Airbag apparatus

Disclosed herein is an airbag apparatus that includes a pair of main cushions installed to respective left and right sides of a seat back and deployed forward when gas is delivered to an internal filling chamber, to restrain a passenger from sides, and a pair of auxiliary cushions coupled to respective front ends of the main cushions while in communication with the main cushions and deployed laterally at one ends thereof to restrain the passenger from a front.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0147467, filed on Nov. 18, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Field

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an airbag apparatus, and more particularly, to an airbag apparatus capable of deploying an airbag to cover the side and front of a passenger in the event of a vehicle collision, thereby restraining a behavior of the passenger to protect the passenger.

Discussion of the Background

In general, an airbag apparatus for vehicles is to instantaneously inflate an air bag in the event of a vehicle collision to reduce injuries due to impact.

Such an airbag apparatus is mounted on a steering wheel of a driver's seat or a passenger's seat, and prevents injuries to passengers by deploying a cushion with the gas supplied from an inflator when an impact occurs on a vehicle.

However, a conventional airbag apparatus may deteriorate passenger protection performance as the seating conditions (movement, rotation, relaxation, etc.) of vehicle seats are changed. The existing concepts of omnidirectional airbags designed to compensate for this issue do not properly implement forward restraint performance because an airbag is separated laterally from a passenger when the passenger is loaded onto a cushion in an accident situation.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments are directed to an airbag apparatus capable of deploying main and auxiliary cushions through sides of a seat in the event of a vehicle collision so as to restrain a behavior of a passenger that is out of the protection area of front and side airbags for responding to front and side collisions, thereby protecting the passenger.

Various embodiments are directed to an airbag apparatus capable of deploying an airbag to cover the side and front of a passenger seated on a seat so as to maintain passenger protection performance in response to various seating conditions (angle, movement, rotation, etc.) and to partially restrain a forward behavior of the passenger, thereby reducing kinetic energy of the passenger in a head-on collision situation to reduce injuries to the passenger.

In an embodiment, there is provided an airbag apparatus that includes a pair of main cushions respectively installed to both sides of a seat back and deployed forward when gas is delivered to an internal filling chamber, to restrain a passenger from sides, and a pair of auxiliary cushions coupled to respective front ends of the main cushions while in communication with the main cushions and deployed laterally at one ends thereof to restrain the passenger from a front.

The airbag apparatus may further include a pair of tethers coupled to the respective left and right sides of the seat back. The tethers may be configured such that both longitudinal ends thereof are coupled to the seat back and longitudinal latching sections thereof are mounted on respective front surfaces of the auxiliary cushions, and the tethers exert a tensile force rearward when the main and auxiliary cushions are deployed.

The tethers may include longitudinal first connection ends coupled to an upper end of the seat back, and opposite second connection ends respectively coupled to both sides of a lower end of the seat back.

The first connection ends may be coupled closer to a center position between the left and right sides of the seat back, compared to the second connection ends.

The airbag apparatus may further include one fastening member coupled to the upper end of the seat back. The pair of tethers may be configured such that the first connection ends are coupled to the fastening member.

The airbag apparatus may further include a pair of insertion holes vertically formed at left and right sides of the fastening member provided at the upper end of the seat back, and a pair of lower headrest connecting beams vertically movably inserted into the insertion holes. The pair of tethers may be coupled to the fastening member by the first connection ends through rear sides of the headrest connecting beams from left and right sides of a headrest.

The airbag apparatus may further include a pair of fastening members coupled to left and right sides of the upper end of the seat back. The pair of tethers may be configured such that the first connection ends are connected to the opposite fastening members, respectively, while intersecting in the left and right directions through the front of the seat back.

Each of the main cushions may include a first side body configured to cover an upper body of the passenger from side when deployed, a second side body bent from an upper end of the first side body and extending obliquely toward the passenger when deployed, so as to cover a shoulder of the passenger from above, and a third side body bent from an upper end of the second side body and extending upward when deployed, so as to cover a head of the passenger from the side.

Each of the auxiliary cushions may include a connection part extending obliquely downward toward a front of the passenger from a front end of the second side body when deployed, and a front support part extending downward from a front end of the connection part when deployed, and positioned in the front of the passenger.

The front support part may be provided, at its front, with at least one connector so that a latching section of an associated one of the tethers is coupled to the connector.

The connector may have a hollow through which the latching section is coupled, and the latching section may be movably coupled through the hollow.

The main and auxiliary cushions may be accommodated and disposed in installation spaces defined at the left and right sides of the seat back, and protrude to the outside through front sides of the installation spaces when deployed. The pair of tethers may be accommodated and disposed in the installation spaces, and the latching sections may protrude to the outside through the installation spaces when deployed.

