CLIAMS:[064] CLAIMS:
We claim:
1. A protection device 218 provided in the beltline region 220 of a vehicle door 200 for preventing an injury to the head and neck of an occupant O of a vehicle in the event of a lateral impact, the protection device 218 comprising:
a support member 228, 232 for supporting the head of the occupant O; and
an actuating mechanism 224 encompassed inside the vehicle door 200 foractuating the support member 228, 232, such that when in an inactive state, the support member 228, 232 is encompassed inside thevehicledoor 200 and when the vehicle experiences the lateral impact, the actuating mechanism 224 forces the support member 228, 232 to attain a position out of the vehicle door 200in the beltline region220 in such a manner that the load acting on the head of the occupant O is absorbed by the support member 228, 232.

2. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member 228 comprises an elongated cushioned element.

3. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 2, wherein in an inactive state, the support member 228 aligns with an inner panel 202 of the vehicle door 200 on one end and is secured by a locking member 230 at the other end.

4. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member 228 is attached to the actuating mechanism 224 by an elongated member 226 that is configured such that when the actuating mechanism 224 is triggered, the height of the elongated member 226 increases from a first height h1 to a second height h2.
5. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elongated member 226 comprises a telescopic pipe or tube.

6. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support member 232 comprises an inflatable member.

7. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inflatable member 232 comprises an airbag or a gas bag.

8. The protection device 218 as claimed in any one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the support member 232 is directly connected to the actuating mechanism 224.

9. The protection device 218 as claimed in any one of claims 6to 8, wherein the support member 232 is secured inside the vehicle door 200 in a folded position in the inactive state.

10. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 9, wherein the support member 232 is retained in its folded position by a holding member 234.

11. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 10, wherein the holding member is attached to an inner panel 202 of the vehicle door 200 by means of a notch 236 at one end and is secured in its position by a locking member 230 at the other end.

12. The protection device 218 as claimed in any one of claims 6to 11, wherein the actuating mechanism 224 comprises an air source or a gas source.

13. The protection device 218 as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the actuating mechanism 224 is triggered by a sensing mechanism, which senses the lateral impact of the vehicle and sends electric signals to the actuating mechanism 224.

14. The protection device 218 as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sensing mechanism comprises at least one sensor.

15. A vehicle door 200 comprising:
an inner panel 202 and an outer panel 204 joined together to create a hollow space H therebetween; and
a protection device 218 provided in the beltline region 220 of the vehicle door 200 and encompassed inside the hollow space H, the protection device 218 comprising:
a support member 228, 232 for supporting the head of the occupant O of the vehicle; and
an actuating mechanism 224 encompassed inside the hollow space H for actuating the support member 228, 232, such that when in an inactive state, the support member 228, 232 is encompassed inside the hollow space H of the vehicle door 200 and when the vehicle experiences thelateral impact, the actuating mechanism 224 forces the support member 228, 232 to attain a position out of the vehicle door 200 in the beltline region 220 in such a manner that the load acting on the head of the occupant O is absorbed by the support member 228, 232.

16. The vehicle door 200 as claimed in claim 15, wherein the protection device 218 is provided adjacent to a door lock button 214 in the beltline region 220 of the vehicle.

