Vehicle seating arrangement for protecting a vehicle occupant

Abstract

Vehicle seating arrangement (1) for protecting a vehicle occupant, in particular a passenger car, in which at least one protective element (3) arranged on a vehicle seat, which can be triggered to protect the vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat, can be triggered in the event of an impending collision or in the event of a collision, wherein the protective element (3) facing the expected point of collision, which is designed as an inflatable element integrated in a seat bolster of a backrest or in a seat side bolster, can be triggered in a controlled and / or regulated manner by a control unit (6) depending on a control signal and can be inflated in the direction of the vehicle occupant by means of a valve (5), wherein when the protective element (3) is triggered an impulse is exerted on the vehicle occupant or at least a body part of the vehicle occupant,by which the vehicle occupant or at least a body part of the vehicle occupant can be moved away from a collision section of the vehicle that is colliding or will collide with an object, wherein the protective element (3) is designed to be repeatedly and reversibly inflatable and is coupled to a gas source (2), characterized in that the gas source (2) is replaceable.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle seating arrangement for protecting a vehicle occupant of a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. In DE 10 2009 024 558 A1, a method for protecting a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat of a vehicle, in particular a passenger car, is described, in which at least one protective element arranged on the vehicle seat, which can be triggered to protect the vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat, is triggered in the event of an impending collision or in the event of a collision, wherein a reversible belt tensioner assigned to the vehicle seat is triggered in time before a triggering of the protective element and during or at the triggering of the protective element, a resulting belt tensioning is released again. German patent DE 10 2008 014 442 A1 describes an airbag system that allows repeated deployment of the airbag without replacing the entire module. The patent proposes an airbag system for a motor vehicle with one airbag and a gas source for inflating the airbag. The gas source is either replaceable, regenerable, or reusable for repeated inflation of the airbag. For example, an existing compressor or a replaceable gas cartridge can be used as the gas source. The patent application DE 10 2005 032 033 A1 describes a vehicle occupant restraint system with a vehicle seat whose backrest is laterally limited by at least one side bolster, wherein the transition from a front of the backrest to the side bolster forms a support surface for a vehicle occupant, and with a gasbag module whose gasbag is arranged folded in the backrest of the vehicle seat and whose unfolding direction is directed towards the support surface. The patent application DE 197 50 223 C2 describes a method for adapting the lateral support of a seated person in a vehicle seat, in particular a passenger car, to the driving situation and driving style, in which a lateral acceleration acting on the seat is determined as a reference variable for the adaptation, which is characterized in that the determined lateral acceleration is weighted with the current driving speed of the vehicle and a control variable for the degree of adaptation is derived from this. The patent application WO 2008 / 110610A1 describes a vehicle seating arrangement for a motor vehicle and a method for protecting a vehicle occupant, comprising a vehicle seat; at least one inflatable element arranged on the vehicle seat for the protection of a vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat; means for inflating the inflatable element, which inflates the inflatable element depending on a control signal signaling a collision of the motor vehicle or an impending collision of the motor vehicle with an object, wherein the inflatable element is designed and arranged such that, while being inflated in response to the control signal, it exerts a momentum on the vehicle occupant, which moves the vehicle occupant away from a collision section of the vehicle that is colliding or will collide with the object. The patent application EP 1 698 521 A1 describes a device and a method for protecting an occupant in a vehicle. Further vehicle seats with inflatable adjustment elements arranged in the upholstery area are known from DE 10 2008 029 339 A1 and DE 201 00 155 U1. The invention is based on the objective of providing a vehicle seat arrangement improved compared to the prior art for protecting a vehicle occupant, whereby repeated inflation of the protective element should be possible simply and without great effort. With regard to the vehicle seating arrangement, the problem is solved according to the invention by the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. In the vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention for protecting a vehicle occupant, in particular a passenger car, inflatable elements are designed to be repeatedly and reversibly inflated and are coupled to a gas source that is replaceable, regenerable, or usable for repeatedly inflating the protective element. The vehicle seat arrangement comprises at least one protective element arranged on the vehicle seat, which can be triggered to protect the vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat and which can be triggered in the event of an impending collision or a collision.The vehicle seat has at least two opposing inflatable elements in the side bolsters as protective elements. Only the inflatable element facing the anticipated point of collision can be triggered by a control signal and inflated in the direction of the vehicle occupant. When the protective element is triggered, an impulse is exerted on the vehicle occupant or at least a part of the occupant's body, which moves the occupant or at least a part of the occupant's body away from the collision area of ​​the vehicle that is colliding or will collide with the object. The combination according to the invention of multiple and reversibly inflatable elements and a replaceable, regenerable gas source enables the inflatable elements to be used multiple times in the event of an impending or actual collision.This significantly reduces service and maintenance costs, improves the safety of the vehicle occupants, and reduces the risk of injury or the severity of injuries. In an advantageous embodiment, the gas source is an exchangeable and / or refillable gas cartridge. This allows for quick, easy, and safe storage of the gas required to inflate the inflatable elements. In an alternative embodiment, the gas source comprises a plurality of replaceable and / or refillable gas cartridges. This advantageously allows a sufficient quantity of gas to be carried in the vehicle for multiple inflation cycles of the inflatable elements. In an advantageous embodiment, the plurality of replaceable and / or refillable gas cartridges are coupled to a diagnostic unit. This unit determines the fill level of each individual gas cartridge and outputs a corresponding signal when empty gas cartridges need to be replaced and / or refilled. This allows a driver of the vehicle or a mechanic in a workshop to be informed easily and reliably whether and when empty gas cartridges need to be replaced and / or refilled. In a further advantageous embodiment, the gas source is a pressure accumulator located in the vehicle, which can be filled by means of a compressor. Advantageously, a pressure accumulator emptied by inflating the inflatable elements can thus be refilled quickly and easily. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the compressor is located in the vehicle or can be carried in the vehicle and is supplied with electrical energy via the vehicle's own electrical system. This enables the emptied pressure accumulator to be refilled independently. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Figure 1 schematically shows a vehicle seating arrangement for protecting a vehicle occupant of a vehicle with a gas source, Figure 2 schematically shows a vehicle seating arrangement for protecting a vehicle occupant of a vehicle with a plurality of gas sources, and Figure 3 schematically shows a vehicle seating arrangement for protecting a vehicle occupant of a vehicle with a gas source designed as a pressure accumulator and a compressor connectable to it. Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures. Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle seating arrangement 1 for protecting a vehicle occupant of a vehicle with a gas source 2. The vehicle seat arrangement 1 comprises at least one protective element 3, arranged on a vehicle seat (not shown), which can be triggered to protect the vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat and which can be triggered in the event of an impending collision or a collision. The vehicle seat has at least two opposing inflatable elements in the side bolsters as protective elements 3. Only the inflatable element facing the anticipated point of collision can be triggered by a control signal and inflates in the direction of the vehicle occupant. When the protective element 3 is triggered, an impulse is exerted on the vehicle occupant or at least a part of the vehicle occupant's body, causing the vehicle occupant or at least a part of the vehicle occupant's body to move away from a collision section of the vehicle that is colliding or will collide with the object. Protective element 3, for example, is an inflatable element integrated into a seat bolster, a backrest or a seat side bolster, e.g. a side cushion (also called a side airbag or air cushion). The side cushions are conventional airbags or air cushions. Only the actuator needs to have a specific control characteristic to maintain the internal pressure in the airbag at a predetermined level and thus provide protection against intruding objects for as long as possible. Each vehicle seat can comprise two inflatable elements, particularly those positioned opposite each other. These inflatable elements primarily serve to provide lateral support for the vehicle occupant within the seat. Inflatable elements can also be integrated into an adjacent vehicle door and / or the side armrest. The inflatable elements are designed to be inflated multiple times and reversibly. The gas source 2 is replaceable, regenerable, or designed for repeated inflation of the protective element 3 and contains or generates a compressed gas with which the protective element(s) 3 can be inflated. The gas source 2 contains or generates such a quantity of compressed gas that multiple inflations of the protective element(s) 3 are possible. Preferably non-toxic gases or gas mixtures, such as compressed air and / or carbon dioxide, can be used as compressed gas in the gas source 2. The gas source 2 is, for example, an interchangeable and / or refillable gas cartridge 2.1. According to the embodiment schematically depicted in Fig. 1, the protective element 3 is detachably coupled to the gas source 2 by means of a connecting line 4. The gas source 2 is preferably designed to be replaceable and / or refillable. The replaceable gas source 2 is a conventional gas cartridge 2.1, for example, a carbon dioxide cartridge (hereinafter referred to as CO2 cartridge). The detachable connection is, for example, a simple screw cap, which allows the user to replace the CO2 cartridge or gas source 2 without having to visit a workshop. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the flow of compressed gas from the gas source 2 to the protective element 3 can also be regulated and / or controlled by means of a valve 5 which is arranged in the connecting line 4. The valve 5, for example, is designed as a conventional electromechanical valve and is electrically connected to a control unit 6. The control unit 6 controls and / or regulates the inflation and deflation processes of the reversibly inflatable protective element 3. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the control unit 6 comprises a diagnostic unit 6.1 and detects the number of inflation processes, the fill level and / or the internal pressure of the gas source 2 by means of the diagnostic unit 6.1. Sensors, not shown in detail, are provided for detecting the fill level and / or the internal pressure of the gas source 2. The diagnostic unit 6.1 generates a signal and, for example, when the gas source 2 is empty or almost empty, issues a corresponding visual and / or acoustic warning message to the vehicle occupants, for example by means of a display element 9 in a conventional instrument cluster. In an alternative embodiment, the driver is prompted by a corresponding request displayed in the instrument cluster and / or another screen installed in the vehicle to replace the gas source 2 or, for example, to visit a workshop to replace or refill the gas source. In another embodiment, an error message concerning the emptied or nearly emptied gas source 2 is stored in a conventional vehicle memory and read out during a service call using a conventional diagnostic device. Fig. 2 schematically shows a particularly advantageous embodiment, wherein the gas source 2 is formed from a plurality of replaceable and / or refillable gas cartridges 2.1. Each of the gas cartridges 2.1 is coupled to the protective element 3 by means of a connecting line 4, wherein the flow of compressed gas from the individual gas cartridges 2.1 to the protective element 3 is regulated and / or controlled by means of the valve 5, which is arranged in the respective connecting line 4 and is assigned to each individual gas cartridge 2.1. An alternative embodiment is shown schematically in Fig. 3. There, the protective element 3 is connected via the connecting line 4 to a gas source 2 designed as a pressure accumulator 7. The pressure accumulator 7 is regenerable or inexhaustible at its inlet. For this purpose, the pressure accumulator 7 is connected at its inlet via the connecting line 4 to a conventional compressor 8, preferably already installed in the vehicle. Advantageously, a pressure accumulator 7 emptied by inflating the inflatable elements can thus be refilled quickly and easily. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the compressor 8 is located in the vehicle or can be carried in the vehicle and is supplied with electrical energy via the vehicle's own electrical system. This enables autonomous refilling of the emptied pressure accumulator 7. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the flow of compressed gas from the pressure accumulator 7 to the protective element 3 and from the compressor 8 to the pressure accumulator 7 can also be regulated and / or controlled by means of a valve 5, which is arranged in the respective section of the connecting line 4. In operation of the vehicle seating arrangement 1 for the protection of the vehicle occupant, the control unit 6 controls and / or regulates the inflation and deflation process of the reversibly inflatable protective element 3 by means of the valve 5, depending on a conventional control signal. In particular, the control unit 6 controls and / or regulates the timing, speed and / or intensity of the inflation or deflation process. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the control unit 6, in addition to the inflation and deflation process of the reversibly inflatable protective element 3, controls and / or regulates the filling of the pressure accumulator 7 with compressed gas and the operation of the compressor 8.

