초록 ▼

The present invention relates to a pelvic airbag. The pelvic airbag has a front panel and a rear panel that is attached to the front panel. The airbag is made of metal, plastic, or combinations of metal and plastic and is configured such that it may be retained in a vehicle door between the inner s

The present invention relates to a pelvic airbag. The pelvic airbag has a front panel and a rear panel that is attached to the front panel. The airbag is made of metal, plastic, or combinations of metal and plastic and is configured such that it may be retained in a vehicle door between the inner skin and the trim panel. The airbag is further constructed such that when it is in the uninflated configuration, the thickness of the airbag is between about 2 to about 25 millimeters. An attachment mechanism may also be attached to the airbag. The attachment mechanism is designed to attach the airbag to the vehicle door. Additionally, an inflator housing may be attached to the rear panel. The inflator housing houses an inflator that is designed to inflate the airbag in the event of an accident or crash.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A pelvic airbag comprising: a front panel; and a rear panel attached to the front panel, the airbag being constructed to be retained in a recess of an inner skin of a vehicle door, the airbag being attached to the inner skin, wherein the airbag is attached to an attachm

The invention claimed is: 1. A pelvic airbag comprising: a front panel; and a rear panel attached to the front panel, the airbag being constructed to be retained in a recess of an inner skin of a vehicle door, the airbag being attached to the inner skin, wherein the airbag is attached to an attachment mechanism comprising one or more mounting brackets that span the rear panel, wherein one or more fasteners engage the one or more mounting brackets and attach the airbag to the inner skin, wherein the one or more mounting brackets are attached to the airbag. 2. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the airbag in an uninflated configuration is between about 2 to about 25 millimeters. 3. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the airbag in an uninflated configuration is between about 7.5 to about 25 millimeters. 4. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the airbag in an uninflated configuration is between about 2 to about 4 millimeters. 5. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the airbag is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or combinations of metal and plastic. 6. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the airbag is constructed such that when it is in an uninflated configuration, the shape of the airbag is substantially rectangular. 7. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the airbag is in fluid communication with an inflator housed within an inflator housing. 8. A pelvic airbag is in claim 1 wherein the airbag provides impact protection to the pelvis or leg of a vehicle occupant. 9. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein a reaction beam is attached to the inner skin and supports the pelvic airbag. 10. A pelvic airbag as in claim 9 wherein the reaction beam is bowed. 11. A pelvic airbag as in claim 9 further comprising a rubber damper that is positioned between the reaction beam and an inflator housing. 12. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the airbag comprises one or more folds. 13. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one or more weldments. 14. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the brackets are attached to the airbag via one or more connectors. 15. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the airbag further comprises a shell layer that is attached to the front panel. 16. A pelvic airbag as in claim 15 wherein the shell layer is designed to fit into an aperture in the trim panel. 17. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the trim panel is an integral layer that covers the airbag. 18. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein when the airbag is in an inflated configuration, the airbag increases the rigidity of the vehicle door. 19. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the airbag is constructed such that when the airbag is in an inflated configuration, the airbag is capable of dissipating energy associated with a crash. 20. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the airbag is constructed such that deploying the airbag into an inflated configuration decreases a length of the airbag. 21. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the recess is an opening. 22. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the size of the recess corresponds to the size of the airbag, when the airbag is in its folded, undeployed condition. 23. A pelvic airbag as in claim 1 wherein the recess is located below an armrest of the vehicle door. 24. A pelvic airbag assembly comprising: a pelvic airbag, the airbag comprising a front panel and a rear panel attached to the front panel, wherein the airbag is constructed to be retained in a vehicle door and positioned entirely below an armrest of the vehicle door, wherein the airbag is retained in a recess of an inner skin of the vehicle door; and an attachment mechanism for attaching the airbag within a vehicle door, wherein the attachment mechanism is attached to the airbag and comprises one or more mounting brackets that span the rear panel, wherein one or more fasteners engage the one or more mounting brackets and attach the airbag to the inner skin, wherein the one or more mounting brackets are attached to the airbag. 25. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein the thickness of the airbag in an uninflated configuration is between about 2 to about 25 millimeters. 26. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 25 wherein the thickness of the airbag in an uninflated configuration is between about 7. 5 to about 25 millimeters. 27. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 25 wherein the thickness of the airbag in an uninflated configuration is between about 2 to about 4 millimeters. 28. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein the assembly further comprises an inflator in fluid communication with the airbag, the inflator being housed within an inflator housing that is attached to the rear panel. 29. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 further comprising a reaction beam disposed to support the pelvic airbag. 30. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 further comprising a rubber dampener. 31. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein the airbag is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or combinations of metal and plastic. 32. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein the pelvic airbag further comprises one or more folds. 33. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one or more weldments. 34. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein the airbag further comprises a shell layer that is attached to the front panel. 35. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein when the airbag is inflated, the airbag increases the rigidity of the vehicle door. 36. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein the airbag assembly is constructed such that when the airbag is in an inflated configuration, the airbag is capable of dissipating energy associated with a crash. 37. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 24 wherein the assembly is constructed such that when the airbag is deployed into an inflated configuration, a length of the airbag will decrease. 38. A pelvic airbag assembly comprising: a pelvic airbag, the airbag comprising a front panel and a rear panel attached to the front panel, the airbag being constructed to be retained in a vehicle door, wherein the airbag is retained in a recess in an inner skin of the vehicle door; an inflator in fluid communication with the airbag, the inflator being housed within an inflator housing; a reaction beam attached to the inner skins wherein the reaction beam is disposed to support the pelvic airbag; and a rubber damper positioned between the reaction beam and an inflator housing, wherein one or more mounting brackets are attached to the airbag. 39. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 38 wherein the reaction beam is bowed such that it prevents the pelvic airbag from collapsing into a recess in the vehicle door. 40. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 38 wherein the thickness of the airbag in an uninflated configuration is between about 2 to about 25 millimeters. 41. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 38 wherein the airbag is made of a material that is selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or combinations of metal and plastic. 42. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 38 wherein the rear panel includes one or more folds. 43. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 38 wherein the airbag is attached to the vehicle door via an attachment mechanism. 44. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 43 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one or more weldments. 45. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 43 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises one or more mounting brackets that span the rear panel. 46. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 38 wherein the airbag includes a shell layer that is attached to the front panel. 47. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 38 wherein the trim panel covers the airbag. 48. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 38 wherein the inflator housing is attached to the rear panel. 49. A pelvic airbag assembly comprising: a vehicle door comprising an outer skin, an inner skin, and a trim panel, wherein the inner skin comprises a recess; a pelvic airbag, the airbag comprising a front panel and a rear panel attached to the front panel, the airbag being constructed to be retained in the recess of the inner skin, wherein the size of the recess corresponds to the size of the airbag when the airbag is in its folded, undeployed condition; a reaction beam attached to the inner skin, wherein the reaction beam is disposed to support the pelvic airbag; a rubber damper positioned between the reaction beam and an inflator housing; an attachment mechanism attached to the airbag and comprising one or more mounting brackets that span the rear panel, wherein one or more fasteners engage the one or more mounting brackets and attach the airbag to the inner skin; and an inflator housed within an inflator housing, the inflator being in fluid communication with the airbag, wherein the one or more mounting brackets are attached to the airbag. 50. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 49 wherein the thickness of the airbag in an uninflated configuration is between about 2 to about 25 millimeters. 51. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 49 wherein the airbag is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, or combinations of metal and plastic. 52. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 49 wherein the reaction beam being bowed such that it prevents the pelvic airbag from collapsing into the recess in the vehicle door. 53. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 49 wherein the trim panel covers the airbag. 54. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 49 wherein the door further comprises a door core. 55. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 54 wherein the door core comprises one or more tear seams. 56. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 54 wherein the door core includes a hole. 57. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 49 wherein the airbag is positioned entirely below an armrest of the vehicle door. 58. A pelvic airbag assembly as in claim 49 wherein the trim panel comprises an aperture that accommodates the airbag. 59. A pelvic airbag as in claim 49 wherein the recess is an opening. 60. A pelvic airbag as in claim 49 wherein the recess is located below an armrest of the vehicle door.