Abstract:
A lateral airbag device comprises a gas bag which is mounted in a vehicle seat below the seat covering of the vehicle seat. The gas bag is inflated in the event of an accident. The seat covering comprises at least one break line, which can be torn open when the gas bag unfolds enabling the gas bag to exit the vehicle seat. The lateral airbag device is capable of protecting the occupants of a vehicle in the event of an accident in a reliable manner. The seat covering is configured to bring the unfolding gas bag to a predetermined position or to maintain the unfolded gas bag in the predetermined positioned.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of International Application PCT/DE 2005/001432, which has an international filing date of Aug. 10, 2005; this International Application was not published in English, but was published in German as WO 2006/015591, all of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The invention relates to a lateral airbag device. 
     A lateral airbag device of this type is known, for example, from U.S. Pat. No. 5,498,030 (which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). This previously known lateral airbag device has an airbag which is mounted in a flexible airbag covering in the interior of a vehicle seat, i.e. below the seat cover. In the event of an accident, the airbag is inflated, with the result that the flexible airbag covering breaks open at a tear seam provided for this purpose and releases the airbag. The seat cover of the vehicle seat subsequently tears open at a tear seam likewise provided for this purpose, so that the airbag can leave the interior of the seat and can deploy outside the vehicle seat. In the previously known lateral airbag device, the flexible airbag covering is provided with a “channel” or “slide” region which brings about a certain amount of guidance of the airbag during its inflation. 
     Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,616 (which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety) describes a lateral airbag device with two separate airbags. One of the two airbags is arranged in the seat back region and protects the upper body region of the vehicle occupant. The other of the two airbags is arranged in the lower seat region of the vehicle seat and, after deployment, protects the lower body region of the vehicle occupant. 
     SUMMARY 
     One exemplary embodiment relates to a lateral airbag device. The lateral airbag device comprises an airbag mounted in a vehicle seat below a seat cover of the vehicle seat. The airbag is inflated in an event of a vehicle accident. The seat cover includes at least one tear seam which is torn open by the deploying airbag and permits the airbag to emerge from the vehicle seat. The deploying airbag deploys into a predetermined position by the configuration of the seat cover, or the seat cover maintains a predetermined position of the airbag. 
     Another exemplary embodiment provides a vehicle seat. The vehicle seat comprises a lateral airbag device that includes an airbag mounted in a vehicle seat below a seat cover of the vehicle seat. The airbag is inflated in an event of a vehicle accident. The seat cover includes at least one tear seam which is torn open by the deploying airbag and permits the airbag to emerge from the vehicle seat. The deploying airbag deploys into a predetermined position by the configuration of the seat cover, or the seat cover maintains a predetermined position of the airbag. According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for protecting a vehicle occupant is provided. The method comprises positioning an airbag in a vehicle seat such that the airbag is inflated in an event of an accident and tearing open at least one tear seam in a seat cover of the vehicle seat such that the airbag deploys through an opening from the opened tear seam. A position of the deploying or of the deployed airbag is determined by the seat cover. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below. 
         FIG. 1  shows a first exemplary embodiment of a lateral airbag device and a vehicle seat; in this exemplary embodiment, the deployed airbag is held by a “non-tearing-open” seat cover section. 
         FIG. 2  shows a second exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat and a lateral airbag device, in which a positioning of the airbag is brought about by a supporting bag which is fitted on the seat cover and into which at least some sections of the airbag deploy. 
         FIG. 3  show a third exemplary embodiment of a vehicle seat and of a lateral airbag device, in which a positioning of the airbag is brought about by tear seam sections tearing open at different times. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a lateral airbag device in which a separating section is shown. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a lateral airbag device in which a tear seam section after opening is shown. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An object of embodiments is to provide a lateral airbag device which brings about particularly reliable protection of the vehicle occupant in the event of an accident. 
     According thereto, the embodiments make provision for the seat cover of the vehicle seat to be configured in such a manner that, during the inflation of the airbag, it helps the deploying airbag to come into a predetermined position, and/or, after inflation of the airbag, keeps the deployed airbag in the predetermined position, for example by “supporting” the airbag. 
     A substantial advantage of the lateral airbag device according to an embodiment can be seen in the fact that, with the latter, owing to the positioning action of the seat cover a consistently optimum position of the deployed airbag is achieved, so that the vehicle occupant is very well protected by the airbag in the event of an accident. Poor functioning of the restraining action of the airbag due to an unintended or unforeseeable position of the airbag is therefore avoided or at least substantially reduced. 
     A further substantial advantage of the lateral airbag device according to an embodiment is that, with the latter, even very large airbags can be safely positioned, for example airbags which are used for protection of the thorax and pelvis and/or protection of the head and thorax and/or protection of the head, thorax and pelvis. 
