Device for Protecting Passengers in a Motor Vehicle in the Event of Energy Input Caused by a Collision and Oriented at the Motor Vehicle Door

Abstract

The invention is a device for protecting passengers in a motor vehicle in the event of energy input caused by a collision oriented laterally at a motor vehicle door. The device is provided with a connection structure comprising at least two parts, a first part and a second part of which the first part is firmly connected to the motor vehicle door and the second part is firmly connected to an energy-absorbing region of the motor vehicle chassis. the two parts can be brought into an interactive effects connection via at least one common joint region to selectively divert at least a part of the energy input acting laterally to the motor vehicle chassis. The first and/or second part are at least partially provided with a transducer material which undergoes a mechanical change in state as a result of energy application as in a change in shape by means of which the two parts are brought to contact and/or interlock, the second part of the connection structure being affixed in a motor vehicle chassis region directly surrounding the motor vehicle door.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.