DE102018123633A1 - Vehicle seat arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle seat arrangement for a motor vehicle with - a backrest (1), - a seat (2), - two airbag modules (3.1, 3.2), the airbag modules (3.1, 3.2) on opposite lateral sides of the backrest (1) are arranged and each airbag module (3.1, 3.2) comprises at least one airbag (4.1, 4.2), and a holding means mechanism (5.1, 5.2) for each airbag module (3.1, 3.2), each holding means mechanism (5.1, 5.2) having at least one holding means arrangement (6.1 ), the first holding means arrangement (6.1) being fastened to the airbag (4.1), to the seat (2) with one end and to the backrest (1) with the other end, characterized in that at least one holding means mechanism (5.1, 5.2) comprises at least one second holding means arrangement (6.2), the second holding means arrangement (6.2) being fastened to the airbag (4.2), to the seat (2) with one end and to the backrest (1) with the other end.

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat arrangement for a motor vehicle with a backrest, a seat, two airbag modules, the airbag modules being arranged on opposite lateral sides of the backrest and each airbag module comprising at least one airbag, and with a holding device mechanism for each airbag module, each holding device mechanism at least comprises a first holding means arrangement, the first holding means arrangement being fastened to the airbag, to the seat cushion with one end and to the backrest with the other end.

A vehicle seat assembly with the above features is shown US 2017/0259774 A1 known. The restraint assembly for each airbag extends along the outer side of the inflated airbag so that the airbag and the restraint assembly that holds the inflated airbag are configured to protect the occupant from a side impact.

To protect the occupant in the event of a front impact, an additional conventional airbag, i.e. in the dashboard of the vehicle or in the steering wheel. In the future (self-driving vehicles), however, the seat may not be oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so additional protection is required.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle seat assembly with which the occupant is protected in other types of impact situations even when the seat is not oriented in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

The object is achieved by a vehicle seat arrangement with the features of the independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the vehicle seat arrangement are the subject of the dependent claims and the description, the preferred embodiments being able to be combined with one another in a technically expedient manner.

In particular, the object is achieved with a vehicle which comprises the above features, wherein one or each holding means mechanism comprises at least one second holding means arrangement, the second holding means arrangement being fastened to the airbag, to the seat cushion with one end and to the backrest with the other end. The presence of a second holding means arrangement means that the inflated airbag can be brought into a position in which at least one airbag is held in front of the occupant and can be held there.

In particular, the fastening point of the first holding means arrangement on the seat is located behind the fastening point of the second holding means arrangement on the seat, in particular on the lateral side of the seat. The attachment point of the second holding means arrangement on the seat is preferably located at the front of the seat.

The other ends of the holding means arrangements are preferably connected to the backrest at an upper part of the backrest, preferably on top of the backrest near the headrest.

The airbag module can comprise exactly one or more airbags. At least one airbag of the airbag modules is at least partially inflated in front of the occupant, while at least one holding means arrangement in the inflated state extends along the front of the inflated airbag. The holding means arrangement is arranged on the outside of the airbag.

Each restraint assembly can be made from a single restraint (tether), which is usually made of a tensile fabric. If each holding device arrangement comprises only one holding device, the airbag module and the holding device must be installed in the vehicle seat at the same time.

In the assembled and uninflated state, the holding means usually run under a fabric of the seat and even behind trim parts of the seat cushion foam. The assembly of the holding device arrangements together with the airbag module is therefore labor-intensive.

However, it could be desirable for the airbag module and the holding device arrangements to be installed independently of one another. In this regard, it is proposed that each restraint arrangement be made up of a plurality of restraint means (restraint belts). In this case, the holding means, which are connected directly to the backrest and to the seat, can be assembled together with the other parts of the seat arrangement, and the airbag module can be assembled at a later time. In this way it is also easier to install the restraint means in a state connected to the seat and the backrest.

In this regard, it is preferable if the holding means arrangement is made of at least three holding means (holding straps). The first retaining means is attached to the seat at one end, the second retaining means is attached to the backrest at one end, the other ends of the first retaining means and the second retaining means being connected to at least one third retaining means, the at least one third retaining means being attached the Airbag is attached. The third holding means can be the airbag itself. In this way, the first and the second holding means can be mounted during normal assembly of the vehicle seat, while the airbag module can be mounted later with one or two third holding means, the one or two third holding means after the airbag module has been installed with the first and the second holding means can be connected.

It is desirable that the head and damping requirements for front impact collisions and side impact collisions be different. For example, the positioning time required in side impact applications is approximately 50% faster than in front loading cases. In view of this, it is proposed that the damping and / or the pressure can be adjusted by active ventilation of the airbag, or that the inflation of the airbag can be adjusted by changing the volume of the gas that is supplied by the gas generator. In this way, the desired pressure / damping could be adapted to cases with front and / or side loading.

