Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
  • B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
  • B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
  • B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
  • B60R21/207—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in vehicle seats
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
  • B60N2/58—Seat coverings
  • B60N2002/5808—Seat coverings comprising opening zones for airbags

Definitions

• the invention relates to a safety device for a motor vehicle seat according to the preamble of patent claim 1.
• Such safety devices are known for example from utility model DE 200 17 919 U1. They are suitable for a motor vehicle seat with a seat cushion part and a backrest, the backrest having a frame, a backrest cover pointing backwards as viewed in the direction of travel and a cushion facing forward in the direction of travel.
• An airbag module is integrated into the backrest, which is arranged in the region of the backrest facing the motor vehicle side wall structure and deploys in the event of an impact between a driver and the motor vehicle side wall structure, for example the B-pillar and / or the side door.
• the airbag module is arranged between the frame and the backrest cover, so that it is placed behind the backrest cover and in front of the frame when viewed from the side wall structure.
• An airbag outlet opening is provided in the area in which the backrest cover and the upholstery meet.
• the invention is characterized in that the airbag module, viewed from the side wall structure, is arranged behind the backrest frame - that is, behind a load-bearing part in the backrest.
• This arrangement ensures that the airbag module is shielded against forces acting from the direction of the side wall structure.
• an airbag outlet opening can be effectively protected from penetrating structural parts and thus it can be ensured that the opening is always free for an airbag outlet.
• the backrest frame is preferably designed in such a way that deformation practically does not occur. In the event of a lateral force, the entire backrest with the seat cushion part is shifted towards the center of the motor vehicle rather than the frame being permanently deformed.
• Such a backrest frame can consist, for example, of die-cast magnesium.
• the structure is very simple because no additional measures are necessary to ensure that the airbag deploys safely.
• existing parts of the backrest are used to accomplish this.
• the arrangement of the airbag module in the backrest according to the invention accordingly ensures that the airbag deploys or exits considerably more reliably.
• the airbag module has a housing which at least partially encloses the airbag, for example in the rear area and in the side areas.
• the housing therefore has a relatively wide opening because it does not completely surround the airbag module. As a result, the housing opposes the deploying airbag with relatively little resistance, which supports reliable deployment.
• a sheet metal can be provided in the area in which the housing does not enclose the airbag module. This sheet serves once to close the airbag housing and thus to offer some protection to the airbag components arranged in the housing in the idle state. It is also used to dampen the first thrust of the deploying airbag so that the airbag deploys at a moderate speed. Finally, the metal sheet clears the airbag. If the airbag presses against the sheet when it is unfolded, it is bent open and pushes aside the components of the backrest that connect to the sheet, such as the cushion.
• the sheet metal is preferably arranged on the side of the frame which points away from the outer contour of the seat facing the side wall structure.
• the sheet can be firmly connected on one side to the frame of the backrest. This firm connection forms a hinge around which the sheet metal moves when the airbag emerges. But it is also conceivable that the sheet metal is connected directly to the airbag housing and swings open from this connection.
• the function of the sheet can also be fulfilled by other components of the backrest. If, for example, the cushion is arranged on a cushion carrier, it is conceivable that this cushion carrier, which is also between the cushion and Airbag module is arranged, which closes, dampens and opens.
• the frame at least partially surrounds the airbag module.
• the frame preferably encloses the airbag module in the areas in which the housing encloses the airbag.
• the outlet or the outlet opening for the airbag can be provided, for example, between the frame and the cushion.
• the combination of materials of rigid frame and elastic cushion, which are also coordinated in their shape, makes it possible to provide an outlet opening for an airbag in a particularly simple manner without using additional components. If the frame and the cushion are not connected to one another in the area of the outlet opening, the cushion is deformed when the airbag is deployed by the force that the airbag brings against it, thereby clearing the way for the airbag to exit.
• the arrangement according to the invention is visually appealing because the opening cannot be seen. In addition, no seams or other known closure elements are necessary. On the one hand, this suggests a simple and therefore also inexpensive solution. On the other hand, there are no elements that possibly prevent the airbag from escaping.
