Vehicle seat with side airbag, and method for mounting a vehicle seat with a side airbag

Abstract

A motor vehicle seat with a side airbag module (22) on which a guide strip (30) for the side airbag module (22) is installed, wherein the motor vehicle seat comprises a backrest (10) with a frame structure (12) and a panel (14) with a front side (V), and wherein the panel (14) has side bolster regions (18) and a backrest region (16), wherein a receiving space (20) for the side airbag module (22) is provided at least in one side bolster region (18) and a slot (26) is introduced into the side bolster region (18), and wherein the panel (14) comprises fixing elements (27), and wherein the guide strip (30) comprises a first end region (34), a central region (32) with a fastening section, and a second end region (36), and is designed as a flat element,and wherein the guide band (30) is connected to the frame structure (12) by means of its first end region (34) and fastened to the side airbag module (22) by means of its fastening section and is connected to at least one fixing element (27) on the front side (V) of the panel (14) by means of its second end region (36), characterized in that the fixing elements (27) are a number of foamed-in wires (27).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle seat with a side airbag having a guide band for the airbag module, as well as a method for assembling a vehicle seat with a side airbag. State of the art

[0002] Passive safety systems are designed to provide the best possible protection for passengers in the event of an accident. Airbags are available in a wide variety of designs and are now standard in all vehicle classes. In addition to driver and passenger airbags, side airbags are also installed.

[0003] A driver's airbag integrated into a steering wheel consists of an airbag, an airbag holder, a generator on the generator support, and a steering wheel cover. In the event of an accident, the control unit ignites the generator. An ignition current heats a thin wire, which ignites the squib.

[0004] As the process continues, there is no explosion, but rather a combustion of the propellant charge. This propellant consists of sodium azide. The gas produced during combustion expands and reacts with the oxidizer to form almost pure nitrogen, which fills the airbag. The propellant is usually in tablet form, hermetically packaged in the combustion chamber.

[0005] The propellant used depends on the size of the airbag and the required opening speed. Newer systems use two-stage gas generators. The control unit ignites the two squibs one after the other, depending on the severity of the accident. The shorter the interval between igniting, the faster the airbag fills.

[0006] Hybrid generators are used for passenger or side airbags. With this type of generator, a second gas source is used in addition to the combustion gas. A pressure vessel contains a gas mixture of 96% argon and 4% helium at a pressure of approximately 220 bar. The pressure vessel is sealed by a diaphragm. When triggered, the propellant charge moves a piston, which penetrates the diaphragm and allows the gas to escape.

[0007] The process is similar for side airbags, but due to the lack of deformation paths, the gas generators must be ignited and the airbags filled much more quickly.

[0008] In a side impact collision at a speed of approximately 50 km / h, the generators must fire after approximately 7 ms, and the airbag must be fully inflated after 22 ms. The side airbags are installed in the door panel or the seat backrest of the vehicle seat.

[0009] DE 10 2013 200 076 A1 discloses a vehicle seat assembly comprising a frame, a seat cushion, a cover extending over at least a portion of the seat cushion, and an airbag assembly. The airbag assembly is mounted on the frame and includes a plastic back panel disposed adjacent to the cover and configured to allow the airbag to protrude between the back panel and the cover when inflated. Furthermore, a rigid airbag guide is provided, which is disposed between the airbag assembly and the back panel to guide the deployment of the airbag in a predetermined direction and to increase the deployment speed of the airbag. In one embodiment, a flexible airbag guide is provided within the airbag housing to assist in directing the deployment of the airbag forward.

[0010] DE 10 2013 216 178 A1 and DE 10 2015 003 790 A1 show further airbag modules that are connected to structural components of the vehicle seat.

[0011] DE 10 2016 200 996 A1 discloses a seat assembly for a vehicle with a side airbag. The seat assembly has a support frame to which the side airbag is fixed in position and which is padded with padding, and a cover that seals the seat assembly to the outside. The cover is provided with a tear seam to allow the cover to be suddenly opened by the side airbag.

[0012] DE 10 2011 117 835 A1 discloses a seat for a motor vehicle whose backrest comprises a supporting structure, upholstery arranged thereon, and a cover arranged thereover. The upholstery leaves a receiving space open to an outer side surface of the backrest, in which an airbag assembly is accommodated. The cover has a tear-open seam designed for the exit of the gas bag. Attached to the tear-open seam is a flat reinforcing material layer located between the upholstery and the cover by a first edge region. At a second edge region opposite the first edge region, the reinforcing material layer is attached to the backrest by a number of fixing means.

[0013] The side airbag is attached to the inner frame of the seat with a tensioning strap for support. The airbag, located in the vehicle seat or the side area of ​​the vehicle seat, deploys after deployment through a so-called tear seam in the seat cover.

[0014] The guy rope or guide strap required for fastening must be suitably attached to the seat in order to absorb the resulting forces.

[0015] It is an object of the invention, under a first aspect, to produce a vehicle seat to which the guide belt is optimally attached and connected.