In order to adjust the pressure and / or the damping during the deployment of the airbag, it is also proposed that a length of the holding means arrangement between its ends can be extended during the deployment. With a (initially) shorter holding means arrangement, the volume of the airbag is smaller, and therefore the airbag positions itself faster with higher pressure, as is required in the event of a side impact. If longer restraint arrangements are present, the volume of the airbag is larger and the pressure is lower, which is desirable in the event of a frontal impact.

In one embodiment, it is proposed that a holding means of the holding means arrangement is connected to itself by a tear seam in order to change the length of the holding means arrangement during the unfolding, the tear seam tearing during the unfolding. For example, the holding means (holding belt) can be folded onto itself, so that a fold is created which is fixed by the tear seam. The holding means arrangement thus has an initial effective length. If, when unfolding, the holding means is stretched by the inflating airbag, and if a corresponding force is then exceeded, the tear seam breaks, so that the total length of the holding means arrangement between its fastening points is extended. In this way, the airbag can deploy further in the direction that was previously limited by the initial (effective) length of the corresponding holding means arrangement.

In order to change the effective length of the holding means arrangement, it is proposed in an alternative embodiment that the holding means arrangement comprises at least one band, the ends of which are connected to at least one holding means of the holding means arrangement, so that the length of the band between the connection points (on the restraining means) (n)) is shorter than the length of the holding means arrangement between the connection points.

The band may be stiff and either tear after a critical force is applied to the stiff band, or the band may be destroyed by an actuator if necessary. In this way, the deployment of the airbag is restricted to a first volume (which is defined by the initial effective length of the holding means arrangement), and the volume of the airbag is increased after the stiff band is torn or actively destroyed.

Alternatively, the band can be elastic, the elastic band and thus the effective length of the holding means arrangement expanding during the deployment of the airbag. In this way, the airbag can deploy until the tether assembly is stretched to its initial effective length, and the band can be expanded after a critical force on the tether assembly is exceeded, increasing the volume of the airbag.

• 1: zeigt eine Fahrzeugsitzanordnung mit zwei Airbagmodulen in einem unaufgeblähten Zustand,
• 2: zeigt eine Fahrzeugsitzanordnung in der Vorderansicht in einem aufgeblähten Zustand der Airbags,
• 3: zeigt die Fahrzeugsitzanordnung in einem aufgeblähten Zustand in Seitenansicht,
• 4: zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer F ahrzeugsitzanordnung,
• 5: zeigt ein Haltemittel (Haltegurt) der Fahrzeugsitzanordnung,
• 6: zeigt ein weiteres Rückhaltemittel einer Fahrzeugsitzanordnung,
• 7: zeigt eine Draufsicht auf die Fahrzeugsitzanordnung mit aufgeblähten Airbags gemäß den 2 und 3.

The invention and the technical background are described with reference to the figures, which show exemplary embodiments of the invention in a schematic manner.

• 1 : shows a vehicle seat arrangement with two airbag modules in an uninflated state,
• 2nd FIG. 1 shows a front view of a vehicle seat arrangement in an inflated state of the airbags,
• 3rd : shows the vehicle seat arrangement in an inflated state in side view,
• 4th : shows a schematic side view of a vehicle seat arrangement,
• 5 : shows a holding means (holding belt) of the vehicle seat arrangement,
• 6 : shows a further restraint of a vehicle seat arrangement,
• 7 : shows a top view of the vehicle seat arrangement with inflated airbags according to FIGS 2nd and 3rd .

The vehicle seat assembly used in the 1 to 4th and 7 shown comprises a vehicle seat with a backrest 1 and a seat 2nd . Two Airbag modules 3.1 and 3.2 are on opposite sides of the backrest 1 arranged. The airbag modules 3.1 and 3.2 each include an airbag 4.1 and 4.2 . A retention mechanism 5.1 and 5.2 is each of the airbag modules 3.1 respectively. 3.2 assigned.

Like from the 2nd and 3rd As can best be seen, each retention mechanism includes a first retention arrangement 6.1 and a second holding means arrangement 6.2 . The first holding device arrangement 6.1 extends along the side of the inflated airbag, the second bracket assembly 6.2 extends along the front of the inflated airbag. Any holding device arrangement 6.1 and 6.2 comprises a first restraint (tether) 7.1 that on the seat 2nd is fastened with one end, and a second holding means (holding belt) 7.2 that on the backrest 1 is attached with one end. Any holding device arrangement 6.1 and 6.2 further comprises a third holding means 7.3 that with the appropriate airbag 4.1 and 4.2 is connected, and also with its ends to the first holding means 7.1 and the second holding means 7.2 connected is. The fact that several holding means 7.1 , 7.2 and 7.3 are present, it is possible that the first holding means during assembly of the vehicle seat arrangement 7.1 and the second holding means 7.2 all holding device arrangements are attached to the basic structure of the seat, while the corresponding airbag module 3.1 and 3.2 with the airbags 4.1 and 4.2 can be installed later, so that after mounting the airbag modules only the first holding means 7.1 and the second holding means 7.2 with the corresponding third holding means 7.3 need to be connected.

