GB2428409A

GB2428409A - Symmetrical airbag device for mounting to either side of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2428409A
Application number: GB0514939A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Davies
Original assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd; Nissan Technical Centre Europe Ltd
Current assignee: Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK Ltd
Priority date: 2005-07-20
Filing date: 2005-07-20
Publication date: 2007-01-31
Anticipated expiration: 2025-07-20
Also published as: GB0514939D0; WO2007010246A1; GB2428409B

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag device 30 for mounting within a vehicle having at least one seat comprising a seat back frame 44. The airbag device comprising a side airbag 32 for mounting to the seat back frame, inflator means 36 for inflating the side airbag in the event of a side vehicle impact, and an airbag housing 46 within which the airbag and the inflator means are mounted. The inflator means is provided with an integral mounting boss 36b that is configured to align the inflator means, airbag and the housing along an axis of symmetry (X-X) of the device so that the airbag device can be mounted on either the left side or the right side of the vehicle. The airbag housing may comprise a clamshell arrangement with first and second side hinges 48 which allow a housing mouth to open upon inflation of the airbag.

Description

VEHICLE AIRBAG DEVICE

The invention relates to an airbag device for a vehicle, the device being of the type in which an airbag is deployed from a folded state into the interior of the vehicle upon inflation with a gas. The invention also relates to an airbag for use within such a device, and to an airbag housing for use within such a device.

The use of airbag devices in vehicles is increasingly common, and in some countries a legal necessity, so as to achieve appropriately high standards for passenger safety. Typically, a vehicle will be provided with front driver and passenger airbags located in the vehicle dashboard and arranged so that, upon inflation, they protect the driver or the passenger, respectively, during a frontal vehicle collision. The use of side airbag systems is also becoming increasingly common. Some side airbag systems include curtain airbags which mount in the vicinity of the vehicle cant rails and deploy to adopt a curtain-like formation to cover the side door(s) and side window(s) of the vehicle interior.

Side airbag systems also take the form of side seat airbag devices having an airbag cushion which inflates to protect the head and/or upper thorax of a vehicle passenger. Side airbag devices may be mounted directly on the passenger's seat, as shown in Figure 1, or alternatively may be mounted on the vehicle door.

Referring to Figure 1, a side airbag device 10 of the aforementioned type includes an airbag cushion (often referred to simply as the airbag') which locates within a housing (not identified) mounted within the vehicle seat 12. The airbag 10 is inflatable by means of an inflator device (also not shown) so that p when inflated the airbag 10 occupies the volume indicated by dotted line 14. In Figure 1, the airbag device 10 is of the type in which the airbag deploys through a side bolster seam 16 of the vehicle seat.

Figure 2 shows a similar side seat airbag device to that shown in Figure 1, but in which the airbag 10 deploys through a door panel 16 on the outwardly facing side of the vehicle seat. The seat door panel 16 acts as a guide to ensure that as the airbag 10 inflates it fills the required volume of the vehicle interior. In both Figures 1 and 2 the airbag cushion 10 is a thorax airbag cushion, so named because when deployed (i. e. inflated) it serves to protect the thorax of the passenger.

Other known side seat airbag devices make use of head/thorax airbag cushions.

The headlthorax airbag cushion is so-called because it has a lower part which serves to protect the thorax of the seated passenger when the cushion is inflated, and an upper part which serves to protect the head of the seated passenger when the cushion is inflated.

Figure 3 shows a side seat airbag device of Figure 1 or 2 in further detail. The airbag device includes a rolled cushion 18 which is mounted within a housing 20 together with an airbag inflator device 22. The inflator device 22 is provided with a bolt or nut 24 which secures to a seat-mounted bracket 26 through an opening in the housing 20. The bracket 26 may be mounted to any part of the seat frame, but typically mounts to the seat back frame 28.

The cost implications are high if a vehicle is to be provided with an extensive airbag system, for example including front driver and passenger airbags, left and right side seat airbag devices and left and right side curtain airbags. It is thus a continuing aim of the automotive industry to reduce manufacturing andlor installation costs so as to provide vehicle users with affordable vehicles with high safety specifications. It is with a view to addressing this issue that we provide the airbag device of the present invention.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a nonhanded airbag device for mounting within a vehicle to protect against lateral vehicle impacts, the airbag device including an inflatable airbag and inflator means for inflating the airbag in the event of a vehicle impact, wherein the inflator means and the inflatable airbag are aligned along an axis of symmetry of the device so that the device can be mounted on either the left side or the right side of the vehicle.

