US5897135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Occupant protection device for a motor vehicle
Assignee: Volkswagen AG
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Filing: 1997-06-27
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Granted: 1999-04-27
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Expires: 2017-06-27
Abstract
Abstract An occupant protection device for a motor vehicle having at least one inflatable airbag which, upon activation leaves through an exit opening, normally closed by a panel or cover, into the interior of the motor vehicle, and having a mechanism, independent of the airbag, for removing the panel or cover. In order to permit immediate activation of the airbag without a time delay and unhindered exiting of the same from the exit opening when an associated sensor or an associated sensor system responds in the event of an accident, the mechanism for removing the panel or cover can be activated separately from the airbag and before the response of the sensor or sensor system effecting the activation of the airbag.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus Oehm
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:34
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/215; B60R21/2155; B60R2021/21518
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
83 words
An occupant protection device for a motor vehicle having an airbag exit opening, comprising: at least one inflatable airbag; gas generator means for inflating the airbag so that the airbag leaves through the exit opening into an interior of the motor vehicle; a cover arranged to close the exit opening; sensor means operatively connected to the gas generator for activating the airbag; and means, independent of the airbag, for removing the cover from the exit opening before the sensor means activates the airbag.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
83 words
An occupant protection device for a motor vehicle having an airbag exit opening, comprising: at least one inflatable airbag; gas generator means for inflating the airbag so that the airbag leaves through the exit opening into an interior of the motor vehicle; a cover arranged to close the exit opening; sensor means operatively connected to the gas generator for activating the airbag; and means, independent of the airbag, for removing the cover from the exit opening before the sensor means activates the airbag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 1, and further comprising sensor means for activating the cover removal means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 1, the sensor means for activating the airbag includes an impact sensor configured to be responsive under predetermined collision conditions of the motor vehicle with another object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 3, wherein the impact sensor is one of an acceleration sensor and a piezoelectric sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor means for activating the cover removal means includes a proximity sensor operative to respond when the motor vehicle approaches another object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 5, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to respond if a distance between the motor vehicle and the other object becomes less than a minimum distance dependent on a mutual relative speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor means for activating the cover removal means is arranged in a region of an outer limiting wall of the motor vehicle and responds to deformation of the limiting wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 7, wherein the cover removal means is configured to be activatable when the sensor means for activating the cover removal means senses another object and a predetermined traveling speed of the vehicle is simultaneously exceeded.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor means for activating the airbag is arranged further away from a potential impact point than the sensor means for activating the cover removal means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to be movable toward the interior of the motor vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 1, and further comprising spring means for biasing at least part of the cover toward the interior of the vehicle, the cover removal means including at least one locking element configured to hold the cover in a closed position against the spring means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the cover removal means includes a motor and an element operatively connected to the motor and the cover so as to act on the cover.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured so as to be remountable in the exit opening when the sensor means for activating the airbag does not activate the airbag.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 1, wherein the cover removal means is operative to automatically close the exit opening with the cover when the sensor means for activating does not activate the airbag.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 12, wherein the cover is a roller screen, the cover removal means further including drive wheels operatively connected to the motor, and pull straps attached between a first end of the roller screen and the drive wheels so that rotation of the drive wheels moves the roller screen from the exit opening.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 15, wherein the cover removal means further includes tensioning means connected to a second end of the roller screen to pull the cover back to the exit opening should the sensor means for activating the airbag not activate the airbag.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 2, and further comprising control means operatively connected to the cover removal means, the means for activating the cover removal means, the gas generator means and the sensor means for activating the airbag, for coordinating activation of the cover removal means and the gas generator means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
An occupant protection device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor means for activating the airbag has a lower response sensitivity than the sensor means for activating the cover removal means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-04-26 | 2002-10-26 | 2003-04-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-26 | 2006-10-26 | 2007-04-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-26 | 2010-10-26 | 2011-04-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |