Vehicle seating arrangement for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Vehicle seating arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, with - a vehicle seat (10); and - at least one inflatable gas bag (21) arranged in a backrest (11) of the vehicle seat (10) to protect at least the head of a vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat (10), wherein - the gasbag (21) is arranged and designed such that, in the inflated state, it extends from a lower area (110) of the backrest (11) to an upper area (120) of the backrest (11) under a seat cover (15) of the vehicle seat (10) and exits the vehicle seat (10) exclusively in the upper area (120) of the backrest (11), characterized in that the gasbag (21) has a section (212) which, in the inflated state of the gasbag (21), is located at least partially to the side of the head of the vehicle occupant and at the level of the head of the vehicle occupant.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seating arrangement for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] German patent DE 197 04 657 A1 discloses a vehicle seating arrangement comprising a vehicle seat with an integrated gasbag designed to protect the head of a vehicle occupant. Furthermore, US patent 5 782 529 A discloses a gasbag that extends partially between the head of the vehicle occupant and a headrest of a vehicle seat.

[0003] The present invention addresses the problem of ensuring the best possible stability of a seat-integrated airbag to protect the head of a vehicle occupant.

[0004] This problem is solved by providing the vehicle seating arrangement with the features of claim 1. Further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0005] Then a vehicle seating arrangement for a motor vehicle is provided, with - a vehicle seat; and - at least one inflatable gas bag arranged in a backrest of the vehicle seat to protect at least the head of a vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat, wherein - the gasbag is arranged and designed in such a way that, when inflated, it extends from a lower area of ​​the backrest to an upper area of ​​the backrest under a seat cover of the vehicle seat and exits the vehicle seat exclusively in the upper area of ​​the backrest, wherein - the gasbag has a section which, when the gasbag is inflated, is located at least partially to the side of the vehicle occupant's head and at the level of the vehicle occupant's head.

[0006] The gas bag thus unfolds from the lower part of the backrest to its upper part beneath the seat cover, so that a first section of the inflated gas bag extends over as much of the backrest as possible under the seat cover. This first section of the gas bag (e.g., elongated) contributes to stabilizing the position of a second section (a protective section) of the inflated gas bag, which extends outside the seat cover, particularly due to its large contact area with the vehicle seat compared to conventional side gas bags.

[0007] For example, the airbag is designed so that it exits the vehicle seat exclusively from the upper part of the backrest; that is, the airbag's protective section consists solely of an area designed to protect the head of the vehicle occupant and extends accordingly at head level. In this embodiment, the airbag thus runs continuously beneath the seat cover from the lower to the upper part of the backrest. It is conceivable that the airbag has only one chamber, with the aforementioned first and second sections being sections of this chamber. Furthermore, the airbag can be sealed, for example, by having seams and / or material layers of the airbag at least partially coated with a sealing layer. However, sealing the airbag is not mandatory.

[0008] For example, the lower part of the backrest, from which the inflated gas bag extends to the upper part, is formed by the lower half or third of the backrest. It is conceivable that the gas bag is located at least partially in the lower half or third of the backrest before inflation. It is also possible that a gas generator, likewise located in the backrest, for inflating the gas bag is also located at least partially in the lower half or third of the backrest (e.g., at least some of the gas generator's outlet openings are located in this area).

[0009] In particular, the airbag is arranged and guided beneath the seat cover in such a way that it exits the upper part of the backrest (i.e., upwards) in a direction that is at least substantially parallel to the backrest; specifically, parallel to the main extension direction of the backrest or parallel to a lateral frame element of a backrest frame. For example, the airbag exits from the top of the backrest, i.e., from a section of the upper part of the backrest that, in the assembled state of the vehicle seat assembly, points at least substantially away from the vehicle floor (and, for example, towards the vehicle roof).

[0010] According to another embodiment of the invention, the seat cover has a weakening in the upper area of ​​the backrest, which tears open under the pressure of the expanding gas bag, creating an opening through which the gas bag exits the backrest. It is conceivable that the weakening is formed by at least one tear seam. For example, the tear seam joins two material sections of the seat cover together.

[0011] It is also conceivable that the airbag is arranged so that it unfolds, at least partially, between a frame of the backrest and the seat cover (in particular, a side frame element of the frame and the seat cover). For example, the seat cover on one side and the frame on the other provide the guidance of the airbag during its unfolding, as already mentioned above. It is also possible that the section of the airbag extending under the seat cover when inflated is folded telescopically. Other sections of the airbag can be folded in other ways, for example, by inverting and / or random folding. However, the invention is naturally not limited to any one specific type of airbag folding.

[0012] To guide the expanding airbag, a separate guide element, distinct from the seat cover and backrest frame, may be provided. For example, the guide element comprises a hollow element located beneath the seat cover (particularly between the seat cover and the backrest frame), within which the airbag expands at least partially. This hollow element may be flexible, such as a (sack-like) cover (e.g., similar to a soft cover).