17. A system for protection of head and neck of an occupant O from injury in the event of a lateral impact of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a protection device 218 provided in the beltline region 220 of a vehicle door 200, the protection device 218 being encompassed inside the vehicle door 200 such that in the event of the lateral impact of the vehicle, the protection device 218 gets actuated and a support member 228, 232 of the protection device 218 attains a position out of the vehicle door 200 in the beltline region 220 in such a manner that the load acting on the head of the occupant O is absorbed by the support member 228, 232.
,TagSPECI:[001] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[002] The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:
[003] Technical Field of the Invention
[004] The subject matter described herein relates to a device and system for protection of head and/or neck of an occupant of a vehicle from injury in case of a lateral impact of the vehicle.
[005] Background of the Invention
[006] Lateral impactor collision is one of the most common type of accidents which lead to grave injuries to the occupants of a vehicle. Also known as T-Bone accident, the lateral impacts occur when a vehicle is hit by another vehicle or an object at a point along its side at more or less a right angle. Lateral impact or T-Bone accidents of a vehicle can be more dangerous as compared to a rear end crash or a head on collision as the sides of vehicles have very minimal protection in contrast to the front or rear ends of the vehicle. Since it is the tendency of the occupants of a vehicle to take a seat close to the vehicle doors, the lateral impact or T-Bone accident can be life threatening if the impact point is the door panel or a window of the vehicle, as is shown in Figure 1, which illustrates a top view of a vehicle 100 that experiences a lateral impact by another vehicle 102 at a right angle. The forward travel of the vehicles 100, 102 after the side impact is shown by an arrow (?) in Figure 1. Therefore, when the impact point of a vehicle 100 lies on the vehicle door(s), the occupants O of the vehicle sitting in the proximity to the vehicle doors are at utmost risk.
[007] The vertical area in a vehicle compartment proximal to the vehicle door can be categorized into different zones in order to estimate the amount or extent of injury that may occur to an occupant O in case of a lateral impact. As can be seen from Figure 2, the uppermost zone in the vehicle compartment is the Head to Roof (HR) and is termed for the purpose of the present description as zone Z1when an occupant O is sitting upright on a vehicle seat S near the vehicle door. The other zones of the vehicle compartment have been identified in the present description as head and neck zone Z2, thorax zone Z3, abdomen zone Z4 and pelvis zone Z5 as shown in Figure 2.
[008] Depending upon the impact point and the position of the occupant O in the vehicle compartment, the occupant may suffer serious injuries that include, but are not limited to, soft tissue injuries in cervical spines, damage of the nerve roots or spinal cord, head trauma, maxillofacial injury, hollow viscous perforation and aortic transaction. The type and extent of an injury suffered by the occupant of the vehicle also depends upon the angle of impact, magnitude of the force applied due to the lateral impact.
[009] Various lateral impact norms and regulations have been implemented and made mandatory for vehicle manufacturers to follow in an attempt to prevent serious injuries to the occupants of a vehicle in the event of a lateral impact. With modernization, safety mechanisms, such as side air bags, have also been developed and implemented in vehicles, which reduce the extent of injuries occurring to the vehicle occupants. A curtain airbag is another example in which the airbag is mounted on the inner side of the vehicle door and inflates automatically, thereby creating a cushion in the form of a curtain when the vehicle experiences a lateral impact.
[010] Figures 3a and 3b illustrate different positions of an occupant before and after the side impact of the vehicle in which a side airbag 104 is installed. While Figure 3a illustrates a normal position of the occupant O seated on a vehicle seat Sin the proximity of the vehicle door before lateral impact, Figure 3b depicts the position of the occupant O after the vehicle experiences the lateral impact. Assuming all the safety precautions, such as seat belt SB,are complied with, it is still possible that the occupant O suffers major injuries in the neck and/or head region. Inspite of following the requisite safety procedures, the head of the occupant O is accelerated almost five times the G-Force of the impact and then back. Even if the side airbag 104 is installed on the side panel 106 of the vehicle door, it is highly possible that the muscles and ligaments of the occupant O are stretched beyond their permissible limits. As can be seen from Figure 3b, the neck of the occupant suffers from extreme tension T when the vehicle experiences a lateral impact.
[011] Therefore, there is still a need for a simple, safe and cost-effective safety mechanism that prevents injuries to the head and/or neck of the occupants of a vehicle in case of a lateral impact of the vehicle, thereby providing superior level of protection to the occupants of a vehicle.
[012] Summary of the invention
[013] It is an object of the present subject matter to provide a cushioning effect to the head movement during a lateral impact of a vehicle.
[014] It is another object of the present subject matter to substantially prevent injuries to the head and/or neck of an occupant of a vehicle by absorbing shock in case of a lateral collision.
[015] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide a simple, safe and cost-effective safety mechanism for the occupants of a vehicle.
[016] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide means of safety for the occupants of a vehicle in addition to side airbags in an event of a lateral impact of a vehicle.
[017] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide a jerk absorbing mechanism that provides maximum possible cushion thereby leaving occupant injury less at the head and neck region.
