Side airbag modules and vehicle seats

Abstract

A side airbag module for attachment to a seat frame (40) is described. The airbag module has an inflator and at least one mounting stud (14) extending from the inflator. An airbag is provided that defines a gas space and is in fluid communication with the inflator, and the airbag is at least partially rolled and / or folded into an airbag package (20). The airbag package (20) is retained by a wrapper (23) that surrounds at least a portion of the airbag package (20). To simplify the installation process of the interior trim, at least one additional flexible flap (30) extends from the wrapper (23), and the additional flexible flap (30) has at least one connection device for connecting the flexible flap to the frame (40) of the vehicle seat or carries the at least one connection device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a side airbag module and a vehicle seat. Background Art

[0002] Side airbag modules are widely used in today's automotive technology and are used to protect the driver or passengers during a side impact of the vehicle. A side airbag module always comprises an inflator and an airbag, which defines a gas space in fluid communication with the inflator. During the storage phase, the main part of the airbag is rolled up and / or folded to form an airbag package. In most cases, the inflator of the inflator unit has an oval cylindrical shape, and two mounting studs extend from the generating surface of this cylindrical inflator. The inflator and the mounting studs define the inflator unit. Usually, the cylindrical inflator is located completely or partially inside the gas space, and the mounting studs extend through corresponding holes in the airbag.

[0003] Side airbag modules can be mounted to the side structure of a vehicle (particularly its B-pillar), but are most commonly mounted to the frame of a vehicle seat. Here, the inflator and airbag package are typically located on the outside of the frame (towards the side structure or door of the vehicle), so that they are located between a section of the frame and a section of the vehicle seat upholstery.

[0004] While it is known to place the entire airbag package within a plastic housing, in many modern designs, this plastic housing is replaced by a flexible wrapper made of foil or fabric that surrounds at least a portion of the airbag package. Using such a wrapper instead of a plastic housing results in significant reductions in weight, size, and production costs. For example, a conventional side airbag module using such a wrapper is known from US Pat. No. 5,628,527.

[0005] Because the airbag must deploy in a forward direction (toward the front of the vehicle), the airbag package (also visible relative to the vehicle) is located forward of the inflator unit. Because the interior trim is typically pulled from front to rear against the side of the frame (one side of the frame carries the side airbag module), care must be taken to ensure the airbag package maintains its desired position relative to the frame (meaning it is not bent, partially bent, or twisted). This complicates and slows down the installation process of the vehicle seat unit. Summary of the Invention

[0006] Starting from this, the object of the present invention is to improve a universal side airbag module in such a way that the assembly process of a vehicle seat comprising such a side airbag module is simplified while ensuring a reproducible position of the airbag package relative to the frame.

[0007] This object is solved by the side airbag module proposed in the present application. The present application also proposes a vehicle seat comprising such a side airbag module.

[0008] According to the invention, at least one additional flexible flap extends from the wrapping. The additional flexible flap has or carries at least one connection means for directly or indirectly connecting the flexible flap to the frame of the vehicle seat. This additional flap is located on the outside of the wrapping, while the enclosed part of the airbag package is located on the inside of the wrapping.

[0009] Preferably, the flexible flap is configured such that the at least one attachment means is adapted to be attached to the frame on a side of the frame opposite to the side of the frame to which the airbag package is attached. Thus, if the airbag package is external to the frame (as is typically the case), the additional flap is attached to the frame on the interior of the frame. As mentioned, the attachment means can be configured to attach directly to the frame, for example, via at least one mounting stud of the inflator unit, or indirectly to the frame.

[0010] It is further preferred that the proximal end of the wrap of the additional flap is attached to the wrap near the front end of the wrap and / or the additional flap extends over the front end of the wrap so that the front end of the wrap and therefore the front end of the airbag package cannot substantially move relative to the frame when the interior trim is pulled onto the airbag module.

[0011] Therefore, no special care is required when mounting the interior trim to the vehicle frame.

[0012] The at least one connecting means may in particular comprise a hole in the additional flexible flap and / or a hook attached to the additional flexible flap.

[0013] Typically, the wrapping exhibits a break line in its front end region. In one embodiment, the additional flexible flap does not extend over the break line of the wrapping. This greatly simplifies production of the airbag module. In another embodiment, the additional flexible flap extends over the break line of the wrapping and exhibits the additional break line substantially in front of the break line of the wrapping. This allows for a tighter positioning of the airbag package relative to the frame. In this case, when the airbag module is mounted to the frame of the vehicle seat, at least a section of the wrapping is located between the airbag package and the additional flap. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The present invention will now be described by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0015] FIG1 is a schematic cross-sectional view (along a substantially horizontal plane) of a first embodiment of a side airbag module according to the present invention,

[0016] FIG2 is a side view of the side airbag module of FIG1 as viewed from direction A in FIG1 ,

[0017] FIG3 is a diagram according to FIG1 side airbag module 1 is mounted to the frame of the vehicle seat,

[0018] FIG3 a is a side view of detail B of FIG3 as viewed from direction B,

[0019] Figure 4 This is what is shown in Figure 3 after the additional flexible tabs of the side air bag module have been attached to the inflator's mounting studs and directly to the frame.