By aligning the parts of the airbag device along the device axis of symmetry, the device can be mounted either on the right side or the left side of the vehicle with no significant modification of parts being required. The invention therefore provides an ambidextrous airbag system, that is one with no handed bias, which can be manufactured for installation, for example, on the outwardly facing (outboard) side of the seat on either the left or right side of the vehicle. In this way costs are reduced for the airbag system manufacturer as only one type of airbag device is required. Vehicle manufacturers also benefit as there is only a need to purchase an airbag device of one type from the airbag manufacturer, rather than purchasing two different handed' devices, one for each side of the vehicle.

The airbag device may alternatively be installed on an interior part of the vehicle, not necessarily the seat, to protect against lateral vehicle impacts. For example, the airbag device may be mountable upon the vehicle C-pillar, that is the pillar of the vehicle frame adjacent to the rear passenger seat. The airbag device may also be mountable to the inboard side of the left or right vehicle seat, so as to reduce the risk of adjacent passengers in the left and right seats hurting each other during an impact situation.

The invention is suitable for fitment to existing vehicles which are adapted for mounting of a side airbag device within the vehicle seat. For example, the airbag device may be mountable upon the seat so that the inflatable airbag deploys through a side seam of the seat bolster cushion. Alternatively, the airbag device may be mountable upon a vehicle seat provided with a door panel through which the inflatable airbag is deployed.

A further benefit is provided as the risk of inadvertent fitting of a right handed airbag device to the left side of the vehicle, and vice versa, is removed altogether. Such inadvertent fitting of conventional handed' airbag devices can have serious consequences for the safety of the vehicle passenger and could cause serious disruption to the vehicle production line.

The airbag device may include an airbag housing within which the inflatable airbag and the inflator means are mounted. In one embodiment the airbag housing is a fabric, paper or other wrapper.

In another embodiment the airbag housing may take the form of a cupped shell, for example a clamshell-like housing. The clamshell housing may include a hinged housing mouth which opens upon inflation of the airbag when deployed.

The device is preferably provided with a mounting piece for attachment to a vehicle seat-mounted or vehicle frame-mounted bracket, and wherein the mounting piece extends, at least in part, along the symmetry axis of the device.

The mounting piece may form an integral part of the housing or, alternatively, may form an integral part of the inflator means.

In one mounting configuration, the mounting piece is mountable adjacent to a vehicle seat-mounted bracket, in use, whereby mounting of the mounting piece on the left side of the bracket allows left side mounting of the device on a is vehicle seat and mounting of the mounting piece on the right side of the bracket allows right side mounting of the device on the vehicle seat.

In an alternative mounting configuration, the mounting piece is mountable adjacent to a vehicle mounted bracket, in use, whereby mounting of the mounting piece on the right side of the bracket allows left side mounting of the device on a vehicle seat and mounting of the mounting piece on the left side of the bracket allows right side mounting of the device on the vehicle seat.

The inflator means may include any solid, gas or liquid propellant and an ignitor, such as a squib.

In the present invention, deployment of the airbag is effected upon lateral vehicle impacts, by which is meant any side vehicle impact, concatenated event or vehicle rollover, for example.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided an airbag for use in an airbag device as described in the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle seat assembly including a seat fitted with a non-handed airbag device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an airbag device housing for a non-handed airbag device as set out in the first aspect of the invention, the airbag housing being a clamshell housing having first and second side hinges to allow a housing mouth to open upon inflation of the airbag of the device, in use.

It will be appreciated from the following description that the airbag device of the invention may be manufactured and supplied with the mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle seat, but more preferably the vehicle seat will be provided with a bracket, possibly a welded bracket, to which the airbag device of the invention can be attached.

Preferred or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are applicable to the second and third aspects of the invention also, alone or in appropriate combination.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle seat provided with known side seat airbag device, Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat provided with an alternative type of known side seat airbag device, Figure 3 is a schematic view of parts of the airbag device in Figure 1 or Figure 2, when the airbag of the device is stowed, Figure 4 is a plan view of a thorax airbag device of a first embodiment of the invention in a right side mounting, Figure 5 is a plan view of a head/thorax airbag device of a second embodiment of the invention in a left side mounting, Figure 6 is a plan view of a thorax airbag device of a third embodiment of the invention in a left side mounting, Figure 7 is a plan view of the thorax airbag device in Figure 6 but in a right side mounting, Figure 8 is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat fitted with a head/thorax airbag device of the type shown in Figure 5 where deployment of the airbag is through a side bolster seam, and Figure 9 is a schematic side view of a vehicle seat fitted with a head/thorax airbag device for deployment through a door panel on the outboard side of the vehicle seat.

