阅读说明：本技术 安装在地板上的乘客小腿保护设备和方法 (Floor-mounted passenger lower leg protection apparatus and method ) 是由 D·古尔德 G·迪亚兹 K·F·费舍尔 H·R·R·贾亚卡尔 K·M·维普里 D·瓦尔科 于 2020-03-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种有助于在碰撞情况下保护车辆乘员的设备,该设备包括具有储存在车辆地板中的展开前状态的可展开的约束装置。该约束装置可从地板展开以约束乘员的脚和/或小腿响应于车辆碰撞而向前和向上的摆动。在一种构型中,可展开的约束装置可以包括模块,该模块包括气囊和用于使所述气囊充气并展开的充气装置。所述模块可以包括响应于所述气囊的展开而打开的门,并且所述门用作所述气囊的反作用表面。在另一构型中,可展开的约束装置可以包括约束板,所述约束板被配置成移动到在所述车辆地板上方邻近所述乘员的小腿和脚延伸的展开位置。(An apparatus for assisting in protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision includes a deployable restraint device having a pre-deployment state stored in a vehicle floor. The restraint device is deployable from the floor to restrain forward and upward swinging of the occupant's feet and/or lower legs in response to a vehicle collision. In one configuration, a deployable restraint device may include a module including an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. The module may include a door that opens in response to deployment of the airbag, and the door acts as a reaction surface for the airbag. In another configuration, a deployable restraint device may include a restraint panel configured to move to a deployed position extending above the vehicle floor adjacent to the occupant's lower legs and feet.)

1. An apparatus for assisting in protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision, the apparatus comprising a deployable restraint device having a pre-deployed state stored in a vehicle floor from which the restraint device is deployable to restrain forward and upward rocking of the occupant's feet and/or lower legs in response to the vehicle collision.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the restraint device is a component of a module mounted in or on the vehicle floor, and wherein the vehicle has no structure other than the floor and module components for providing a reaction surface to support the restraint device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the deployable restraint device comprises an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the module comprises a door that opens in response to deployment of the airbag, the door configured to serve as a reaction surface for the airbag.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the module further comprises a tether for limiting movement of the door, thereby enabling the door to serve as a reaction surface for the airbag.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the deployable restraint device includes a restraint panel configured to move to a deployed position extending above the vehicle floor adjacent the occupant's lower legs and feet, the restraint panel, when deployed, engaging the occupant's feet to prevent upward and forward rocking of the occupant's feet and lower legs in response to a vehicle collision.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the module includes an actuator for actuating the restraint panel to pivot or otherwise move to the deployed position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises a pyrotechnic actuator.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said pyrotechnic actuator is configured to limit movement of said restraint panel after deployment such that said restraint panel can serve as a reaction surface to receive the feet and legs of the occupant.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.

11. A security module comprising the apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising: a housing configured to be mounted in the vehicle floor.

12. A vehicle safety system comprising the safety module of claim 11 and a sensor/controller for sensing the occurrence of an event that deployment of the deployable restraint device is desired, the sensor/controller configured to actuate the deployable restraint device in response to sensing the occurrence of the event that deployment is desired.

13. A method of assisting in protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision, the method comprising deploying a restraint from the vehicle floor to restrain forward and upward rocking of the occupant's feet and/or lower legs in response to the vehicle collision.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the restraint device comprises an airbag module including an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the module includes a door that opens in response to deployment of the airbag, the door configured to serve as a reaction surface for the airbag.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the module further comprises a tether for limiting movement of the door, thereby enabling the door to serve as a reaction surface for the airbag.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the deployable restraint device comprises a module having a restraint panel configured to move to a deployed position extending above the vehicle floor adjacent the occupant's lower legs and feet, the restraint panel, when deployed, engaging the occupant's feet to prevent the occupant's feet and lower legs from swinging upward and forward in response to a vehicle collision.

18. A method as in claim 17, wherein the module comprises an actuator for actuating the restraint panel to pivot or otherwise move to a deployed position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the actuator comprises a pyrotechnic actuator.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the pyrotechnic actuator is configured to limit movement of the restraint panel after deployment such that the restraint panel can serve as a reaction surface to receive the occupant's feet and legs.

