Brake band mechanism for airbag module

Abstract

The invention relates to a brake band mechanism for at least one airbag module having at least one airbag (3), the brake band mechanism comprising: at least one first brake band member (5), the first brake band member (5) being attachable to the airbag (3); at least one second brake band member (6), wherein the second brake band member (6) is attachable to the airbag; and tensioning means (7) for the brake band members (5, 6), where the tensioning means (7) comprise a tensioning drive (8), where an end of the first brake band member (5) and an end of the second brake band member (6) are attached to one tensioning means (7), where at least one brake band member (5, 6) is deflected from the tensioning means (7) by means of at least one deflection element (9), and wherein a portion of the first brake band member (5) that can be attached to the airbag is movable on a first route and a portion of the second brake band member (6) that can be attached to the airbag is movable on a second route as a result of triggering of the tensioning drive (8) of the tensioning device (7), wherein the first route and the second route are different.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a brake band mechanism for at least one airbag module having at least one airbag, the brake band mechanism comprising: at least one first brake band member, wherein the first brake band member can be attached to the airbag; at least one second brake band member, wherein the second brake band member can be attached to the airbag; and a tensioning device for the brake band member, wherein the tensioning device comprises a tensioning drive.

[0002] Such a brake band mechanism may in particular be a component of an airbag arrangement for a vehicle seat having at least two airbag modules, wherein each airbag module comprises at least one airbag and is configured for attachment to the vehicle seat, and wherein the airbag arrangement comprises at least one brake band mechanism. The brake band member can in particular be attached to the airbag with its free end which is not associated with the tensioning device. However, the brake band member may also be fixed in place at one end located inside the motor vehicle, and a portion of the brake band member may be attached to the airbag between the end fixed to the motor vehicle and the tensioning device. The end of the brake band member can in particular be attached to a vehicle seat for a motor vehicle. In particular, the brake band mechanism and the airbag arrangement are also integrated into the vehicle seat. Therefore, the invention also relates to a vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle seat comprises a backrest, a seat cushion and an airbag arrangement.

[0003] The airbag of the airbag module, which is arranged in the initial state, in particular in the lateral region of the backrest, deploys after it has been triggered beside and / or in front of a passenger sitting on the vehicle seat. It can be provided that during the deployment of the airbag (for example when the brake band member is in the tensioned state), the brake band member at least temporarily guides the deployment process. It is also conceivable that the brake band member is unwound from a reel during deployment or is tensioned by the deployed airbag from a wound or folded state.

[0004] The tightening device is arranged to retract the brake band member during deployment or at the end of the deployment process and thus influence the deployment process or bring the airbag into a final position after deployment. For example, a part of the airbag arranged in front of the occupant after deployment can be pulled towards the backrest by the tensioning device so that the occupant is also pulled towards the backrest.

[0005] For example, a vehicle seat with a brake band mechanism is known from US2019 / 0248322 A1. For example, it is known from US2019 / 0248322 A1 that a brake band member is wound up by means of a tensioning device through a rotational movement. It is also known that a tensioning device is provided for each brake band member and therefore for each part of an airbag attached to the brake band member or for each airbag, whereby a plurality of brake band members can be tightened in a time-shifted manner relative to one another and / or can cover different tensioning paths. Therefore, a relatively large amount of equipment is required to tighten different airbags or different parts of an airbag in different ways.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to at least partially eliminate the disadvantages described with respect to the prior art and in particular to reduce the amount of equipment in order to tighten a plurality of airbags or different parts of airbags to different degrees.

[0007] A solution to this problem is provided by a brake band arrangement having the features of independent claim 1 , further solutions and advantageous developments being specified in the description above and below, the individual features of which can be combined with one another in a technically sensible manner.

[0008] This object is achieved in particular by a brake band arrangement having the features mentioned at the outset, wherein one end of the first brake band member and one end of the second brake band member are attached to the one tensioning device, wherein at least one of the two brake band members is deflected from the tensioning device by means of at least one deflection element, and wherein by triggering the one tensioning drive of the one tensioning device, the part of the first brake band member that can be attached to the airbag is moved on a first path and the part of the second brake band member that can be attached to the airbag is moved on a second path, wherein the first path and the second path are different.

[0009] In other words: The basic idea of ​​the invention is that, with exactly one tensioning device, different brake band members and therefore also different regions of an airbag or different airbags can be tightened to different degrees with the same tensioning device. The different courses of the tensioning process are achieved by deflecting at least one brake band member. Since only one tensioning device is required to achieve different tensioning processes, the required equipment is reduced.

[0010] Each brake band member can be made of a single brake band or safety rope. The brake band or the safety rope or a plurality of brake bands or a plurality of safety ropes are in particular made of a tensile fabric. Each brake band member can also be made of a plurality of brake bands / safety ropes connected to each other. Each brake band member has one end attached to a tensioning device. The brake band member can have a plurality of second ends, which can be connected to a part of the airbag or to different airbags.