The airbag apparatus may further include a gas supply unit provided in the seat back to supply gas to the main cushions.

As apparent from the above description, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to protect a passenger by restraining the behavior of the passenger that is out of the protection areas of the front and side airbags for responding to front and side collisions, and to maintain the passenger protection performance in response to various seating conditions (angle, movement, rotation, etc.).

In addition, it is possible to reduce the kinetic energy of the passenger in a head-on collision situation by partially restraining the forward behavior of the passenger and thus to reduce injuries to the passenger. Furthermore, it is possible to reduce injuries to the passenger by restraining the armpit (shoulder) of the passenger, which is a body structure with relatively high rigidity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Advantages and features of the present disclosure, and a method of achieving the same will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The present disclosure may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art. The disclosure is only defined by the scope of the claims.

In certain embodiments, detailed descriptions of technologies well known in the art may be omitted to avoid obscuring appreciation of the disclosure by a person of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG.1is a front view illustrating an airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure.FIG.2is a side view illustrating the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure.FIG.3is a top view illustrating the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG.4is a side view illustrating a state in which main and auxiliary cushions and tethers are accommodated in installation spaces in the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure.FIG.5is a view illustrating a state in which first connection ends of the tethers are connected to one tether fastening member in the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure.

FIG.6is a view illustrating a state in which the first connection ends of the tethers are connected to the tether fastening member through the rear sides of connection beams in the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure.FIG.7is a view illustrating a state in which the first connection ends of the tethers are connected to a pair of tether fastening members, respectively, in the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure.

As illustrated inFIGS.1to7, the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure is installed in a seat back11of a vehicle seat10, and is intended to instantaneously cover and protect a passenger in the event of a collision.

To this end, the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure includes gas supply units100, a pair of main cushions200, a pair of auxiliary cushions300, and a pair of tethers400.

The gas supply units100are installed in the seat back11of the seat10for seating a passenger and instantaneously generate gas when a vehicle collision is detected.

The seat back11of the seat10has installation spaces12, each having a predetermined width, defined therein. The gas supply units100may be installed to the respective left and right installation spaces12.

The gas supply units100may be electrically connected to a separate sensing means (not shown) for transmitting a vehicle collision monitoring signal.

The pair of main cushions200are deployed forward when receiving gas from the gas supply units100to restrain a passenger1from the sides, and may be connected to the gas supply units100in a state in which they are installed to the left and right sides of the seat back11, respectively.

The main cushions200have filling chambers defined therein for injection of gas into the filling chambers, and the gas may be injected into the filling chambers from the gas supply units100.

The main cushions200may be accommodated, with reduced volume, in the respective installation spaces12defined at the left and right sides of the seat back11.

In more detail, each of the main cushions200may be divided into a first side body210, a second side body220, and a third side body230.

The first side body210covers the upper body (shoulder, abdomen, pelvis, or the like) of the passenger from the side when deployed, and has a filling chamber defined therein. The rear of the first side body210may be connected to an associated one of the gas supply units100.

The first side body210may have a vertical length, and may cover the upper body of the passenger1from the side when deployed.

The second side body220is bent from the upper end of the first side body210and extends obliquely toward the passenger1when deployed, so as to cover the shoulder of the passenger1from above.

The second side body220has a filling chamber defined therein and configured to communicate with the filling chamber of the first side body210. The vertical length and angle of inclination of the second side body220are variable as necessary.

The third side body230is bent from the upper end of the second side body220and extends upward when deployed, so as to cover the head of the passenger1from the side.

The third side body230has a filling chamber defined therein and configured to communicate with the filling chamber of the second side body220. The vertical length of the third side body230is variable as necessary.

The pair of auxiliary cushions300are deployed forward when receiving gas from the gas supply units100to restrain the passenger1from the front, and may be connected to the front sides of the main cushions200in a state in which they are installed to the left and right sides of the seat back11, respectively.

The auxiliary cushions300have filling chambers defined therein for injection of gas into the filling chambers, and the gas may be injected into the filling chambers from the gas supply units100.

The auxiliary cushions300are coupled to the front ends of the main cushions200while in communication with the main cushions200, respectively. When the main cushions200are deployed, the auxiliary cushions300are deployed toward the seat10so as to restrain the upper body (chest, or the like) of the passenger1from the front.

In more detail, each of the auxiliary cushions300may be divided into a connection part310and a front support part320.

The connection part310extends obliquely downward toward the front of the passenger1from the front end of the associated second side body220when deployed. A filling chamber defined in the connection part310communicates with the filling chamber of the second side body220.