[0013] According to another embodiment of the invention, the gas bag is designed such that, in its inflated state, it rests against a headrest of the vehicle seat. Thus, the portion of the gas bag that extends out of the vehicle seat reaches at least partially to the level of a headrest of the vehicle seat.

[0014] It is also conceivable that the section of the gas bag that extends through an opening in the seat cover after inflation is larger than the lower section of the gas bag that runs under the seat cover after inflation. For example, the section of the gas bag that extends through the opening in the seat cover has a greater extent in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction of the vehicle than the lower section of the gas bag.

[0015] As mentioned above, the gasbag includes a section (protective section) which, when the gasbag is inflated, is located outside the vehicle seat to the side of the vehicle occupant's head and at the level of the vehicle occupant's head.

[0016] It is also conceivable that the airbag (for example, its protective section) has a section that, when inflated, extends in front of a backrest support surface. This section of the airbag could, for example, also run slightly below the head of the vehicle occupant.

[0017] According to another embodiment of the vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention, the backrest has a first and a second lateral area (e.g. in the form of a first and a second side bolster), wherein the first lateral area - with reference to the vehicle seat's installed state in the vehicle - is closer to a vehicle side structure adjacent to the vehicle seat than the second lateral area, and wherein the airbag is arranged in the second lateral area of ​​the backrest (e.g. facing another vehicle seat of the vehicle).

[0018] In other words, the gasbag here serves as a far-side gasbag, intended, for example, to protect against a collision with a vehicle occupant located in an adjacent vehicle seat.

[0019] It is also conceivable, however, that the airbag is arranged on the side of the vehicle seat facing the adjacent vehicle side structure, i.e., as a conventional airbag for protection against side collisions. It is also possible, of course, that the vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention comprises two airbags designed as described above, one of which is arranged on the side facing the vehicle side structure and the other on the side of the vehicle seat facing away from the vehicle side structure. For example, these two airbags could be identical. However, this is not mandatory. Rather, it is also conceivable that the two airbags, while sharing common features—that is, both extending from the lower to the upper part of the backrest and exiting the vehicle seat from the upper part of the backrest—have, for example, differently designed protective sections.

[0020] The invention also relates to a vehicle with the vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention.

[0021] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1A a side view of a vehicle seating arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention before inflation of the gas bag; Fig. 1B the vehicle seating arrangement Fig. 1A during the inflation of the gas bag; Fig. 1C the vehicle seating arrangement from the Fig. 1A and Fig. 1B with fully inflated gasbag; Fig. 2 a front view of the vehicle seating arrangement Fig. 1C; Fig. 3 a view of the vehicle seating arrangement Fig. 1C from the top; Fig. 4 a section through a lateral area of ​​the vehicle seat of a vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 5 the cut from Fig. 4 during the inflation of the gasbag; and Fig. 6 a side view of a vehicle seating arrangement according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0022] The in Fig. The vehicle seat arrangement 1 shown in Figure 1A according to the invention comprises a vehicle seat 10 with a backrest 11 and a seat surface 12. A gas bag module 20 is arranged in a lateral area (approximately a side bolster) of the backrest 11, wherein the gas bag module 20 comprises a gas bag 21 and a gas generator 22 for inflating the gas bag 21.

[0023] The gas bag module 20 is at least partially arranged in a lower region 110 of the backrest 11 such that, after activation of the gas generator 22, the gas bag 21 unfolds from the lower region 110 to an upper region 120 of the backrest 11 beneath a seat cover of the backrest 11. Accordingly, at least a section of the gas bag 21 and the gas generator 22 is located in the lower region 110. For example, the gas generator 22 and the gas bag 21 are each arranged at least partially in a lower half or a lower third of the backrest 11, i.e., in a region of the backrest 11 that extends from the seat surface 12 of the vehicle seat 10 over half the length L or over one-third of the length L of the backrest 11.

[0024] The gasbag 21 thus unfolds from the lower area 110 to the upper area 120 below the seat cover (cf. Fig. 1B) and only emerges from the backrest 11 in the upper area 120. More precisely, the pressure of the expanding gas bag 21 creates an opening 151 in the seat cover through which the gas bag 21 emerges from the backrest 11. It is conceivable that the opening 151 is created by the tearing of a seam that, for example, connects a side panel and an upper part of the seat cover. The expanding gas bag 21 is guided, in particular by the seat cover and a lateral frame element of a frame (not shown) of the backrest 11, such that it emerges from the backrest 11 upwards (away from the seat surface 12) at least approximately parallel to the frame and thus parallel to the backrest 11.

