DE202022103214U1 - Gas bag for an airbag arrangement, and an airbag arrangement with such a gas bag - Google Patents

Abstract

Gas bag (1) for an airbag arrangement, in particular a seat ramp airbag arrangement, comprising
an inflatable envelope (7), the envelope (7) being formed from at least one upper wall (2) and one lower wall (3), which are connected to one another in an edge region (4), so that an expansion space (6) is limited, and
a means (10, 13) for the directed unfolding of the casing, wherein the means (10, 13) connects the upper wall (2) and the lower wall (3) to one another, and wherein the means (10, 13) within the expansion space (6) arranged and designed in such a way that the gas bag (1) has a wedge-shaped shape or a shape corresponding to a seat structure of the vehicle seat in an inflated, expanded state.

Description

The present invention relates to an airbag for an airbag arrangement, in particular a seat ramp airbag, of a vehicle seat, and to an airbag arrangement with such an airbag.

Gas bags from airbag arrangements and belt straps from restraint devices are currently used in vehicles to adequately protect the occupant in an upright sitting position in the event of a collision. In order to further increase occupant protection in modern vehicles, for example to better protect the occupant when assuming a comfort position, new types of restraint systems and their integration into the vehicle are required. Such comfort positions can be assumed both on passenger seats and on vehicle seats in the rear of the vehicle and, in the future, will also be possible for an occupant sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle during piloted driving. In order to protect the occupant, particularly in a comfort position in which the occupant assumes, for example, a lying position in which the backrest is inclined backwards by more than approximately 20°, additional protective devices may be required. In addition, existing comfort features such as seat heating, seat ventilation, etc. should be retained.

Gas bags, which are arranged in a seat cushion or below the seat cushion, between the seat cushion and the seat structure, of a vehicle seat and have an inflatable cover, are known in numerous variations. The inflatable cover can be arranged folded between the seat cushion seat structure in a resting state and inflated between the seat cushion and seat structure in an operating state. Corresponding airbag arrangements with such an airbag are also known in numerous variations.

From the DE 10 2018 215 107 A discloses a gas bag for an airbag arrangement of a vehicle seat, with at least one inflatable cover, which is folded in a resting state and inflated in an operating state, as well as a corresponding airbag arrangement and a corresponding vehicle seat. According to the invention, the at least one inflatable envelope has at least one air-permeable area through which an air flow can be conducted.

In the DE 10 2019 134 482 B4 is a gas bag for an airbag arrangement of a vehicle seat, described with an inflatable cover, which comprises an upper part facing a seat and a lower part facing a vehicle floor, and which is folded in a rest state and inflated in an operating state, the inflatable cover being over during the inflation process the upper part introduces a force into the thighs and/or a pelvic area of an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat in order to lift them, and wherein the inflatable cover has at least one recess between the lower part and the upper part through which an air flow can be conducted, with at least one jacket part connects the upper part and the lower part of the casing to one another, wherein in the folded state only the casing part of the casing has a fold and the upper part and the lower part lie essentially flat on one another, so that the shape and dimensions of the at least one casing part provide a support surface during the inflation process of the casing for the thighs and/or the pelvic area of the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat, so that a flat force is applied to lift the thighs and/or the pelvic area.

From the US 2012 / 0 007 407 A1 a vehicle seat with an airbag arrangement is known. The vehicle seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back as well as an airbag arrangement arranged in the seat cushion. The internal airbag arrangement includes a gas generator and an airbag, with the gas generator inflating the airbag in an accident situation. The gas bag comprises different areas, with one area in the inflated state having a greater extent in the vertical direction of the vehicle than another area. This design allows the legs of an occupant sitting or lying on the seat cushion to be raised in the event of an accident and to make it more difficult for the occupant to dive under the belt strap.

In the DE 20 2015 103 422 U1 describes a seat cushion airbag system that includes an airbag that is installed on a seat of a vehicle and is deployed by receiving gas from a gas generator. The gas bag includes a rear chamber that elevates the rear portion of a vehicle occupant's body, a front chamber that elevates the front portion of the vehicle occupant's body while being inflated to a greater extent than the rear chamber, and a deployment restriction unit located between the rear chamber and the front chamber and has an exhaust opening through which gas is passed. The gas bag includes a lower panel part, an upper panel part and a sealing part. The deployment restricting unit, which has a sheet shape, is installed at an angle between the lower sheet portion and the upper sheet portion. The lower panel part can be designed so that it extends from the hip to the thigh of the vehicle occupant. The upper The track part can be formed over the lower track part in such a way that it overlaps the lower track part. The sealing part can seal the edges of the lower panel part and the upper panel part. The sealing part can be formed by connecting the edges of the lower panel part and the upper panel part to one another via sewing or gluing.