Background

It is known to provide inflatable vehicle occupant protection devices (e.g., airbags) to help protect vehicle occupants. One particular type of air bag is a frontal air bag inflatable between an occupant of a front seat of a vehicle and an instrument panel of the vehicle. Such an airbag may be a driver airbag or a passenger airbag. When inflated, driver and passenger airbags help protect occupants from impact with vehicle parts such as the instrument panel and/or steering wheel of the vehicle.

Typically, the passenger airbag is stored in a deflated state in a housing mounted on the instrument panel of the vehicle. The airbag door may be coupled to the housing and/or instrument panel to help enclose and conceal the airbag in the stored condition. Upon deployment of the passenger airbag, the airbag door opens to allow the airbag to move to an inflated state. Airbag door opening is the result of the force applied to the door as a result of the airbag inflation.

Typically, the driver airbag is stored in a deflated state in a housing mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle. An air bag cover may be connected to the housing and/or steering wheel to help enclose and conceal the air bag in the stored condition. Upon deployment of the driver airbag, the airbag cover opens to allow the airbag to move to an inflated state. The airbag cover opens as a result of the force applied to the cover by the inflation of the driver's airbag.

There is a trend in the automotive industry to make vehicles more spacious. Styling has made instrument panels smaller and therefore farther away from the occupant. Looking into the future, autonomous vehicles without drivers will be more spacious. Autonomous vehicles have been considered for some time and their large-scale adoption is now approaching. Autonomous vehicles may eliminate some of the structures that are conventionally used to support various vehicle safety devices.

In these real contexts, the paradigm of occupant safety systems must be shifted. In the past, the necessity of a vehicle operator/driver has resulted in some standard vehicle passenger compartment configuration. In the united states, the driver is a forward facing occupant on the left front seat that has access to vehicle controls and instrumentation (steering wheel, pedals, dashboard, console, etc.). This driver configuration facilitates determining the layout of the remainder of the vehicle (forward facing passenger-side occupant on the front seat, forward facing occupant on the rear seat (second row, third row, etc.)). Thus, in the past, such passenger compartment layouts and associated occupant positions and orientations were typically considered in designing occupant safety systems.

Autonomous vehicles eliminate the operator/driver, which eliminates the need to locate and orient the operator/driver in a conventional manner. Vehicle manufacturers are free to utilize the passenger compartment space they consider appropriate, without being limited to a predetermined passenger arrangement (e.g., all occupants facing forward), or vehicle structural configuration (e.g., steering wheel/instrument panel configuration, center console configuration, foot space pedal control, etc.).

This presents not only the challenge of where to place the airbag system, but also the challenge of finding a reaction surface against which to position the airbag so that it can absorb the impact. Typically, dashboard and steering wheel mounted frontal airbags utilize these structures as reaction surfaces against which the airbag rests so that the airbag can react, cushion and absorb the impact energy of an occupant in the impact and provide the desired cushioning (ride-down) effect. However, in autonomous vehicles, the vehicle may not have a dashboard or steering wheel at all, and the occupant may be positioned and oriented in an unconventional manner. This may make it difficult or impossible to utilize conventional structures in the vehicle as a reaction surface.

Disclosure of Invention

An apparatus for assisting in protecting a vehicle occupant in the event of a collision includes a deployable restraint device having a pre-deployment state stored in a vehicle floor. The restraint device is deployable from the floor to restrain forward and upward swinging of the occupant's feet and/or lower legs in response to a vehicle collision.

According to one aspect, the restraint device may be a component of a module mounted in or on the vehicle floor, and the vehicle has no other structure than the floor and module components for providing a reaction surface for supporting the restraint device.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any of the other aspects, the deployable restraint device may include an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, the module may include a door that opens in response to airbag deployment. The door may be configured to act as a reaction surface for the airbag.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, the module may include a tether for limiting movement of the door such that the door may serve as a reaction surface for the airbag.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, a deployable restraint device may include a restraint panel configured to move to a deployed position extending above the vehicle floor adjacent to the occupant's lower legs and feet. The restraint panel, when deployed, may engage the occupant's foot to prevent the occupant's foot and lower leg from swinging forward and upward in response to a vehicle collision.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, the module may include an actuator for actuating the restraint panel to pivot or otherwise move to the deployed position.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, the actuator may comprise a pyrotechnic actuator.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, the pyrotechnic actuator may be configured to limit movement of the restraint panel after deployment such that the restraint panel may serve as a reaction surface to receive the feet and legs of the occupant.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, the vehicle may be an autonomous vehicle.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, a security module may include the apparatus according to any one of the preceding aspects, in addition to a housing configured to be mounted in a vehicle floor. The vehicle safety system may also include a sensor/controller for sensing the occurrence of an event in which deployment of the deployable restraint device is desired. The sensor/controller may be configured to actuate the deployable restraint device in response to sensing the occurrence of an event for which deployment is desired.