     According to an advantageous refinement of the lateral airbag device according to an embodiment, it is provided that in the seat cover there are at least two tear seam sections which are separated by a non-tearing-open seat cover section, with at least a partial region or section of the deployed airbag being secured below the non-tearing-open seat cover section. Owing to the fact that there is a “non-tearing-open” seat cover section, the airbag is secured in some sections in the interior of the seat and is therefore positioned fixedly there; the remaining airbag regions, which deploy outside the vehicle seat, are thereby “supported at the same time” and likewise positioned. Even in the event of a severe accident, the deployed airbag therefore remains in the protective position provided for the accident situation. 
     According to a further advantageous refinement of the lateral airbag device, it is provided that at least one supporting element is fastened to the seat cover in the region of the tear seam in such a manner that the airbag region situated in the region of the supporting element is supported and/or held by said supporting element and therefore by the seat cover. The supporting element is particularly preferably a supporting bag which is fastened to the seat cover in such a manner that that airbag region of the airbag which is assigned to it—for example is situated in the immediate vicinity thereof—deploys into the supporting bag and, during the deployment, pushes the latter outward out of the interior of the seat. The supporting element or the supporting bag can be, for example, sewn to or into the seat cover. 
     It is considered particularly advantageous if a “non-tearing-open” seat cover section is combined with a supporting element according to an embodiment. It is therefore considered advantageous if the tear seam of the seat cover has at least two tear seam sections separated by a “non-tearing-open” seat cover section, with at least one airbag region of the airbag being secured below the non-tearing-open seat cover section (i.e. in the interior of the seat), and with, in addition, at least one supporting element being fastened to the seat cover in such a manner that an airbag region emerging out of the interior of the seat is additionally positioned or “supported”. The supporting element may be, for example, a supporting bag which is preferably arranged in the interior of the seat, so that the airbag region situated in the region of the supporting bag deploys into the supporting bag and, in the process, pushes the latter out of the interior of the seat. 
     According to another advantageous refinement of the lateral airbag device of an embodiment, it is provided that in the seat cover there are at least two tear seam sections, the tearing-open behavior of which differs. One of the at least two tear seam sections preferably requires a greater tearing-open force than the other tear seam section. 
     For example, in the seat cover there are two outer tear seam sections which are separated by an inner tear seam section situated inbetween, the tear seam section which is situated inbetween requiring a greater tearing-open force than the two outer tear seam sections. During the deployment of the airbag, the tear seam section which is situated inbetween tears open only after the two outer tear seam sections have been torn open, and initially keeps back a partial section of the airbag in the interior of the vehicle seat at least during a first phase of the deployment operation of the airbag. 
     The different tearing-open behavior of the tear seam sections is preferably at least also based on the fact that the stitch spacing of the tear seams differs. Alternatively or in addition, the different tearing-open behavior of the tear seam sections can at least also be based on the fact that the tear seam sections are provided with a different number of tear seams. 
     Embodiments also include a vehicle seat with the lateral airbag device described. With regard to the advantages of the vehicle seat according to exemplary embodiments, reference is made to the above embodiments in conjunction with the lateral airbag device, since the advantages of the vehicle seat can correspond to those of the lateral airbag device according to an embodiment. 
     In addition, an embodiment relates to a method for protecting a vehicle occupant, in which an airbag which is integrated in a vehicle seat is inflated in the event of an accident, with at least one tear seam being torn open, through which the airbag deploys. 
     In order, in the case of a method of this type, to achieve particularly reliable protection of the vehicle occupant in the event of an accident, it is provided according to the embodiment that a positioning of the deploying airbag and/or a positioning of the already deployed airbag is carried out by the seat cover of the vehicle seat. This therefore involves an active, specific influencing control on the position of the airbag with the aid of the seat cover. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a vehicle seat  10  with a backrest  20  and a lower seat section  30 . A lateral airbag device  40  with an airbag  50  is arranged in the region of the backrest  20 .  FIG. 1  shows in this case the vehicle seat  10  and the lateral airbag device  40  after an accident event has occurred, and so the airbag  50  is already deployed. 
