Restraint device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a restraint device comprising a vehicle seat (7) for a motor vehicle, said seat having a seat part (6), a backrest (8), and an inclination adjustment device (17) by means of which a vehicle occupant (3) can adjust the vehicle seat (7) between a normal position with an upright backrest (8) and a reclining or comfort position with the backrest (8) inclined relative thereto. According to the invention, the vehicle seat (7) has a shell element (13) in which the occupant's pelvis is positioned. In the reclining or comfort position, the shell element (13) forms a pelvic ramp which, in the event of a frontal crash, exerts a back-holding force on the occupant's pelvis and / or prevents submarining of the vehicle occupant (3).

Description

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

[0002] Particularly in an autonomously driving vehicle, the vehicle seat can be implemented as an integral belt seat in which the backrest angle and the seat surface inclination are adjustable over a wide range to increase seating comfort in different seating positions, for example, into a normal position with an upright backrest or into a reclining or comfort position with a backrest inclined relative to the upright position. In the reclining or comfort position of the vehicle seat, there is a risk of submarining in the event of a frontal crash due to the inclined backrest. This means that the lower body of the vehicle occupant, secured to the vehicle seat by the seat belt, slides forward under the lap portion of the seat belt in the event of a crash.

[0003] US 2023 286 425 A1 discloses an occupant protection system for a vehicle seat. This system has a shell element in the area of ​​the occupant's pelvis between the backrest and the seat surface. DE 10 2005 007 428 A1 discloses a vehicle seat that has a ramp-like restraint device in the area of ​​the occupant's pelvis to prevent submarining. DE 10 2006 035 198 A1 discloses a vehicle seat that has a rotating safety device to prevent submarining. Further restraint devices are known from JP 2003 - 72 437 A, from DE 197 11 944 A1, from DE 10 2005 007 428 A1, from DE 10 2006 035 198 A1 and from US 2023 / 0 286 425 A1.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a restraint device for a vehicle seat in which, in the event of a crash, occupant safety is ensured even when the vehicle seat is in the reclining or comfort position.

[0005] The object is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred developments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims.

[0006] The invention relates to a restraint device for a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle. The vehicle seat has a seat part and a backrest, as well as an inclination adjustment device. With the aid of this device, a vehicle occupant can adjust the vehicle seat between a normal position with an upright backrest and a reclining or comfort position with the backrest inclined relative to the upright position. According to the characterizing part of claim 1, the vehicle seat has a shell element in which the occupant's pelvis is positioned. In the reclining or comfort position, the shell element forms a pelvic ramp. In the reclining or comfort position, this ramp exerts a back-restraint force on the occupant's pelvis, which is subjected to an inertial force acting forward of the vehicle due to the crash.This prevents submarining of the vehicle occupant, in which the lower body of the vehicle occupant slides forward due to the lap belt portion of the seat belt.

[0007] The shell element can be designed like a seat shell, with a shell base that, at least toward the front of the vehicle, transitions into a raised shell edge. The front edge of the shell forms the pelvic ramp of the shell element.

[0008] In one technical implementation, the shell element can be adjusted between a non-use position and a functional position via an adjustment path. In the non-use position, the shell element is non-functional, meaning it exerts no restraining force on the occupant's pelvis in the event of a frontal crash. In the functional position, however, the shell element forms the pelvic ramp to exert a crash-related restraining force on the occupant's pelvis. To ensure the most space-saving adjustment option possible, the shell element is mounted so that it can rotate about a pivot axis, allowing the shell element to pivot about a vehicle seat transverse axis via an adjustment path designed as a pivot path.

[0009] The shell element can be assigned its own actuator, i.e., an electric motor. This can be controlled by the tilt adjustment device as needed. The backrest can also be assigned its own actuator, which can be controlled by the tilt adjustment device.

[0010] In an alternative drive system, the shell element can be equipped without its own actuator. In this case, the shell element can be connected to the backrest actuator, for example, via a gear stage. The shell element can therefore be easily adjusted in tilt by being motion-coupled with the backrest.

[0011] In a specific embodiment, the seat part of the vehicle seat has a rigid seat frame as a supporting structure, which in particular supports the soft seat cushion of the vehicle seat. Furthermore, the backrest has a rigid backrest frame as a supporting structure, which supports the soft back cushions and various other attachments. The shell element, on the other hand, is designed as a separate component from the seat frame and the backrest frame. Therefore, the shell element can be adjusted independently of the inclination adjustment of the seat frame and / or the backrest frame.

[0012] In a preferred further development of the invention, the restraint device can adjust the vehicle seat from its reclining or comfort position into a specific pre-crash position. For this purpose, the inclination adjustment device can be signal-linked to a pre-crash sensor system of the motor vehicle. With the vehicle seat in the reclining or comfort position and a pre-crash event detected by the pre-crash sensor system, the inclination adjustment device can adjust the shell element by a certain travel distance into a pre-crash position in order to increase the effective support surface of the pelvic ramp provided by the shell element and to increase the restraint force acting on the occupant's pelvis.