A method of assisting in protecting a vehicle occupant in a crash situation may include deploying a restraint device from the vehicle floor to restrain forward and upward swinging movement of the occupant's feet and/or lower legs in response to the vehicle crash.

The restraint device may be an airbag module including an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. The module may include a door that opens in response to deployment of the airbag, the door being configured to act as a reaction surface for the airbag. The module may further include a tether for limiting movement of the door so that the door may serve as a reaction surface for the airbag.

According to another aspect, alone or in combination with any other aspect, the deployable restraint device may be a module including a restraint panel configured to move to a deployed position extending above the vehicle floor adjacent to the lower legs and feet of the occupant. The restraint panel, when deployed, may engage the occupant's foot to prevent the occupant's foot and lower leg from swinging forward and upward in response to a vehicle collision. The module may include an actuator for actuating the restraint panel to pivot or otherwise move to the deployed position. The actuator may be a pyrotechnic actuator. The pyrotechnic actuator may be configured to limit movement of the restraint panel after deployment such that the restraint panel may serve as a reaction surface to receive the feet and legs of the occupant.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle including a vehicle occupant safety system, depicting the system in a pre-deployment state.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle depicting the vehicle occupant safety system in a deployed state according to a first configuration of the system.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle depicting the system in a deployed state according to a second configuration of a vehicle occupant safety system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle depicting the vehicle occupant safety system in a deployed state according to a third configuration of the system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a vehicle depicting the vehicle occupant safety system in a deployed state according to a fourth configuration of the system.

Detailed Description

One particular situation where challenges arise due to autonomous vehicle configuration is in the area of leg protection. Referring to fig. 1, an autonomous vehicle 20 includes a vehicle seat 30 on which a vehicle occupant 40 sits. The vehicle seat 30 includes a base 32 connected to the vehicle 20, such as to the floor 22. The seat base 32 supports a seat bottom 34. The seat back 36 extends upwardly from the seat bottom 34 and has an adjustable recline position. A head restraint 38 is positioned at an upper end of the seat back 36.

An occupant 40 is seated on the seat 30 with his/her torso 42 resting on the seat back 36, the head 44 positioned at or near the head rest 38, and the buttocks 46 and legs 50 (more specifically the thighs 52) resting on the base 32. The occupant's lower leg 56 extends from the knee 54 downwardly toward the vehicle floor 22, on which the occupant's foot 58 rests. In the typical occupant position of fig. 1, the occupant's arm 60 is on his/her side with the upper arm 62 adjacent and parallel to the torso 42, bent at the elbow 64, and the lower arm/forearm 66 and hand 70 resting on the thigh 56.

As shown in fig. 1, the occupant 40 is restrained by a seat belt 80, which is a conventional three-point belt including a shoulder belt portion 82 extending across the occupant's shoulder 72 and a thigh belt portion 84 extending across the occupant's thigh (i.e., where the thigh 50 intersects the torso 42). The seat belt 80 is secured via a buckle 86 anchored to the vehicle 20. The seat belt 80 is not shown in fig. 2 to 5 for the sake of simplifying the drawings. In fig. 2 to 5, the occupant 40 is wearing a seat belt, which is not shown in the figures. The occupant activities shown and described with reference to fig. 2-5 are therefore those that would occur if the seat belt 80 shown in fig. 1 were normally used.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, a vehicle safety system 10 facilitates protecting an occupant 40 of an autonomous vehicle 20. As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the system 10 includes an airbag 90 mounted in the roof 24 of the vehicle 20. As an autonomous vehicle 20, the passenger compartment or passenger compartment has no operator controls, such as steering wheel, pedals, gauges, center consoles, etc., and is therefore representative of an autonomous vehicle. Thus, the instrument panel may be reduced in size and/or completely removed in order to maximize space in the passenger compartment. For example, control interfaces for climate control, GPS, navigation, entertainment, and the like may be provided in a center console area of the vehicle 20 between front and/or rear passengers.