[0011] At least one of the brake band members is arranged such that it is deflected by at least one deflection element at least before, after and / or during the tensioning process. The parts arranged in the direction of the brake band member in front of and behind the tensioning element are therefore arranged at an angle to each other. For example, the brake band member can be deflected by the deflection element by more than 60°, preferably more than 90° or about 180°. The degree of deflection can be constant during the tightening operation, but can also be varied during the tightening operation. It is also possible to provide the brake band member with two deflection elements, which are arranged one after the other in the direction of the brake band member, so that the brake band member is deflected a plurality of times.

[0012] The one brake band member deflected by the deflection element, the deflection element and in particular the tensioning element which can be linearly accelerated by the tensioning drive are arranged relative to each other so that the end or part of the deflected brake band member which can be attached to the airbag covers a larger path during the tensioning process than the end (or part) of the other brake band member which can be attached to the airbag. This creates a pulley system. When designing the pulley system, the tensioning path of the covered brake band member is greater than the path of the tensioning element which is covered and accelerated by the tensioning device. However, the force acting on the brake band member is also reduced accordingly. Therefore, if the first tensioning path of the first brake band member is greater than the second tensioning path of the second brake band member, the tensioning force of the first brake band member is also reduced by the same factor.

[0013] The first route is in particular 1.5 times longer than the second route, preferably more than twice or exactly twice as long as the second route.

[0014] In a first embodiment, it can be provided that the deflection element can be accelerated linearly by the tensioning drive. This means that when the tensioning process is started, the deflection element is moved in a straight line from its starting position.

[0015] Alternatively or additionally, provision can be made that the end of the first brake band member and / or the end of the second brake band member can be accelerated in particular linearly (i.e. in a straight line) by the tensioning drive. When the tensioning process is initiated, the end of the associated brake band member attached to the tensioning device is preferably moved in a straight line from its initial position.

[0016] In order to linearly accelerate the deflection element, the end of the first brake band member and / or the end of the second brake band member, the tensioning device can have at least one tensioning element, which can be linearly accelerated, in particular by pyrotechnics, and to which the end of the first brake band member and / or the end of the second brake band member and / or the deflection element are attached.

[0017] The tensioning element can in particular be connected to a piston of a piston-cylinder unit, wherein the piston can be linearly moved into the cylinder by the pyrotechnic charge.

[0018] In a first embodiment, in which only precisely one tensioning element capable of being accelerated linearly is provided, a first deflection element for the first brake band member is attached to the one tensioning element capable of being accelerated linearly, wherein the end of the first brake band member is fixed in place, and wherein the end of the second brake band member is attached to the one tensioning element capable of being accelerated linearly, and wherein a second deflection element for the second brake band member is fixed in place. If a deflection of 180° is performed by the deflection element, the tensioning path covered by the first brake band member is twice as long as the tensioning path covered by the second brake band member, since a type of pulley system is designed only for the first brake band member, whereas for the second brake band member only a deflection occurs without a pulley effect.

[0019] In another embodiment, it can be provided that the tensioning device has a first tensioning element that can be accelerated linearly and a second tensioning element that can be accelerated linearly in opposite directions by a tensioning drive, in particular pyrotechnically. Alternatively, the tensioning element can also be accelerated in opposite directions by means of a spring. For example, the tensioning elements can be arranged movably in an outer cylinder, wherein the tensioning elements are each connected to a rod and / or barrel element that is arranged telescopically within the other, wherein the pyrotechnic charge or the spring is arranged such that the two elements can be accelerated in opposite directions within the outer cylinder.

[0020] In this case, the end of the first brake band member and the end of the second brake band member are fixed to the first tensioning element, and wherein the deflection element is attached to the second tensioning element, wherein only the first brake band member is deflected by the deflection element. When triggered, the tensioning path of the second brake band member corresponds to the path covered by the first tensioning element during the tensioning process, while when the brake band members are deflected 180° by the deflection element, the tensioning path covered by the first brake band member can correspond to more than twice the path covered by the first tensioning element.

[0021] The present invention and the technical environment are explained exemplarily below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Schematically, in the accompanying drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 shows a side view of a vehicle seat with an airbag arrangement including a brake band mechanism according to the invention,

[0023] Figure 2shows a rear view of a vehicle seat having an airbag arrangement including a brake band mechanism according to the present invention, and

[0024] Figure 3 A detailed view of the brake band mechanism is shown.

[0025] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A vehicle seat with a backrest 1 and a seat cushion 2 is shown in each case.

[0026] An airbag module having an airbag 3 and a gas generator 4 is arranged in a side region of the backrest 1 .

