Restraint device, restraint assembly, and seat unit

Abstract

A seat unit restraint is described, which is capable of protecting a person without relying on a support surface. The restraint comprises an airbag which, in a deployed state, comprises a first portion (30), a second portion (40) and a third portion (50). The first portion (30) extends in a first direction (X) from its first end (30a) over the shoulders of a person (P) seated in the vehicle seat (10) to a distal second end (30b) of the seat back that is forward of the person's head and / or torso, and in a second direction (Y) from a third end (30c) on the outer side of the person to a fourth end (30d) on the inner side of the person. The second part (40) extends in a third direction (Z) from a fifth end (40a) to a sixth end (40b) and from a seventh end (40c) proximal to the backrest to an eighth end (40d) distal to the backrest, such that at least an upper section (42) of the second part (40) extends laterally of the person's head. The third part (50) extends in a second direction (Y) from a ninth end (50a) on the outer side of the person to a tenth end (50b) on the inner side of the person, such that at least an upper section of the third part (50) faces the person's face.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The invention relates to a restraint device according to the preamble of claim 1, a restraint assembly comprising such a restraint device and an inflator according to claim 11, and a seat unit comprising a vehicle seat and such an airbag assembly according to claim 16. [Background technology]

[0002] A generic restraint device - and thus a generic restraint assembly and a generic seat unit - is known from EP 3527440 B1. This document describes an airbag cushion that extends adjacent to or partially over the shoulders of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. The deployed airbag cushion is held by belts so that it can restrain the occupant without the need for a support surface (e.g. the instrument panel) as is necessary for conventional front airbag cushions. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] Starting from this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide a restraint system that provides an even greater level of protection in a variety of accident scenarios.

[0004] This problem is solved by a restraint device having the features of claim 1. A restraint assembly comprising such a restraint device is defined in claim 11 and a seat unit comprising such a restraint assembly is defined in claim 16.

[0005] A restraint device according to the present invention includes an airbag cushion having a first portion that extends over the shoulders of an occupant at least in its deployed condition, the first portion having a first end proximal to the seat back, and the first portion extending in a first direction from the first end to a second end distal to the first end.

[0006] The airbag cushion according to the present invention additionally comprises a second portion and a third portion, the second portion extending laterally from the occupant to have at least an upper section located laterally from the occupant's head when the airbag cushion is deployed, and the third portion located in front of the occupant.

[0007] As a result, the deployed airbag cushion has the following structure:

[0008] The first portion extends from its first end in a first direction to a second end and extends in a second direction from a third end to a fourth end. The second portion connected to the first portion extends in a third direction from a fifth end to a sixth end and also from a seventh end to an eighth end such that at least an upper section of the second portion extends laterally of the person's head. The third portion extends in the second direction from a ninth end to a tenth end.

[0009] Each section is connected to every other section such that the deployed airbag cushion has a self-supporting three-dimensional structure.

[0010] Preferably, the eighth end of the second part and the ninth end of the third part are at least indirectly and at least partially connected to each other such that the projection of these parts in the third direction is essentially L-shaped, which usually fits perfectly in the vehicle and additionally facilitates production.

[0011] It is often preferred that the second portion forms a "full" side airbag, i.e., protects not only the head of the occupant but also at least a portion of the torso, in which case the second portion extends in a third direction (Z direction) from a third end of the first portion to both sides of the first portion, such that the second portion has an upper section extending laterally of the person's head and a lower section extending laterally of the person's torso.

[0012] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the restraint device additionally comprises a first belt to position the deployed airbag cushion against the vehicle seat, even when an external force (usually exerted by the occupant) is applied to the airbag cushion, particularly to its third part. This enhances the self-supporting ability of the restraint device, making it independent of the support surface in front of the third part, in particular so that it can restrain a person without needing support from the vehicle structure. This may be particularly (but not exclusively) relevant for autonomous vehicles with flexible seat configurations.

[0013] In a preferred configuration, this first belt extends through the airbag cushion, in particular through the first tunnel of the third portion, which leads to a very effective positioning and restraint of the airbag cushion by the first belt.

[0014] More preferably, the restraint comprises a second belt extending along the person-far surface area of ​​the airbag cushion, in particular along the person-outer surface of the second part. In this case, the restraint may be completely independent of the support surface. As the second part extends to the occupant's head, the second belt may also extend through a tunnel, i.e. a second tunnel in the second part. Alternatively, the second belt may extend over the sixth end of the second part.