From the US 2014/0 346 819 A1 a vehicle seat with an airbag arrangement is known. The vehicle seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back as well as an airbag arrangement arranged in the seat cushion. The internal airbag arrangement comprises a gas generator and a generic gas bag, the gas generator inflating the gas bag in an accident situation. The gas bag comprises an upper part facing a seat and a lower part facing a vehicle floor, which are directly connected to one another and form a tube in the inflated state. The gas bag is U-shaped or O-shaped, with a front area of the gas bag in the direction of travel being able to have a greater extent in the vertical direction of the vehicle when inflated than a rear area in the direction of travel. The legs of an occupant sitting or lying on the seat cushion can be lifted by the gas bag in the event of an accident, making it more difficult for the occupant to dive under the belt strap.

The object of the present invention is to provide a gas bag for an airbag arrangement, in particular a seat ramp airbag arrangement, which enables directed deployment.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an alternative to gas bags for airbag arrangements known from the prior art.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to design an airbag for an airbag arrangement that is simple in construction and can be produced inexpensively.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gas bag for an airbag arrangement that is safe and reliable in operation.

One or more of these tasks are solved by the features of independent claims 1 and 10. Advantageous refinements are specified in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a gas bag is provided for an airbag arrangement, in particular a seat ramp airbag arrangement. This comprises an inflatable envelope, wherein the envelope is formed from at least one upper wall and a lower wall, which are connected to one another in an edge region, so that an expansion space is limited, and in particular the upper wall faces a seat surface of a vehicle seat and the lower wall faces towards of a vehicle floor.

The present invention is characterized in that a means is provided for the directed unfolding of the cover, the means connecting the upper and lower walls with one another, and the means being arranged within the expansion space and designed in such a way that the gas bag is inflated Expanded state has a wedge-shaped shape or the shape that represents a special seat structure.

The airbag arrangement according to the present invention is preferably a seat ramp airbag.

The gas bag has at least the upper wall and the lower wall, which can be made of a fabric and are connected to one another in an edge region, preferably by means of sewing and/or gluing and/or welding.

Because a means for directed deployment is arranged within the expansion space, no changes in the structural design of a conventional gas bag are necessary for an airbag arrangement. The means for the directed unfolding of the casing can simply be arranged in the expansion space in order to mechanically connect the upper wall and the lower wall to one another.

The means for directed unfolding reliably ensures that the gas bag has a wedge-shaped shape, in particular a wedge-shaped, conical ramp shape, in an inflated, expanded state. Alternatively, the means can be introduced in such a way that the shape of the gas bag in the inflated, expanded state reflects a special seat structure of the vehicle seat, i.e. corresponds to the seat structure of the vehicle seat.

Furthermore, the gas bag can be made of a material such as polyamide (PA) or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the form of a corresponding fabric structure.

The cover of the gas bag can consist of the upper and lower walls and in this way form a 2D airbag.

A 2D airbag is an airbag that only has an upper and a lower wall.

When inflating a conventional 2D gas bag, its shape or cross-section is almost round or oval when inflated.

For seat ramp airbags, however, a conical ramp shape is more advantageous in order to achieve the desired technical effect. Such a conical ramp shape can be achieved using the gas bag according to the invention, since the means for the directed unfolding of the cover ensure that the desired wedge shape is achieved in the inflated state by reducing a distance between the upper and lower walls.

Furthermore, the shell of the gas bag can include the upper wall, the lower wall and at least one side, preferably circumferential, jacket wall and in this way form a 3D gas bag.

In the context of the present invention, a 3D gas bag is understood to mean a gas bag which comprises an upper wall, a lower wall and at least one side jacket wall, the side jacket wall being approximately U-shaped or radially circumferentially closed (approximately rectangular) in a plan view. can be trained.

