Abstract: A knee protection device (1) for a person (2) sitting on a seat arranged inside a motor vehicle is provided in the case of an accident-related deformation of the leg space. The device has a load distribution plate (3) which is driven instantaneously from its rest position in the direction toward the knee parts of the person (2), upon activation of the trigger device attached to it. The trigger device may be a pyrotechnic device (4) of the type used for a safety belt attached to the seat.

Abstract: An air bag module is described which has a gas generator, which upon a trigger signal instantaneously conducts gas into an air bag made of a substantially air-impermeable material. The air bag has an air outlet opening, through which gas flows out of the air bag after a dwell time in the air bag. It is proposed that the effective opening diameter of the air outlet opening (40) is opened in a time-delay manner after the activation of the time module. If necessary, the volume can be increased briefly in order to keep the internal pressure constant in the air bag for a predetermined time period.

Abstract: A passive restraining system for motor vehicles, which has at least one crash sensor (10 and 10'), which generates a signal indicating an accident and its severity, and optionally forms a structural unit with the central electronics unit (20). In this, the signal from the crash sensor is evaluated. The system moreover has a number of restraining components such as air bags (30) and belt retractors (40) and position and child seat recognition sensors (50) and seat occupation sensors (60) allocated to these for recognition of the respective actual use status of the vehicle seats (70), and one belt position sensor per vehicle seat.

Abstract: A knee protection device is provided for a person sitting on a seat situated inside a motor vehicle, in case of an accident-related deformation of the leg space. The knee protection device has an air bag module allocated to the leg space with at least one first gas bag (1), into which a gas generator allocated to it introduces gas instantaneously upon a trigger signal, and which is provided with a load distribution plate (2) connected to it on the side facing towards the vehicle interior. The load distribution plate is displaced in the vehicle interior in the direction towards the knee area of the person during the filling operation of the gas bag (1). The load distribution plate is provided with a damping pad (3), on the side facing towards the vehicle interior. The damping pad is preferably formed from a second gas bag (4), which is inflated to its size prior to the first gas bag (1).

Abstract: A passive restraint system for a motor vehicle has at least one airbag module assigned to a vehicle seat (2) to provide lateral protection of the head area of a person sitting in the vehicle and secured therein by a safety belt as an additional passive retraining component. The airbag module has at least one gas generator and a gas sack (1). In response to an actuating signal the gas generator immediately sends gas into the gas sack. In one embodiment the gas sack is designed in such a way and is so shaped that it catches the safety belt (5), optionally with a predetermined amount of slack, once the signal has been emitted, lifts it from its resting position on the person (6), and absorbs belt slack with the increase in volume. The result is that the belt (5) prevents the fully inflated gas sack (1) from swinging laterally outward, so that the head area of the person (6), which is immersed in the gas sack (1), does not substantially move out of the passenger compartment (8) profile.