[0015] To ensure that the belt cannot come into direct contact with the occupant's neck, the belt is preferably connected to the first part, for example by a load-bearing patch, and it is preferable that the belt cannot slide within this load-bearing patch.

[0016] To better restrain the thorax of the occupant, the first portion may be widened toward its second end such that its fourth end includes a concave surface area.

[0017] Preferably, the airbag cushion is gas filled through the second portion, especially in a conventional "side airbag manner", meaning that the inflator is located inside the second portion near its seventh end. The assembly including the restraint device and the inflator is referred to as the "restraint assembly".

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the restraint assembly, the second part comprises a skin and a flexible shaping element located inside the skin at a seventh end of the second part. The shaping element has an inner first section and is attached to the skin via at least two connection sections such that at least a section of the inflator is circumferentially surrounded by the skin and the first section of the shaping element and such that the inflator is surrounded by the skin at an angle between 20° and 340°, preferably between 45° and 340°, more preferably between 180° and 300°. By this measure, the dimensions of the deployed skin can be reduced in areas of the inflator where large dimensions are unnecessary or even disadvantageous.

[0019] The molding element may be tubular in shape so as to additionally comprise a second section extending along the outer skin of the second part. This may facilitate production, since it facilitates positioning of the molding element and additionally provides a protective layer for the outer skin. In this configuration, the connection section may be part of the closure connection, such that the second section of the tubular molding element is located inside the closure connection. By this measure, the forces generated when the inflator is discharging gas may be distributed over a larger area.

[0020] It should be noted that the use of such inventive molding elements as described above is not limited to the restraint assemblies claimed in this application, but may be applied across multiple types of airbag assemblies that have an inflator located inside the airbag cushion, and in particular to side airbag assemblies where the inflator is located proximate the rear end of the airbag cushion.

[0021] In the installed state, the restraint assembly is typically attached to the vehicle seat with the second part attached to the seat back in the manner of a conventional side airbag, the assembly including the vehicle seat and the restraint assembly being referred to as a seat unit.

[0022] Such a seat unit may include two restraint assemblies, i.e. a first restraint assembly having a first portion of its airbag cushion extending over the person's left shoulder, and a second restraint assembly having a first portion of its airbag cushion extending over the person's right shoulder, so that the occupant is protected from all sides.

[0023] To prevent an occupant from falling through both airbag cushions in the event of a pure frontal crash, it may be preferable for the two airbag cushions to be asymmetrical with respect to each other. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] The invention will now be explained in more detail by preferred embodiments in view of the drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a seat unit comprising a vehicle seat and a restraint assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, with a person seated in the vehicle seat and with the airbag cushion of the restraint assembly in its undeployed, rest state. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is the article shown in FIG. 1 with the airbag cushion in its fully deployed state. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a top view of what is shown in FIG. 2 (viewed from direction R1 in FIG. 2). [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a strictly schematic front view of the restraint device of the restraint assembly of FIGS. 2 and 3, seen from the front in the direction R2 in FIG. 2, without the seat and person shown. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is detail D of FIG. [Figure 6]FIG. 6 is essentially the restraint system of FIG. 3 in more detail, without the seat and occupant shown. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the invention in a representation according to FIG. [Figure 7a] FIG. 7a is a variation of that shown in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the invention in a representation according to FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention in a schematic perspective view. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows the cut parts required to form the airbag cushion shown in FIG. 6, for example. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side view of a finished airbag cushion sewn from the cut pieces shown in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 11 with the airbag cushion in a deployed state. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows an improved side airbag in the representation according to FIG. [Figure 13a] FIG. 13a is a variation of that shown in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a molded element that is part of the side airbag shown in FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is the forming element of FIG. 14 showing stitching locations. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a variation of that shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] 1 to 5 show schematic diagrams of a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a seat unit consisting of a vehicle seat 10 and a restraint assembly. According to the definition chosen in this application, the restraint assembly comprises an airbag cushion 20, an inflator 60 for inflating the airbag cushion 20 and located inside the airbag cushion 20, and a first belt 71 attached to both the vehicle seat 10 and the airbag cushion 20. The airbag cushion and the first belt 71 constitute a restraint device. The restraint device and the inflator constitute a restraint assembly. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a person P seated in the vehicle seat 10 is additionally shown in order to clarify the position of parts of the airbag cushion 20 relative to the person P when the airbag cushion is deployed.

