DE102011122393A1 - Occupant protection device for vehicle, has locking element for locking movement of seat backrest in normal operating condition of vehicle, where locking element is coupled with belt tensioner of seat belt device - Google Patents

Abstract

The occupant protection device (1) has a seat backrest (2.1) that is connected to a vehicle (F) or with a seat part (2.2) of a vehicle seat (2) or with a seat base (2.3) of the vehicle seat such that a partial area of the seat backrest is moved in collision direction during front- or rear collision or during impending collision of vehicle with obstacle. The movement of seat backrest is locked in normal operating condition of the vehicle by a locking element (3), which is coupled with a belt tensioner (4) of a seat belt device. An independent claim is also included for a method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle by an occupant protection device.

Description

The invention relates to an occupant protection device for a vehicle according to the features of the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle according to the features of the preamble of claim 7.

From the prior art, as in the DE 23 44 689 A1 described, a safety device for motor vehicles, which cooperates with a relative to the structure relatively movable trained seat. The safety device moves during a collision accident, the seat comprising a restraint system by means of an actuating device so in the direction of travel or in the direction of travel, that the seat deceleration increases rapidly within the human tolerability range and is maintained at a substantially constant level lying within this frame.

In the DE 10 2008 061 614 A1 a belt tensioner is described. The belt tensioner has at least two cylinders, each with a piston and a train transmission means attached to the piston. The pistons may be pressurized with a pressurized fluid, thereby moving them in a tightening direction. For all cylinders a common, separate drive device is provided.

The invention has for its object to provide an improved occupant protection device for a vehicle and an improved method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle.

The object is achieved by an occupant protection device for a vehicle having the features of claim 1 and a method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle with the features of claim 7.

Preferred embodiments and further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

In an occupant protection device for a vehicle which has at least one vehicle seat and a seat belt device assigned to the vehicle seat, a seat back according to the invention is connected to the vehicle and / or to a seat part of the vehicle seat and / or to a seat underframe of the vehicle seat. or rear-end collision and / or in the event of an imminent collision of the vehicle with an obstacle at least a portion of the seat back in the direction of collision is movable, said movement of the seat back in a normal operating condition of the vehicle by at least one blocking element is locked or locked, which with at least one belt tensioner the seat belt device is coupled. By activating the pretensioner, the locking member is operable to unlock the seat back and thereby release the movement of the seat back.

In a front collision of the vehicle with the obstacle, a front collision direction is oriented counter to a direction of travel of the vehicle. In a rear-end collision of the vehicle with the obstacle, a rear-end collision direction is aligned in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The direction of travel of the vehicle is defined in each case as the direction of the vehicle when driving forward.

Moving the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back in the direction of collision, d. H. in a frontal collision against the direction of travel of the vehicle and in a rear-end collision, for example in a rear-end collision of another vehicle on the own vehicle, in the direction of travel of the vehicle, allows a reduction of occupant loads.

In particular, in a frontal collision is by moving the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back to the rear also allows occupant displacement by means of the belt tensioner and a tightenable by the belt tensioner seat belt in the vehicle to the rear, even before collision forces acting on the occupant. In this way, a greater clearance between the occupant and interior parts of the vehicle, such as a steering wheel of the vehicle created.

This allows the occupant to be more gently intercepted by the seatbelt device in a subsequent impact of the collision forces, since the occupant now has greater clearance in the vehicle, in which he can move due to the collision forces, without bouncing on the steering wheel, for example. In this way, lower restraint forces of the seat belt device are required, resulting in lower occupant loads.

Furthermore, the displacement of the occupant from the collision location, which is made possible by the movement of the backrest, avoids impact on the occupants possibly penetrating into the vehicle interior or foreign bodies or at least significantly reduces an impact severity. In addition, by the rearward displacement of the occupant in the vehicle deployment of one or more airbags can be optimized in front of the occupant, as a larger space for deployment and a longer deployment time are available before the occupant dips into the airbag or the.

The belt tensioner (s) may be configured, for example, as so-called evo tensioners which allow a change in a tensioning force, for example by a time-delayed ignition of a plurality of pyrotechnic charges or by a drive of the belt tensioner by means of an electric motor. As a result, the occupant load values can be further reduced and, in particular, tension forces of the belt tensioner for shifting the occupant and subsequently intercepting the occupant movement are different and can be metered in an optimized manner due to collision forces acting on them.

