Patent ID: 6428038
Filing Date: 2002-08-06
Classification: B60R

Abstract:
Side-impact damping device for a vehicle which is capable of being arranged in an area of a B-column of the vehicle, with a panel facing vehicle occupants, with an airbag present between the panel and the vehicle body, and with an activating sensor unit for the airbag in the event of a side impact,wherein the side impact damping device is arranged such that during the side impact the vehicle occupants sitting on the impact side are adapted to be acted upon as a result of an activated airbag with an acceptable force and as a result are accelerated in a direction towards a center of the vehicle, and wherein the panel is adapted to be present between the vehicle occupants and the airbag with an activated airbag and is configured as a distribution element having a stiffness which distributes the force acting upon the vehicle occupants when the airbag has been activated, the panel being provided with at least one cushion which is arranged to cushion at least one of the hips, torso, shoulders, and head of the vehicle occupants.