Inflatable device and deployable vehicle front surface with inflatable device

• Main Authors: WESSMAN BJOERN, MENDIS KOLITA, CRONA RAGNAR, FRASIER DOUGLAS
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 22.05.2013
• Subjects: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISEPROVIDED FOR

The present invention relates to an inflatable, energy-absorbing device (1) to be positioned behind a deployable front surface (2) of a vehicle (3) for pedestrian protection and low speed crash damage mitigation. The inflatable, energy-absorbing device (1) is configured to, upon actuation thereof by means of a sensor system (4) for detecting approaching or actual impacts, inflate and thereby deploy the front surface (2) of the vehicle (3) in the driving direction of the vehicle (3). The present invention also relates to a deployable soft nose structure. According to the invention, the inflatable, energy-absorbing device (1) comprises at least one airbag (1 a) of a drop stitch material comprising at least an outer and an inner layer of fabric and an internal reinforcement in the form of one or more internal stitchings which extends/extend around the airbag (1 a) between opposing surfaces of the outer and inner layers of fabric. According to the invention, the deployable soft nose structure comprises a deployab