In a rear-end collision occurs by the movement of the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back in the rear collision direction, d. H. in the direction of travel of the vehicle and therefore forward, a bringing the seat back and preferably arranged on the seat back headrest to the occupant, so that a support of the occupant is optimized by the seat back and headrest. In this way, a very early initiation of movement of the occupant due to the collision forces in the seat back and the headrest is made possible, so that a very early support of the occupant by the seat back and the headrest is achieved in particular in the pelvic area, back area and head area. As a result, in particular due to the very early support of the head, the so-called whiplash or whiplash syndrome avoided or at least significantly reduced its severity.

It is particularly advantageous in the rear-end collision, when the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back already in an impending such rear-end collision or immediately at the beginning of the collision in the rear collision direction, d. H. moved forward to achieve the described advantages, and in a further collision course, the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back and / or the headrest back against the rear collision direction, d. H. moved to the rear, so as to prevent that a total collision energy is introduced via the seat back in the occupant. As a result, the occupant load values can be further reduced.

The belt tensioner, which is coupled to the blocking element, so that upon activation of the belt tensioner actuation of the locking element for unlocking the movement of the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back, may be formed as a conventional belt tensioner, its activation only when actually taking place and due to collision detected by corresponding impact detection sensors of the vehicle. Advantageously, however, the belt tensioner is designed as a so-called pre-safe tensioner, d. H. the activation of the belt tensioner already takes place in the case of a collision risk determined by means of an environmental sensor system of the vehicle and thereby already before the actual collision. This allows an earlier movement of the seat back and a previous displacement of the occupant, so that a larger and smoother occupant displacement is made possible by means of the belt tensioner. As a result, the occupant load values are additionally reducible. To detect the risk of collision, the environment sensor system can have, for example, one or more image capture units, for example in the form of mono- or stereo cameras, and / or one or more radar, lidar, ultrasound and / or microwave sensors.

Conveniently, the occupant protection device comprises at least one guide element for specifying a limited path of movement of the seat back, wherein the seat back is connected at least after a release of the movement via the guide member to the vehicle and / or with the seat part and / or with the seat base. In this way, the movement path and in particular a collision-optimized alignment of the seat back are predetermined and ensured after their movement, and the seat back is also stably connected during and after the movement with the vehicle and / or with the seat part and / or with the seat base. An uncontrolled movement and alignment of the seat back and instability of the seat back after movement are thereby avoided, so that an introduction of forces by the occupant in the seat back and absorption of these forces is ensured by the seat back.

In an advantageous embodiment, the guide element is designed such that a movement of a lower portion of the seat back against the direction of travel of the vehicle and / or movement of an upper portion of the seat back in the direction of travel of the vehicle are possible. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in a frontal collision. In particular, occupant load values in the pelvic area of the occupant are reduced in this way. Furthermore, thereby bringing the headrest is brought to the head of the occupant, whereby the support of the head is optimized by the headrest and whiplash avoided or at least reduced.

In a frontal collision, it is particularly advantageous if the lower portion of the Seat back against the direction of travel of the vehicle, ie moved backwards and the upper portion of the seat back moves slightly less backwards or moves forward, ie in the direction of travel of the vehicle. In a rear-end collision, it is particularly advantageous if the lower portion of the seat back against the direction of travel of the vehicle, that moves backwards and the upper portion of the seat back moves forward, ie in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

The movement of the seat back, for example, can be reactive, d. H. by the movement of the occupant by means of the belt tensioner and by this to be tightened seat belt. By unlocking the movement of the seat back due to the activation of the belt tensioner and its action on the blocking element, the seat back poses no resistance to the occupant and by tensioning the seat belt by means of the belt tensioner or a plurality of belt tensioners, the displacement of the occupant takes place in the direction of the seat back. By pressing the occupant to the seat back then the movement of the backrest takes place back to an end position.

In an expedient embodiment, however, the seat back is coupled to at least one drive element for moving the seat back, whereby an active movement of the seat back in the respective direction is made possible, so that this movement can be done very quickly and accurately. In particular, in a rear-end collision, the seat back is movable in this way forward to the occupants zoom.

It is also possible to couple these two variants with each other, so that, for example, in a frontal collision, the movement of the seat back to the rear is reactive, d. H. by the occupant displacement by means of the belt tensioner and the seat belt, and in a rear-end collision, the movement of the seat back forward toward the occupant is active. In this way, only one or more drive elements for moving the seat back forward and no drive elements for the movement of the seat back to the rear. By this saving of drive elements or their smaller dimensions and by the otherwise otherwise necessary transmission or deflection mechanisms for controlling the respective required direction of movement space savings is achieved, so that a larger interior space in the vehicle, for example in a foot area behind and under the vehicle seats, in particular is available for inmates seated in a back seat.

The drive element can be designed, for example, as a pyrotechnic drive element or as a prestressed spring element. It is also possible to use a plurality of identical or differently designed drive elements per seat back.

Preferably, the locking member is disposed in the region of a Sitzlehnenneigungseinstellmechanismus, so that by unlocking this Sitzlehnenneigungseinstellmechanismus limited movement of the seat back in the respective direction is possible, for example up to a predetermined end stop, so that the seat back in the respective end position in one for the respective collision optimized position is held. Alternatively, for example, lateral backrest fittings, via which the seat back is connected to the seat part and / or with the seat base, be released by actuation of the locking element by means of the belt tensioner of the seat back and / or seat part and / or seat base, so that in this way limited predetermined movement of the seat back is possible. After the movement takes place, for example, a locking of the backrest fittings in the seat back and / or in the seat part and / or in the seat base, so that the seat back is then held securely and stably in the optimized position for the collision.

In an advantageous embodiment, the movement of the seat back and the blocking of the movement by means of the blocking element are reversible. Preferably, the entire occupant protection device is reversible, d. H. also the one or more belt tensioners, which can be realized for example by means of an electric motor.

This is especially true when unlocking the movement of the seat back by means of a pre-safe belt tensioner, d. H. already advantageous in the event of a collision. In an avoidance of collision or a low collision severity, so that the vehicle is only slightly damaged and still mobile, or even in a false release of the belt tensioner and a faulty unlocking the seat back, the seat back in this way to restore their normal operating condition and to lock again by means of the locking element and the vehicle is still usable without having to replace the vehicle seat. This reduces time and costs.

This reversibility of the occupant protection device is made possible in particular by the active unlocking of the movement of the seat back on the locking element by means of the belt tensioner, d. H. the movement of the seat back is completely locked in the normal operating condition by the locking element and fully unlocked after actuation of the locking element by means of the belt tensioner, whereby no destruction of Sitzlehnenbefestigungsteilen is required to allow the movement of the seat back. The seat back is thereby easily transferred to the operating position again and to block the movement through the locking element again, so that the vehicle seat is usable again in the normal driving operation of the vehicle.

This reversibility is given in particular in a reactive movement of the seat back or when using, for example, one or more prestressed spring elements as drive elements. When using one or more pyrotechnic drive elements for movement of the seat back at least partial reversibility is possible, it is then only fuel parts of the drive or the drive elements or replace the or the complete drive elements.

In addition, the belt tensioners, if they are not reversible, to replace or replace it, for example, their pyrotechnic fuel.

In a method according to the invention for protecting an occupant of a vehicle using an occupant protection device, in the event of a front or rear collision and / or an imminent collision of the vehicle with an obstacle, at least a portion of a seat back of a vehicle seat is moved in the direction of collision, this movement being in one collision direction normal operating condition of the vehicle is locked by at least one with at least one belt tensioner seat belt device coupled locking element which is actuated by an activation of the belt tensioner to release the movement of the seat back.

In a front collision of the vehicle with the obstacle, a front collision direction is oriented counter to a direction of travel of the vehicle. In a rear-end collision of the vehicle with the obstacle, a rear-end collision direction is aligned in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The direction of travel of the vehicle is defined in each case as the direction of the vehicle when driving forward.

By moving the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back in the direction of collision, d. H. In a frontal collision against the direction of travel of the vehicle and in a rear-end collision, for example in a rear-end collision of another vehicle on the own vehicle, in the direction of travel of the vehicle, occupant loads are reduced.

In particular, in a frontal collision by moving the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back to the rear and a passenger displacement by means of the belt tensioner and tightened by the belt tensioner seat belt in the vehicle backwards even before collision forces acting on the occupant. In this way, a greater clearance between the occupant and interior parts of the vehicle, such as a steering wheel of the vehicle, created.

This allows the occupant to be more gently intercepted by the seatbelt device in a subsequent impact of the collision forces, since the occupant now has greater clearance in the vehicle, in which he can move due to the collision forces, without bouncing on the steering wheel, for example. In this way, lower restraint forces of the seat belt device are required, resulting in lower occupant loads.

Furthermore, the displacement of the occupant from the collision location, which is made possible by the movement of the backrest, avoids impact on the occupant possibly occurring in vehicle interiors or foreign bodies or at least significantly reduces an impact severity. In addition, by the rearward displacement of the occupant in the vehicle deployment of one or more airbags can be optimized in front of the occupant, as a greater freedom for deployment and a longer deployment time are available before the occupant dips into the airbag or the.

In a rear-end collision, the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back in the rear-end collision direction, d. H. in the direction of travel of the vehicle and therefore moved forward, whereby the seat back and preferably arranged on the seat back headrest is brought to the occupants, so that a support of the occupant is optimized by the seat back and headrest. In this way, a very early initiation of movement of the occupant due to the collision forces in the seat back and the headrest is made possible, so that a very early support of the occupant by the seat back and the headrest is achieved in particular in the pelvic area, back area and head area. As a result, in particular due to the very early support of the head, the so-called whiplash or whiplash syndrome is avoided or its severity is at least significantly reduced.

It is particularly advantageous in the rear-end collision, when the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back already in an impending such rear-end collision or immediately at the beginning of the collision in the rear collision direction, d. H. moved forward to achieve the described advantages, and in a further collision course, the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back and / or the headrest back against the rear collision direction, d. H. is moved back to prevent in this way that a total collision energy is introduced via the seat back in the occupant. This further reduces the occupant load values.

The blocking element for unlocking the movement of the seat back or at least a portion of the seat back can be actuated with a conventionally designed belt tensioner, the activation of which takes place only when an actually occurring and detected due to corresponding impact detection sensors of the vehicle collision. Advantageously, however, the blocking element is actuated with a belt tensioner, which is designed as a so-called pre-safe tensioner, ie the belt tensioner is already activated in a detected by an environment sensor of the vehicle collision and thereby already before the actual collision. This allows for earlier movement of the seat back and earlier displacement of the occupant, allowing greater and gentler occupant displacement by means of the pretensioner. This additionally reduces the occupant load values.

In an advantageous embodiment of the method, a lower portion of the seat back against the direction of travel of the vehicle and / or an upper portion of the seat back in the direction of travel of the vehicle are moved. This is particularly advantageous in a frontal collision. In particular, occupant load values in the pelvic area of the occupant are reduced in this way. Furthermore, this will bring the headrest to the head of the occupant, whereby the support of the head is optimized by the headrest and whiplash avoided or at least reduced.

In a frontal collision, it is particularly advantageous if the lower portion of the seat back against the direction of travel of the vehicle, d. H. is moved backwards and the upper portion of the seat back is moved slightly less backwards or is moved forward, d. H. in the direction of travel of the vehicle. In a rear-end collision, it is particularly advantageous if the lower portion of the seat back against the direction of travel of the vehicle, d. H. is moved backwards and the upper portion of the seat back is moved forward, d. H. in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

In an expedient embodiment of the method, the seat back is moved by at least one drive element, whereby an active movement of the seat back in the respective direction is made possible, so that this movement can be done very quickly and accurately. In particular, in a rear-end collision, the seat back is moved in this way forward to the occupants.

In a further expedient embodiment, the seat back is reactively moved by an occupant, which is pressed against the seat back due to a tightened by means of the belt tensioner seat belt of the seat belt device. The movement of the seat back is unlocked by activating the belt tensioner and its action on the locking element, so that the seat back poses no resistance to the occupant. The seat belt is tensioned by means of the belt tensioner or a plurality of belt tensioners, thereby shifting the occupant to the rear in the direction of the seat back. By pressing the occupant against the seat back, the seat back is moved back to an end position.

These two embodiments can also be coupled together, so that, for example, in a frontal collision, the seat back is moved backwards reactively, d. H. by the occupant displacement by means of the belt tensioner, and in a rear-end collision, the seat back is actively moved forward in the direction of the occupant. In this way, only one or more drive elements for moving the seat back forward and no drive elements for the movement of the seat back to the rear. By this saving of drive elements or their smaller dimensions and by the otherwise otherwise necessary transmission or deflection mechanisms for controlling the respective required direction of movement space savings is achieved, so that a larger interior space in the vehicle, for example in a foot area behind and under the vehicle seats, in particular is available for inmates seated in a back seat.

The seat back can for example be actively moved by means of a drive element designed as a pyrotechnic drive element or as a pretensioned spring element. It is also possible to use a plurality of identical or differently designed drive elements per seat back.

In an advantageous embodiment, the seat back is moved reversibly. This is especially true when unlocking the movement of the seat back by means of a pre-safe belt tensioner, d. H. already advantageous in the event of a collision. If the collision is avoided or a collision severity is low, so that the vehicle is slightly damaged and still mobile, or even with a false release of the belt tensioner and a faulty unlocking the seat back, the seat back in this way can be returned to its normal operating condition and means the locking element are locked again and the vehicle can continue to be used without having to replace the vehicle seat. This reduces time and costs.

This reversibility is achieved in particular by actively unlocking the movement of the seat back enabled by the belt tensioner on the locking element, ie the movement of the seat back is completely blocked in the normal operating condition by the locking element and fully unlocked by pressing the locking element by means of the belt tensioner, whereby no destruction of seat back mounting parts is required to allow the movement of the seat back. The seat back can be converted in a simple manner back to the operating position and the movement can then be locked by the blocking element again, so that the vehicle seat can be used again in the normal driving operation of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

Showing:

1 schematically a vehicle with a vehicle seat and a passenger protection device in normal position,

2 schematically a vehicle with a vehicle seat and an occupant protection device in a first occupant protection position and

3 schematically a vehicle with a vehicle seat and an occupant protection device in a second occupant protection position.

Corresponding parts are provided in all figures with the same reference numerals.

The 1 to 3 show schematically an occupant protection device 1 in a vehicle F with a vehicle seat 2 where the vehicle seat 2 in 1 in a normal position, ie in a normal operating position in the vehicle F, and in the 2 and 3 each represented in a occupant protection position. By means of this occupant protection device 1 a method for protecting the occupant of the vehicle F is feasible.

The vehicle seat 2 has a seat back 2.1 and a seat part 2.2 on which a seat base 2.3 are attached to the vehicle F. The seat back 2.1 is over the seat base 2.3 such with the seat part 2.2 of the vehicle seat 2 connected, that in a front or rear collision and / or in the event of such a collision of the vehicle F with an obstacle at least a portion of the seat back 2.1 , or as shown here, the seat back 2.1 completely in the direction of collision KF, KH is mobile. It is in 2 the movement or an end position after the movement of the seat back 2.1 shown in a frontal collision or an impending front collision, wherein a front collision direction KF is directed against a direction of travel FR of the vehicle F, and in 3 is the movement or an end position after the movement of the seat back 2.1 shown in a rear-end collision or an impending rear-end collision, wherein a rear-end collision direction KH is directed in the direction of travel FR of the vehicle F.

Ie. in a front collision of the vehicle F with the obstacle, d. H. in a collision of a vehicle front FF of the vehicle F with the obstacle, for example, when a collision of the vehicle F to another vehicle, the front collision direction KF is aligned against the direction of travel FR of the vehicle F. In a rear-end collision of the vehicle F with the obstacle, d. H. in a collision of a vehicle rear FH of the vehicle F with the obstacle, for example, when a collision of another vehicle on the vehicle F, the rear collision direction KH is aligned in the direction of travel FR of the vehicle F. The direction of travel FR of the vehicle F is defined in each case as the direction of the vehicle F during forward travel.

The movement of the seat back 2.1 is in an in 1 illustrated normal operating condition of the vehicle F by at least one blocking element 3 locked, which with at least one belt tensioner 4 a seat belt device is coupled. The example shown here is a belt buckle tensioner, ie a belt tensioner 4 which is on a buckle 5 the seat belt device acts and which in a connection region of the seat back 2.1 with the seat part 2.2 is arranged, in which expediently also the blocking element 3 is arranged. This is the belt tensioner 4 in a simple way with the blocking element 3 to pair.

For example, the blocking element 3 with a cable 6 of the belt tensioner 4 coupled, which the belt tensioner 4 with the buckle 5 connects, leaving the buckle 5 for tightening a seat belt, not shown here in the direction of the belt tensioner 4 is pulled. By this movement of the cable 6 is the blocking element 3 operable, reducing the movement of the seat back 2.1 is unlocked. The blocking element 3 In other embodiments, however, it can also be coupled with another belt tensioner, for example with a roll-up tensioner or with an end-fitting tensioner of the safety belt device.