     It can be seen in  FIG. 1  that the airbag  50  has three interconnected airbag regions  60   a ,  60   b  and  60   c . The upper airbag region  60   a —for example a thorax section—and the lower airbag region  60   c —for example a pelvis section—pass out of the region of the backrest  20  through openings  70   a  and  70   b . These openings  70   a  and  70   b  are formed as soon as the airbag  50  deploys and thereby tears open along tear seams or tear seam sections  80   a  and  80   b  in the seat cover  90  of the vehicle seat  10 . As soon as the tear seams in the seat cover  90  are torn open, the two airbag regions  60   a  and  60   c  emerge from the backrest. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the two tear seam sections  80   a  and  80   b  are separated from each other by a seat cover section  100  of the seat cover  90  that does not tear open. Owing to the fact that the seat cover  90  does not tear open in the seat cover section  100 , the airbag  50  cannot leave the backrest  20  in this region. The airbag  50  is therefore secured in the interior of the vehicle seat in the region of the non-tearing-open seat cover section  100 , as a result of which the inner airbag region  60   b  is formed. The securing of the inner airbag region  60   b  causes a supporting action by which the completely deployed airbag  50  is fixedly positioned and supported relative to the backrest  20 ; the two airbag regions  60   a  and  60   c  are thereby also—at least indirectly—secured and positioned. The two airbag regions  60   a  and  60   c  can therefore ensure their protective action with respect to a vehicle occupant in an optimum manner. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a further exemplary embodiment of a lateral airbag device according an embodiment and of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment. The lateral airbag device  40  according to  FIG. 2  substantially corresponds to the lateral airbag device  40  according to  FIG. 1 . In addition, a supporting bag or “inner bag”, which is fitted on, for example sewn to, the seat cover  90  of the backrest  20 , is provided in the region of the lower airbag region  60   c  of the airbag  50 . As soon as the airbag  50  is inflated by a gas generator (not illustrated specifically in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) in the event of a vehicle accident, the lower airbag region  60   c  will deploy into the supporting bag  200  and will push the latter out of the interior of the seat or the seat cover  90 . The lower airbag region  60   c  is subsequently inflated further and will fill the supporting bag  200 . The resulting final state after complete inflation of the airbag  50  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
     Furthermore, instead of an arrangement of the supporting bag in the interior of the vehicle seat, an arrangement outside would also be conceivable. 
     A combination comprising a supporting bag  200  and a non-tearing-open seat cover section  100  has been presented above in conjunction with  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, it is likewise possible just to use a supporting bag  200  to support the airbag  50  and to omit a “non-tearing-open” seat cover section  100 , as has been explained in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a third exemplary embodiment of a lateral airbag device. In this third exemplary embodiment, there are three tear seam sections  300 ,  310  and  320  in the seat cover  90 . The two outer tear seam sections  300  and  320  have a different tearing-open behavior than the tear seam section  310  which is the inner one or is situated inbetween; in specific terms, the tear seam section  310  which is situated inbetween requires a greater tearing-open force than the two outer tear seam sections  300  and  320 . In order to achieve a greater tearing-open force for the tear seam section  310  which is situated inbetween, the latter is provided, for example, with a smaller stitch spacing and therefore with a greater stitch density than the two outer tear seam sections  300  and  320 . Alternatively or in addition, the tear seam section  310  which is situated inbetween is provided with a greater number of tear seams than the two outer tear seam sections  300  and  320 . 
     On account of the greater tearing-open force required in the tear seam section  310  which is situated inbetween, during the deployment of the airbag  50  only the two outer tear seam sections  300  and  320  tear open, with the result that the airbag can initially deploy exclusively through openings  300 ′ and  320 ′. A partial section  330  of the airbag  50  is therefore initially kept back in the interior of the vehicle seat during a first phase of the deployment operation of the airbag;  FIG. 4  shows this in detail. 
     Owing to this partial section  330  being kept back, the deployment operation of the airbag  50  is controlled, so that the latter—given an appropriate configuration of the tear seam sections  300  to  320 —is brought into the desired position. Only after this first positioning phase is finished does the tear seam section  310  which is situated inbetween tear open, thus producing a further opening  310 ′ which connects the two outer openings  300 ′ and  320 ′; in this case, the tear seam section  310  which is situated in between only tears open after the stable position of the airbag  50  is secured (shown in  FIG. 5 ). 
     After the tear seam section  310  which is situated inbetween is opened, the further opening  310 ′ makes it possible for the airbag  50  to build up its maximum effective thickness and to make its maximum protective potential available. 
       FIG. 4  also shows a separating section  340  which divides the airbag  50  into an upper airbag chamber  350  and into a lower airbag chamber  360 . This separating section  340  can be of gastight or gas-permeable design. Furthermore, there can also be a corresponding separating section between the upper airbag chamber and the lower airbag chamber in the first and the second exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     The Germany Priority Application 10 2004 040 236.1, filed Aug. 13, 2004, including the specification, drawings, claims and abstract, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     Given the disclosure of the present invention, one versed in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, all modifications attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the following claims.