Patent Application
20180065584
The invention relates to an airbag system which is integrated in an inner trim piece for motor vehicles.
Fitting an airbag module for one or more front passengers in a dashboard of a vehicle is generally in the art. A flap which can be torn in the event of being triggered is typically provided in the dashboard. The flap typical comprises a support made of plastic, wood fibers or metal, a covering layer or outer skin. It is known to produce dashboards at least partly from laminates or from layers connected to one another by laminating. The airbag module typically comprises an actual airbag and a gas generator. It is regulated that the airbag module must be supported below the support on the cross support of the vehicle. Tear lines are generally formed in the support as sections of weakened material as cuts or incisions and predefine the flap with one or two wings which can burst open by the airbag when filled by the gas generated by the gas generator. For filling the airbag with gas, a certain buildup of pressure is required so that an explosion-like tearing of the flap can take place.
Embodiments can provide an airbag system configured for a dashboard with a surface made of wood. The airbag system can comprise an airbag made of thin film. The thin film can be fitted in a layer of the dashboard. Tear lines may be formed around the wood dashboard where the air bag is located. The air bag may burst out of the wood dashboard when filled with gas.
This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings, and each claim.
The foregoing, together with other features and embodiments, will become more apparent upon referring to the following specification, claims, and accompanying drawings.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the dashboard 102 can comprise a screen 103. The dashboard screen 103 can occupy a portion of the dashboard 102. The dashboard screen 103 can be suitable to display one or more information panels, such as the information panels 104 shown in
In some examples, information presented in the information panels 104 may include gauge information related to the transportation apparatus 100, such as current speed/altitude/direction/wind, current longitude/latitude, distance traveled, RPM, fuel level, battery level, and/or any other gauge information related to the transportation apparatus 100. In some examples, information presented in the information panels 104 may include indication information, such as seat belt, airbag, door, trunk, maintenance, safety, window lock, door lock indication information or any other indication information. In some examples, information presented in the information panels 104 may include navigational or GPS information related to navigation of the transportation apparatus 100, such as current street traveled on, map of an area the transportation apparatus 100 is traveling in, the destination information, direction instructions, traffic condition, estimated arrival time, estimated delay due to traffic, and/or any other navigation information. In some examples, information presented in the information panels 104 may include cabin information, such as current temperature, humidity, wind speed, number of passengers in one or more zones in the cabin 101 and/or any other cabin information. In some examples, information presented in the information panels 104 may include configuration information regarding the transportation apparatus 100, such as seat configuration, mirror configuration, battery configuration, driving mode configuration, and/or any other configuration. In some examples, information presented in the information panels 104 may include entertainment information. For example, such an information panel may include a video screen capable of presenting a video or still images, a browser screen capable of presenting web information, a game screen capable of presenting one or more games for user interaction, a music information screen capable of enabling a user to consume music pieces, e-commerce information screen capable of enabling a user to engage remote transaction via the Internet, radio information screen capable of presenting a list of radio stations available for user consumption, and/or any other type of infotainment screen. In some examples, information presented in the information panels 104 may include notification information such as incoming call, incoming text message, incoming video chat request, and/or any other notification information. Other examples of information panels 104 are contemplated.
As still shown in
As also shown in
As shown, in a row where the passengers 108b-d are located in the cabin 101, multiple passenger displays, such as displays 110a and 110n, may be provided for the passengers. In some embodiments, as shown in this example, each passenger in the row may be provided a passenger display mounted on a back panel of a seat in front of the passenger. In this example, the passenger display 110a is provided to passenger 108c, and the display 110n is provided to the passenger 108d. A given passenger display 110 provided in the cabin 101 may include a LCD screen similar to the one fitted on the dashboard as described above. As described herein, the given passenger display 110 may be connected to a user portable device associated with a passenger. For example, the passenger display 110a may be connected to a portable device associated with passenger 108c, and the passenger display 110n may be connected to a portable device associated with passenger 108d.
As shown, the dashboard 102 may comprise one or more airbag opening regions such as 112a and 112b. Although illustrated in
As can be seen, the airbag 302 is connected to a gas generator 304 arranged outside the wood layer via a gas conduit 306 shown here as a pipe. There might one or more other openings for pipes or gas conduits branching off from the gas conduit 306 or for additional pipes or gas conduits can be arranged to fill the airbag 302 with gas. The gas generator 304 can be attached, for example, to that a support comport that provides support to the dashboard 102.
Specific details are given in the description to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary configurations including implementations. However, configurations may be practiced without these specific details. For example, well-known circuits, processes, algorithms, structures, and techniques have been shown without unnecessary detail in order to avoid obscuring the configurations. This description provides example configurations only, and does not limit the scope, applicability, or configurations of the claims. Rather, the preceding description of the configurations will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing described techniques. Various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.
Also, configurations may be described as a process which is depicted as a schematic flowchart or block diagram. Although each may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in the figure. Furthermore, examples of the methods may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or any combination thereof. When implemented in software, firmware, middleware, or microcode, the program code or code segments to perform the necessary tasks may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium such as a storage medium. Processors may perform the described tasks.
Having described several example configurations, various modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. For example, the above elements may be components of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedence over or otherwise modify the application of the technology. Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after the above elements are considered. Accordingly, the above description does not bind the scope of the claims.
As used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a user” includes a plurality of such users, and reference to “the processor” includes reference to one or more processors and equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art, and so forth.
Also, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, “contains”, “containing”, “include”, “including”, and “includes”, when used in this specification and in the following claims, are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, components, or steps, but they do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, components, steps, acts, or groups.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/384,298, filed Sep. 7, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62384298 | Sep 2016 | US |