It is a particular feature of the airbag device of the present invention that it is mountable upon either the left side of the vehicle, or the right side of the vehicle, without modification of parts. In other words, the airbag device may be considered to be ambidextrous in that it is equally usable on left and right vehicle sides. Referring to Figure 4, a first embodiment of the airbag device 30 includes an inflatable airbag 32, often referred to as the airbag cushion, which is folded in a concertinalike fashion. The airbag cushion 32 is provided with an inlet 34 to which an outlet of an airbag inflator means 36 is connected. The airbag cushion 32 and the inflator means 36 are aligned, one behind the other, along a main airbag axis, X-X, which defines an axis of symmetry for the device 30.

The inflator means, or inflator device 36, is of the type having an ignitor or squib (not shown), which serves to activate the inflator device 36 in the event of an impact resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration or acceleration. The squib receives a control signal from a vehicle-mounted airbag sensor (e.g. an accelerometer or other means for detennining timely airbag deployment) in a manner which would be familiar to a person skilled in the art. On receipt of the control signal, the squib ignites a gas, solid or liquid propellant within the inflator device 36, which thus generates a gas for rapid inflation of the airbag cushion 32.

The inflator device 36 includes an inflator body 36a and an inflator mounting piece 36b, both of which extend along (i.e. coaxial with) the symmetry axis X-X of the device 30. The inflator mounting piece 36b is provided with a through drilling for receiving an attachment bolt or nut 40. The bolt 40 passes through the mounting piece 36b and through a drilling provided in a seat mounted bracket 42. The bracket 42 lies along an axis which extends parallel, and lies adjacent, to the symmetry axis XX of the device 30. In other embodiments the bracket 42 may be of a shape such that only a part of it extends parallel, and lies adjacent, to the symmetry axis. Typically the bracket 42 is welded to a part of the seat frame, for example the seat frame tube 44.

In the event that an impact causes the inflator device 36 to be activated, gas will be supplied through the airbag inlet 34 to inflate the airbag cushion 32. As the airbag cushion 32 inflates it fills the space 14 indicated in Figures 1 and 2 so as to protect the thorax of a seated passenger in the event of a vehicle side impact, for example. The airbag cushion 32 and inflator device 36 may be encased within an airbag housing (not shown), such as a light fabric or paper wrapper, to provide a means of protection against abrasion through contact with the filler material for the seat.

In Figure 4, the device 30 adopts a right side mounting allowing the airbag device 30 to be mounted on an outwardly-facing or outboard side of the right vehicle seat. With a right side mounting adopted, the bracket 42 is located to the left of the mounting piece 36b (i.e. below as shown on the page), in parallel with and adjacent to the symmetry axis X-X.

Figure 5 shows the airbag device 30 of Figure 4, but in a left side mounting. By comparing the orientation of the airbag device 30 in Figure 4 with that in Figure 5, it can be seen that by locating the bracket 42 to the right of the symmetry axis X-X, as opposed to the left, and re-orienting the bolt 40 so that it passes through the bracket 42 and the inflator mounting piece 36a from the other side, the device 30 can be mounted on the outwardly facing side of the left vehicle seat with no requirement to modify or rearrange the internal device components. The airbag device 30 is therefore non-handed, or has no handed bias, in the sense that it can be fitted to the vehicle seat on either side of the vehicle, simply by reversing the means by which the device is mounted to the seat.

