Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US7819423
Timestamp: 2018-03-18 10:05:39
Document Index: 630173964

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 70', 'art 70', 'art 70', 'art 70', 'art 70', 'art 31', 'art 31']

US7819423B2 - Passenger restraint system - Google Patents
US7819423B2
US7819423B2 US12155556 US15555608A US7819423B2 US 7819423 B2 US7819423 B2 US 7819423B2 US 12155556 US12155556 US 12155556 US 15555608 A US15555608 A US 15555608A US 7819423 B2 US7819423 B2 US 7819423B2
US12155556
US20090014990A1 (en )
Benedikt Heudorfer
This application is a Continuation of International Application PCT/EP2006/011704, filed Dec. 6, 2006, which was published in German as WO 2007/065650 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates generally to the field of vehicle occupant restraint systems including an inflatable airbag that may be arranged in a vehicle seat.
One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a vehicle occupant restraint system including an inflatable airbag arranged in a vehicle seat. When triggered, the airbag at least partially unfolds in the direction of travel on a side of the vehicle seat facing the vehicle interior. The vehicle seat includes a backrest frame extending in a substantially vertical direction in the vehicle seat and substantially aligned in the direction of travel. The airbag is connected to a front end of the backrest frame pointing or facing in the direction of travel.
FIG. 2 illustrates greater detail of the “X” portion of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment.
According to an exemplary embodiment, an airbag arrangement may include an airbag that is fastened in a vehicle seat and positioned on a side of the vehicle seat facing away from the vehicle door as disclosed in WO 01/49535 A1, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. When triggered, the airbag unfolds in the direction of travel and may prevent the vehicle occupant from sliding laterally out of the vehicle seat. The airbag may be stabilized and positioned using a strap arranged on the outside of the airbag.
The airbag may be at least partially resistant to buckling and may restrict lateral movement or oblique forward movement of a vehicle occupant in the event of a side collision. The airbag may be generally air-tight, contain a generally high pressure, and absorb energy from an impact by the vehicle occupant.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the connection of the airbag to the backrest frame may include an auxiliary fabric layer connected to the airbag and to the front end of the backrest frame. The connection of the auxiliary fabric layer to the airbag may take place by a stitched connection of the auxiliary fabric layer to one of the fabric layers of the airbag with the stitched connection taking place at least along the periphery of the auxiliary fabric layer. Additionally, the auxiliary fabric layer may be adhesively bonded to one of the fabric layers of the airbag either along an edge region of the airbag or over the entire area of the airbag.
The use of the auxiliary fabric layer for fastening the airbag to the front end of the backrest frame may allow for a simple direct connection of the airbag to the backrest frame. Due to the fabric layers being situated on top of each other, the airbag may form at a least a partial region in the vicinity of the attachment of the auxiliary fabric layer that is stable and resistant to buckling. The partial region may be supported on the backrest frame and can also stabilize and position other regions or partial chambers of the airbag.
According to an exemplary embodiment, the connection of the auxiliary fabric layer to the front end of the backrest frame may be facilitated by a holding part. For example, the auxiliary fabric layer may be guided around the holding part, which is connected to the front end of the backrest frame. The holding part may be screwed to the end of the backrest frame. The holding part may allow a simple connection of the airbag to the front end of the backrest frame over a defined vertical length. In another exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary fabric layer may form a loop.
The vehicle occupant restraint system may include an airbag module carrier for fastening a gas generator and airbag packaging to the folded airbag. The module carrier may be a curved sheet metal part. The airbag module carrier may be connected to the front end of the backrest frame. More particularly, the module carrier may be connected to the backrest frame with a holding part that fastens the auxiliary fabric layer to the backrest frame with a simple construction. In another exemplary embodiment, the module carrier may be inserted completely or partially into a loop or pocket formed by the auxiliary fabric layer.
