OCCUPANT PROTECTION DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an occupant protection device for a vehicle, which comprises at least one airbag arranged in a region of a vehicle seat and deploying from this region, which airbag is assigned to an occupant on the vehicle seat.

[0002] From CN 105 539 352 an occupant protection device for a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1 is known.

[0003] DE 10 2013 017 346 A1 discloses a vehicle with at least one airbag arranged in the rear compartment. The at least one airbag is arranged in the area of ​​a seat cushion forming a seat surface of a rear seat in such a way that the airbag can be deployed in the direction of the vehicle's vertical axis.

[0004] Furthermore, EP 3 187 379 A1 describes an airbag that is arranged in an armrest of a vehicle seat and deploys from there, whereas US 2018 / 0086299 A1 and DE 10 2009 016 885 A1 each disclose an airbag that is arranged in a seat back, in particular in a side bolster of the seat back. The invention is based on the object of providing an occupant protection device for a vehicle that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention by the features specified in claim 1.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0007] An occupant protection device for a vehicle comprises at least one airbag arranged in a region of a vehicle seat and deploying from this region, which airbag is assigned to an occupant on the vehicle seat. According to the invention, the airbag deploys upwards in the direction of a vehicle's vertical axis, wherein the airbag has a balloon-shaped section and an adjacent further section and is positioned in its operative position such that the airbag encloses the legs and lower body of the occupant, and this enclosing region forms an impact and support region for the head and upper body of the occupant.

[0008] By means of an airbag designed in this way, occupant protection can be optimized in the event of a frontal collision with the vehicle, whereby the airbag complements a fastened seat belt.

[0009] Since the airbag is located in the area of ​​the vehicle seat, in particular in the vehicle seat, it is not necessary to use an installation space in an instrument panel or in a steering wheel from which the airbag unfolds.

[0010] In particular, the occupant protection device with the airbag is suitable for occupants on a vehicle seat in rear seating positions and / or in a rear row of seats of the vehicle, for example for a so-called vis-à-vis seating arrangement, in which essentially no optimized protective effect can be achieved by an airbag deploying from the instrument panel or the steering wheel.

[0011] In one embodiment, the airbag has a number of support areas, with one support area arranged or formed in the area of ​​its arrangement on the vehicle seat and another support area arranged or formed in the area of ​​the occupant's legs. The airbag supports itself via the support areas, thereby optimizing the stability of the airbag and the resulting protective effect.

[0012] In one embodiment, the airbag has a recess in the balloon-shaped section, which is designed to accommodate the upper body of the occupant when the airbag is positioned in its active position. The recess is arranged on a side of the balloon-shaped section facing a seat backrest. The recess largely prevents the occupant from being trapped by the airbag as it positions itself and / or from being injured by the airbag when it deploys.

[0013] In a further development, the airbag is designed in two parts, with each section deploying upwards from a side area of ​​the vehicle seat in the direction of the vehicle's vertical axis. The two sections are positioned opposite each other on the sides of the vehicle seat. When the two sections are in their active position, the occupant is supported on both sides of the vehicle seat.

[0014] In a further embodiment, each subsection comprises a balloon-shaped section and a further section, with the enclosing area being formed by both subsections of the airbag. The occupant is thus located between the two subsections and is supported forward and laterally by them, at least significantly reducing the risk of injury to the occupant.

[0015] One embodiment of the occupant protection device provides for it to additionally comprise at least one additional airbag deploying laterally from a seat backrest of the vehicle seat. The at least one additional airbag deploying laterally from the seat backrest provides additional lateral support for the occupant. The additional airbag, for example, keeps the occupant away from a side part of the vehicle, thus largely preventing the occupant from impacting the side part of the vehicle.

[0016] To position the airbag, the parts, and / or the additional airbag in the respective active position, a further embodiment of the occupant protection device provides a number of gas generators, with at least one gas generator being fluidically coupled to at least one airbag or part of the airbag. In particular, a gas generator is assigned to each airbag or to each part of the airbag, so that the airbags and the respective part of the airbag can be inflated relatively quickly and assume their active position to optimize the protective effect for the occupant.

[0017] In a possible further development, the number of gas generators is integrated into the vehicle seat, eliminating the need for relatively large distances between the airbag, the partial sections, and the other airbag. The occupant protection device is thus designed to be comparatively compact.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the vehicle seat is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation running parallel to the vertical axis of the vehicle, so that it is possible, for example, for the vehicle seat to be positioned in the vehicle in such a way that the occupant can talk face to face with another occupant in the vehicle.