One difference between the airbag device 30 in Figure 4 and that in Figure 5 is that in Figure 5 the airbag cushion 32 is of the head/thorax type which, when deployed, serves to protect the seated passenger's head and thorax. The head/thorax airbag cushion includes a first cushion part which serves to protect the thorax of the seated passenger when the cushion is inflated, and a second cushion part which serves to protect the head of the seated passenger when the cushion is inflated. When folded, the cushion 32 of the head/thorax airbag device utilises an inverted bag fold to contain the second cushion part which deploys to protect the passengers's head.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device 30 in which the airbag cushion 32 and the inflator device 36 are contained within a rigid airbag housing 46. A mounting piece 36b is provided through which an attachment bolt or nut 40 is received, as described previously. The mounting piece 36b may form an integral part of the inflator device 36, as described previously, or alternatively, the housing 46 may be provided with an integral mounting piece 36b. The nut 40 further co-operates with a bracket 42 provided on the seat frame 44 to provide a secure means of fixing the airbag device 30 to the seat, with the bracket 42 preferably being welded to the seat frame 44. As in the previous embodiment, the airbag cushion 32, the body 36a of the inflator device 36 and the mounting piece 36b are aligned with one another along the symmetry axis X-X of the device 30.

The airbag housing 46 is of clamshell-like formation comprising a fixed housing portion 46a within which the inflator device 36 locates and a mouth portion 46b within which the airbag cushion 32 locates. The mouth portion 46b is in hinged connection with the fixed housing portion 46a via a double-hinge arrangement comprising first and second side hinges 48 located one on either side of the housing 46. When the airbag cushion 32 is deployed, the rapidly inflated cushion 32 forces the hinged mouth of the housing open to allow the inflating airbag cushion 32 to fill the required volume of the vehicle to protect the passenger.

The airbag housing 46 of clam-shell like formation is in itself a novel feature of the invention. One benefit of providing a rigid housing 46 for the airbag device 30 is that the cushion 32 is protected to a greater extent from wear and abrasion during seat use. Also, the presence of the airbag device 30 within or upon the seat is disguised, both visually and in terms of passenger comfort. The rigid housing 46 also serves to guide the airbag cushion 32 during deployment to reduce the risk of out-of-position injuries to the passenger. The smooth outer shape of the rigid housing 46 may also provide improved comfort for the seated passenger.

Comparing Figures 6 and 7, it can be seen that the airbag device 30 is suitable for mounting either on a left or right vehicle seat, with the only modification required to change positions being to reverse the direction of the bolt 40 passing through the extension piece and to relocate the mounting piece 36b on the other side of the seat mounted bracket 42.

To be compatible with ambidextrous installation, it is important that the airbag cushion 32 of the device 32 is folded so as to have an axis of symmetry along the symmetry axis X-X of the device 30. This ensures inflation results in airbag deployment in a direction which is appropriate for mounting of the device on either side of the vehicle. Many different folding configurations are known in airbag systems and, for example, concertina or Z-like folds may be most appropriate as both have the required axial symmetry. Roll-type folds are typically less appropriate as the rolling tends to introduce a handed bias to the deployment of the airbag cushion when inflated.

Figures 8 and 9 show a vehicle seat 12 fitted with a head/thorax type airbag device, such as that shown in Figure 5. In Figure 8 the airbag device 30 is provided with a lightweight housing, for example a paper wrapper, and the airbag cushion (not illustrated) deploys through the side bolster seam 16 of the vehicle seat to fill the volume identified by the dotted line 14. Figure 9 shows a vehicle seat fitted with a head/thorax airbag device 30, wherein the airbag cushion of the device is deployed through a door panel 16 in the side of the vehicle seat 12. The airbag device 30 may be provided on a seat with a side bolster seam, or on a seat with a door panel, regardless of whether the clamshell- type housing 46 or a lightweight paper or fabric housing is provided.

I

The airbag device 30 described with reference to the previous figures may be mountable upon the outboard side of either a left or right side vehicle seat, and in the front or rear of the vehicle. Alternatively, the airbag device 30 may be mounted on a part of the vehicle frame to the side of the seat it is associated with. For example, the airbag device may be mounted on the so-called C-pillar of the vehicle, being that part of the vehicle frame approximately adjacent to the rear passenger seats.

The propellant of the inflator device 36 of any of the embodiments of the invention may be a solid, liquid or gas propellant or any other activatable material to generate a gas suitable for filling the airbag cushion. For example, it is also envisaged that the inflator device 36 may be of the stored gas type, in which stored propellant gas is heated upon activation of the device to pressurise the gas and, hence, inflate the cushion.

Claims

1. A non-handed airbag device (30) for mounting within a vehicle to protect against lateral vehicle impacts, the airbag device (30) including an inflatable airbag (32) and inflator means (36) for inflating the airbag (32) in the event of a vehicle impact, wherein inflator means (36) and the inflatable airbag (32) are aligned along an axis of symmetry (X-X) of the device (30) so that the airbag device can be mounted on either the left side or the right side of the vehicle.

2. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in claim 1, including an airbag housing (46) within which the inflatable airbag (32) and the inflator means (36) are mounted.

3. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the airbag housing is a fabric or paper wrapper.

4. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the airbag housing (46) is a clamshell housing provided with a hinged housing mouth (46a) which is caused to open upon inflation of the airbag (32).

5. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the airbag housing (46) is provided with first and second side hinges (48) to allow the housing mouth (46a) to open upon inflation of the airbag (32).

6. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, including a mounting piece (36b) for attachment to a seat-mounted or frame- mounted bracket (42) of the vehicle, wherein the mounting piece (36b) extends, at least in part, along the symmetry axis (X-X) of the device (30).

7. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the s mounting piece (36b) is an integral part of the airbag housing (46)

8. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the mounting piece (3 6b) forms an integral part of the inflator means (36).

9. An airbag device housing (46) for a non-handed airbag device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the airbag housing (46) is a clamshell housing having first and second side hinges (48) to allow a housing mouth to open upon inflation of the airbag (32) of the device (30) , in use.

9. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the mounting piece (36b) is mountable adjacent to a vehicle seatmounted bracket (42), in use, whereby mounting of the mounting piece (36b) on the left side of the bracket (42) allows left side mounting of the device (30) on a is vehicle seat and mounting of the mounting piece (36b) on the right side of the bracket (42) allows right side mounting of the device (30) on the vehicle seat.

10. A non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the mounting piece (36b) is mountable adjacent to a vehicle chassis- mounted bracket, in use, whereby mounting of the mounting piece (36b) on the right side of the bracket (42) allows left side mounting of the device (30) on a vehicle seat and mounting of the mounting piece (36b) on the left side of the bracket (42) allows right side mounting of the device (30) on the vehicle seat.

11. An airbag for use in a non-handed airbag device (30) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to

10.

12. A vehicle seat assembly including a seat (12) fitted with a nonhanded airbag device (30) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. An airbag device housing (46) for a non-handed airbag device as claimed in any one of claims ito 10, wherein the airbag housing (46) is a clamshell housing having first and second side hinges (48) to allow a housing mouth to open upon inflation of the airbag (32) of the device (30) , in use.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

1. An airbag device (30) for mounting within a vehicle, the vehicle having at least one seat (12) comprising a seat back frame (28), the airbag device (30) including: a side airbag (32) for mounting to the seat back frame (28), inflator means (36) for inflating the side airbag (32) in the event of a side vehicle impact, an airbag housing (46) within which the airbag (32) and the inflator means (36) are mounted, and wherein the inflator means (36) is provided with an integral mounting boss that is configured to align the inflator means (36) , airbag (32) and the housing (46) along an axis of symmetry (X-X) of the device (30) 50 that the airbag device (30) can be mounted on either the left side or the right side of the vehicle.

2. The airbag device (30) according to claim 1, wherein the airbag housing (46) is a fabric or paper wrapper.

3. The airbag device (30) according to claimi or claim 2, wherein the airbag housing (46) is a clamshell housing provided with a hinged housing mouth (46a) which is caused to open upon inflation of the airbag (32).

4. The airbag device (30) according to claim 3, wherein the airbag housing (46) is provided with first and second side hinges (48) to allow the housing mouth (46a) to open upon inflation of the airbag (32). (

5. The airbag device (30) according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the mounting boss comprises a mounting piece (36b) that extends, at least in part, along the symmetry axis (X-X) of the device (30).

6. The airbag device (30) according to claim 5, wherein the mounting piece (36b) is mountable adjacent to a vehicle seat-mounted bracket (42), in use, whereby mounting of the mounting piece (36b) on the left side of the bracket (42) allows left side mounting of the device (30) on a vehicle seat and mounting of the mounting piece (36b) on the right side of the bracket (42) allows right side mounting of the device (30) on the vehicle seat.

7. The airbag device (30) according to claim 5, wherein the mounting piece (36b) is mountable adjacent to a vehicle chassis-mounted bracket, in use, whereby mounting of the mounting piece (36b) on the right side of the bracket (42) allows left side mounting of the device (30) on a vehicle seat and mounting of the mounting piece (36b) on the left side of the bracket (42) allows right side mounting of the device (30) on the vehicle seat.

8. A vehicle seat assembly including a seat (12) fitted with a non-handed airbag device (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.