In such an open passenger compartment configuration, the vehicle seat 30 may be configured, positioned, and arranged in a variety of ways without being constrained by requirements that facilitate the vehicle operator/driver. For example, in fig. 1, the seat 30 is a forward facing seat facing in a direction of forward travel of the vehicle generally indicated by the arrow labeled a. As shown in fig. 4, the seats 18 may be arranged to face each other with the front row FR facing rearward toward the rear row RR.

With the conventional, forward-facing seating arrangement of fig. 1, in the event of a frontal collision, the occupant 40 is pushed forward in the vehicle, as shown in fig. 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag 90 restrains the occupant 40, and in particular, the head 44 and torso 42, while not restraining the arms 60 and legs 50. As a result, the leg 50 can be seen to be extended due to inertia, as generally indicated by the arrow labeled B. This may cause stress on the leg 50, such as over-extension of the knee 54. Non-autonomous vehicles have structures for preventing this movement, such as an instrument panel/footwell (front passenger) and a seatback (rear passenger) of a front seat. Autonomous vehicles may not include these features.

Referring to fig. 3, the vehicle security system 10 includes a lower leg protection device 100. In the schematic configuration of fig. 3, the protection device 100 includes an inflatable airbag 102 and an inflator 104 for inflating the airbag, both stored within a housing 106 in the vehicle floor 22. The inflator 104 may be operated, for example, by the same airbag control unit ("ACU") that inflates the airbag 90 in response to a vehicle collision. The ACU may actuate the inflator 104 to inflate and deploy the airbag 102 in response to a sensed vehicle collision.

The airbag 102, inflator 104, and housing 106 are components of an airbag module 110 that also includes a door 112 that conceals the airbag in a stored state (see fig. 1). When the airbag 102 deploys, the door 112 swings open (see arrow C). A retaining member 114, such as a cable or strap, limits the extent to which the door 112 can swing open. This may allow the door 112 (alone or in combination with the floor 22) to act as a reaction surface for the bladder 102. The airbag 102 may receive the occupant's leg 50 as the lower leg 56 swings (arrow B) in response to a collision. The bladder 102 may thus provide cushioning for the lower leg 56 and foot 58, reduce their acceleration in response to a collision, and provide a desired cushioning (ride-down) effect.

The airbag 102 may have a variety of different shapes configured to receive the occupant's leg 50. For example, the air bag may be curved to extend over and around the occupant's foot 58 and provide cushioning for the lower leg 56. Alternatively, the balloon 102 may have a larger, more circular overall shape (see fig. 4). The shape and extent of the airbag 102 may be selected to correspond to the structure and layout of the vehicle 20.

Referring to fig. 4, the vehicle has front FR and rear RR seats with occupants 40 facing each other. In the schematic configuration of fig. 4, the vehicle safety system 10 includes a lower leg protection device 120. In the schematic configuration of fig. 4, the protection device 120 includes an inflatable airbag 122 and an inflator 124 for inflating the airbag, both of which are stored within a housing 126 in the vehicle floor 22. The inflator 124 may be operated, for example, by the same airbag control unit ("ACU") that inflates the airbag 90 in response to a vehicle collision. The ACU may actuate the inflator 124 to inflate and deploy the airbag 122 in response to a sensed vehicle collision.

The airbag 122, inflator 124, and housing 126 are components of an airbag module 130 that conceals the airbag in a stored state (see fig. 1). The airbag 122 deploys from the door, for example, through a rupturable housing closure member (e.g., tear seam). The airbag 122 may receive the leg 50 of a front and/or rear seat occupant as the lower leg 56 swings (arrow B) in response to a collision. In fig. 4, the airbag 122 receives the leg 50 of the front seat occupant 40. The bladder 122 provides cushioning for the lower leg 56 and foot 58, reduces their acceleration in response to a collision, and provides a desired cushioning (ride-down) effect.

In the vehicle of fig. 4, the occupant 40 of the rear seat 30 uses the airbag 120. This is because the lower legs 56 of the rear seat occupant swing in the direction of arrow B in response to a collision when traveling in the forward direction (see arrow a). When the vehicle 20 is traveling in the forward direction of arrow a, the lower legs 56 of the rear occupant 40 do not extend in response to the collision. Instead, the front seat occupant 40 is pushed against the seat back 36 and his/her legs 50 are pushed forward against the seat 30 and the vehicle floor 22. Thus, the front seat occupant 40 may use little or no air bag 122.

