Safety device for a vehicle with a steering system and corresponding safety method

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety means for a vehicle with a steering with reference to which a load absorbing means for an impact of the driver's knees in the case of an accident is arranged, wherein the load absorbing means for an impact of the knees include a load absorbing sheet which in the case of an accident can be adjusted towards the driver's knees into an or in the direction towards an effective position. Furthermore, the invention refers to a safety method for a vehicle with a steering with reference to which a load absorbing means for an impact of the driver's knees in the case of an accident is adjusted towards the driver's knees, wherein a load absorbing sheet is adjusted towards the driver's knees in the case of an accident.

1 . Safety means for a vehicle with a steering with reference to which a load absorbing means for an impact of a driver's knee in the case of an accident is arranged, characterised in that the load absorbing means for an impact of the knee include a load absorbing sheet (3) which can be moved to the driver's knees ( 4 ) into an or in the direction towards an effective position (A) in the case of an accident.  
     
     
         2 . Safety means according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) is supported in its effective position (A) via at least one load absorbing element ( 2 ) with reference to the steering ( 1 ).  
     
     
         3 . Safety means according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterised in that the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) can be moved to the driver's knees ( 4 ) into an or in the direction towards an effective position (A) in the case of an accident by an inflated air bag ( 10 ), and that the air bag ( 10 ) forms a load absorbing element ( 2 ).  
     
     
         4 . Safety means according to  claim 3 , characterised in that the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) can be moved in position to the driver's knees ( 4 ) in the case of an accident by the air bag ( 10 ) in such a way that more crash load absorbing distance is generated.  
     
     
         5 . Safety means according to  claim 3  or  4 , characterised in that the air bag ( 10 ) is provided with a load limitation ( 11 ).  
     
     
         6 . Safety means according to  claim 5 , characterised in that the load limitation ( 11 ) is formed by a load limiting valve ( 11   a ) through which gas can be released from the inflating or inflated air bag ( 10 ) in dependence of a load.  
     
     
         7 . Safety means according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) can be swivelled by a swivel lever means ( 6 ) to the driver's knees ( 4 ) into an or in the direction towards an effective position (A) in the case of an accident.  
     
     
         8 . Safety means according to  claim 7 , characterised in that the swivel lever means ( 6 ) include two or four or more swivel levers ( 6   a ).  
     
     
         9 . Safety means according to  claim 7  or  8 , characterised in that the swivel lever means ( 6 ) can be operated by means of a pyrotechnically activatable and/or drivable adjustment cylinder ( 5 ).  
     
     
         10 . Safety means according to one of the  claims 7  to  9 , characterised in that at least one load absorbing element ( 2 ) together with the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) can be swivelled in position to the driver's knees towards an effective position (A) in the case of an accident with reference to the steering ( 1 ), in such a way that more crash load absorbing distance is generated.  
     
     
         11 . Safety means according to  claim 10 , characterised in that a plurality of load absorbing elements ( 2 ) is provided.  
     
     
         12 . Safety means according to  claim 10  or  11 , characterised in that each load absorbing element ( 2 ) is provided with a load limitation ( 11 ).  
     
     
         13 . Safety means according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the load limitation ( 11 ) for each load absorbing element ( 2 ) is formed by a reverse lock ( 8 ) which is designed so that in a load by the knee ( 4 ) caused in an accident a load absorbing resistance is generated.  
     
     
         14 . Safety means according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the load absorbing means for an impact of the driver's knees ( 4 ) is arranged at the steering ( 1 ), and that, given the case, the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) is supported in its position adjusted towards the driver's knees ( 4 ) by at least one load absorbing element ( 2 ) at the steering ( 1 ).  
     
     
         15 . A safety method for a vehicle with a steering with reference to which a load absorbing means for an impact of the driver's knees is moved towards the driver's knees in the case of an accident, characterised in that a load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) is adjusted towards the driver's knees in the case of an accident.  
     
     
         16 . A safety method according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the adjusted load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) is supported by at least one load absorbing element ( 2 ) with reference to the steering ( 1 ).  
     
     
         17 . A safety method according to  claim 15  or  16 , characterised in that the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) is adjusted by means of an inflating air bag ( 10 ).  
     
     
         18 . A safety method according to  claim 15  or  16 , characterised in that the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) is adjusted by means of a swivel lever means ( 6 ).  
     
     
         19 . A safety method according to one of the claims  15 ,  16  or  18 , characterised in that the load absorbing sheet ( 3 ) is adjusted by means of a pyrotechnically activatable and/or drivable adjustment cylinder ( 5 ).