[0026] As can be seen in Figure 1, the packed airbag cushion 21 is attached to the backrest 14 of the vehicle seat 10 (e.g. via inflator studs attached to the frame of the backrest, as known from the prior art). Typically, the packed airbag cushion 21 is located inside the backrest 14, i.e. inside the cover of the backrest 14. A first belt 71, to which a section of the airbag cushion 20 is attached, extends from a first end 71a attached to the backrest to a second end 71b attached to the seat part 12.

[0027] 2, 3 and 6 show the deployed state of the airbag cushion 20. It can be seen that this airbag cushion 20 comprises three parts, namely a first part 30, a second part 40 and a third part 50. The first part 30 extends in a first direction (X direction) from a first end 30a located next to the backrest 14 of the vehicle seat 10, over the shoulders of the person P, to a second end 30b. The term "extending in the X direction" should not be understood as the first part extending only in this direction (indeed, it may be inclined or curved with respect to this direction), but in any case the first end 30a and the second end 30b have different X coordinates, such that the first end is at the backrest proximal end and the second end is at the backrest distal end. The deployed first portion further extends in a second direction (Y direction) from a third end 30c (distal to the occupant) to a fourth end 30d (proximal to the occupant). In the embodiment shown, the fourth end 30d is at least partially concave. The first portion 30 has an upper surface to which (naturally) the first belt 71 is attached.

[0028] The airbag cushion 20 essentially forms a side airbag and therefore further comprises a second portion 40 extending in a third direction (Z direction) from a fifth end (lower end) 40a to a sixth end (upper end) 40b and also extending in the first direction from a seventh end (rear end) 40c to an eighth end (front end) 40d.

[0029] The first part 30 is attached to the second part 40, at least its overflow portion connecting the chamber enclosed by the second part with the chamber enclosed by the first part 30. This is explained in more detail with the view of FIG.

[0030] In this embodiment, the second part 40 preferably extends - in deployed state - in the third direction (Z direction) from a fourth end located below the first part 30 to a sixth end located above the first part 30. This second part 40 therefore comprises an upper section 42 assigned to the head of the occupant and a lower section 44 assigned to at least a section of the torso of the occupant.

[0031] The third part 50 extends in the second direction (Y direction) from a ninth end 50a, which essentially coincides with the eighth end 40d of the second part 40, to a tenth end 50b. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, this third part 50 has at least an upper section located in front of the occupant's head. This third part 50 can optionally extend to a lower end located below the second end 30b of the first part 30. At least a section of the second end 30b of the first part 30 is attached to the impact wall of the third part 50, for example by sewing, gluing, welding, etc. If an overflow exists between the first part and the third part, the respective connection can extend around this overflow.

[0032] Thus, each of the three sections 30, 40, 50 is attached to each of the others such that the deployed airbag cushion 20 forms a three-dimensional self-supporting structure and, in particular, does not require a restraining surface in front of the occupant as is required for conventional front airbag cushions. As will be described herein, the first belt 71 further enhances this self-supporting ability of the restraint system.

[0033] As already mentioned above, the first end 71a of the first belt 71 is attached to the vehicle seat 10, preferably at the upper end of the backrest 14, and the second end 71b is attached to the lower part of the vehicle seat 10, in particular near the front end of the seat part 12. The respective attachment to the vehicle seat 10 can be made via a bracket 75 connected to a frame part (not shown in detail). In other embodiments, at least one of the end sections can be wound up on a roll, in particular on a retractor roll.

[0034] As can be seen, for example, from FIG. 6, the section of the first belt 71 is attached, for example by a load-bearing patch 80, to a section of the upper surface of the first part 30 and at least to the seam, although in principle a purely direct attachment could be possible. Providing the load-bearing patch 80 has the advantage that the relatively high forces that may occur are distributed over a larger area, which in particular prevents the first part 30 from being torn apart. The connection of the first belt 71 to the first part 30 is usually necessary to prevent a potentially threatening contact between the first belt 71 and the neck of the occupant. As can be best seen from FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the first belt 71 extends through the first tunnel 51 of the third part 50. In particular by this feature, but also by the connection to the first part 30, the first belt 71 limits the movement of the third part 50 at least in the X-direction when the occupant strikes the impact surface of this third part during an accident, so that the occupant is restrained.