[018] The present subject matter described herein relates toaprotection device that is provided in the beltline region of a vehicle door for preventing an injury to the head and neck of an occupant of a vehicle in the event of a lateral impact. The protection device includes a support member for supporting the head of the occupant andan actuating mechanism encompassed inside the vehicle door for actuating the support member, such that when in an inactive state, the support member is encompassed inside the vehicle door and when the vehicle experiences the lateral impact, the actuating mechanism forces the support member to attain a position out of the vehicle door in the beltline region in such a manner that the load acting on the head of the occupant is absorbed by the support member.
[019] In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the support member includes an elongated cushioned element.
[020] In another embodiment of the present subject matter, the support member aligns with an inner panel of the vehicle door on one end and is secured by a locking member at the other end in an inactive state.
[021] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the support member is attached to the actuating mechanism by an elongated member that is configured such that when the actuating mechanism is triggered, the height of the elongated member increases from a first height to a second height.
[022] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the elongated member includes a telescopic pipe or tube.
[023] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the support member includes an inflatable member.
[024] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the inflatable member includes an airbag or a gas bag.
[025] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the support member is directly connected to the actuating mechanism.
[026] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the support member is secured inside the vehicle door in a folded position in the inactive state.
[027] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the support member is retained in its folded position by a holding member.
[028] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the holding member is attached to an inner panel of the vehicle door by means of a notch at one end and is secured in its position by a locking member at the other end.
[029] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the actuating mechanismcomprises an air source or a gas source.
[030] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the actuating mechanismis triggered by a sensing mechanism, which senses the lateral impact of the vehicle and sends electric signals to the actuatingmechanism.
[031] In yet another embodiment of the present subject matter, the sensing mechanism includes at least one sensor.
[032] A vehicle door having an inner panel and an outer panel is also described herein. The inner panel and the outer panel of the vehicle door are joined together to create a hollow space therebetween. The vehicle door further includes a protection device that is provided in the beltline region of the vehicle door and is encompassed inside the hollow space. The protection device includes a support member for supporting the head of the occupant of the vehicle and an actuating mechanism encompassed inside the hollow space for actuating the support member, such that when in an inactive state, the support member is encompassed inside the hollow space of the vehicle door and when the vehicle experiences the lateral impact, the actuating mechanism forces the support member to attain a position out of the vehicle door in the beltline region in such a manner that the load acting on the head of the occupant is absorbed by the support member.
[033] In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the protection device is provided adjacent to a door lock button in the beltline region of the vehicle.
[034] A system for protection of head and neck of an occupant from injury in the event of a lateral impact of a vehicle is also disclosed herein. The system includes a protection device provided in the beltline region of a vehicle door and encompassed inside the vehicle door such that in the event of the lateral impact of the vehicle, the protection device gets actuated and a support member of the protection device attains a position out of the vehicle door in the beltline region in such a manner that the load acting on the head of the occupant is absorbed by the support member.
[035] Brief Description of Drawings
[036] The foregoing and further objects, features and advantages of the present subject matter will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals are used to represent like elements.
[037] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter, and are therefore, not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the subject matter may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
[038] Figure 1 illustrates a lateral impact collision of vehicles in a top view
[039] Figure 2 depicts various zones in a vehicle compartment in which different body parts of an occupant of a vehicle are vulnerable to injuries in case the vehicle experiences a lateral impact.
[040] Figures 3a & 3b illustrate the positions of a vehicle occupant seated in proximity to the vehicle door before and after a lateral impact of the vehicle respectively.
[041] Figures 4a & 4b illustrate perspective views of a vehicle door depicting aprotection device in an inactive and an actuated state before and after the lateral impact of a vehicle respectively in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter.
[042] Figures 5a & 5b illustrate schematic cross-sectional views of a vehicle door depicting the structure and operation of the protection device in accordance with the embodiment described in Figures 4a & 4b.
[043] Figures 6a & 6b illustrate perspective views of a vehicle door depicting a protection device in an inactive and an actuated state before and after the lateral impact of a vehicle respectively in accordance with another embodiment of the present subject matter.