Claims

Vehicle seating arrangement (1) for protecting a vehicle occupant, in particular a passenger car, in which at least one protective element (3) arranged on a vehicle seat, which can be triggered to protect the vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat, can be triggered in the event of an impending collision or in the event of a collision, wherein the protective element (3) facing the expected point of collision, which is designed as an inflatable element integrated in a seat bolster of a backrest or in a seat siderest, can be triggered in a controlled and / or regulated manner by a control unit (6) depending on a control signal and can be inflated in the direction of the vehicle occupant by means of a valve (5), wherein when the protective element (3) is triggered an impulse is exerted on the vehicle occupant or at least a body part of the vehicle occupant,by which the vehicle occupant or at least a body part of the vehicle occupant can be moved away from a collision section of the vehicle that is colliding or will collide with an object, wherein the protective element (3) is designed to be repeatedly and reversibly inflatable and is coupled to a gas source (2), characterized in that the gas source (2) is replaceable. Vehicle seating arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas source (2) is an exchangeable and / or refillable gas cartridge (2.1). Vehicle seating arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the gas source (2) comprises a plurality of replaceable and / or refillable gas cartridges (2.1). Vehicle seating arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gas source (2), in particular the gas cartridges (2.1), is coupled with a diagnostic unit (6.1). Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the diagnostic unit (6.1) can determine the fill level of the individual gas cartridges (2.1) and output a corresponding signal when empty gas cartridges (2.1) need to be replaced and / or refilled. Vehicle seating arrangement (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the signal can be output by means of a display element (9) arranged in the vehicle, preferably in the area of ​​the driver. Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least two opposing inflatable elements are integrated into the side bolsters as protective elements (3) and only the inflatable element facing the expected point of collision can be controlled and / or regulated to trigger depending on a control signal from the control unit (6).

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