Moving the seat back 2.1 in collision direction KF, KH, ie in a front collision, as in 2 represented, against the direction of travel FR of the vehicle F and in a rear-end collision, for example in a collision accident of another vehicle to the own vehicle F, as in 3 shown, in the direction FR of the vehicle F, allows a reduction in occupant loads.

In particular, in a frontal collision is by moving the seat back 2.1 to the rear also a passenger displacement by means of the belt tensioner 4 and the seat belt in the vehicle F allows backward even before collision forces act on the occupant. In this way, a greater clearance between the occupant and interior parts of the vehicle F, for example, a steering wheel of the vehicle F is created.

This makes it possible for the occupant to be more gently intercepted by the seatbelt device in a subsequent action of the collision forces, since the occupant now has a larger clearance in the vehicle F, in which he can move due to the collision forces, without rappelling for example on the steering wheel. In this way, lower restraint forces of the seat belt device are required, resulting in lower occupant loads.

Furthermore, the displacement of the occupant from the collision location, which is made possible by the movement of the backrest, avoids impact on the occupants possibly penetrating into the vehicle interior or foreign bodies or at least significantly reduces an impact severity. In addition, due to the rearward displacement of the occupant in the vehicle F, deployment of one or more airbags in front of the occupant can be optimized, since a larger clearance for deployment and a longer deployment time are available before the occupant dips into the airbag (s).

The belt tensioner 4 can be designed for example as a so-called Evo-Straffer, which allows a change in a tensioning force, for example, by a time-delayed ignition of multiple pyrotechnic charges or by a drive of the belt tensioner 4 by means of an electric motor. As a result, the occupant load values can be further reduced, and in particular are the tensioning forces of the belt tensioner 4 to the occupant displacement and subsequent interception of the occupant movement due to these acting collision forces differently and each optimized dosage.

In a rear-end collision occurs by the movement of the seat back 2.1 in the rear-end collision direction KH, ie in the direction of travel FR of the vehicle F and therefore forward, an approach of the seat back 2.1 and one on the seat back 2.1 arranged headrest 7 to the occupants, allowing a support of the occupant through the seat back 2.1 and headrest 7 is optimized. In this way, a very early initiation of movement of the occupant due to the collision forces in the seat back 2.1 and the headrest 7 allows, allowing a very early support of the occupant through the seat back 2.1 and the headrest 7 especially in the pelvic area, back area and head area is reached. As a result, in particular due to the very early support of the head, the so-called whiplash or whiplash syndrome avoided or at least significantly reduced its severity.

It is particularly advantageous in the rear collision when the seat back 2.1 already in the event of an imminent rear collision or immediately at the beginning of the collision in the rear collision direction KH, ie, moved forwards to achieve the described advantages, and in a further collision course, the seat back 2.1 and / or the headrest 7 again counter to the rear-end collision direction KH, ie moved backwards, so as to prevent a total collision energy over the seat back 2.1 is initiated in the inmates. As a result, the occupant load values can be further reduced.

The belt tensioner 4 , which with the blocking element 3 coupled so that upon activation of the belt tensioner 4 an actuation of the blocking element 3 to unlock the movement of the seat back 2.1 can be done as a conventional belt tensioner 4 be formed, the activation of which takes place only when an actually occurring and detected due to corresponding impact detection sensors of the vehicle F collision. Advantageously, the belt tensioner 4 However, trained as a so-called pre-safe Straffer, ie the activation of the belt tensioner 4 takes place already with a collision danger determined by means of an environment sensor of the vehicle F and thereby already before the actual collision. This allows an earlier movement of the seat back 2.1 and an earlier displacement of the occupant, allowing a greater and gentler occupant displacement by means of the belt tensioner 4 is possible. As a result, the occupant load values are additionally reducible. To detect the risk of collision, the environment sensor system can have, for example, one or more image capture units, for example in the form of mono- or stereo cameras, and / or one or more radar, lidar, ultrasound and / or microwave sensors.

Conveniently, the occupant protection device comprises 1 at least one guide element not shown here in detail for specifying a limited path of movement of the seat back 2.1 where the seat back 2.1 at least after a release of the movement via the guide element with the seat part 2.2 and / or with the seat base 2.3 connected is. In this way, the movement path and in particular a collision-optimized alignment of the seat back 2.1 predetermined and ensured after their movement and the seat back 2.1 is also during and after movement with the seat part 2.2 and / or with the seat base 2.3 stable connected. An uncontrolled movement and alignment of the seat back 2.1 and instability of the seat back 2.1 After movement are avoided, allowing an introduction of forces by the occupant in the seat back 2.1 and absorption of these forces by the seatback 2.1 is ensured.