[044] Figures7a & 7b illustrate schematic cross-sectional views of a vehicle door depicting the structure and operation of the protection device in accordance with the embodiment described inFigures 6a & 6b.
[045] Detailed Description of the Invention
[046] The following presents a detailed description of various embodiments of the present subject matter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[047] The embodiments of the present subject matter are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present subject matter is not limited to these embodiments which are only provided to explain more clearly the present subject matter to a person skilled in the art of the present disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to indicate like components.
[048] The present subject matter provides a simple, safe and cost-effective protection device that prevents injuries to the head and/or neck of a vehicle occupant seated in proximity to the vehicle door in case of a lateral impact of the vehicle. The protection device of the present subject matter provides cushioning support to the occupant’s head during the lateral impact of the vehicle. The protection device of the present subject matter can be provided in addition to the side airbags and hence, acts as an additional safety measure to the occupant of the vehicle.
[049] Figures 4a and 4b illustrate perspective views of a vehicle door 200 before and after the lateral impact of the vehicle respectively in accordance with one embodiment of the present subject matter. The vehicle door 200 includes an inner panel 202 and an outer panel 204, which are attached to each other in a manner such that a hollow space is created therebetween. The hollow space between the inner panel 202 and the outer panel 204 encompasses a plurality of mechanisms, such as a window winding mechanism (not shown).A window glass 206 is mounted in a longitudinal gap 208 created between the inner panel 202 and the outer panel 204 of the vehicle door 200. The inner panel 202 of the vehicle door 200 further includes a plurality of components. For example, and by no way limiting the scope of the present subject matter, the inner panel 202 includes an arm rest 210, a plurality of switch panels 212, a door lock button 214 and a hinge 216 for mounting the vehicledoor 200 onto the vehicle body.
[050] The vehicle door 200 also includes a protection device 218 in the beltline region 220 of the vehicle door 200. The protection device 218 provides cushioning support to the head and/or neck of the occupant of the vehicle in case of a lateral impact of the vehicle. The protection device 218 is strategically located near the door lock button 214 such that when the vehicle experiences a lateral impact, the head of the occupant is obstructed by the protection device 218.In an inactive state, the protection device 218 is secured in an opening 222 provided on the upper end of the inner panel 202 in the beltline region 220. However in case of the lateral impact of the vehicle, the protection device 218 gets actuated automatically to an actuated state wherein the protection device 218 obstructs the lateral movement of the occupant’s head beyond a certain limit.
[051] The positions of the protection device 218 of the present embodiment before and after the lateral impact of the vehicle can be seen in detail in Figures 5a and 5b respectively. Figures 5a and 5b illustrate cross-sectional views of the vehicle door 200 of the embodiment described above in which the positions of the protection device 218 before and after the lateral impact respectively is clearly depicted. As can be seen in these figures, the lower end of the window glass 206 is secured in the vehicle door 200 and the protection device 218 is secured in the beltline region 220 of the vehicle door.
[052] The protection device 218 in accordance with the embodiment described in Figures 4a, 4b, 5a and 5b is manufactured from a plurality of components which include, but are not limited to, an actuating mechanism 224, a telescopic elongated member 226, a support member 228 and a sensing mechanism (not shown). The support member 228 is made up of a soft material such that it provides a cushioning support to the head of the occupant of the vehicle when the head comes in contact with the support member 228. The elongated member 226attaches the actuating mechanism 224 with the support member 228 and is configured in such a manner that its height can be increased from a first height h1 in an inactive state as shown in Figure 5a to a second height h2 in an actuated state as shown in Figure 5b.
[053] As can be seen from Figure 5a, the protection device 218 completely lies inside the hollow space H between the inner panel 202 and the outer panel 204 of the vehicle door 200 in the inactive state. The support member 228 aligns with the inner panel 202 on one end and is secured in position by a locking member 230. When the vehicle experiences a lateral impact, the sensing mechanism senses the impact and sends corresponding electric signals to the actuating mechanism 224 of the protection device 218. The actuating mechanism 224 on receipt of the electric signals from the sensing mechanism actuates the elongated member 226 to increase its height from a first height h1 to a second height h2. The elongated member 226, once actuated by the actuating mechanism 224, applies a force that is sufficient to move the support member 228 out of its inactive position and to unlock the locking member 230. In one embodiment of the present subject matter, the increase ?h in height of the elongated member 226 is in the range of approximately 80 mm to 100 mm. The actuation of the elongated member 226 ensures that the support member 228 reaches the desired position in a suitable time such that the load of the head of the occupant seated in the vicinity of the vehicle door 200 is absorbed by the support member 228.
[054] The protection device 218 described above can be embodied in many ways as would be clear to a person skilled in the art. For example, the support member 228 described in the above embodiment has an L-shaped cross-section. However, any cross-section of the support member 228 can be selected other than the one depicted in Figures 4b, 5a and 5b that suits the desired function of supporting the head of the occupant in case of a lateral impact of the vehicle. Further, the actuating mechanism 224 described in the above embodiment can be any mechanism that performs the desired mechanical function based on the electrical signals as input.