[0035] Fig. 7 shows a second embodiment, which additionally comprises a second belt 72, the first end 72a of which is also attached to the backrest 14, preferably to the upper end of the backrest 14, the first belt 71 and the second belt 72 can use the same bracket 75 for this attachment. As shown in Fig. 7, the second belt 72 is also attached to the upper surface of the first part 30, for which a joint load-bearing patch 80' can be used. In contrast to the first belt 71, the second belt 72 does not pass through the first tunnel 51 but extends through the second tunnel 41 of the second part 40. The second end of the second belt 72 is also attached to the seat, and in particular to the area of ​​the seat bottom 12, such that the lower section of the second belt 72 extends along the outer surface of the lower section 44 of the second part 40, thus preventing the airbag cushion, and in particular its second part 40, from moving in the Y direction, such that the occupant is restrained in this direction even if no support surface is provided (such as an inner vehicle structure, for example a door). Thus, in this embodiment, the restraint device is completely self-supporting and does not require any support surface.

[0036] Alternatively, the second belt 72a can extend over the sixth (top) end 40b of the second part 40, such that a section of the second belt extends along the entire height of the outer wall of this second part 40. This alternative (in view according to Fig. 7) is shown in Fig. 7a.

[0037] Figure 8 shows a third embodiment in the representation according to figure 7. Here, two restraint assemblies are provided, one on the right side of the vehicle seat and one on the left side of the vehicle seat. In principle, these two restraint devices can be mirror symmetrical, but it is often preferable that they are not mirror symmetrical, especially when one of the third parts is larger than the other third part and 2 / 3 of the boundary between them is offset from the central axis of the vehicle seat and also when the forward restraint function is mainly taken over by one of the two restraint devices and the occupant's head cannot slide past the 2 / 3 part.

[0038] As can be seen from figure 9, such "doubling" of restraints can also be applied when each restraint has only one belt, although one restraint with one belt and a redundant restraint with two belts are of course also possible.

[0039] FIG. 10 shows, in a schematic way, an example of cutting parts required to manufacture the airbag cushion of the second embodiment. In FIG. 10, only the strictly necessary cutting parts are shown, but it is of course possible to use additional cutting parts, for example to form reinforcing layers, inner tethers, etc., but such cutting parts are not shown as they are not necessary for understanding the structure. Furthermore, it is possible to use an outer tether or other outer element, for example in the form of at least one sail connecting at least two parts to provide an additional restraining element. In the embodiment shown, only four cutting parts are required, namely a first cutting part 100 for the first part, a second cutting part 110 for the second and third parts, and a cutting part 120 for the tunnel wall. Both the first cutting part 100 and the second cutting part 110 are of the "butterfly" type, i.e. they are folded along the folding lines F1 and F2, respectively. It is of course possible that the invention is not limited to the type of cutting parts shown here. For example, each layer can be made from a separate cutting part. Furthermore, it is not necessary to provide joint cut pieces for the layers of the first and third portions.

[0040] The first cut piece 100 shows at least one overflow opening 102 (herein two overflow openings) and the second cut piece 110 shows a matching overflow opening 112. Additionally, the second cut piece 110 shows two holes 114 for a first tunnel and two holes 115 for a second tunnel. Furthermore, holes 116 for inflator studs are provided, as is generally known from side airbags.

[0041] The sewing process can be, for example, as follows: First, the first cutting part 100 is sewn to the second cutting part 110, especially around the overflow openings 102, 112. After that, the first cutting part 100 can be folded and closed by an edge seam to form the first part. Then, the cutting parts 120 for the tunnel walls can be sewn to the edges of their respective holes 114, 115, and then the first part can be sewn to the cutting part 110 by the protruding section 104 of the first cutting part 100. Finally, an edge seam can be applied to close the cutting part 110 to form the second part and the third part. Since the first part is connected to both the second part and the third part, the third part is automatically bent out of the plane of the second part, and thus looks like a fully sewn airbag cushion, as shown in FIG. 11 in the plan view of the second part.