The two backrest frames of the vehicle seat may provides a frame structure such that additional components of the seat may be fastened directly or indirectly. The backrest frames extend in a vertical direction in the vehicle seat. The cross-sectional profile may be rectangular as shown in FIG. 1, with the small profile thickness. The backrest frame 11 is aligned in the direction of travel such that the backrest frame 11 includes a front end 12 in the direction of travel and a rear end 13 in the direction of travel (see FIG. 2).
The airbag 3 includes two fabric layers 38, 39 that are situated one on top of the other when laid out flat in the unfolded, non-inflated state. When the airbag is inflated, the two fabric layers 38, 39 are spaced apart from one another and form the airbag volume between them. An auxiliary fabric layer 31 is connected to the fabric layer 39 of the airbag 3 and fastens the airbag 3 to the front end of the backrest frame 11 in the direction of travel. The fastening is facilitated by a fastening structure 32 that is explained in detail with reference to FIG. 2 (the detail from the “X” portion of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale).
Referring to FIG. 2, the airbag 3 may be connected directly to the end 12 of the backrest frame 12 by the auxiliary fabric layer 31. The airbag may be connected using a pocket 310 of the auxiliary fabric layer 31, a holding part 70, and screws 60. The auxiliary fabric layer 31 is guided around the flat holding part 70 in the region of the pocket 310. The flat holding part 70 extends along the end 12 of the backrest frame. The material pocket 310 and the holding part 70 are screwed to the end 12 of the backrest frame 11 by screws 60. The auxiliary fabric layer 31 and the airbag 3 are connected to the vertically-extending backrest frame 11 or the end 12 of the vertically-extending backrest frame 11 that points in the direction of travel over a defined length.
Referring still to FIG. 2, a module carrier 40 may be connected to the backrest frame 11 by the screw connection 60. The module carrier 40 may be constructed from sheet metal and form a flat region 41 that directly adjoins the end 12 of the backrest frame 11. The module carrier 40 may be screwed together with the two fabric layers of the material pocket 310 and the holding part 70.
FIG. 3 shows the vehicle occupant restraint system from FIG. 1 in a side view. The dashed line 36 indicates a connecting line along which the auxiliary fabric layer 31 is connected to the one fabric layer 39 of the airbag 3. Additionally, the auxiliary fabric part 31 is connected along a dashed connecting line 37 as shown in FIG. 2. The auxiliary fabric part 31 is connected to the end 12 of the backrest frame 11.
The internal pressure of the gas in the inflated airbag 3 is greater than about 1.5 bar. Alternatively, the internal pressure of the gas in the inflated airbag 3 is approximately 2 bar.
The airbag 3 may include a plurality of auxiliary chambers instead of the single auxiliary chamber 3 b. All of the auxiliary chambers may be filled by the main chamber 3 a or an auxiliary chamber may filled by another auxiliary chamber that is pre-filled by the main chamber 3 a.
FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary embodiment. Vehicle seat 10 is illustrated in a cross-section and include the backrest frame 11 and supports a vehicle occupant 20 with a torso 21 and head 22. The construction of the vehicle seat is similar to the vehicle seat of FIG. 1. The airbag 3, like the airbag of FIG. 4, may be connected to the end of the backrest frame 11 corresponding to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, or can be connected to the backrest frame adjacent to the end of the latter corresponding to the embodiment of FIG. 6. The connection to the backrest frame 11 can also take place in some other way, for example a connection to other regions of the backrest frame 11.
an inflatable airbag arranged in a vehicle seat, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate and at least partially unfold in the direction of travel of the vehicle on a side of the vehicle seat that faces a middle of the vehicle,
wherein the airbag is connected to a front end of the backrest frame facing in the direction of travel, and
wherein the connection of the airbag to the backrest frame is formed by an auxiliary fabric layer connected to the airbag and to the front end of the backrest frame.
3. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection of the airbag to the backrest frame is along a connecting line extending in a substantially vertical direction corresponding to the shape of the backrest frame.
4. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the airbag is connected to the backrest frame along the connecting line at a plurality of fastening points.
5. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection of the auxiliary fabric layer to the airbag comprises a stitched connection of the auxiliary fabric layer to a fabric layer along the periphery of the airbag.
6. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection of the auxiliary fabric layer to the airbag comprises an adhesively bonded connection of the auxiliary fabric layer to a fabric layer of the airbag.
7. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the auxiliary fabric layer is guided around a holding part connected to the front end of the backrest frame to connect the auxiliary fabric layer to the front end of the backrest frame.
8. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the holding part is screwed to the front end of the backrest frame.
9. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the holding part is connected to the front end of the backrest frame.
10. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises one or more darts to form one or more non-inflatable partial regions of the airbag.
11. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag forms at least one column that is resistant to buckling and runs in a substantially vertical direction.
12. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag forms at least one column that is resistant to buckling and runs in a substantially horizontal direction.
13. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a region of the inflated airbag is connected to the auxiliary fabric layer and is supported on the backrest frame, thereby stabilizing and positioning the airbag.
14. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal pressure of the gas in the inflated airbag is greater than about 1.5 bar.
15. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the internal pressure of the gas in the inflated airbag is approximately 2 bar.
16. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag has no gas outlet openings.
17. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag, which is connected to the front end of the backrest frame over a defined length, is stored in the vehicle seat in a substantially vertical direction along the backrest frame when folded.
US12155556 2005-12-06 2008-06-05 Passenger restraint system Active US7819423B2 (en)
DE102005059197.3 2005-12-06
DE200510059197 DE102005059197B4 (en) 2005-12-06 2005-12-06 The vehicle occupant restraint system with a seat arranged in a vehicle inflatable air bag
PCT/EP2006/011704 WO2007065650A3 (en) 2005-12-06 2006-12-06 Passenger restraint system comprising an inflatable air bag and arranged in a vehicle seat
US12923443 US8091920B2 (en) 2005-12-06 2010-09-22 Passenger restraint system
US13346608 US8256796B2 (en) 2005-12-06 2012-01-09 Passenger restraint system
PCT/EP2006/011704 Continuation WO2007065650A3 (en) 2005-12-06 2006-12-06 Passenger restraint system comprising an inflatable air bag and arranged in a vehicle seat
US12923443 Division US8091920B2 (en) 2005-12-06 2010-09-22 Passenger restraint system
US20090014990A1 true US20090014990A1 (en) 2009-01-15
US7819423B2 true US7819423B2 (en) 2010-10-26
ID=37903447
US12155556 Active US7819423B2 (en) 2005-12-06 2008-06-05 Passenger restraint system
US12923443 Active US8091920B2 (en) 2005-12-06 2010-09-22 Passenger restraint system
US13346608 Active US8256796B2 (en) 2005-12-06 2012-01-09 Passenger restraint system
US (3) US7819423B2 (en)
JP (1) JP5164851B2 (en)
CN (1) CN101326081B (en)
DE (2) DE102005059197B4 (en)
EP (1) EP1957325B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2007065650A3 (en)
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CN101326081B (en) 2010-12-29 grant
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US20110012326A1 (en) 2011-01-20 application
US20090014990A1 (en) 2009-01-15 application
DE102005059197A1 (en) 2007-07-19 application
US8091920B2 (en) 2012-01-10 grant
EP1957325B1 (en) 2011-02-16 grant
CN101326081A (en) 2008-12-17 application
EP1957325A2 (en) 2008-08-20 application
US20120139211A1 (en) 2012-06-07 application
DE102005059197B4 (en) 2008-04-10 grant
JP2009518220A (en) 2009-05-07 application
WO2007065650A2 (en) 2007-06-14 application
US8256796B2 (en) 2012-09-04 grant
JP5164851B2 (en) 2013-03-21 grant
US20030230883A1 (en) 2003-12-18 Airbag
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LOIBL, JOHANN;KRAFT, MICHAEL;HEUDORFER, BENEDIKT;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:021528/0251;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080805 TO 20080828
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:LOIBL, JOHANN;KRAFT, MICHAEL;HEUDORFER, BENEDIKT;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20080805 TO 20080828;REEL/FRAME:021528/0251