Side airbag guide and vehicle seat with side airbag using the same

Abstract

Vehicle seat with a side airbag, the vehicle seat comprising: an airbag module with an airbag cushion housed therein; a seat back frame with the airbag module attached thereto; a seat back pad provided with a cushion projecting on each of opposite sides thereof and with an accommodation space allowing the airbag module to be accommodated therein; a support wire inserted into the cushion and provided vertically on each of opposite sides of the seat back frame to support a side load of an occupant; and a side airbag guide configured such that a first side thereof is locked to the seat back frame and a second side thereof is coupled to the support wire to guide a deployment direction of the airbag cushion, the side airbag guide including: a guide body made of a textile and configured to guide the deployment direction of the airbag cushion by contacting the airbag cushion; and a plurality of hooks provided at opposite ends of the guide body and respectively locked to the support wire and the seat back frame, wherein the hooks locked at one of the opposite ends of the guide body are locked to the seat back frame at an inner edge thereof of the front edges of the airbag module, so that the guide body is arranged from the front edges of the airbag module to a channel in the deployment direction of the airbag cushion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the invention

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a side airbag guide and a vehicle seat with a side airbag using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a side airbag guide and a vehicle seat with a side airbag using the same, an assembly that can be easily and effortlessly assembled and guides a deployment direction of an airbag cushion and supports it during deployment of the side airbag, which is provided in a seatback of the vehicle seat. Description of the related art

[0002] In general, an airbag mounted in a vehicle is a safety device for protecting an occupant in the event of an impact such as a collision, and a vehicle is equipped with various types of airbag devices, and in particular, a side airbag is provided to protect the occupants of the driver's seat and the passenger seat from the impact occurring on the side of the vehicle.

[0003] The side airbag is installed in the seat backrest of the driver's seat and the front passenger seat and inflates towards the side of the occupant's seat in the event of an emergency to protect the occupant from a side impact.

[0004] Accordingly, it is important that the airbag cushion deploys in the correct place and position when the side airbag deploys in order to more effectively protect the occupant from a side impact.

[0005] Fig. 1 is a side view showing a conventional vehicle seat with a side airbag; and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view along line AA of Fig. 1.

[0006] As in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a vehicle seat 20 with a side airbag is configured such that a seat back pad 301 is formed with a slit for guiding a deployment direction of an airbag cushion when the side airbag is deployed by actuating an airbag module 101 having an airbag cushion housed therein, and the side airbag guide 501 for guiding the airbag cushion in the direction of the slit is locked to a seat back frame 201.

[0007] Meanwhile, the seat back pad 301 is provided with a support wire 401 to support one side of an occupant, thereby supporting a force applied laterally to the vehicle seat 20.

[0008] Here, the side airbag guide 501 is formed by injection molding of steel or a plastic material having high rigidity and is locked to the seat back frame 201 with a locking means such as a bolt, but this is problematic in that it takes much time for installation and thus reduces productivity.

[0009] Furthermore, the side airbag guide 501 is made of a heavy material such as steel or plastic, which increases the weight of the vehicle, thereby reducing the performance and fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

[0010] The foregoing is intended only to contribute to an understanding of the general state of the art and is not intended to imply that the present invention falls within the scope of the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

[0011] DE 10 2012 218 778 A1 discloses a vehicle seat assembly comprising a frame, a seat insert, and a cover extending over the seat insert, the cover having a release seam, and an airbag assembly containing a gas generator and an airbag. This solution is considered unsatisfactory.

[0012] An airbag is known from US 2012 / 0 161 425 A1. This solution is also considered unsatisfactory. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Accordingly, the present invention has taken note of the above problems encountered in the prior art, and the present invention is intended to provide a side airbag guide and a vehicle seat with a side airbag using the same, wherein it is possible to reduce the time of assembling the seat thanks to a simple structure, and it is possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle seat because the weight of the side airbag guide is light.

[0014] To achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle seat with a side airbag, the vehicle seat including: an airbag module having an airbag cushion accommodated therein; a seat back frame with the airbag module attached thereto; a seat back pad provided with a cushion protruding on each of opposite sides thereof and an accommodation space allowing the airbag module to be accommodated therein; a support wire inserted into the cushion and provided vertically on each of opposite sides of the seat back frame to support a side load of an occupant;and a side airbag guide mounted such that a first side thereof is locked to the seatback frame and a second side thereof is coupled to the support wire to guide a deployment direction of the airbag cushion, the side airbag guide including: a guide body made of a textile and configured to guide the deployment direction of the airbag cushion by contacting the airbag cushion; and a plurality of hooks provided at opposite ends of the guide body and respectively locked to the support wire and the seatback frame; wherein the hooks locked at one of the opposite ends of the guide body are locked to the seat back frame at an inner edge thereof of the front edges of the airbag module, so that the guide body is arranged from the front edges of the airbag module to a channel in the deployment direction of the airbag cushion.