[0016] In a further aspect, it is an object to provide a method for assembling a vehicle seat with a side airbag.

[0017] The problem under the first aspect is solved by the features of patent claim 1.

[0018] The present invention solves the problem under the further aspect by the features specified in claim 5.

[0019] Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the vehicle seat according to the invention or of the method for assembly according to the invention emerge from the respective subclaims.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0021] Showing: Fig. 1 a section through the backrest of a vehicle seat in the area of ​​the airbag module, Fig. 2a a plan view of the guide strip in a first embodiment, Fig. 2b a plan view of the guide band in a second embodiment, Fig. 3 a side view of the backrest of a vehicle seat without seat cover, Fig. 4 a detail of the fastening of the guide strip to the frame structure of the backrest in the assembled state, Fig. 5 a detail of the fastening of the guide strip to the frame structure of the backrest during assembly in one assembly step, Fig. 6 in the sectional view the position of the fastenings according to the Fig. 5a or 5b, Fig. 7 the mounting situation of the guide strip of the side airbag module on the frame structure of the backrest and on a foam-covered wire of the trim, Fig. 8 the connection of the guide strip in the area of ​​the panel to the foamed wire in a detailed view of a backrest area from the front, Fig. 9 in the cross-sectional view the fastening position of the guide strip on the backrest panel.

[0022] A motor vehicle seat essentially consists of a seat structure with a seat cushion and a backrest 10 movably connected to the seat structure. The backrest comprises a metal frame structure 12 and a backrest cushion, which forms a covering 14. The seat cushion and backrest cushion are covered with an upholstery cover, which can be made of different materials. Common materials include textiles or leather, for example, with sections of material sewn together to form the covering. Decorative seams are also provided to provide the user with an appealing appearance.

[0023] The backrest cushion, at least partially illustrated in the drawing, comprises a front side V facing the user of the motor vehicle seat, with a central backrest region 16 for supporting the user's back, as well as laterally arranged side bolster regions 18. The backrest cushion is manufactured as a preformed foamed panel 14 in a separate process step during the manufacture of the motor vehicle seat. PU foam is preferably used as the foam material.

[0024] As can be seen from the sectional view of the Fig. 1, a receiving space 20 is formed laterally in the side bolster region 18 of the paneling 14, said receiving space being open toward the frame structure 12 of the backrest 10. A side airbag 22 is arranged in the receiving space 20 in order to deploy a gas bag into an area located laterally next to the occupant / user when triggered. Gas bag devices / airbag modules are well known and will not be described in detail here. Essentially, they consist of a gas generator and a gas bag 24. When the gas bag 24 is deployed, it can pass through a corresponding slit 26 provided in the paneling 14 and cause a corresponding tear seam in the upholstery cover in the side bolster region to tear open.

[0025] The solution according to the invention uses a guide band 30 for fastening the side airbag module 22 to the backrest 10 of the motor vehicle seat.

[0026] The guide band 30 is in a first embodiment in the Fig. 2a and in a second embodiment in the Fig. 2b. The guide band 30 essentially comprises a flat central region 32 made of a fabric material and a first end region 34 and an opposite second end region 36. The first and second end regions 34 and 36, respectively, serve for the connection of the guide band 30 to the motor vehicle seat, as described below.

[0027] For this purpose, the guide band 30 is connected at its first end region 32 to the frame structure 12 of the backrest 10. The connection is made via clips, snap fasteners, which are attached from the back of the backrest. Fig. In the exemplary first embodiment shown in Figure 2a, the guide band 30 is attached to the frame structure of the backrest from the rear side with two snap fasteners 38. The snap fasteners 38 are arranged at the edge of the first end region 34.

[0028] In one in the Fig. In the second embodiment of the guide strip 30 shown in Figure 2b, a strip-shaped plastic element 35 is attached to the first end region 34' for fastening to the frame structure 12 of the backrest 10. This plastic element 35 is provided at its ends with fastening points 40 in the form of bores that interact with corresponding fastening points on the frame structure.

[0029] As it is from the Fig. 2a and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 2b, a recess 42 is provided in the central region 32 of the guide strip 30, which is required for connecting the side airbag module 22.

[0030] The second end region 36 of the guide strip 30 serves to connect to the cladding 14; for this purpose, the second end region 30 is also designed with connecting means 44.

[0031] An identification label 45 necessary for the manufacturing process is also attached, preferably sewn, in the area of ​​the second end region 36.

[0032] The method according to the invention for assembling a motor vehicle seat with a side airbag comprises the following method steps: In a first step, a corresponding frame structure 12 for the backrest 10 is manufactured and provided. In a further method step, the previously described guide strip 30 is manufactured according to the first or second embodiment and prepared for further assembly.