In an embodiment not shown here, the guide element is designed such that a movement of a lower portion of the seat back 2.1 against the direction of travel FR of the vehicle F and / or movement of an upper portion of the seat back 2.1 in the direction FR of the vehicle F is possible. This is particularly advantageous in a frontal collision. In particular, occupant load values in the pelvic area of the occupant are reduced in this way. Furthermore, this is a leading the headrest 7 reached to the head of the occupant, reducing the support of the head by the headrest 7 is optimized and the whiplash avoided or at least reduced.

In a frontal collision, it is particularly advantageous when the lower portion of the seat back 2.1 counter to the direction of travel FR of the vehicle F, ie moved backwards and the upper portion of the seat back 2.1 a little less moved backwards or moves forward, ie in the direction FR of the vehicle F. In a rear-end collision, it is particularly advantageous if the lower portion of the seat back 2.1 counter to the direction of travel FR of the vehicle F, ie moved backwards and the upper portion of the seat back 2.1 moves forward, ie in the direction FR of the vehicle F.

The movement of the seat back 2.1 can be done, for example, reactive, ie by the movement of the occupant by means of the belt tensioner 4 , By unlocking the movement of the seat back 2.1 due to the activation of the belt tensioner 4 and its action on the blocking element 3 sets the seat back 2.1 the occupant no resistance and by tightening the seat belt by means of the belt tensioner 4 the displacement of the occupant takes place backwards in the direction of the seat back 2.1 , By pressing the occupant to the seat back 2.1 then takes place the movement of the seat back 2.1 backwards to an end position.

The seat back 2.1 However, also with at least one drive element not shown here for moving the seat back 2.1 be coupled, creating an active movement of the seat back 2.1 in the respective direction is possible, so that this movement can be done very quickly and accurately. Especially in a rear-end collision is the seat back 2.1 in this way forward to the occupants zoom.

It is also possible to couple these two variants with each other, so that, for example, in a frontal collision, the movement of the seat back 2.1 Reactive to the rear, ie by the occupant displacement by means of the belt tensioner 4 , and in a rear-end collision, the movement of the seat back 2.1 forward to the occupant actively takes place. In this way, only one or more drive elements for moving the seat back 2.1 forward required and no drive elements for the movement of the seat back 2.1 to the rear. By this saving of drive elements or their smaller dimensions and by the otherwise otherwise required transmission or deflection mechanisms for controlling the respective required direction of movement space savings is achieved, so that a larger interior in the vehicle F, for example in a foot area behind and under the vehicle seats 2 , in particular for inmates seated in a back seat is available.

The drive element can be designed, for example, as a pyrotechnic drive element or as a prestressed spring element. It is also possible to use a plurality of identical or differently designed drive elements.

Preferably, the blocking element 3 arranged in the region of a Sitzlehnenneigungseinstellmechanismus not shown here, so that by unlocking this Sitzlehnenneigungseinstellmechanismus a limited movement of the seat back 2.1 in the respective direction is possible, for example, up to a predetermined limit stop, so that the seat back 2.1 is held in the respective end position in a position optimized for the respective collision. Alternatively, for example, side backrest fittings 8th over which the seat back 2.1 with the seat part 2.2 and / or with the seat base 2.3 is connected by actuation of the blocking element 3 by means of the belt tensioner 4 from the seat back 2.1 and / or from the seat part 2.2 and / or from the seat base 2.3 unlatch, so in this way the limited predetermined movement of the seat back 2.1 is possible. After the movement takes place, for example, a locking of the backrest fittings 8th in the seat back 2.1 and / or in the seat part 2.2 and / or in the seat base 2.3 so that the seat back 2.1 then safely and stably held in the optimized for the collision position.

In an advantageous embodiment, the movement of the seat back 2.1 and blocking the movement by means of the blocking element 3 reversible. Preferably, the entire occupant protection device is 1 reversible trained, ie the belt tensioner 4 , which can be realized for example by means of an electric motor.