• the outlet opening can be arranged, for example, in the region of the motor vehicle seat facing the side wall structure. If the direction of deployment points obliquely forward, the airbag is particularly advantageously positioned when it is deployed and in the deployed state.
• FIGS. 1 and 2 shows a section through a side region of a motor vehicle seat facing the side wall structure with a safety device according to the invention in the idle state according to line II-II in FIGS. 1 and
• FIG. 3 a section corresponding to FIG. 2 with an activated safety device.
• a backrest 1 which forms a motor vehicle seat with a seat cushion part, not shown.
• the backrest 1 has a headrest 2.
• a backrest cover 3 can be seen, which covers the rear part of the backrest 1.
• a cushion 4 can be seen, which forms the forward-facing part of the backrest 1 and enables a driver to sit comfortably.
• a backrest frame 5 can also be seen. This is visibly arranged, it forms part of the outer contour of the motor vehicle seat.
• cover such a backrest frame in a suitable manner, for example by the backrest cover 3, which is pulled further forward in the side region of the motor vehicle seat, or by a poster 4.
• An airbag module is arranged in the backrest.
• The. 2 that shows a sectional illustration of the region of a backrest 1 facing the motor vehicle side according to line II-II in FIG. 1.
• Arrow A points to the rear in the direction of travel and arrow B points to the front in the direction of travel.
• the backrest cover 3 is shown in the rear-facing area. In addition to the rear of the backrest 1, this covers parts of the side regions of the backrest 1 pointing in the direction of the side wall structure.
• the forward-facing side of the backrest 1 is formed by the cushion 4. This is applied to a cushion support 6.
• the frame 5 is arranged between the backrest cover 3 and the cushion 4.
• backrest cover 3, frame 5 and cushion 4 form the outer contour of the backrest 1. They collide at points 7 and 8, respectively.
• the frame 5 it is also conceivable for the frame 5 to be arranged in the interior of the backrest 1 and, for example, to be covered by the backrest cover 3 and / or cushion 4. In this case, the upholstery 4 and the backrest cover 3 meet on the outer contour of the seat.
• the frame 5 has an essentially U-shaped cross section, the opening 9 of which is directed towards the front.
• An airbag module 11 is arranged in the space surrounded by the U-shaped frame 5.
• the frame 5 thus extends between the airbag module 11 and the side wall structure of the motor vehicle.
• the airbag module 11 consists of generally customary components, which are not discussed in more detail here. 2 shows an airbag housing 12, the cross-sectional shape of which is adapted to that of the frame 5.
• An opening 13 of the airbag housing 12 points in the same direction as the opening 9 of the frame 5, namely in the direction of travel.
• the opening 13 of the airbag housing 12 is provided with a sheet 14.
• the plate 14 is connected to the frame 5 on the end of the frame 5 facing away from the outer contour of the backrest 1.
• the other end of the sheet 14 is on the Airbag housing 12.
• the sheet 14 is arranged between the airbag module 12 and the cushion 4.
• An airbag outlet opening is provided at point 8, that is to say at the point that the backrest frame 5 and cushion support 6 meet.
• Backrest frame 5 and cushion 6 are not connected to one another in this area. They only abut each other and form a closed contour due to their mutually adapted shapes.
• the airbag outlet opening is therefore not visible from the outside. But there are also no additional elements or structures necessary to close ⁇ around the opening.
• FIG. 3 An unfolding airbag 15 is shown in FIG. 3.
• the airbag 15 has already pressed the sheet 14 outward when it is unfolded about a pivot axis 16.
• the sheet 14 in turn has moved the cushion carrier 6 with the cushion 4 applied thereon.
• an exit joint or opening b is formed, which clears the way for the airbag.
• the airbag 15 initially bumping against the sheet 14, the first pulse of the deploying airbag 15 is damped.
• the airbag 15 thus exits at a reduced speed.
• the sheet 14 serves to clear the way for the emerging airbag 15.
• the frame 5 fulfills two tasks with respect to the safety device according to the invention. On the one hand, it shields them from the effects of forces from the area of the side wall and thereby prevents the outlet opening from being blocked. On the other hand, it supports the airbag 15 in deploying in the right direction.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Air Bags (AREA)
• Seats For Vehicles (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=7693958

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (95)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (14)

• 2001
  • 2001-08-03 DE DE10137634A patent/DE10137634A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2002
  • 2002-07-30 WO PCT/EP2002/008456 patent/WO2003013915A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 2002-07-30 US US10/485,691 patent/US7100992B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-07-30 JP JP2003518879A patent/JP3932554B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-07-30 EP EP02772110A patent/EP1412231A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (5)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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