In known 3D gas bags for seat ramp airbags, such as those in the DE 10 2019 134 482 B4 are described, the desired geometry can be realized, for example, by a recess for seat ventilation. In addition to providing space for a seat fan, this recess also stabilizes the shape of the gas bag in the middle area so that no bulging occurs. In order to support directed deployment, the side jacket wall can also be designed similar to the desired geometry of the seat ramp airbag in the deployed state.

The means for directed unfolding can comprise at least one or more darts that reduce unfolding of the gas bag by a predetermined amount, with at least one dart connecting the upper and lower walls directly to one another by means of at least one or more seams.

The one or more darts reduce the height of the gas bag in the area in which they are arranged or at the desired location by an amount X. Depending on the arrangement of the dart or darts, the shape of the gas bag in the unfolded state can be influenced. The dart or darts can advantageously be carried out in the same work step when producing a connecting seam between the upper and lower walls.

The provision of darts is preferred for 2D gas bags.

The cover can have a length in the direction of a seat depth and a width in the direction of a seat width, with the at least one dart being approximately one third of the length away from an end of the cover arranged in the area of a backrest.

Such an arrangement enables the expanded gas bag to be essentially wedge-shaped.

Preferably, two darts are provided next to each other and evenly spaced from the rear end of the cover.

The means for directed unfolding can additionally and/or alternatively comprise at least one or more tethers, preferably at least two or three tethers being provided.

The provision of tethers is preferred for 3D gas bags.

According to the invention, the shape stabilization of an airbag can be achieved by providing darts and/or tethers which are arranged inside the expansion space.

A fundamental advantage of a 3D gas bag is that different heights and shapes can be achieved. The inserted tethers can also show the shape of the desired contour so that the gas bag is dimensionally stable.

Furthermore, the tethers can extend orthogonally to the lower or upper wall.

The tethers are preferably arranged parallel to a seat depth of a vehicle seat, since such an arrangement does not negatively influence or hinder the flow of a corresponding expansion medium for inflating the gas bag.

Alternatively, the tether can also be arranged parallel to a seat width of a vehicle seat. However, as briefly shown above, this would negatively influence the flow of the expansion medium.

Furthermore, through openings can be formed in the tether or tethers in order to reduce flow resistance to the expansion medium.

The tethers can be approximately wedge-shaped or trapezoidal in a side view and/or have a shape corresponding to the wedge-shaped expanded shape of the gas bag.

The at least one tether can extend from an end of the cover (rear end) arranged in the area of a backrest to approximately two thirds of the length in the direction of the seat depth of the cover.

Preferably two or three tethers are provided, which are arranged parallel to each other and parallel to the seat depth.

Within the scope of the present invention, tethers and darts can be combined with one another in any way for both 2D and 3D gas bags.

The shell can be designed to be approximately flat in a resting state, with the upper and lower walls lying essentially flat on top of one another and with the shell being inflated in an operating state and designed in such a way that the inflatable shell initiates force via the upper wall during an inflation process in the thigh and / or a pelvic area of an occupant sitting in the vehicle seat, so that a flat application of force takes place to lift the thighs and / or the pelvic area.

In the case of a 3D gas bag, the shape or geometry of the jacket wall can also contribute to achieving the desired wedge shape of a gas bag. During the inflation process of the cover, the jacket wall in conjunction with the upper and lower walls can provide support for the thighs and/or the pelvic area of the occupant sitting on the vehicle seat.

The gas bag of the airbag arrangement can have at least one recess in order to direct an air flow generated by a ventilation device to a seat surface of a seat cushion.

In addition, the gas bag or its cover can also be double-walled.

The technical features described above can be combined with one another in any way, if technically sensible and possible.

Furthermore, according to the invention, an airbag arrangement for a vehicle seat, in particular a seat ramp airbag arrangement, is provided with a gas bag having an inflatable cover according to the above statements, the inflatable cover being flat in a rest state (e.g. the upper and lower walls lie flat on one another and/or folded together). in an operating state, inflated in a seat cushion of a vehicle seat or below the seat cushion, can be arranged between the seat cushion and the seat structure of the vehicle seat, and wherein an inflation device is provided for inflating the inflatable cover of the gas bag.

The advantages of the airbag arrangement according to the invention correspond analogously to the advantages described above with reference to the gas bag according to the invention.