[0020] Figure 5 is basically after the interior is mounted to the frame by pulling the interior onto the frame in the R direction Figure 4 The content shown,

[0021] Figure 6 is a second embodiment of the present invention according to the diagram of FIG1 ,

[0022] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 The content of the diagram according to FIG2 is shown,

[0023] Figure 8 It will Figure 6 The airbag module is mounted to the frame of the vehicle seat, and the interior is mounted to the frame (according to Figure 5 ),

[0024] Figure 9 According to Figure 1 and Figure 6 The third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.

[0025] Figure 10 It will Figure 9 The airbag module is mounted to the frame of the vehicle seat.

[0026] Figure 11 is an airbag module according to the prior art according to the diagram of FIG1 ,

[0027] Figure 12 According to Figure 2 and Figure 7 Icon Figure 11 The content shown,

[0028] Figure 13 It will Figure 11 The airbag module is mounted to the frame of the vehicle seat, and

[0029] Figure 14 After the interior is mounted to the vehicle's frame Figure 13 The content shown in . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] First, refer to Figures 11 to 14 A prior art side air bag module and a vehicle seat including such a side air bag module are described, which is believed to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 11 and Figure 12 A side airbag module according to the prior art is shown in a schematic illustration. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along a horizontal plane (in the installed state), and Figure 12 It is from Figure 11 1 . The side airbag module 5 is a side view as viewed from direction C. The side airbag module 5 includes an inflator unit 10, an airbag 21, and a wrapping 23. The inflator unit 10 includes an inflator having a substantially elliptical cylindrical shape and two mounting studs 14, 16 extending from the generating surface of the inflator 12. The inflator 12 can be completely located within the gas space 22 enclosed by the airbag 21, or one end of the inflator can extend through the airbag. This end typically displays a connector for an ignition cable. Each mounting stud 14, 16 extends through a hole in the airbag.

[0032] The main part of the airbag 21 is rolled and / or folded into the airbag package 20, which is located in front of the plane defined by the two mounting studs 14, 16. A wrapper 23 is provided, which surrounds a portion of the airbag package 20. In the embodiment shown, the height of the wrapper 23 is less than the height of the airbag package 20 (see FIG. Figure 12 ). The wrapper 23 is fastened to the two mounting studs 14, 16 so that the wrapper 23 has two holes for each mounting stud. In the figure, three of these four holes can be seen (reference numerals 24a, 24b and 26b). The wrapper has an overlapping portion 23a in which the wrapper 23 is double-layered. At its front end (forward relative to the vehicle when the side airbag module is installed), the wrapper shows a breaking line 28, for example in the form of a perforation. This breaking line 28 allows the wrapper 23 to be opened when the airbag is deployed due to the inflation gas discharged by the inflator 12.

[0033] Figure 13 Shown Figure 11 and Figure 12 A side airbag module 5 is shown mounted to a side section of a vehicle seat frame 40. Mounting studs 14, 16 extend through respective holes in the frame 40 and are secured to the frame by nuts 18.

[0034] After the side airbag module 5 is mounted to the frame 40, the interior trim 45 is substantially aligned with the Figure 14The frame of the side airbag module 5 is pulled in the direction indicated by the arrow in the middle. The interior trim shows a separation line 47 that enables the airbag to be deployed through the interior trim 45. A rear panel may be provided on the rear side of the vehicle seat (not shown).

[0035] When mounting the interior trim 45 to the frame 40, care must be taken to prevent the interior trim 45 from pulling on the airbag module 5 and causing the airbag package 20 to bend or tilt and become detached. Figure 14 This significantly slows down the assembly process.

[0036] Figure 1 to Figure 5 A first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The side airbag module 5 is modified in such a way that highly reproducible positioning of the airbag package 20 relative to the frame can be achieved without requiring particular care when applying the interior trim to the frame. According to the present invention, an additional flexible flap 30 is provided. This additional flexible flap 30 can, for example, be made of the same material as the wrapping 23. In particular, it can be made of a woven plastic material. The wrapping proximal end 30a of the additional flexible flap 30 is attached to the wrapping 23, for example, via a connecting seam 31. The additional flap extends from the connecting seam to its wrapping distal end 30b.

[0037] In the first embodiment, the additional flexible flap 30 is attached to the wrap 23 on the same side of the wrap through which the mounting studs 14, 16 extend. The additional flexible flap 30 exhibits at least one connection means for directly or indirectly connecting the flexible flap to the frame of the vehicle seat. In the first embodiment, there are three connection means: two holes 34, 36 (each for connecting to a mounting stud 14, 16) and one slit-shaped hole 32 (for connecting to a lug 43 of the frame). While there are three connection means, it is noted that, at least in some applications, only one connection means may be sufficient.

[0038] FIG3 shows the side airbag module 5 in a first stage of installation, when the side airbag module is mounted to the frame 40. It can be seen that the additional flexible flap 30 is not yet connected to the frame 40. As can be seen in FIG3a , the front edge 42 of the frame includes a tab 43 that faces away from the airbag module (inwardly).