[0019] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0020] Showing: Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a vehicle seat with an occupant and a triggered occupant protection device in one embodiment, Fig. 2 schematically shows a side view of the vehicle seat with the collision-induced accelerated occupant and the triggered occupant protection device in the embodiment according to Figure 1, Fig. 3 schematically shows a plan view of a vehicle seat with an occupant and the triggered occupant protection device in a further embodiment and Fig. 4 schematically shows a plan view of the vehicle with the occupant accelerated due to the collision and the triggered occupant protection device in the further embodiment.

[0021] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0022] The Figures 1 and 2 each show a side view of an occupant 1 on a vehicle seat 2 with a triggered occupant protection device I, which comprises an airbag 3 and a further airbag 4.

[0023] A vehicle 5 in which the vehicle seat 2 is arranged has an assistance system for autonomous driving, wherein a driving task is fully carried out by the vehicle 5.

[0024] An occupant 1 of vehicle 5 who normally performs the driving task can thus pursue other activities. For example, occupant 1 can converse with another occupant (not shown in detail), who is seated, for example, in the rear of vehicle 5.

[0025] In order to be able to talk face to face, the vehicle seat 2 is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation running parallel to the vehicle vertical axis z, so that the vehicle seat 2 can be positioned in the direction of the rear area.

[0026] In such a position, occupant 1 is not optimally aligned with respect to a frontal airbag integrated into a steering wheel or instrument panel, which deploys from the steering wheel or instrument panel. The protective effect of the frontal airbag cannot therefore be ensured for occupant 1, and occupant 1 cannot be restrained by the frontal airbag.

[0027] In the event of a collision of the vehicle 5, such a circumstance can lead to the head 1.1 of the occupant 1 coming into contact with his knees 1.2 and / or legs 1.3 due to the acceleration acting, whereby in particular the head 1.1 and a cervical spine of the occupant 1 (not shown in detail) are subjected to comparatively high loads.

[0028] In order to at least reduce the risk of injury to the occupant 1 in such a situation, the occupant protection device I described below is provided. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the vehicle seat 2 is a vehicle seat 2 in a rear region of the vehicle 5, wherein the vehicle seat 2 is positioned forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction x, i.e. in the direction of travel of the vehicle 5.

[0029] In one embodiment, the occupant protection device I comprises the two airbags 3, 4, wherein the airbag 3 is arranged directly on the vehicle seat 2 in a lower area, for example in a console 6, and in the event of a collision of the vehicle 5 unfolds from this and its Figures 1 and 2 In particular, the lower region is understood to be the region arranged below a seat cushion 2.1 of the vehicle seat 2 forming a seat surface.

[0030] It is also conceivable that the airbag 3 is arranged in a side armrest (not shown in detail), in the area of ​​a movable center console or another seat-mounted and movable interior component and unfolds from this.

[0031] In the active position of the airbag 3, it extends in sections over the legs 1.3 and around a lower body 1.4 of the occupant 1, wherein the airbag 3 unfolds upwards from the console 6 in the direction of a vehicle vertical axis z and extends over the occupant 1 due to its shape.

[0032] By means of the airbag 3 positioned in the active position, the occupant 1 is fixed to the vehicle seat 2, wherein the occupant 1 is also laterally supported by the airbag 3 on the side on which the airbag 3 unfolds from the console 6.

[0033] If the occupant 1 is accelerated forward in the direction of the vehicle's longitudinal axis x due to a collision, in particular a frontal collision, the occupant 1 impacts with his head 1.1 onto an enclosing area U of the airbag 3, whereby an upper body 1.5 is supported by means of the enclosing area U.

[0034] To form the enclosing area U, the airbag 3 has a similarly Figure 3 shown recess A, which serves to accommodate the lower body 1.4 and partially the upper body 1.5 of the occupant 1. For this purpose, an opening of the recess A is arranged in the direction of the occupant 1 and thus in the direction of a seat back 2.2.

[0035] The recess A further largely prevents the occupant 1 from being trapped between the airbag 3 and the seat back 2.2 and / or from being injured when the airbag 3 is deployed.

[0036] In the direction of the legs 1.3, the airbag 3 is designed to be rather flat, with the adjacent enclosing area U with the recess A being balloon-shaped.

[0037] Alternatively, a region of the airbag 3 which is arranged in the section of the legs 1.3 can be cylindrical or tubular in shape, it being necessary to ensure the supporting effect of the airbag 3 on the legs 1.3 and this section forms a collecting surface for the head 1.1 and the upper body 1.5 of the occupant 1.

