3. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. Indeed, it concerns any vehicle comprising a roof (or roof) partially delimiting a passenger compartment in which a dashboard is fixedly installed in front of at least one front seat intended to accommodate at least one passenger. Therefore, the invention relates to all land vehicles (except motorcycles), boats and aircraft.

Schematically shown in Figure 1 is a portion of a front part of an example of a passenger compartment 7 of a vehicle (here automobile) 1 according to the invention. This front cabin part 7 is partially delimited by a roof (or roof) 2 and includes a dashboard 3 installed, here, in front of a front seat 4 and a driver's seat (not shown). Here, the front seat 4 can accommodate only one passenger. But it could accommodate at least two. Furthermore, the front seat 4 and the driver's seat are separated here by a center console 8. But this is not mandatory.

As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the vehicle 1 also includes a protection device 5, intended to protect at least one front passenger, seated on the front seat 4, and a blocking device 9.

The protection device 5 comprises an inflatable bag (or “airbag”) 6 and a pyrotechnic trigger 10 associated with each other. It can, for example, be housed in a casing comprising a removable cover (or hatch) and possibly hidden by a ceiling light which is fixedly attached to the roof 2.

The bag 6 is secured to an inner face of the roof 2 being initially folded. This attachment can be direct or indirect (in the case of housing in a casing which is itself fixedly attached to the roof 2).

The pyrotechnic trigger 10 is associated with the bag 6 and responsible for inflating this bag 6 in the event of reception of an alert signal, so that it deploys, due to its particular layout, downwards (from the roof 2 ) and between the seat 4 and the dashboard 3 (as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3).

The alert signal can, for example, be provided directly or indirectly (via a communication network of the vehicle, possibly multiplexed) by a sensor (for example position or acceleration or pressure), when it measures a value of a parameter greater than a predefined threshold following sudden braking and/or an impact, or else by a computer installed in the vehicle, when the measurement supplied by at least one sensor (for example position or acceleration or pressure) is greater than a predefined threshold following sudden braking and/or an impact.

The blocking device 9 is secured to the dashboard 3 and is arranged so as to rise partially above the dashboard 3 and in front of the seat 4 in the event of reception of the alert signal, as illustrated in the Figures 2 and 3. This recovery is intended to block the translation of the bag 6, deployed, when a passenger who is seated on the seat 4 hits it during a forward translation of the vehicle 1 (and therefore towards the dashboard 3). It will in fact be understood that once the blocking device 9 has been partially straightened above the dashboard 3, it constitutes a stop which prevents the deployed bag 6 from moving forwards and therefore which allows it to effectively ensure its function of damping the movement (at least partially of translation) of the passenger during its impact on him (6).

In addition, the bag 6 deploying essentially in the transverse and vertical directions (downward) of the vehicle 1, and slightly in the longitudinal direction (towards the rear) of the vehicle 1, it no longer risks pushing back violently towards the passenger. an object that he is holding or handling, and therefore no longer risks hurting him.

In addition, the bag 6 now being blocked well before the windshield 11, its volume can be significantly reduced, which reduces its size and therefore facilitates its installation under the roof (or pavilion) 2, and reduces its cost. In addition, a similar (or identical) bag can be used, also secured to the roof 2, to ensure the protection of the driver seated on the driver's seat placed next to the front seat 4.

As illustrated without limitation in Figures 2 and 3, due to the very simple type of deployment of the bag 6, the latter (6) can have, once deployed, the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped.

Different arrangements of the blocking device 9 can be envisaged. One of them, with variations, is described below with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

As illustrated at least partially and non-limitingly in Figures 1 to 3, the locking device 9 may comprise a locking piece 12 secured to the dashboard 3 and a mechanism 13 installed in the latter (3). This mechanism 13 is arranged so as to straighten the blocking piece 12 above the dashboard 3 and in front of the seat 4 in the event of reception of the alert signal. Thus, the bag 6 unfolds between the seat 4 and the blocking piece 12.

For example, and as illustrated at least partially and not limitatively in Figures 1 to 3, the locking part 12 may comprise a first panel 14 which is mounted to rotate relative to the dashboard 3, and the mechanism 13 may be arranged so as to cause a rotation (upward) of the first panel 14 to straighten it above the dashboard 3. It will be understood that when the first panel 14 is not in use it is initially in a folded down position illustrated in Figure 1 and in Figure 4 (dashed lines), while when the first panel 14 is in use it is ultimately in a straightened position illustrated in Figure 3 and in Figure 4 (solid lines).