[0042] FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view along line AA in FIG. 11 when the airbag cushion is fully deployed. It can be seen that the typical side airbag scenario, i.e. the skin 46 of this side airbag (the second part being the side airbag) deploys beyond the rear end of the inflator 60. Furthermore, it can be seen that at the location of this inflator 60, the side airbag has a significant thickness. Neither is usually desirable for the following reasons. One reason is that in this region the deployment volume is unnecessarily large, but still needs to be filled, thus wasting inflation gas and requiring the use of a respectively larger inflator. Secondly, especially the rear deployment part of the inflator may interfere with other parts of the vehicle, e.g. the vehicle seat part or another interior structure part of the vehicle, which is usually undesirable.

[0043] 13 to 15 show the possibility of minimizing this extra volume and deployment space by using a shaping element 130. In a first, often preferred, embodiment, this shaping element 130 is tubular and extends around the usually cylindrical inflator 60. It is attached to the skin 46 by a connection, usually a seam 134. The position of the seam 134 is shown in FIG. 15. This connection (seam 134) comprises two sections 134a, 134b that essentially run parallel to the inflator. In the embodiment shown, the connection is closed, but this is not essential for the function. It is essential that the connection, or at least its sections 134a, 134b, define the first section 130a of the shaping element 130 located inside the side airbag cushion, so that the section of the skin 46 and the first section 130a surround the inflator 60. In the first embodiment in which the molding element 130 is tubular, the remaining second section 130b extends along the outer skin 46 so that this area is double laminated (which may be preferable to protect the outer skin 46 from inflation gases).

[0044] Thus, the inflator 60 is circumferentially surrounded by the skin 46 and the first section 130a of the shaping element 130, with the inflator 60 being surrounded by the skin 46 at an angle of between 20° and 340°, preferably between 180° and 300° (an angle of about 250° is shown). Generally, angles of 45° or more are preferred. As can be readily seen by comparing Figures 12 and 13, the deployed skin is shorter at its rear end and has a reduced thickness in the rear end region.

[0045] In the case where the tubular molded element is made from a flat piece of material, it is provided with a closure joint, for example a closure seam 136, which runs essentially parallel to the axial direction of the inflator. This is shown in Figure 13a. In this case, it is often preferable for the closure joint to be applied after the molded element has been attached to the skin (at this stage it is not yet tubular).

[0046] FIG. 16 shows an embodiment in which the shaping element 130 consists of only its first section 130, which leads to the same geometry as shown in FIG. 14, however, since this shaping element brings some sections of the skin 46 very close to the inflator and often requires extra protection from the inflation gases, it is often preferable to provide a tubular shaping element 130.

[0047] As already mentioned, the use of such a molded element is not limited to the claimed restraint assembly, but may also be applied to other types of airbag assemblies, in particular side airbag assemblies that include a side airbag cushion and an inflator. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10 Vehicle seat 12 Seat 14 Backrest 20 Airbag cushion 21 Packed airbag cushion 30 First Part 30a First end 30b Second end 30c Third end (outer end of person) 30d 4th end (inner end of person) 32 (Fabric) element for fastening the belt to the first part 40 Second Part 40a 5th end 40b 6th end 40c Seventh Edge 40d 8th end 41 Second Tunnel 42 Upper section of second part 44 Lower section of second part 46 Hull 50 Third Part 50a 9th end (outer end) 50b 10th end (inner end) 51 First Tunnel 60 Inflator 71 First Belt 71a First end (attached to the backrest) 71b Second end 72 Second Belt 72a First end (attached to the backrest) 72b Second end 75 Bracket 80 Load-bearing Patches 100 Cutting part for first part 102 Overflow opening 104 Projection for sewing to the third part 110 Cutting parts for second and third parts 112 Overflow opening 114 First tunnel hole 115 Hole for the second tunnel 116 Inflator stud hole 120 Cutting parts for tunnel walls 130 Molding Elements 130a First (inner) section 130b Second Section 132 Inflator stud hole 134 Connection (sewing) / sewing position 134a, b Connection section 136 Closed seam FL1, FL2 fold lines P person