[055] The elongated member 226 of the present embodiment is configured as a telescopic tube or pipe. However, as would be clear to a person skilled in the art, any other elongated member that is capable of increasing its length can be employed for the purpose of the present subject matter. Furthermore, the increase ?h in height of the elongated member 226 can also different from the range described above. However, it is made clear that the maximum height of the elongated member 226 should be limited so that the support member 228 does not extend beyond the head and neck zone Z2(Figure 2).
[056] The attachment of the elongated member 226 with the actuating mechanism 224 at one end and the support member 228 at the other end can be done in any conventional method that would be known to a person skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the attachment of the elongated member 226 with the actuating mechanism 224 and the support member 228 on opposite ends can be done by fasteners or any other equivalent means known to a person skilled in the art. Similarly, the actuating mechanism 224 can be mounted inside the vehicle door 200 by any mounting means known to a person skilled in the art. In different embodiments, the actuating mechanism 224 can be welded or clamped or fastened to the vehicle door 200 as would be obvious to a person skilled in the art.
[057] The strength of the protection device 218 of the present subject matter should be sufficient to bear the load caused by the impact of the occupant’s head on the support member 228. In particular, the shear and bending strength of various parts of the protection device 218 and their attachment points aresufficient to bear the load acting on them due to the impact of the head on the support member 228.
[058] Another embodiment of the present subject matter is depicted in Figures 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b.While Figures 6a and 6b illustrate perspective views of a vehicle door 200 before and after lateral impact of the vehicle respectively, Figures 7a and 7b depict the cross-sectional views of the vehicle door 200 of this embodiment before and after lateral impact respectively.
[059] The protection device 218 of the present embodiment includes an inflatable member, such as an airbag 232, as the support member.In an inactive state, the airbag 232 is folded inside the hollow space H between the inner panel 202 and the outer panel 204 as can be seen in Figure 7a. A holding member 234 is placed above the folded airbag 232 such that one end of the holding member 234 is attached to the inner panel 202, thereby creating a notch 236 at the interface between the holding member 234 and the inner panel 202. The other end of the holding member 234 is locked by the locking member 230 in a similar manner as described in the embodiment of Figures 5a and 5b. The above configuration of the protection device 218 in the inactive state is shown in Figure 7a.
[060] The protection device 218 of the present embodiment also includes a sensing mechanism (not shown) that senses the lateral impact of the vehicle sends corresponding electric signal to the actuating mechanism 224. In the present embodiment, the actuating mechanism comprises an air source and is directly attached to the airbag 232. The air source 224, on receipt of electric signals from the sensing mechanism, causes the airbag 232 to inflate. The inflation of the airbag 232 applies a sufficient pressure on the holding member 234 such that the notch 236 between the holding member 234 and the inner panel 202 is broken, and the holding member 234 is released from the locking member 230 as can be seen from Figure 7b. The airbag 232 in its fully inflated state is shown in Figure 7b. It can be seen from Figure 7a that the height of the airbag 232 in the inflated state is such that it sufficientlyabsorbs the load caused due to the impact of the head of the occupant on the airbag 232.
[061] The protection device described in Figures 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b can include different components from the ones described above as long as they perform the desired function. For example, the airbag 232 can be replaced with a gas bag and the corresponding air source 224 can also be replaced by a gas source in different embodiments of the present subject matter.
[062] The location of various components on the vehicle door 200 may vary from the one described in the above embodiments of the present subject matter as would be known to a person skilled in the art. For example, the door lock button 214 in the embodiments described above is provided in the vicinity of the protection device 218 in the beltline region 220. However, as would be clear to a person skilled in the art, the door lock button 214 may be employed anywhere on the inner door panel 202 depending upon the door lock mechanism. Further, the locking member 230 illustrated in the embodiments described above can be any member that is capable of withstanding the force acting on it till the protection device 218 is not actuated. Once the protection device 218 gets actuated, the force of the support member 228, 232 acting on the locking member 230 is sufficient to unlock the locking member 230. Furthermore, the sensing mechanism described in the embodiments above may include at least one sensor or any other corresponding device(s) that is capable of sending suitable electrical signals to the protection device 218 when a vehicle experiences a side impact.
[063] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, this description is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. Various modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as alternate embodiments of the invention, will become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the invention. It is therefore, contemplated that such modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention as defined.