[0015] The guide body can be made of a material that has less stretchability than the seat back pad.

[0016] The seat back pad may be configured such that an inner surface of the pad is formed with the channel in the deployment direction of the airbag cushion to guide deployment of the airbag cushion.

[0017] To achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a side airbag guide which is a side airbag guide attachable to a vehicle seat having an airbag module with an airbag cushion housed therein to guide a deployment of the airbag module, the side airbag guide comprising: a guide body made of a fabric configured to be disposed on a deployment line of the airbag module and configured to guide a deployment direction of the airbag cushion by contacting the airbag cushion;and a plurality of hooks provided at opposite ends of the guide body and each configured to be locked to a support wire and a seat back frame provided in the vehicle seat, wherein the hooks locked at one of the opposite ends of the guide body are lockable to the seat back frame at an inner edge thereof of the front edges of the airbag module, so that the guide body is configured to be arranged from the front edges of the airbag module to a channel in the deployment direction of the airbag cushion; wherein the side airbag guide is suitable for attachment in a vehicle seat having the following features: A vehicle seat having a side airbag, the vehicle seat comprising: an airbag module having an airbag cushion housed therein; a seat back frame, the airbag module being attached thereto;a seatback pad provided with a cushion protruding on each of opposite sides thereof and with an accommodation space allowing the airbag module to be accommodated therein; a support wire inserted into the cushion and provided vertically on each of opposite sides of the seatback frame to support a side load of an occupant;

[0018] The guide body can be made of a plain weave or a body weave.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the assembly time of the vehicle seat by facilitating an assembly thereof thanks to a simple connection structure of the side airbag guide, and thereby it is possible to improve productivity.

[0020] Furthermore, since the side airbag guide is lighter than a conventional side airbag guide manufactured by injection molding, it is possible to reduce the weight of the vehicle seat and it is possible to facilitate the deployment of the airbag cushion and minimize the impact to occupants. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view showing a conventional vehicle seat with a side airbag; Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view along the line AA from Fig. 1 is; Fig. 3 is a side view showing a vehicle seat with a side airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 a cross-sectional view along the line BB Fig. 3 is; Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing area C from Fig. 4 shows; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a side airbag guide according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. For reference, the same reference numerals in this specification refer to substantially the same elements and may be described with reference to the contents described in the other drawings according to these rules, and contents that are judged to be obvious to those skilled in the art or are repeated may be omitted.

[0023] The present invention is characterized in that the structure of a side airbag is simplified to facilitate assembly, the deployment of the airbag cushion is stably supported, and the performance and fuel efficiency of a vehicle are improved by reducing its weight.

[0024] Fig. 3 is a side view showing a vehicle seat with a side airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line BB of Fig. 3; and Fig. Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing area C from Fig. 4 shows.

[0025] As in Fig. 3 to 5, a vehicle seat 10 with a side airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an airbag module 100, a seatback frame 200, a seatback pad 300, a support wire 400, and a side airbag guide 500.

[0026] The airbag module 100 is equipped therein with an airbag cushion and is designed such that the airbag cushion is inflated by gas supplied from a gas generator when the impact occurs on the side of the vehicle and is deployed in a lateral direction toward the occupant, thereby cushioning the occupant and protecting the occupant from the impact.

[0027] The seat back frame 200 is formed in an inverted U-shape and is equipped with the airbag module 100 on an outer side thereof. Here, it is preferable that the seat back frame 200 be made of a material with excellent rigidity, and for example, it may be made of steel or a plastic material.

[0028] The seat back pad 300 is provided at the front of the seat back frame 200, each of opposite end portions thereof is provided with a cushion 310 that supports the sides of the occupant and protrudes to accommodate the airbag module 100, and the inside of the cushion 310 is provided with an accommodation space 320 with the airbag module 100 accommodated therein.

[0029] Here, it is preferable that the seat back pad 300 is configured such that an inner surface of the cushion 310 is formed into a slit-shaped channel 330 along the deployment direction of the airbag cushion to guide deployment of the airbag cushion.

[0030] This is intended to facilitate stable deployment in a lateral direction toward the occupant by allowing the airbag cushion to penetrate a relatively thin portion in which the channel 330 is formed when the airbag cushion is inflated during operation of the airbag module 100, thereby protecting the occupant from impact.