[0038] In addition, the airbag 3 has a lateral support area B for laterally fixing the occupant 1 on the vehicle seat 2.

[0039] The airbag 3 can be designed to be longer in a lower section in order to support the occupant 1 laterally, wherein an upper section is designed to cover the legs 1.3 and which has the recess A, is designed to be shorter.

[0040] The occupant protection device I further comprises the additional airbag 4, which deploys laterally from the seat back 2.2, in particular from a side bolster, whereby such an additional airbag 4 can also be arranged on an opposite side of the seat back 2.2. By means of the additional airbag 4 or by means of the additional airbags 4, the occupant 1 is supported on both sides of the vehicle seat 2, so that the risk of impact with a vehicle component on either side of the vehicle seat 2 can be largely eliminated. In particular, the additional airbag 4 serves to improve the lateral support of the occupant 1, in particular of his or her upper body 1.5, on the vehicle seat 2.

[0041] Gas generators required to fill the airbags 3, 4, which are triggered in the event of a detected collision imminent to the vehicle 5 or in the event of a detected collision, are integrated into the vehicle seat 2, for example in the console 6, wherein at least one gas generator is fluidically connected to one of the airbags 3, 4.

[0042] In the Figures 3 and 4 a further embodiment of the occupant protection device I is shown, wherein the airbag 3 is designed in two parts and comprises two essentially symmetrical sections T which are arranged opposite one another on the vehicle seat 2.

[0043] By means of this two-part airbag 3, the occupant 1 is supported on both sides of the vehicle seat 2 in the event of a collision of the vehicle 5 and is thus spaced apart from any vehicle parts present on the sides or from an adjacent vehicle seat 2.

[0044] In the active position of the airbag 3 implemented by means of the two partial sections T, an enclosing area U for the occupant 1 is also formed, wherein one half of the recess A is formed on the respective partial section T to accommodate the occupant 1.

[0045] In the further embodiment, in the event of a collision of the vehicle 5, the occupant 1 also impacts with his head 1.1 on the enclosing area U due to acceleration, by means of which collision energy is absorbed and thus the risk of injury to the occupant 1 is reduced. List of reference symbols

[0046] 1Occupant 1.1Head 1.2Knee 1.3Leg 1.4Lower body 1.5Upper body 2Vehicle seat 2.1Seat cushion 2.2Seat backrest 3Airbag 4Additional airbag 5Vehicle 6Console ARecess BSupport area IOccupant protection device TSections UEnclosure area xVehicle longitudinal axis zVehicle vertical axis

Claims

1. Occupant protection device (I) for a vehicle (5), comprising at least one airbag (3) arranged in a region of a vehicle seat (2) and deploying from this region, which airbag is assigned to an occupant (1) in the vehicle seat (2), the airbag (3) deploying upwards in the direction of a vehicle vertical axis (z), having a balloon-shaped portion and an adjacent further portion, and being positioned in its operative position such that the airbag (3) encloses the legs (1.3) and lower body (1.4) of the occupant (1), and this enclosing region (U) forming an impact and support region for the head (1.1) and upper body (1.5) of the occupant (1), characterized in that the airbag (3) has a recess (A) in the balloon-shaped portion designed to accommodate the upper body (1.5) of the occupant (1).

2. Occupant protection device (I) according to claim 1, characterized in that the airbag (3) has a number of support regions, one support region being arranged or designed in the region of its arrangement on the vehicle seat (2) and a further support region being arranged or formed in the region of the legs (1.3) of the occupant (1).

3. Occupant protection device (I) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the airbag (3) is designed in two parts and each sub-portion (T) deploys upwards from a lateral region of the vehicle seat (2) in the direction of the vehicle vertical axis (z), the two sub-portions (T) being arranged opposite one another to the side of the vehicle seat (2).

4. Occupant protection device (I) according to claim 3, characterized in that each sub-portion (T) has a balloon-shaped portion and a further portion, the enclosing region (U) being formed by both sub-portions (T) of the airbag (3).

5. Occupant protection device (I) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition, at least one further airbag (4) is provided which deploys laterally from a seat back (2.2) of the vehicle seat (2) to support the upper body (1.5).

6. Occupant protection device (I) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a number of gas generators is provided, in each case at least one gas generator being fluidically coupled to at least one airbag (3, 4) or sub-portion (T) of the airbag (3).

7. Occupant protection device (I) according to claim 6, characterized in that the number of gas generators is integrated into the vehicle seat (2).

8. Occupant protection device (I) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vehicle seat (2) is mounted so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation running parallel to the vehicle vertical axis (z).