[0039] Figure 4FIG3 shows what is shown after the subsequent steps have been performed. The additional flexible flap 30 is pulled around the front edge 42 of the frame 40 until the mounting studs 14, 16 extend through their respective holes 34, 36. In this state, the lugs 43 extend through the slit-shaped holes 32. Nuts 18 are now screwed or riveted onto the mounting studs 14, 16. It should be noted that nuts can also be applied to the mounting studs 14, 16 before the additional flexible flap 30 is pulled onto them. Additional nuts can then be provided to secure the additional flap to the studs.

[0040] Therefore, the front end area of ​​the wrapper 23 and thus the front end area of ​​the airbag package 20 is fixed to the front end area of ​​the frame 40. Therefore, when the interior trim 45 is moved in the direction R ( Figure 5 ) is pulled onto the airbag package, the airbag package 20 cannot move.

[0041] Figures 6 to 8 A second embodiment is shown. The difference from the first embodiment of the invention is that the additional flexible flap 30 is connected to the wrapping 23 on the other side (meaning substantially opposite the side of the holes 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b for mounting the studs). The additional flexible flap 30 thus extends over the break line 28 of the wrapping 23 (cf. in particular Figure 8 ). Thus, the additional flexible flap 30 also exhibits a break line, namely an additional break line 38. Preferably, this additional break line 38 is substantially aligned with the break line 28 of the wrapper 23. With the geometry of the second embodiment, a tighter position of the airbag package 20 relative to the frame 40 can be achieved.

[0042] Figure 9 and Figure 10 A third embodiment of the invention is shown. The difference is that another connection means is used. Here, the connection means is in the form of a hook 39 that can be attached directly to the front edge 42 of the frame. One or more hooks 39 can be used. It goes without saying that if the second embodiment ( Figures 6 to 8 ) geometry, such a mounting arrangement can also be applied to the additional flexible flap 30.

[0043] In the embodiment shown, the additional flexible flap 30 extends substantially the entire height of the wrap 23. This may generally be preferred, but may not be necessary in all possible applications of the present invention.

[0044] It can be seen that a very well-defined position of the airbag package relative to the frame is achieved by very simple means.

[0045] Reference Signs List

[0046] 5 side airbag modules

[0047] 10 inflator units

[0048] 12 Inflator

[0049] 14, 16 mounting studs

[0050] 18 nuts

[0051] 20 airbag packages

[0052] 21 airbags

[0053] 22 Gas Space

[0054] 23 wrapping

[0055] 23a Overlapping part

[0056] 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b Holes in the wrap for mounting studs

[0057] 28 Fault Line

[0058] 30 additional flexible flaps

[0059] 30a proximal end of the wrap

[0060] 30b distal end of the package

[0061] 31 connecting seams

[0062] 32 slit-shaped holes

[0063] 34, 36 holes for mounting studs

[0064] 38 Additional break lines

[0065] 39 hooks

[0066] 40 frames

[0067] 42 front edge

[0068] 43 lugs

[0069] 45 interior

[0070] 47 separation line

Claims

1. A side airbag module (5), comprising: An inflator unit (10) having an inflator (12) and at least one mounting stud (14, 16) extending from the inflator (12), an airbag (21) defining a gas space (22) in fluid communication with the inflator (12), the airbag being at least partially rolled and / or folded into an airbag package (20), a wrapper (23) surrounding at least a portion of the airbag package (20), Characterized in that at least one additional flexible flap (30) extends from the wrapping (23), the additional flexible flap (30) having at least one connection device for at least indirectly connecting the flexible flap to a frame (40) of a vehicle seat or carrying the at least one connection device, and the additional flexible flap (30) is located outside the wrapping (23) while the enclosed part of the airbag package (20) is located inside the wrapping (23), wherein the additional flexible flap (30) is configured to fix the front end area of ​​the wrapping (23) to the front end area of ​​the frame (40) around the front edge (42) of the frame (40).

2. The side airbag module according to claim 1, characterized in that: The at least one connecting means comprises an aperture (32, 34, 36) in the additional flexible flap (30).

3. The side airbag module according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: The at least one connecting means comprises a hook (39) attached to the additional flexible flap.

4. The side airbag module according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: The wrapper (23) exhibits a break line (28) in its front end region.

5. The side airbag module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The additional flexible flap (30) does not extend over the rupture line (28) of the wrapper (23).

6. The side airbag module according to claim 4, characterized in that: The additional flexible flap (30) extends over the break line (28) of the wrapper and displays an additional break line (38) in front of the break line (28) of the wrapper (23).

7. The side airbag module according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that: The additional flexible flap (30) is sewn to the wrap (23).

8. A vehicle seat, comprising: Frame (40), an interior trim (45) at least partially covering the frame (40), and The side airbag module (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the side airbag module being attached to the frame (40), wherein the flexible flap (30) is at least indirectly secured to the frame (40).

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 8, It is characterized by: The flexible flap (30) is secured to the frame (40) and / or the at least one mounting stud (14, 16).

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that The inflator (12), the airbag package (20), and the wrapper (23) are placed outside the frame (40) between a section of the frame (40) and a section of the interior trim (45).

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