Unless the inflation of the airbags 4.1 and 4.2 to the side through the first holding device arrangements 6.1 and forward through the second bracket assembly 6.2 is limited, it is also proposed that the length of each holding means arrangement 6.1 and 6.2 between their attachment points on the backrest 1 and the seat cushion 2nd can be changed during inflation.

For such a passive adaptation of the length of the holding arrangement, it is proposed that at least the first holding arrangement 6.1 and / or the second holding means arrangements 6.2 a folded holding device (holding belt) 7 have (see 4th ), the fold of the holding means by a tear seam 8th is secured. The inflation of the airbag is then limited during a first inflation stage by the initial effective length of the respective holding means arrangement (see also dotted line in 7 ). When the force exerted by the inflating airbag on the holding means 7 is exercised, exceeds a critical value, the tear seam tears 8th so that the effective length of the holding means 7 is extended, the airbag in turn being able to inflate further during a second inflation stage of the airbag in the direction which was previously limited by the initial effective length of the holding means arrangement.

Another possibility of increasing the length of the holding means arrangement during inflation is in 6 shown. According to this embodiment, a tape 9 provided that at its end with a holding means 7 connected is. The ribbon 9 can be rigid or made of an elastic material. The stiff band 9 can tear if a force exceeds a critical limit during inflation of the airbag, or can be actively cut by an actuator. Also, in this embodiment, the airbag inflates in a first inflation stage until the band 9 is stretched while the airbag may continue to inflate when the band 9 is torn or elastically expanded after a critical force is exceeded.

Using the dotted lines in 7 it can be seen that during the initial inflation stage, the air bags inflate only partially toward the front of the seat because of the initial effective length of the retention means assemblies 6.2 is limited while after tearing the tear seam 8th or the tape 9 the effective length of the holding means arrangements 6.2 is enlarged so that the airbags 4.1 and 4.2 can unfold further forward.

Reference list

1

Backrest

2nd

Seat

3rd

Airbag module

4th

Airbag

5

Retaining mechanism

6

Holding device arrangement

7

Holding means

8th

Tear seam

9

tape

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included 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.

Patent literature cited

• US 2017/0259774 A1 [0002]

Claims (9)

Vehicle seat arrangement for a motor vehicle with - a backrest (1), - a seat (2), - two airbag modules (3.1, 3.2), the airbag modules (3.1, 3.2) being arranged on opposite lateral sides of the backrest (1) and each airbag module (3.1, 3.2) comprises at least one airbag (4.1, 4.2), and - a holding means mechanism (5.1, 5.2) for each airbag module (3.1, 3.2), each holding means mechanism (5.1, 5.2) comprising at least a first holding means arrangement (6.1), wherein the first holding means arrangement (6.1) is attached to the airbag (4.1), to the seat (2) with one end and to the backrest (1) with the other end, characterized in that at least one holding means mechanism (5.1, 5.2) has at least a second one Holding means arrangement (6.2), the second holding means arrangement (6.2) being attached to the airbag (4.2), to the seat (2) with one end and to the backrest (1) with the other end. Vehicle seat arrangement according to Claim 1 Each holding means arrangement (4.1) is made up of several holding means (7.1, 7.2, 7.3). Vehicle seat arrangement according to Claim 2 Each holding means arrangement (6.1, 6.2) is made from at least three holding means, the first holding means (7.1) being attached to the seat (2) with one end, the second holding means (7.2) being attached to the backrest (1) with one end The other ends of the first holding means (7.1) and the second holding means (7.2) are connected to at least one third holding means (7.3), the at least one third holding means (7.3) being attached to the airbag (4.1, 4.2). Vehicle seat arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a length of at least one holding means arrangement (6.1, 6.2) can be extended between its ends during the unfolding. Vehicle seat arrangement according to Claim 4 wherein a holding means (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) of the holding means arrangement (6.1, 6.2) is connected to itself by a tear seam (8), the tear seam (8) tearing during the deployment of the airbag. Vehicle seat arrangement according to Claim 4 or 5 , wherein the holding means arrangement (6.1, 6.2) comprises at least one band (9), the ends of the band (9) being connected to at least one holding means (7.1, 7.2, 7.3) of the holding means arrangement (6.1, 6.2), so that the The length of the band (9) between the connection points is shorter than the length of the holding means arrangement (6.1, 6.2) between the connection points. Vehicle arrangement according to Claim 6 , the band (9) being stiff. Vehicle arrangement according to Claim 7 , wherein the band (9) can be destroyed if necessary by an actuator. Vehicle after Claim 6 , the band (9) being elastic and expanding during the deployment of the airbag.

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