Claims

1. A restraint device for a seat unit, the seat unit further comprising a vehicle seat (10) having a seat portion (12) and a backrest (14), the restraint device comprising an airbag cushion (20) deployable to a deployed state, the airbag cushion (20) comprising a first portion (30) having a first end (30a) proximal to the backrest, In the mounted state and the deployed state, The first portion (30) is extending in a first direction (X) from its first end (30a) over the shoulders of a person (P) seated in the vehicle seat (10) to a distal second end (30b) of the seat back that is positioned forward of the person's head and / or torso; extending in a second direction (Y) from a third end (30c) on the outer side of the person to a fourth end (30d) on the inner side of the person; The airbag cushion additionally comprises a second portion (40) connected to the first portion (30) and a third portion (50) connected to the first portion (30) and the second portion (40), and in the deployed state: - said second part (40) extends in a third direction (Z) from a fifth end (40a) to a sixth end (40b) and from a seventh end (40c) proximal to the backrest to an eighth end (40d) distal to the backrest, such that at least an upper section (42) of said second part (40) extends laterally of the person's head; - the third part (50) extends in the second direction (Y) from a ninth end (50a) on the outer side of the person to a tenth end (50b) on the inner side of the person, such that at least an upper section of the third part (50) faces the face of the person.

2. 2. The restraint device of claim 1, wherein the eighth end (40d) of the second portion (40) and the ninth end (50a) of the third portion (50) are at least indirectly and at least partially connected to each other.

3. 3. A restraint device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second part (20) extends in the third direction (Z) from the third end (30c) of the first part (30) to both sides of the first part (30) such that the second part (20) has an upper section (42) extending laterally of the person's head and a lower section (44) extending laterally of the person's torso.

4. The restraint device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the restraint device further comprises a first belt (51) for fixing the airbag cushion (20) to the vehicle seat (10).

5. 5. The restraint device of claim 4, wherein the first belt (71) extends through the airbag cushion (20).

6. 6. A restraining device according to claim 5, characterized in that said first belt (71) extends through a first tunnel (56) of said third portion (50).

7. A restraint device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterised in that it comprises a second belt (72) extending along a surface area of ​​the airbag cushion (20) facing away from the person.

8. 7. The restraint device of claim 6, wherein the second belt (72) extends through a second tunnel (72) of the second portion (40) or over the sixth end (40b) of the second portion (40).

9. A restraining device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterised in that the belt is connected to the first portion, preferably by a load-bearing patch (80).

10. A restraint device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a fourth end (30d) of the first portion (30) facing the person includes a concave surface area.

11. A restraint assembly comprising: a restraint device according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and an inflator (60) in fluid communication with the second portion (40) of the airbag cushion (20).

12. 12. The restraint assembly of claim 11, wherein the inflator (60) is located inside the second portion (40) adjacent a seventh end (40c) of the second portion (40).

13. 13. A restraint assembly as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the second part (40) comprises an outer skin (46) and a flexible shaping element (130) located inside the outer skin (46) at the seventh end (40c), the shaping element (130) having an inner first section (130a), the shaping element (130) being attached to the outer skin (46) via at least two connection sections (134a, 134b) such that at least a section of the inflator (60) is circumferentially surrounded by the outer skin (46) and the first section (130a) of the shaping element (130), the inflator (60) being surrounded by the outer skin (46) at an angle of between 20° and 340°, preferably between 45° and 340°, more preferably between 180° and 300°.

14. 14. The restraint assembly of claim 13, wherein the shaping element (130) additionally comprises a second section (130b) that is tubular in shape and extends along the outer skin (46) of the second portion (40).

15. 15. The restraint assembly according to claim 14, characterized in that the connection sections (134a, 134b) are part of a closed connection (134) and the second section (130b) of the tubular shaped molding element (130) is located inside the closed connection (134).

16. 16. A seat unit comprising a vehicle seat (10) and at least one restraint assembly according to any one of claims 11 to 15, whereby the seventh end (40c) of the second portion (40) of the airbag cushion (20) of the at least one restraint assembly is at least indirectly attached to the backrest (14) of the seat unit.

17. 17. The seat unit of claim 16, comprising two restraint assemblies: a first restraint assembly, the first portion of whose airbag cushion extends over the person's left shoulder; and a second restraint assembly, the first portion of whose airbag cushion extends over the person's right shoulder.

18. 18. The seat unit of claim 17, wherein the two restraining assemblies are not mirror images of each other.

19. 20. The seat unit of claim 18, wherein the third portion of one of the airbag cushions is located forward of the occupant's face.

Images