• 1 eine Draufsicht auf einen Gassack eines Sitzrampenairbags gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 2 der Gassack aus 1, geschnitten entlang der Linie A-A,
• 3 eine Draufsicht auf einen erfindungsgemäßen Gassack eines Sitzrampenairbags gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 4 eine seitlich entlang der Linie E-E geschnittene Darstellung des Gassacks aus 3, und
• 5 eine Seitenansicht des Gassacks aus 3.

The present invention is described in more detail below using two exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. These show in:

• 1 a top view of a gas bag of a seat ramp airbag according to a first exemplary embodiment,
• 2 the gas bag 1 , cut along line AA,
• 3 a top view of a gas bag according to the invention of a seat ramp airbag according to a second exemplary embodiment,
• 4 a representation of the gas bag cut laterally along the line EE 3 , and
• 5 a side view of the gas bag 3 .

A gas bag 1 for a seat ramp airbag according to a first exemplary embodiment is described in more detail below ( 1 and 2 ).

The gas bag 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment comprises an upper wall 2 and a lower wall 3, which are connected to one another in an edge region 4 by means of a seam 5.

In this way, a shell 7 of a 2D gas bag delimiting an expansion space 6 is formed.

The gas bag 1 has a length that extends parallel to a seat depth 8 and has a width that extends parallel to a seat width 9. The gas bag 1 is approximately rectangular in shape in a top view.

In the area of approximately one third of the length of the seat depth 8, starting from one end of the gas bag 1 (rear end) arranged in the area of a seat back of a vehicle seat, there are two Darts 10 are arranged, which mechanically connect the upper and lower walls to one another by means of one or more seams.

The darts 7 are carried out in one operation together with the radially circumferential seam 5 to connect the upper 2 and the lower wall 3.

In particular, the seam 5 is crossed in the area around the darts 10 in order to form a teardrop-shaped seam 5, which is formed by a seam advance and a seam return. The seam advance and the seam return form two seam sections connected in a loop. Due to the teardrop-shaped design of the seam 5, tensions at the end of the seam in the textile material can be reduced when the airbag is inflated. Alternatively, a teardrop-shaped seam 5 dart 10 can also be introduced in which the seam advance and the night return do not cross each other.

Depending on the intended use of the gas bag, only one dart or three or four or more darts 10 can be provided. A combination with tethers 13 described using the second exemplary embodiment is also possible.

One or more darts 10 are referred to in the context of the present invention as a means for the directed unfolding of the cover 7.

Furthermore, the cover 7 has two generator bolt receptacles 11 in order to connect the gas bag to a device for providing an expansion medium or an airbag gas generator (not shown).

Additional fabric layers can also be introduced into the gas bag 1 as reinforcing and/or gas distribution layers via seams 12, particularly in the area of the generator bolt receptacle 11. Such reinforcing and/or gas distribution layers serve, for example, to provide the shell 7 of the gas bag 1 in the area of the generator bolt receptacle 11 with additional protection from the hot gas generated by the gas generator for filling the gas bag 1.

A gas bag 1 according to the invention according to a second exemplary embodiment is described in more detail below ( 3 until 5 ).

Unless otherwise described, the gas bag 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment has the same technical features as the gas bag 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment. The same technical features are given the same reference numbers.

The gas bag 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment also includes an upper wall 2 and a lower wall 3, which according to this exemplary embodiment are connected to one another via a radially circumferential lateral jacket wall 14.

The side jacket wall 14 can also be U-shaped in a plan view or consist of three or four individual elements connected to one another.

In this way, a shell 7 delimiting an expansion space 6 is formed.

Such a shell 7 is referred to as a 3D gas bag.

The upper 2, the lower 3 and the jacket wall 14 are each connected to one another via a circumferential seam 5.

A section of the jacket wall 14 (parallel to the seat width 9) arranged in the area of a seat back of a vehicle seat is approximately rectangular, as is a section opposite this section. The sections in the area of the side bolsters of a vehicle seat or lateral sections of the jacket wall 14 (parallel to the seat depth 8) are preferably trapezoidal or wedge-shaped or triangular.

Two tethers 13 are arranged in the expansion space 6 of the cover 7 of the gas bag 1.