The connection part310extends obliquely to the side where the passenger1is located when deployed. The extension length and angle of the connection part310are variable as necessary.

The front support part320may extend downward from the front end of the connection part310when deployed, and may be positioned with a predetermined width in the front of the passenger1.

The front support part320may have an upper end, at one side thereof, connected to the extended end of the connection part310. A filling chamber defined in the front support part320communicates with the filling chamber of the connection part310.

The front support parts320may each have a vertical length when deployed, and may be deployed to the front of the passenger1after the connection parts310are deployed, so that both sides of the chest of the passenger1are supported by the respective front support parts320.

The pair of tethers400serve to exert a predetermined tensile force when the main and auxiliary cushions200and300are deployed. The tethers400pull the auxiliary cushions300to the side where the passenger1is located during deployment.

Both longitudinal ends of the tethers400are coupled to the seat back11, and longitudinal latching sections401of the tethers400may be mounted on the front surfaces of the auxiliary cushions.

In more detail, longitudinal first connection ends410of the pair of tethers400may be coupled to the upper end of the seat back11, and second connection ends420thereof opposite to the first connection ends410may be coupled to the respective left and right sides of the lower end of the seat back11.

The first connection ends410may be coupled closer to the center position between the left and right sides of the seat back11, compared to the second connection ends420.

As illustrated inFIG.5, one fastening member500may be formed at the upper end of the seat back11so that the first connection ends410of the tethers400are coupled to the fastening member500through the front of the seat back11at the same position.

In this case, the fastening member500may be vertically coupled to the first connection ends410through the upper end of the seat back11, and the first connection ends410may be symmetrically positioned in the left and right directions based on the center position C where the fastening member500is formed.

Fastening members500may be formed at the left and right sides of the lower end of the seat back11, respectively, so that the second connection ends420are connected to the fastening members500.

In this case, the fastening members500may be horizontally coupled to the second connection ends420through the left and right sides of the lower end of the seat back11.

As illustrated inFIG.6, a pair of insertion holes13may be vertically formed at the left and right sides of the fastening member500provided at the upper end of the seat back11.

The airbag apparatus may include a pair of headrest connecting beams21vertically movably coupled to the insertion holes13.

In this case, the pair of tethers400may be coupled to the fastening member500by the respective first connection ends410through the rear sides of the headrest connecting beams21from the left and right sides of the headrest20.

In this state, since the first connection ends410of the tethers400extend in a state in which they are supported by the rear ends of the headrest connection beams21, it is possible to further increase the supporting force of the tethers400.

That is, since the tethers400according to the present disclosure extend in a “V” shape in the left and right directions based on the center position C of the fastening member500formed at the upper end of the seat back11, the tethers400may exert a larger tensile force when the airbag is deployed.

Alternatively, as illustrated inFIG.7, fastening members500may be formed at the respective left and right sides of the upper end of the seat back11.

In this case, the first connection ends410of the tethers400may be connected to the opposite fastening members500, respectively, while intersecting in the left and right directions through the front of the seat back11.

That is, the first connection ends410of the tethers400are connected to the respective left and right fastening members500, and then extend in the opposite direction while intersecting in an “X” shape, thereby generating a larger lateral fixed load when the airbag is deployed.

Therefore, the first connection ends410of the tethers400have directionality from side to side in a state in which they are coupled to the fastening members500, thereby exerting a larger tensile force. In addition, it is possible to prevent the main cushions200, the auxiliary cushions300, and the tethers400from being separated laterally when the airbag is deployed.

At least one connector330may be installed on the front surface of each of the auxiliary cushions300for coupling of the associated latching section. The connector330may have a hollow (not shown) through which the latching section401of the associated tether40is coupled.

In this case, the latching section401of the tether400may be movably coupled through the hollow, and the connector330may consist of a plurality of connectors in the longitudinal direction of the latching section401.

Consequently, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to protect the passenger1by deploying the main and auxiliary cushions200and300through the sides of the seat10in the event of a vehicle collision so as to restrain the behavior of the passenger that is out of the protection area of the front and side airbags for responding to front and side collisions.

In addition, since the airbag is deployed to cover the side and front of the passenger1seated on the seat10, it is possible to maintain the passenger protection performance in response to various seating conditions (angle, movement, rotation, etc.) and to reduce injuries to the passenger1by partially restraining the forward behavior of the passenger1to reduce the kinetic energy of the passenger1in a head-on collision situation.

Although the specific embodiments of the airbag apparatus according to the present disclosure have been described, it is obvious that various implementation modifications are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is limited to the described embodiments and should not be restricted, and should be determined by the claims and equivalents to the claims to be described later.