[0031] The support wire 400 is provided vertically on each of opposite sides of the seat back frame 200 to support a force applied laterally to the vehicle seat 10, that is, a force applied to the direction of the cushion 310, and the support wire 400 is arranged in the cushion 310.

[0032] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a side airbag guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] As in Fig.6, the side airbag guide 500 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a guide body 510 configured to guide a deployment direction of the airbag cushion in a direction of the channel 330 by contacting the airbag cushion when the airbag module 100 is operated; and a plurality of hooks 520.

[0034] The guide body 510 is configured to guide the deployment direction of the airbag cushion by contacting the airbag cushion when the airbag module 100 is operated, and the guide body 510 according to an embodiment of the present invention may be made of a textile.

[0035] More preferably, the guide body 510 of the present invention is made of a fabric made by a plain weave or twill weave, since a fabric knitted with 1 to 2 warp and weft threads is stronger than satin in which warp or weft threads are on the surface, and thus it is not only capable of improving the durability and service life of the side airbag guide, but also capable of stably supporting the deployment of the airbag cushion.

[0036] Here, it is preferable that the guide body 510 is made of a material having an elongation less than that of the seat back pad 300. Thereby, the guide body 510 is elongated less than the seat back pad 300, so that the airbag cushion is inflated to effectively tear the portion in which the channel 330 of the seat back pad 300 is formed and unfolds in the lateral direction toward the occupant.

[0037] The hooks 520 are provided as a pair and are locked to opposite ends of the guide body 510, wherein the hooks 520 locked to a first end of the guide body 510 are locked to enclose the support wire 400, and the hooks 520 locked to a second end of the guide body 510 are locked to the seat back frame 200 at an inboard edge of the front edges of the airbag module 100, such that the guide body 510 is disposed from the front edges of the airbag module 100 to the channel 330.

[0038] Here, it is preferable that the hooks 520 be made of a material having excellent rigidity in order to prevent damage caused by the impact during the operation of the airbag module 100, and they may be made of, for example, steel or a plastic material.

[0039] Furthermore, the number of hooks may be increased or decreased depending on the impact intensity generated by the operation of the airbag module 100 or the like.

[0040] Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Claims

[1] Vehicle seat with a side airbag, the vehicle seat comprising: an airbag module with an airbag cushion housed therein; a seat back frame with the airbag module attached thereto; a seat back pad provided with a cushion projecting on each of opposite sides thereof and with an accommodation space allowing the airbag module to be accommodated therein; a support wire inserted into the cushion and provided vertically on each of opposite sides of the seat back frame to support a side load of an occupant; and a side airbag guide configured such that a first side thereof is locked to the seat back frame and a second side thereof is coupled to the support wire to guide a deployment direction of the airbag cushion, the side airbag guide including: a guide body made of a textile and configured to guide the deployment direction of the airbag cushion by contacting the airbag cushion; and a plurality of hooks provided at opposite ends of the guide body and respectively locked to the support wire and the seat back frame, wherein the hooks locked at one of the opposite ends of the guide body are locked to the seat back frame at an inner edge thereof of the front edges of the airbag module, so that the guide body is arranged from the front edges of the airbag module to a channel in the deployment direction of the airbag cushion. [2] The vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein the guide body is made of a material having a lower elongation than the seat back pad. [3] The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the seat back pad is configured such that an inner surface of the pad is formed with the channel in the deployment direction of the airbag cushion to guide deployment of the airbag cushion. [4] A side airbag guide, which is a side airbag guide attachable to a vehicle seat having an airbag module with an airbag cushion housed therein to guide deployment of the airbag module, the side airbag guide comprising: A guide body made of a textile, which is configured to be arranged on a deployment line of the airbag module and is configured to guide a deployment direction of the airbag cushion by contacting the airbag cushion; and a plurality of hooks provided at opposite ends of the guide body and each configured to be locked to a support wire and a seat back frame provided in the vehicle seat, wherein the hooks locked at one of the opposite ends of the guide body are lockable to the seat back frame at an inner edge thereof of the front edges of the airbag module, so that the guide body is configured to be arranged from the front edges of the airbag module to a channel in the deployment direction of the airbag cushion; wherein the side airbag guide is suitable for attachment to a vehicle seat with the following features: Vehicle seat with a side airbag, the vehicle seat comprising: an airbag module with an airbag cushion housed therein; a seat back frame with the airbag module attached thereto; a seat back pad provided with a cushion projecting on each of opposite sides thereof and with an accommodation space allowing the airbag module to be accommodated therein; a support wire inserted into the cushion and provided vertically on each of opposite sides of the seat back frame to support a side load of an occupant. [5] Side airbag guide according to claim 4, wherein the guide body is made by a plain weave or twill weave.

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