The airbag 122 may have a variety of different shapes configured to receive the occupant's leg 50. For example, the air bag may be curved or contoured (see, e.g., fig. 2) to extend from the front or rear seat 30 over and around the occupant's foot 58 and provide cushioning for the lower leg 56. Alternatively, the bladder 122 may have a larger, more circular overall shape as shown. The shape and extent of the airbag 122 may be selected to correspond to the structure and layout of the vehicle 20.

The balloons 102, 122 may be constructed of any suitable material, such as nylon (e.g., woven nylon 6-6 yarn), and may be constructed in any suitable manner. For example, the bladder may include one or more pieces or panels of material. If more than one piece or panel of material is used, the pieces or panels of material may be interconnected in a known manner (e.g., sewing, ultrasonic welding, thermal bonding, or adhesive) to form the air bag. The balloon may be uncoated, coated with a material (e.g., air impermeable urethane), or laminated with a material (e.g., air impermeable film). Thus, the balloon may have an airtight or substantially airtight configuration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative materials (e.g., polyester yarns) and alternative coatings (e.g., silicone) may also be used to construct the air bag.

The ACU provides a signal to the inflator upon sensing the occurrence of an event (e.g., a vehicle collision) in which inflation of the airbag is desired. Upon receiving the signal from the ACU, the inflator is actuated and provides inflation fluid to the inflatable volume of the bladders 90, 102, 122 in a known manner. The inflated airbags exert forces on their respective housings that cause the housings to open. This causes the air bags to be released from their stored condition in their respective housings, inflated and deployed to their respective deployed positions. The airbag, while inflated, helps protect the vehicle occupant 40 by absorbing the impact of the occupant. This can be achieved in a number of ways.

Referring to fig. 5, for purposes of illustrating the schematic configuration, the vehicle has a single forward facing seat 30 on which an occupant 40 sits. In the schematic configuration of fig. 5, the vehicle safety system 10 includes a lower leg protection device 140. In the schematic configuration of fig. 4, the protective device 140 includes a foot/lower leg restraint panel 142 and an actuator 144 that is actuatable to move the restraint panel 142 to the illustrated deployed position. In the pre-deployment state (see fig. 1), the restraint panel 142 and the actuator 144 are stored within the housing 126 in the vehicle floor 22. The restraint panel 142 may be a cover for the inflator and may be flush with the vehicle floor 22. The actuator 144 may be operated, for example, by the same air bag control unit ("ACU") that inflates the air bag 90 in response to a vehicle collision. The ACU may actuate the inflator 144 to inflate and deploy the airbag 142 in response to a sensed vehicle collision.

The restraint plate 142, actuator 144, and housing 146 are components of the module 140. The restraint panel 142 is deployed from the floor 22, for example, by a rupturable housing closure member (e.g., tear seam). The restraint panel 142 may receive the feet 58 of the front and/or rear seat occupants, which helps prevent rotation and over-extension of the lower legs 56 due to swing (arrow B) in response to a collision. The restraint panel 142 limits movement of the lower leg toward hyperextension and reduces acceleration of the foot 58 and lower leg 56 in response to an impact.

The actuator 144 may have any configuration capable of deploying the restraint panel 142 in the necessary time. For example, the actuator 144 may be a pyrotechnic actuator, such as a piston or plunger attached to the restraint plate 142, that includes a pyrotechnic material that, when actuated (e.g., via a pilot), chemically reacts to generate pressure to cause movement of the actuator components. The actuator 144 may be configured to lock in its most distal deployed position to prevent the restraint panel 142 from moving back toward its pre-deployed state.

Upon sensing the occurrence of an event in which deployment of the restraint panel is desired (e.g., a vehicle collision), the ACU provides a signal to the airbag inflator and actuator 144. Upon receiving the signal from the ACU, the inflator is actuated and provides inflation fluid to the inflatable volume of the balloon in a known manner. The actuator 144 is actuated to deploy the restraint panel 142, which helps to protect the occupant 40 by restricting movement of the lower legs and feet.

From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the art will perceive improvements, changes and modifications in the disclosed systems and methods, which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. The appended claims are intended to cover such improvements, changes, and/or modifications.