[0025] In the Fig. In the inflated state of the gasbag 21 shown in 1C, there is an elongated first section 211 of the gasbag 21, which extends from the lower area 110 to the upper area 120 (to the top 121) of the backrest 11 and parallel to the side seat frame part, below the seat cover, while a second section in the form of a protective section 212 runs outside the backrest 11.

[0026] The protective section 212 is shaped such that it extends laterally next to the head of a vehicle occupant (not shown) located on vehicle seat 10; see the front view of the Fig. 2. For example, the protective section 212 of the gas bag 21 has an upper section 2121 which is located at the level of a headrest 13 of the vehicle seat 10 and is supported, for example, by it. A lower section 2122 of the protective section 212 of the gas bag 21 extends, for example (viewed in the forward direction of travel), in front of a support surface 111 of the backrest 11.

[0027] In Fig. Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a side bolster 112 of the vehicle seat 10 of a vehicle seat arrangement according to the invention. For example, this corresponds to Fig. 4 a cut through the in Fig. The vehicle seat 10 shown in Figure 1A contains the gasbag module 20 with the gas generator and the gasbag 21 arranged above it, in the side bolster 112. The gasbag module 20 is arranged between a lateral frame element 14 of a frame of the backrest 11 of the vehicle seat and a seat cover 15 of the backrest 11. The backrest 11 also has padding 16, which extends particularly in a front area of ​​the backrest 11 (and which, in the example, also has a section in front of the gasbag module 20). Fig. 5 shows the section of the Fig. 4 during the unfolding of the gasbag 21.

[0028] Fig. 6 represents a modification of the vehicle seating arrangement of Fig.Figures 1A to 3 show that the gas bag 21 has a section 213 located between its lower section 211 and the protective section 212, with which the gas bag 21 extends outwards from the backrest 11 through the opening 151 in the seat cover. The section 213 has larger dimensions than the lower section 211 in order to allow for the reproducible and as complete as possible creation of the opening 151 in the seat cover (for example, tearing open the seam). In particular, the section 213 has a greater thickness than the lower section 211 when viewed in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction of the vehicle.

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) for a motor vehicle, with - a vehicle seat (10); and - at least one inflatable gas bag (21) arranged in a backrest (11) of the vehicle seat (10) for protecting at least the head of a vehicle occupant located on the vehicle seat (10), wherein - the gas bag (21) is arranged and designed such that, in the inflated state, it extends from a lower region (110) of the backrest (11) to an upper region (120) of the backrest (11) under a seat cover (15) of the vehicle seat (10) and exits from the vehicle seat (10) exclusively in the upper region (120) of the backrest (11), characterized by that the gas bag (21) has a section (212) which, in the inflated state of the gas bag (21), is located at least partially to the side of the head of the vehicle occupant and at the level of the head of the vehicle occupant. [2] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the lower region (110) of the backrest (11) is formed by a lower half or a lower third of the backrest (11). [3] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the gas bag (21) exits from the upper region (120) of the backrest (11) along a direction running at least substantially parallel to the backrest (11). [4] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gas bag (21) extends from the lower region (110) to the upper region (120) of the backrest (11) exclusively below the seat cover (15). [5] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the seat cover (15) has a weakening in the upper region (120) of the backrest (11) which tears open under the pressure of the unfolding gas bag (21), so that an opening (151) is created through which the gas bag (21) emerges from the backrest (11). [6] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to claim 5, characterized by that the weakening is formed by at least one tear seam. [7] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gas bag (21) is arranged such that it unfolds at least in sections between a frame (14) of the backrest (11) and the seat cover (15). [8] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one lower section (211) of the gas bag (21) extending under the seat cover (15) in the inflated state of the gas bag (21) is folded by telescopic folding. [9] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a guide element for guiding the unfolding gas bag (21). [10] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to claim 9, characterized by that the guide element is formed by a flexible hollow element arranged under the seat cover (15), in which the gas bag (21) unfolds at least partially. [11] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gas bag (21) is designed such that, in the inflated state, it is supported on a headrest (13) of the vehicle seat (10). [12] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to claims 5 and 8 or one of claims 9 to 11 if referred back to claims 5 and 8, characterized bythat a section (213) of the gas bag (21) which extends through the opening (151) in the seat cover (15) after the gas bag (21) has been inflated has larger dimensions than the lower section (211) of the gas bag (21) which runs under the seat cover (15) after the gas bag (21) has been inflated. [13] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gas bag (21) has a protective section (212) whose lower region (2122) extends in front of a leaning surface (111) of the backrest (11) when the gas bag (21) is inflated. [14] Vehicle seat arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that the backrest (11) has a first and a second lateral region, wherein the first lateral region - based on the state of the vehicle seat (10) installed in the motor vehicle - is closer to a vehicle side structure adjacent to the vehicle seat (10) than the second lateral region, and wherein the gas bag (21) is arranged in the second lateral region of the backrest (11).

Images