So that the blocking piece 12 goes unnoticed, the dashboard 3 can comprise an upper face 15 in which a housing 16 is defined, and the first panel 14 can be initially housed in this housing 16 (in its folded position) by masking at least partially the latter (16) and being located at the same level as this upper face 15. It will be understood that in the presence of this option the first panel 14 ensures in its folded position the continuity of the upper face 15, and only its peripheral edge appears, moreover suggesting that it constitutes a hatch masking an inflatable bag. A soft seal can be provided on this peripheral edge or on the edge of the housing 16, in order to prevent the entry of dust into the latter (16) and to reinforce the impression of quality. As a variant, the entire upper face 15 (including at the level of the blocking piece 12) can be covered with a tearable "skin" at the level of the edge of the housing 16.

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 to 4, the first panel 14 may include a front transverse end 17 (closest to the windshield 11) and a rear transverse end 18 (closest to the seat 4) . The front transverse end 17 is mounted for rotation relative to the dashboard 3 in the transverse direction of the vehicle 1. In addition, the blocking piece 12 may comprise a second panel 19 mounted for rotation relative to the transverse end rear 18 of the first panel 14 and placed, during the straightening of the first panel 14, in a substantially vertical straightened position so as to serve as a locking abutment for the bag 6. The expression "substantially vertical" means here that in the straightened position the second panel 19 is vertical or nearly vertical (typically +/- 10°).

The rotation of the first panel 14 with respect to the dashboard 3 can, for example and as illustrated without limitation in FIG. 4, result from the fixed attachment of its front transverse end 17 to a rotation axis 22 which is mounted to rotate relative to the dashboard 3.

In the last arrangement described above, it is on the second panel 19 that the bag 6 abuts when it is struck by the passenger, and not on the first panel 14. But one could envisage an embodiment in which the blocking part 12 comprises only the first panel 14, and in this case the bag 6 abuts on the latter (14) when struck by the passenger.

Once the blocking part 12 has been straightened in its final position (see FIGS. 3 and 4 (part in solid line)), it has the general shape of an inverted V.

For example, and as illustrated without limitation in Figures 1 to 4, the second panel 19 can be initially housed in the housing 16 by partially masking the latter (16) in the continuity of the first panel 14, and being located at the same level than the upper face 15 of the dashboard 3.

It will be understood that in the presence of this last option the second panel 19 ensures in its folded position the continuity of the upper face 15, and only its peripheral edge appears, moreover suggesting that it constitutes part of a hatch masking an air bag. The first 14 and second 19 panels therefore mask together, completely, the housing 16 when the locking part 12 is in its folded-down position (see FIGS. 1 and 4 (dotted part)).

A soft seal can be provided on the peripheral edge of the second panel 19 or on the edge of the housing 16, in order to prevent the entry of dust into the latter (16) and to reinforce the impression of quality. As a variant, and as indicated above, the entire upper face 15 (including at the level of the blocking piece 12) can be covered with a tearable "skin" at the level of the edge of the housing 16.

The blocking part 12 can be a one-piece element comprising the first 14 and second 19 panels mutually extending via a zone of weakness located just after the rear transverse end 18 of the first panel 14. Such a one-piece element 12 can, for example, be made by molding (or injection) of a plastic (or synthetic) material. Preferably, it (12) is made of the same material as that used to make the upper face 15 of the dashboard 3.

But in a variant embodiment, the first 14 and second 19 panels could be two elements manufactured separately and then secured to each other in order to together define the blocking piece 12.

At least three different embodiments can be envisaged for the mechanism 13.

In a first embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4, the mechanism 13 may comprise an electric actuator 20 housed under the blocking part 12 and arranged so as to cause the straightening of the latter (12) in the event of reception of the signal. alert. It will be understood that it is not the electric actuator 20 which receives the alert signal, but an electronic circuit 21 which is associated with it and which transforms it into a command triggering its extension up to a predefined value (possibly maximum), shown in Figures 3 and 4.