[0013] In a first embodiment, the shell element can still be in its non-use position in the reclining or comfort position. In this case, the inclination adjustment device (if a pre-crash event is detected) would adjust the shell element from its non-use position by a certain travel distance into the pre-crash position. In an alternative embodiment, the shell element can already be in the functional position in the reclining or comfort position of the vehicle seat. In this case, the shell element is adjusted from its functional position by an additional travel distance into the pre-crash position. The pre-crash position can preferably not be controlled by the inclination adjustment device during normal operation, i.e., without a crash or pre-crash situation.

[0014] In a specific design variant, the vehicle seat is designed as an integral seat belt with a lap belt section running transversely across the occupant's pelvis. This section includes a lap belt section running transversely across the occupant's pelvis and a shoulder belt section running diagonally across the occupant's chest area. The lap belt section of the seat belt extends between floor-side attachment points located on both sides of the vehicle seat; the shoulder belt section extends to an upper attachment point located at the upper edge of the backrest.

[0015] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show: Fig. 1 to 5 different views of a vehicle seat in different operating states. These illustrate the structure and function of the vehicle seat.

[0016] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, a vehicle seat 7 is shown schematically to the extent necessary for understanding the invention. The vehicle seat 7 is a belt-integrated seat, which is constructed from a seat part 6 and a backrest 8. In addition, the vehicle seat 7 is Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 is arranged in a vehicle interior 1 of a motor vehicle facing forward and is mounted on the vehicle floor via a vehicle seat support 12. The vehicle occupant 3 is also secured to the vehicle seat 7 by means of a three-point safety belt 5. The three-point safety belt 5 has a lap belt portion 9 and a shoulder belt portion 11, the courses of which extend into the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are only roughly schematically indicated for reasons of clarity. Accordingly, the lap belt portion 9 runs between floor-side attachment points arranged on both sides of the vehicle seat 7. Of the two attachment points, one attachment point (not shown) is designed to be detachable via a belt tongue and a vehicle-mounted belt buckle. The shoulder belt portion 11 of the safety belt 5 is guided diagonally from one of the lower attachment points diagonally across the chest area of ​​the vehicle occupant 3 to an upper attachment point. This can be a deflection fitting (not shown) formed on the upper edge of the backrest 8 of the vehicle seat 7. The shoulder belt portion 11 runs beyond the upper deflection fitting further to, for example, an electromotively reversible belt tensioner (not shown) which is integrated into the backrest 8.

[0017] As can be seen from the Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, the seat part 6 has a rigid seat frame 4 as a supporting structure, which supports a soft seat cushion. The backrest 8 has a rigid backrest frame 10 as a supporting structure, which supports a soft backrest cushion as well as various attachments, such as the belt tensioner. The seat frame 4 and the backrest frame 10 are articulated to one another via a pivot axis S. In addition, the vehicle seat 7 has a shell element 13, separate from the seat frame 4 and the backrest frame 10, in which the occupant's pelvis is positioned. The shell element 13 is in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 positioned in an inner corner area spanned between the seat part 6 and the backrest 8.

[0018] In the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, only the seat frame 4 and the backrest frame 10 of the vehicle seat 7 are indicated, while the seat cushions and the backrest cushions are omitted. Fig. 3 shows how the Fig. 1, the vehicle seat 7 in its normal position; the Fig. 4 shows how the Fig. 2, the vehicle seat 7 in its reclining or comfort position. According to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the shell element 13 is pivotable about a pivot axis Q aligned in the vehicle transverse direction y, which is aligned axially parallel to the pivot axis S which articulates the seat part frame 6 and the backrest frame 8.

[0019] In the figures, the backrest 8 is tilt-adjustable via a backrest actuator 15, such as an electric actuator. For this purpose, the backrest actuator 15 can be controlled by an electronic tilt adjustment device 17. Similarly, the shell element 13 can also be tilt-adjusted via a shell element actuator 19, such as an electric actuator, which can also be controlled by the electronic tilt adjustment device 17.

[0020] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the vehicle seat 7 is shown in its normal position with the backrest 8 upright. In the event of a frontal collision with the vehicle seat 7 in its normal position, the reversible belt tensioner is activated, which limits the restraining force exerted on the vehicle occupant 3 to a predefined force level. The shell element 13 is located in the Fig. 1 shown normal position in a non-use position in which the shell element 13 with its vehicle front shell edge 21 is located approximately below the occupant's pelvis.