[0027] The first braking band member 5 and the second braking band member 6 are attached to the airbag 3 .

[0028] exist Figure 2 In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the tensioning device 7 is arranged in the backrest 1 .

[0029] Also in Figure 3 The tensioning device 7 shown in FIG. 1 comprises an outer cylinder 12 in which a first tensioning element 10 and a second tensioning element 11 are movably arranged. The second tensioning element 11 is telescopically arranged together with a piston-like rod element in a cylindrical extension of the first tensioning element 10. A tensioning drive 8 is formed in the telescopic member, which can be realized, for example, by pyrotechnics or by a pretensioning spring. When triggered, the first tensioning element 10 and the second tensioning element 11 can be driven linearly in opposite directions in the outer cylinder 12.

[0030] One end of the first brake band member 5 is fixed to the first tensioning element 10 and is deflected by 180° via the deflecting element 9 attached to the second tensioning element 11 .

[0031] One end of the second brake band member 6 is also attached to the first tensioning element 10 and is guided linearly out of the outer cylinder 12 .

[0032] When triggered, the first tensioning element 10 and the second tensioning element 11 are accelerated in opposite directions within the outer cylinder 12, wherein the second brake band member 6 is pulled into the outer cylinder 12 by the movement of the first tensioning element 10 on the tensioning path on which the first tensioning element 10 moves in the outer cylinder 12.

[0033] On the other hand, the first brake band member 5 is pulled into the outer cylinder 12 over a tensioning path which is twice as large as the change in distance between the two tensioning elements 10 and 11 .

[0034] When the brake band of the first brake band member 5 is tightened over a much greater tensioning path, the brake band of the second brake band member 6 is subjected to relatively large tensile forces.

[0035] Reference numerals list

[0036] 1 Backrest

[0037] 2 Seat Cushions

[0038] 3 Airbags

[0039] 4 Gas generator

[0040] 5 First brake band member

[0041] 6 Second brake band member

[0042] 7 Tensioning device

[0043] 8 Tensioning drive

[0044] 9 Deflection element

[0045] 10 First tensioning element

[0046] 11 Second tensioning element

[0047] 12 Outer cylinder

Claims

1. A brake band mechanism for at least one airbag module having at least one airbag (3), the brake band mechanism comprising: - at least a first braking band member (5), wherein said first braking band member (5) is attachable to the airbag (3), - at least a second braking band member (6), wherein the second braking band member (6) is attachable to the airbag, and - a tensioner device (7) for the brake band member (5, 6), wherein the tensioner device (7) comprises a tensioner drive (8), It is characterized in that One end of the first brake band member (5) and one end of the second brake band member (6) are attached to the one tensioner device (7), wherein at least one brake band member (5, 6) is deflected by the tensioner device (7) by means of at least one deflection element (9), and By triggering the one tensioner drive (8) of the one tensioner device (7), the section of the first brake band member (5) that can be attached to the airbag can be moved a first travel distance and the section of the second brake band member (6) that can be attached to the airbag can be moved a second travel distance, wherein the first travel distance and the second travel distance are different.

2. The brake band mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the deflection element (9) can be accelerated linearly by the tensioner drive (8).

3. The brake band mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the end of the first brake band member (5) and / or the end of the second brake band member (6) can be accelerated by the tensioner drive (8).

4. The brake band mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the tensioner device (7) has at least one tensioning element (10, 11) which can be accelerated in a straight line, in particular by pyrotechnics.

5. A brake band mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the tensioner device (7) comprises a first tensioning element (10) which can be accelerated in a straight line and a second tensioning element (11) which can be accelerated in a straight line, said elements being able to be accelerated in opposite directions by said one tensioner drive (8).

6. A brake band mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the end of the first brake band member (5) and the end of the second brake band member (6) are fixed to the first tensioning element (10), and wherein the deflection element (9) is attached to the second tensioning element (11), wherein only the first brake band member (5) is deflected by the deflection element.

7. A brake band mechanism according to claim 4, wherein a first deflection element for the first brake band member (5) is attached to the one tensioning element that can be linearly accelerated, and the end of the first brake band member (5) is fixed in place; and wherein the end of the second brake band member (6) is attached to the one tensioning element that can be linearly accelerated, and a second deflection element for the second brake band member (6) is fixed in place.

8. An airbag device for a vehicle seat, the airbag device comprising: - at least two airbag modules, wherein each airbag module comprises at least one airbag (3) and is configured for attachment to the vehicle seat, and - At least one brake band arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the brake band members are respectively attached to the airbag.

9. A vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, the vehicle seat comprising: - backrest (1), - Seat cushions (2), and - Airbag arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 9, wherein two airbag modules are arranged on opposite sides of the backrest (1).

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