The tethers 13 extend from an area of the gas bag (rear end) arranged in the area of a seat back over approximately two thirds of the length of the gas bag 1 and parallel to the seat depth 7.

Furthermore, the tethers 13 extend orthogonally to the lower 3 or upper wall 2.

The tethers 13 are trapezoidal and preferably have through openings (not shown).

The tethers 13 are also referred to as means for directed deployment.

Alternatively, depending on the intended use, only one tether or three or four or five or more tethers can be arranged.

As in the exemplary embodiment described above, darts 10 can also be provided in addition to the tethers 13 in this exemplary embodiment.

The tethers 13 preferably extend parallel to the seat depth 8.

According to a non-preferred exemplary embodiment, one or more tethers 13 can additionally and/or alternatively be provided, which extend parallel to the seat width 9.

The gas bag 1 is made of a fabric and closed in the edge region 4 by means of sewing and/or gluing and/or welding.

Furthermore, the gas bag is made of a material such as polyamide (PA) or a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in the form of a corresponding fabric structure.

Reference character list

1

Gas bag

2

Upper wall

3

Subversion

4

Edge area

5

seam

6

Expansion space

7

Covering

8th

Seat depth

9

Seat width

10

Darts

11

Generator bolt holder

12

Wire means

13

tether

14

jacket wall

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was 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 102018215107 A [0004]
• DE 102019134482 B4 [0005, 0027]
• US 20120007407 A1 [0006]
• DE 202015103422 U1 [0007]
• US 20140346819 A1 [0008]

Claims (10)

Gas bag (1) for an airbag arrangement, in particular a seat ramp airbag arrangement, comprising an inflatable envelope (7), the envelope (7) being formed from at least one upper wall (2) and one lower wall (3), which are connected to one another in an edge region (4), so that an expansion space (6) is limited, and a means (10, 13) for the directed unfolding of the casing, wherein the means (10, 13) connects the upper wall (2) and the lower wall (3) to one another, and wherein the means (10, 13) within the expansion space (6) arranged and designed in such a way that the gas bag (1) has a wedge-shaped shape or a shape corresponding to a seat structure of the vehicle seat in an inflated, expanded state. Gas bag according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the cover (7) of the gas bag consists of the upper (2) and the lower wall (3) and in this way forms a 2D gas bag. Gas bag according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the cover (7) of the gas bag comprises the upper wall (2), the lower wall (3) and a side jacket wall (14) and in this way forms a 3D gas bag. Gas bag according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the means for directed unfolding comprises at least one or more darts (10) which reduce the unfolding of the gas bag (1) by a predetermined amount, the darts (10) covering the upper (2) and the lower wall ( 3) connects directly to one another by means of a seam (5), preferably two or three darts (10) being provided. Gas bag according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the means for directed unfolding comprises at least one or more tethers (13), preferably two or three tethers (13) being provided. Gas bag according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the tethers (13) are approximately wedge-shaped or trapezoidal and/or have a shape corresponding to the wedge-shaped expanded shape of the gas bag (1). Gas bag according to one of the Claims 4 until 6 , characterized in that the cover (7) has a length in the direction of a seat depth (8) and a width in the direction of a seat width (9), the at least one dart (10) extending from an end of the cover arranged in the area of a backrest is about a third of the way away. Gas bag according to one of the Claims 5 until 7 , characterized in that the cover (7) has a length in the direction of a seat depth (8) and a width in the direction of a seat width (9), the at least one tether (13) extending from an end of the cover arranged in the area of a backrest (7) extends to about two thirds of the length of the casing (7). Gas bag according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the casing (7) is designed to be approximately flat in a resting state, with the upper (2) and the lower walls (3) lying essentially flat on one another and with the casing (7) being inflated in an operating state and so on is designed so that the inflatable cover (7) enables a force in the thighs and/or a pelvic area of an occupant sitting on a vehicle seat via the upper wall (2) during the inflation process, so that a flat force is introduced to lift the thighs and/or the pelvic area Airbag arrangement for a vehicle seat, in particular a seat ramp airbag arrangement, with a gas bag (10) having an inflatable cover (7) according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , wherein the inflatable cover can be folded up in a resting state and inflated in an operating state in a seat cushion of a vehicle seat, and an inflation device is provided for inflating the inflatable cover of the gas bag.

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