[0033] Furthermore, in a separate process step, the covering 14 is manufactured from a foam material, preferably PU foam, wherein the covering 14 comprises a central backrest region 16, lateral opposing side bolster regions 18, and wherein one of the side bolster regions 18 is provided with a receiving space 20. Furthermore, the covering contains a number of foam-covered wires 27. In addition, a slot 26 is introduced into the covering 14. As can be seen from the drawing of the Fig. 1, the slot 26 extends in the side bolster area 18 between the receiving space 20 and the side area S of the side bolster area 18. In the assembled state of the motor vehicle seat, the slot 26 enables the passage of the gas bag in the event of a crash, starting from the receiving space 20, to the side area of ​​the motor vehicle seat facing the body / door side in the area of ​​the side bolster of the backrest 10.

[0034] In a first assembly step, the guide strip 30 is first connected to the frame structure 12 of the motor vehicle seat by means of the first end region 34. As previously described, connecting elements are provided for this purpose at the first end region, which interact with corresponding connecting elements on the frame structure 12 and establish a positive and / or non-positive connection.

[0035] After the guide strip 30 is connected to the frame structure 12 via the first end region 34, the side airbag module 22 is attached to the guide strip 30 in a subsequent assembly step. For this purpose, a retaining section of the side airbag module 22 (not described in detail) is inserted through the recess 42 in the central region 32 of the guide strip 30, thereby achieving a secure fit. Alternatively, an additional fastening is provided.

[0036] Following the attachment of the side airbag module 22, the covering 14 is joined to the frame structure 12, so that the backrest 10 of the motor vehicle seat is covered with the preformed foamed plastic material. The guide strip 30 is thereby pulled by means of its second end region 36 through the slot 26 onto the outer side A of the side bolster region 18. As can be seen from the Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, the side airbag module 22 is accommodated in the receiving space 20 in the mounted situation.

[0037] After the panel 14 has been installed, the second end portion 36 is guided from the slot 26 around the outside of the side bolster portion 18 to the front of the panel 14 and is secured there to at least one foam-covered wire 27. The foam-covered wire 27 is preferably located between the side bolster portion 18 and the backrest portion 16 on the front side.

[0038] The connecting means could, for example, be staples or eyelets that are hooked into the wire. Such fastening means are also referred to as hog rings, which are attached to at least one foamed-in wire 27 as a fixing means.

[0039] In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, these fixing means are the previously described foamed wires, which are embedded in the covering 14 as an additional function for the reference guying. List of reference symbols 10 Backrest 12 Frame structure 14 Cladding 16 Backrest area 18 Side bolster area 20 recording room 22 Side airbag module 24 gas bag 26 slot 27 wires 30 Guide Band 32 middle range 34 first end area 35 plastic element 36 second end area 38 snap fasteners 40 attachment points 42 recess 44 lanyards 45 identification labels

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle seat with a side airbag module (22) on which a guide strip (30) for the side airbag module (22) is installed, wherein the motor vehicle seat comprises a backrest (10) with a frame structure (12) and a panel (14) with a front side (V), and wherein the panel (14) has side bolster regions (18) and a backrest region (16), wherein a receiving space (20) for the side airbag module (22) is provided at least in one side bolster region (18) and a slot (26) is introduced into the side bolster region (18), and wherein the panel (14) comprises fixing elements (27), and wherein the guide strip (30) comprises a first end region (34), a central region (32) with a fastening section and a second end region (36) and is designed as a flat element,and wherein the guide band (30) is connected to the frame structure (12) by means of its first end region (34) and is fastened to the side airbag module (22) by means of its fastening section and is connected to at least one fixing element (27) on the front side (V) of the panel (14) by means of its second end region (36), characterized by that the fixing elements (27) are a number of foamed wires (27). [2] Motor vehicle seat with a side airbag module (22) according to claim 1, wherein the lining (14) is a preformed foamed plastic material, preferably made of a polyurethane. [3] Motor vehicle seat with a side airbag module (22) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the slot (26) runs from the receiving space (20) through the side cheek region (18) to the outside (A) for the purpose of passing the central region (32). [4] Motor vehicle seat with a side airbag module (22) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the fastening section comprises a recess (42) through which a holding section of the side airbag module (22) extends. [5] Method for assembling a motor vehicle seat with a side airbag module (22) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: • Manufacturing the frame structure (12) of the motor vehicle seat from metal, • Producing a guide strip (30) having a first end region (34), a middle region (32) and a second end region (36), • Producing a covering (14) for the vehicle seat, wherein the covering (14) for the backrest (10) contains fixing elements (27) and a slot (26) on the side surface in the side bolster area (18), wherein the fixing elements (27) are produced as a number of foamed wires (27) in the foaming process for producing the covering (14), • Connecting the first end region (34) of the guide strip (30) to the frame structure (12) of the motor vehicle seat, • Mounting the side airbag module (22) on the guide strip (30), • Covering the frame structure (12) of the motor vehicle seat in such a way that the side airbag module (22) is located in the receiving space (20), • Pull the guide strip (30) through the slot (26) of the cover (14) to the outside (A), • Fastening the second end region (36) of the guide strip (30) to the fixing elements (27) of the covering (14).

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