U.S. patent application number 14/330587 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-14 for hinged mounting system for airbag module having deployable lock.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ford Global Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to Kevin Pline, Brian Robert Spahn, Sean West.
Application Number | 20160009241 14/330587 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 54867079 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160009241 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pline; Kevin ; et
al. |
January 14, 2016 |
HINGED MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR AIRBAG MODULE HAVING DEPLOYABLE LOCK
Abstract
A frontal passenger airbag module is provided in association
with the forward part of the instrument panel adjacent the
windshield. The module includes a passageway through which the
airbag may be deployed. The module is movable between an
operational position in which the airbag may be deployed through
the a breakaway opening in the instrument panel and a stowed
position in which the module is moved vehicle-rearward such that
the passageway is no longer adjacent the breakaway opening and the
module no longer encroaches on the crush space provided for
pedestrian protection. The vehicle includes an impact sensor for
determining if an impact event involves a pedestrian. If it is
determined by the sensor that a pedestrian has been involved, the
module is moved to its stowed position. If it is determined by the
sensor that no pedestrian has been involved, then the module
remains in its operational position.
Inventors: |
Pline; Kevin; (Plymouth,
MI) ; Spahn; Brian Robert; (Plymouth, MI) ;
West; Sean; (Monroe, MI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
54867079 |
Appl. No.: |
14/330587 |
Filed: |
July 14, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/728.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 2021/2173 20130101;
B60R 21/2155 20130101; B60R 21/205 20130101; B60R 21/217
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/2155 20060101
B60R021/2155; B60R 21/205 20060101 B60R021/205 |
Claims
1. A safety system for a vehicle, the vehicle having a windscreen
and an instrument panel, the system comprising: an airbag module
having an airbag passageway; a support bracket for said module; a
pivotable arm attaching said module to said bracket, said arm
allowing said module to be moved from its operational position in
which said passageway is adjacent the instrument panel to a stowed
position; a lock for locking said arm in said operational
position.
2. The safety system for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said support
bracket is a cross car beam.
3. The safety system for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein the
instrument panel has a breakaway opening and said passageway of
said airbag is adjacent said breakaway opening when in said
operational position.
4. (canceled)
5. The safety system for a vehicle of claim 1 further including an
impact sensor.
6. The safety system for a vehicle of claim 1 further including an
impact sensor operatively associated with said lock.
7. The safety system for a vehicle of claim 1 wherein said airbag
module includes a deployable airbag and wherein said system further
includes a breakaway opening fitted to the instrument panel through
which said deployable airbag can deploy.
8. A vehicle comprising: a windscreen; areas forward and rearward
of said windscreen; a crush zone in said forward area; an
instrument panel in said rearward area, said panel having a front
and an upper surface; a pivotable airbag module having a
passageway, said module positioned in said panel front, said module
being pivotable from a position wherein said passageway is adjacent
said surface to a position wherein said passageway faces away from
said windscreen; and a lock for locking said pivotable airbag in
said operational position.
9. The vehicle of claim 8 further including a cross car beam to
which said pivotable airbag module is attached.
10. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein wherein said instrument panel
has a breakaway opening and said passageway of said airbag is
adjacent said breakaway opening when in said operational
position.
11. (canceled)
12. The vehicle of claim 10 further including an impact sensor.
13. The vehicle of claim 10 further including an impact sensor
operatively associated with said lock.
14. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said airbag module includes a
deployable airbag and wherein said system further includes a
breakaway opening fitted to the instrument panel through which said
deployable airbag can deploy.
15. A vehicle having a front and a rear, the vehicle comprising: a
windscreen; an instrument panel positioned vehicle rearward
relative to said windscreen, said panel having a front and an upper
surface; a pivotable airbag module having a passageway, said module
positioned in said panel front, said module being pivotable from a
position wherein said passageway is adjacent said surface to a
position wherein said passageway faces vehicle rearward relative to
said windscreen; and a lock for locking said pivotable airbag in
said operational position.
16. The vehicle of claim 15 further including a cross car beam to
which said pivotable airbag module is attached.
17. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said position wherein said
passageway of said module is adjacent said surface is the
operational position of the airbag module and wherein said
instrument panel has a breakaway opening and said passageway of
said airbag is adjacent said breakaway opening when in said
operational position.
18. (canceled)
19. The vehicle of claim 17 further including an impact sensor
operatively associated with said lock.
20. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said airbag module includes a
deployable airbag and wherein said system further includes a
breakaway opening fitted to the instrument panel through which said
deployable airbag can deploy.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosed inventive concept relates generally to airbag
systems for vehicles. More particularly, the disclosed inventive
concept relates to frontal passenger airbag module that is
positioned forward of the instrument panel upper surface and
adjacent the windscreen. The module is rotatable vehicle rearward
if there is a frontal impact event so as not to be in the crush
space provided adjacent the windscreen for pedestrian
protection.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Recent trends in automotive interior design focus on
improving interior spaciousness. This is particularly evident in
small cars where sales volumes continue to increase. A key
component to improving interior spaciousness is the instrument
panel. Automotive designers note that even minimal decreases in the
longitudinal and vertical dimensions of the instrument panel can
have a significant impact on both real and perceived footroom,
legroom, visibility and overall spaciousness of the vehicle's
interior. Accordingly, auto designers continue to seek ways to
expand interior space of vehicles of all types.
[0003] One limiting aspect as to how much more automotive designers
can expand the interior of the vehicle is the array of safety
systems present in the modern automobile. The placement of the
airbag module presents a particular challenge to designers. This is
so because the direction of travel of the deploying airbag in an
impact event must be free of obstruction under all
circumstances.
[0004] There is little that can be done to reduce the physical size
of the airbag module given the necessary inclusion of the folded
nylon airbag, a tether (often but not always present), the inflator
(including the igniter), and the housing canister itself.
Accordingly, in an effort to increase the interior space of the
vehicle, automotive designers attempt to relocate the module in the
vehicle beyond traditional placements.
[0005] However, the availability of alternative locations for
airbags is limited. For example, traditional locations for the
frontal passenger airbag occupy sizeable portions of the
front-middle and front-upper regions of the instrument panel.
[0006] One relocation proposal for the frontal passenger airbag
that has significant opportunity to increase interior spaciousness
is to relocate the frontal passenger airbag to a location
relatively far forward on the instrument panel surface. This
location would be very close to the intersection of the windscreen
and the instrument panel. However, this location presents a variety
of significant technical challenges.
[0007] One challenge is to pedestrian protection. Moving the
frontal passenger airbag to a forward position close to the
windscreen results in the module potentially being in the crush
space ordinarily provided for passenger protection. This space
provided near the windscreen is normally designed to be crushable
to improve pedestrian protection However, the airbag module, being
formed from a relatively rigid material, could be a danger to the
impacted pedestrian by compromising the operation of the crush area
typically formed between the leading edge of the windscreen and the
trailing edge of the vehicle's engine hood.
[0008] As in so many areas of vehicle technology there is always
room for improvement related to steps that can be taken in the
increase of vehicle interior space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The disclosed inventive concept provides a solution to the
challenges associated with expanding the size of a vehicle
interior. Particularly, the disclosed inventive concept provides a
frontal passenger airbag module that is positioned forward of the
instrument panel upper surface and adjacent the windscreen. The
module is rotatable vehicle rearward if there is a frontal impact
event so as not to be in the crush space provided for pedestrian
protection.
[0010] During the deployment of the passenger airbag, the primary
deployment load path is aligned to the centerline of the hinge thus
creating no torque to rotate the module. A deployable lock is
provided that may be triggered when the airbag deploys to prevent
unwanted rotation of the module from its operational mode to its
stowed mode. In the event of a pedestrian impact from the outside
the vehicle, the impact may cause the module to rotate around the
hinge, thus being removed from the crush space.
[0011] The disclosed inventive concept includes an airbag module
having an airbag passageway, a support bracket for the module, and
a hinge attaching the airbag module to the support bracket that is
preferably the cross car beam. The hinge allows the airbag module
to be moved from its operational position in which the passageway
is adjacent the instrument panel to a stowed position in which
module is rotated vehicle rearward such that the passageway is not
adjacent the instrument panel. A lock may be included for locking
the hinge in its operational position.
[0012] The vehicle includes an impact sensor provided near the
front of the vehicle for determining if an impact event involves a
pedestrian. If it is determined by the sensor that a pedestrian has
been involved in an impact event, the module is moved to its stowed
position. Conversely, if it is determined by the sensor that no
pedestrian has been involved in the impact event, then the module
is allowed to remain in its operational position. In such a case
the module may be locked in its operational position if a lock is
provided.
[0013] The above advantages and other advantages and features will
be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] For a more complete understanding of this invention,
reference should now be made to the embodiments illustrated in
greater detail in the accompanying drawings and described below by
way of examples of the invention wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates view of a vehicle having the hinged
airbag module of the disclosed inventive concept;
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a sectional view of an instrument panel,
a portion of a windshield, a crush area, a portion of a vehicle
hood, and the hinged airbag module shown in its operational
position; and
[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates the same view as illustrated in FIG. 2
but showing the hinged airbag module in its stowed position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0018] In the following figures, the same reference numerals will
be used to refer to the same components. In the following
description, various operating parameters and components are
described for different constructed embodiments. These specific
parameters and components are included as examples and are not
meant to be limiting.