It will be understood that when the electric actuator 20 extends on the order of the associated electronic circuit 21, its free (upper) end pushes the blocking piece 12 upwards (for example by contacting the first panel 14 in the vicinity of its rear transverse end 18) until it is in its final upright position.

For example, the electric actuator 20 can be fixedly secured to a crosspiece 23 which crosses from right to left the dashboard 3 (in the transverse direction of the vehicle 1), in order to support it at least in part and to increase its rigidity. .

In a second embodiment (not illustrated), the mechanism 13 may comprise a spring initially placed in a state constrained by an electrical device, being housed under the blocking piece 12. For example, this electrical device may be an electromagnet passing , when it receives the warning signal, from an initial state in which it maintains the spring in its constrained state, to a final state in which it releases the spring so that its extension causes the straightening of the blocking part 12 Also for example, one (upper) end of the spring can push the blocking piece 12 upwards (for example by contacting the first panel 14 in the vicinity of its rear transverse end 18) until it is in its final upright position.

In a third embodiment (not shown), the first panel 14 can be fixedly secured to the axis of rotation 22 (which is rotatably mounted relative to the dashboard 3), and the mechanism 13 can comprise a spring torsion mounted on this axis of rotation 22 being initially placed by an electrical device in a constrained state now the first panel 14 in a folded position. For example, this electrical device may be an electromagnet passing, when it receives the alert signal, from an initial state in which it maintains the torsion spring in its constrained state, to a final state in which it releases the spring so that it causes the axis of rotation 22 (and therefore the first panel 14) in forced rotation, thus causing the straightening of the blocking piece 12.

Claims (10)

Vehicle (1) comprising a roof (2), a dashboard (3) installed in front of at least one seat (4), and at least one protection device (5) comprising an inflatable bag (6) secured to said roof (2 ) by being initially folded up and associated with a pyrotechnic trigger (10) responsible for inflating said bag (6) in the event of reception of an alert signal, characterized in that said bag (6) is arranged so as to deploy downwards and between said seat (4) and dashboard (3), and in that it comprises a locking device (9) secured to said dashboard (3) and rising partially above said dashboard (3) and in front of said seat (4) in the event of reception of said warning signal to block a translation of said bag (6) deployed when a passenger seated on said seat (4) hits it during a forward translation of said vehicle (1). Vehicle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said bag (6) has, once deployed, the general shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. Vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the said blocking device (9) comprises a blocking piece (12) secured to the said dashboard (3) and a mechanism (13) installed in the latter (3) and straightening said blocking piece (12) above said dashboard (3) and in front of said seat (4) in the event of reception of said alert signal, so that said bag (6) deploys between said seat ( 4) and said blocking piece (12). Vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that said blocking piece (12) comprises a first panel (14) rotatably mounted relative to said dashboard (3), and said mechanism (13) is capable of causing rotation said first panel (14) to straighten it. Vehicle according to Claim 4, characterized in that the said dashboard (3) comprises an upper face (15) in which a housing (16) is defined, and in that the said first panel (14) is initially housed in the said housing. (16) at least partially masking the latter (16) and being located at the same level as said upper face (15). Vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said first panel (14) comprises a front transverse end (17), mounted for rotation relative to said dashboard (3) in a transverse direction of said vehicle (1), and a rear transverse end (18), and in that said blocking piece (12) comprises a second panel (19) rotatably mounted with respect to said rear transverse end (18) of the first panel (14) and placed, when the straightening of said first panel (14), in a substantially vertical straightened position so as to serve as a locking abutment for said bag (6). Vehicle according to the combination of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that said second panel (19) is initially housed in said housing (16) partially masking the latter (16) in the continuity of said first panel (14), and being located at the same level as said upper face (15) of the dashboard (3). Vehicle according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the said mechanism (13) comprises an electric jack (20) housed under the said blocking piece (12) and causing the straightening of the latter (12) in the event of reception of said alert signal. Vehicle according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the said mechanism (13) comprises a spring initially placed in a state constrained by an electrical device, being housed under the said blocking piece (12). Vehicle according to one of Claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the said first panel (14) is fixedly secured to a rotation axis (22) mounted to rotate with respect to the said dashboard (3), and in that said mechanism (13) comprises a torsion spring mounted on said axis of rotation (22) when initially placed by an electrical device in a constrained state maintaining said first panel (14) in a folded position.