[0021] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the vehicle seat 7 is adjusted to the reclining / comfort position with the backrest 8 inclined significantly compared to the normal position. In the reclining or comfort position, the shell element 13 is adjusted to its functional position, starting from the non-use position ( Fig. 1 or Fig. 3) over a swivel path α ( Fig. 4) by rotation around the transverse axis Q in a clockwise direction. In the functional position, the vehicle's front shell edge 21 of the shell element 13 forms a pelvic ramp. In the event of a frontal crash, the pelvic ramp exerts a restraining force on the occupant's pelvis, which is subjected to an inertial force acting forward of the vehicle due to the crash. The vehicle's front shell edge 21 therefore provides support for the occupant's pelvis in the event of a frontal crash, preventing submarining of the vehicle occupant 3.

[0022] In the Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment variant, namely according to the view according to the Fig. 4. The Fig. The vehicle seat 7 shown in Figure 5 corresponds essentially in structure and function to the previous embodiment, so that reference is made to the previous description. In contrast to the previous embodiment, in the Fig. 5, the inclination adjustment device 17 is signal-connected to a pre-crash sensor system 23 of the motor vehicle. When the vehicle seat is in the reclining or comfort position and in a pre-crash event detected by the pre-crash sensor system, the inclination adjustment device 17 adjusts the shell element 13 (adjustment path α) starting from its functional position by an additional adjustment path β ( Fig. 5) to a pre-crash situation, which in the Fig. 5 is indicated by dashed lines. In this way, an effective support surface of the pelvic ramp provided by the shell element 13 is increased, or the restraining force effect on the occupant's pelvis provided by the shell element is increased. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS: 1 vehicle interior 3 vehicle occupants 4 seat frame 5 Seat belt 6 Seat part 7 Vehicle seat 8 Backrest 9 Lap belt portion 10 backrest frames 11 Shoulder strap portion 12 vehicle seat supports 13 Shell element 15 Backrest actuator 17 Tilt adjustment device 19 Shell element actuator 21 vehicle front shell edge 23 Pre-crash sensors α travel β Additional travel FR direction of travel S swivel axis Q Swivel axis

Claims

[1] Restraint device with a vehicle seat (7) for a motor vehicle, which has a seat part (6), a backrest (8) and an inclination adjustment device (17) by means of which a vehicle occupant (3) can adjust the vehicle seat (7) between a normal position with an upright backrest (8) and a lying or comfort position with a backrest (8) inclined relative thereto, characterized by that the vehicle seat (7) has a shell element (13) in which the occupant's pelvis is positioned, and that the shell element (13) forms a pelvic ramp in the lying or comfort position, which exerts a restraining force on the occupant's pelvis in the event of a frontal crash and / or prevents submarining of the vehicle occupant (3). [2] Restraint device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the shell element (13) has a shell bottom which merges towards the front of the vehicle into a shell edge (21) raised therefrom, and that the shell edge (21) at the front of the vehicle forms the pool ramp. [3] Restraint device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the shell element (13) is adjustable over an adjustment path (α) between a non-use position, in which the shell element (13) is non-functional, and a functional position in which the shell element (13) forms the pelvic ramp, and that in particular the shell element (13) is pivotable about a vehicle seat transverse axis (Q) over an adjustment path designed as a pivoting path (α). [4] Restraint device according to claim 3, characterized bythat the shell element (13) is assigned a shell element actuator (19) which can be controlled by the inclination adjustment device (17), and / or that the backrest (8) is assigned a backrest actuator (15) which can be controlled by the inclination adjustment device (17). [5] Restraint device according to claim 4, characterized by that the shell element (13), in particular without its own shell element actuator (19), is connected to the backrest actuator (15) by driving, for example via a gear stage, so that the shell element (13) can be adjusted in inclination in a movement-coupled manner with the backrest (8). [6] Restraint device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the seat part (6) of the vehicle seat (7) has a seat part frame as a supporting structure, and / or that the backrest (8) has a backrest frame as a supporting structure, and that in particular the shell element (13) is a component separate from the seat part frame and the backrest frame. [7] Restraint device according to claim 4, characterized byin that the inclination adjustment device (17) is signal-connected to a pre-crash sensor system (23) of the motor vehicle, and in that, in particular when the vehicle seat (7) is in the lying or comfort position and when a pre-crash event is detected by the pre-crash sensor system (23), the inclination adjustment device (17) adjusts the shell element, in particular starting from its functional position, by an adjustment path (β) into a pre-crash position in order to increase an effective support surface of the pelvic ramp provided by the shell element (13) or to increase the restraining force effect on the occupant's pelvis. [8] Restraint device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the vehicle seat (7) is an integral belt seat, with a lap belt portion (9) running transversely across the occupant's pelvis and a shoulder belt portion (11) running diagonally across the thorax area of ​​the vehicle occupant (3).

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