[0019] The disclosed inventive concept may find application in any
number of vehicles, including automotive vehicles and trucks. FIG.
1 illustrates a view of an automotive vehicle, generally
illustrated as 10, having an interior 14, a windscreen 16, and an
engine hood 18. An instrument panel 20 is provided in the interior
14.
[0020] A safety system 22 of the disclosed inventive concept is
incorporated into the vehicle 10. The safety system 22 is includes
an airbag module assembly 24 that is operatively associated with an
impact sensor 26. The impact sensor 26 is of the type that is able
to distinguish between an object impacted such that a pedestrian
can be differentiated from a non-pedestrian object.
[0021] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate close up and sectional views of a
portion of the windscreen 16, a portion of the engine hood 18, the
instrument panel 20, and the safety system 22. In the area
generally forward of the windscreen 16 is a crush area 26 that is
so-called as it is a weakened area of the vehicle adjacent the
engine hood 18 designed to collapse in an impact event involving a
pedestrian.
[0022] Referring to each of these figures, the safety system 22
includes an airbag module 28 that is attached to a body structure
30, such as a cross car beam, by a hinge 32. It is to be understood
that the configuration of the airbag module 28, the body structure
30, and the hinge 32 are set forth for illustrative purposes only
and are not intended as being limiting as other configurations may
be possible without deviating from the disclosed inventive concept.
Accordingly, the hinge 32 may be of any of a variety of structures
that may hingedly attach the airbag module 28 to the body structure
30.
[0023] According to its hinged attachment to the body structure 30,
the airbag module 28 is selectively movable relative to the body
structure 30. Particularly, the airbag module 28 is movable from
its operational position (as illustrated in FIG. 2) to its stowed
position (as illustrated in FIG. 3). The airbag module 28 may be
locked in the operational position shown in FIG. 2 by a locking
mechanism that is released to allow the airbag module 28 to tip to
its stowed position illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0024] While a number of locking arrangements are possible a
suggested locking arrangement is illustrated as lock 34 that can
selectively capture and release a locking pin 36. To retain the
airbag module 28 in its operational position as shown in FIG. 2 the
locking pin 36 is retained by the lock 34. To allow the airbag
module 28 to be rotated to its stowed position the locking pin 36
is released from capture by the lock 34 and the airbag module 28 is
allowed to move to its stowed position as illustrated in FIG.
3.
[0025] The airbag module 28 includes an airbag deployment
passageway 38. The deployment passageway 38 allows for passage of
the deploying airbag as is known in the art. The instrument panel
20 includes a breakaway opening 40 formed therein. The breakaway
opening 40 includes a weakened attachment construction as is known
in the art that appears to be continuous with the outer surface of
the instrument panel 20 but allows a deploying airbag to break
through and pass into the interior 14 in an impact event.
[0026] In the operational position shown in FIG. 2 the deployment
passageway 38 is positioned generally adjacent to and beneath the
breakaway opening 40. As noted, the airbag module 28 may be locked
in this position by the lock 34. However, it may be that the lock
34 is not necessary for effective operation of the airbag module 28
and the deploying airbag (not shown) in an impact event insofar as
during the deployment of the passenger airbag the primary
deployment load path is aligned at the centerline of the hinge,
According to this arrangement no torque is created to rotate the
airbag module 28 from its operational position shown in FIG. 2.
[0027] As noted above, the airbag module 28 is normally positioned
in the operational position shown in FIG. 2. However, if an impact
is sensed by the impact sensor 26 and if it is determined that the
sensed impact is a pedestrian, then the lock 34 releases the
locking pin 36 and the airbag module 28 is thus allowed to rotate
to its stowed position shown in FIG. 3. With the airbag module 28
rotated away from its operational position the airbag module 28
will not stiffen the crush area 26, thus allowing the crush area 26
to function normally.
[0028] For at least the above reasons the disclosed invention as
set forth above overcomes the challenges faced by known vehicle
airbag arrangements by increasing the overall interior size of the
vehicle while maintaining the effectiveness of the vehicle's crush
area. However, one skilled in the art will readily recognize from
such discussion, and from the accompanying drawings and claims that
various changes, modifications and variations can be made therein
without departing from the true spirit and fair scope of the
invention as defined by the following claims.
* * * * *