This is especially true when unlocking the movement of the seat back 2.1 by means of a pre-safe belt tensioner, ie already advantageous in the event of a collision. In avoiding the collision or with a low collision severity, so that the vehicle F is only slightly damaged and still mobile, or even in a false release of the belt tensioner 4 and a faulty unlocking the seat back 2.1 is the seat back 2.1 in this way to convert back to their normal operating condition and the vehicle F is still available without the vehicle seat 2 to have to exchange. This reduces time and costs.

This reversibility of the occupant protection device 1 is in particular by actively unlocking the movement of the seat back 2.1 over the blocking element 3 by means of the belt tensioner 4 allows, ie the movement of the seat back 2.1 is in normal operating condition by the blocking element 3 completely locked and after actuation of the blocking element 3 by means of the belt tensioner 4 fully unlocked, whereby no destruction of seatback mounting hardware is required to the movement of the seat back 2.1 to enable. The seat back 2.1 is thereby easily transferred back to the operating position and the movement through the blocking element 3 lock again, leaving the vehicle seat 2 can be used again in the normal driving mode of the vehicle F.

This reversibility is especially in a reactive movement of the seat back 2.1 or when used for example by one or more prestressed spring elements as drive elements. When using one or more pyrotechnic drive elements for movement of the seat back 2.1 is at least a partial reversibility allows, it is then only fuel parts of the drive or the drive elements or replace the or the complete drive elements. In addition, the belt tensioner 4 if this is not reversible, to replace or it is, for example, replace its pyrotechnic fuel.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 2344689 A1 [0002]
• DE 102008061614 A1 [0003]

Claims (10)

Occupant protection device ( 1 ) for a vehicle (F) which has at least one vehicle seat ( 2 ) and a vehicle seat ( 2 ) has associated seat belt device, characterized in that a seat back ( 2.1 ) in such a way with the vehicle (F) and / or with a seat part ( 2.2 ) of the vehicle seat ( 2 ) and / or with a seat base ( 2.3 ) of the vehicle seat ( 2 ), that in the event of a front or rear collision and / or in the event of an imminent collision of the vehicle (F) with an obstacle, at least a partial region of the seat back (FIG. 2.1 ) is movable in the direction of collision (KF, KH), whereby this movement of the seat back ( 2.1 ) in a normal operating condition of the vehicle (F) by at least one blocking element ( 3 ) is locked, which with at least one belt tensioner ( 4 ) of the seat belt device is coupled. Occupant protection device ( 1 ) according to claim 1, comprising at least one guide element for specifying a limited path of movement of the seat back ( 2.1 ), whereby the seat back ( 2.1 ) at least after a release of the movement via the guide element with the vehicle (F) and / or with the seat part ( 2.2 ) and / or with the seat base ( 2.3 ) connected is. Occupant protection device ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that the guide element is designed such that a movement of a lower portion of the seat back ( 2.1 ) counter to a direction of travel (FR) of the vehicle (F) and / or movement of an upper portion of the seat back ( 2.1 ) in the direction of travel (FR) of the vehicle (F) is made possible. Occupant protection device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the seat back ( 2.1 ) with at least one drive element for moving the seat back ( 2.1 ) is coupled. Occupant protection device ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element ( 3 ) is arranged in the region of a Sitzlehnenneigungseinstellmechanismus. Occupant protection device ( 1 ) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement of the seat back ( 2.1 ) and blocking the movement by means of the blocking element ( 3 ) are reversible. Method for protecting an occupant of a vehicle (F) using an occupant protection device ( 1 ) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the event of a front or rear collision and / or in the event of such a collision of the vehicle (F) with an obstacle, at least a partial region of a seat back ( 2.1 ) of a vehicle seat ( 2 ) is moved in the direction of collision (KF, KH), wherein this movement in a normal operating condition of the vehicle (F) by at least one with at least one belt tensioner ( 4 ) a safety belt device coupled locking element ( 3 ), which by activation of the belt tensioner ( 4 ) is used to control the movement of the seat back ( 2.1 ). A method according to claim 7, characterized in that a lower portion of the seat back ( 2.1 ) against a direction of travel (FR) of the vehicle (F) and / or an upper portion of the seat back ( 2.1 ) in the direction of travel (FR) of the vehicle (F) are moved. A method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the seat back ( 2.1 ) is moved by at least one drive element. Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the seat back ( 2.1 ) is moved by an occupant, which due to a means of the belt tensioner ( 4 ) tightened seat belt safety belt against the seat back ( 2.1 ) is pressed.

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