Catch strap mechanism for airbag module

Abstract

The present invention relates to a catch strap mechanism for an airbag module having an airbag, comprising at least one catch strap arrangement (1a, 1b), one end (1a.1, 1b.1) of the catch strap arrangement (1) being capable of being attached to the airbag, and a tightening device (2) for the catch strap arrangement.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a catch strap mechanism for an airbag module having an airbag, comprising at least one catch strap arrangement, one end of which can be attached to the airbag, and a tightening device for the catch strap arrangement.

[0002] Such a catch strap mechanism may in particular be a component of an airbag arrangement for a vehicle seat, which comprises at least one airbag module with an airbag and is suitable for installation in the vehicle seat, where one end of the catch strap arrangement is attached to the airbag. The invention also relates to a vehicle seat for a motor vehicle, which comprises a seat back, a seat cushion and an airbag arrangement of this kind. [Background technology]

[0003] Such a vehicle seat with such a catch strap mechanism is known, for example, from US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0248322 (A1). In an initial state, the airbag, which is particularly arranged in the lateral region of the backrest, deploys after being triggered next to and / or in front of the occupant seated in the vehicle seat. The catch strap arrangement can be such that during deployment of the airbag, the catch strap arrangement at least temporarily guides the deployment process, for example when the catch strap arrangement is in a tensioned state. It is also conceivable that the catch strap arrangement is unwound from the spool during deployment or pulled from a wound or folded state by the deploying airbag.

[0004] The tightening device is provided to retract the catch strap arrangement during deployment or at the end of the deployment process, thus influencing the deployment process or bringing the airbag to a final position after deployment. For example, the part of the airbag that is located in front of the occupant after deployment can be pulled towards the backrest by the tightening device, so that the occupant is also pulled towards the backrest. For example, from US 2019 / 0248322 A1 it is known to wind up the catch strap arrangement by means of a tightening device through a rotational movement. Summary of the Invention

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative to the way in which a catch strap arrangement can be tightened.

[0006] A solution to this object is defined in independent claim 1, further solutions and advantageous developments are defined in the preceding and subsequent description, the individual features of the advantageous developments being capable of being combined with one another in a technically reasonable manner.

[0007] This object is achieved in particular by a catch strap mechanism having the characteristics mentioned at the beginning, in which the tightening device comprises a tightening element which can be accelerated linearly, in particular by a pyrotechnic drive.

[0008] The tightening device may, for example, comprise a tensioner tube in which a piston is arranged. For example, a gas generator may be used to introduce compressed gas into the tensioner tube, thereby driving the piston through the tensioner tube. The tightening element is in particular connected to a tightening element arranged outside the tensioner tube, for example by a rigid rod or by a tension cable.

[0009] In this connection, in particular a deflection block specially designed as a single piece can be attached to the tensioner tube, through which the tension cable is guided. Preferably, the receptacle is formed in the deflection block, in which the gas generator is arranged. Such an arrangement has the advantage in particular that the tensioner tube can extend in the mounted state obliquely to the linear movement direction of a tightening element connected to the piston via the tension cable. Thus, for example, the tensioner tube can extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle when the vehicle seat is in the normally mounted state in the motor vehicle, while the linear movement direction of the tightening element extends transversely thereto.

[0010] Each catch strap arrangement can be made from a single catch strap or catch cord made from the specifically taught fabric, however, the catch strap arrangements can also be made from multiple catch straps / catch cords connected together.

[0011] The tightening device is coupled to the catch strap arrangement via the tightening element in such a way that the catch strap arrangement is deflected by the tightening element at least before, after and / or during the tightening process. Thus, the front and rear arranged parts of the tightening element in the catch strap travel direction are arranged at an angle to each other. For example, the catch strap arrangement can be deflected by the tightening element by more than 60°, preferably more than 90°, or about 180°. The degree of deflection can be constant during the tightening process, but can also vary during the tightening process.

[0012] The catch strap arrangement and the linearly accelerated tightening element are in particular arranged relative to one another in such a way that a kind of pulley is formed. The linearly accelerated tightening element and the catch strap arrangement are in particular arranged such that the end of the catch strap arrangement attached to the airbag covers a longer distance during the tightening process than the linearly accelerating tightening element. For this purpose, the catch strap mechanism can comprise one or more deflectors for the catch strap arrangement.

[0013] The invention further provides that two catch strap arrangements are provided, both of which are deflected by one tightening element. Both catch strap arrangements can be attached or made to be attached to different locations on the same airbag. However, it is preferred that both catch strap arrangements are attached at their ends to two airbags, in particular to different airbag modules. Thus, the two airbags can be tightened with only one tightening device, such that the amount of equipment for tightening the two airbags is reduced.

[0014] In one embodiment, the catch strap mechanism can comprise a holder to which the end of the catch strap arrangement that cannot be attached to the airbag is fixed. Thus, depending on the arrangement of the additional deflector, it can be achieved that the tightening path of the catch strap arrangement covered by the end that can be attached to the airbag is more than 1.5 times, preferably 2 times or more than 2 times the distance covered by the tightening element.

[0015] In a further embodiment, the end of the catch strap arrangement that cannot be attached to the airbag can be fixed to the clamping element itself, and the catch strap arrangement can be guided around the deflector between its other end (fixed to the clamping element) and the part deflected by the clamping element. The catch strap arrangement thus runs from the clamping element through the deflector and back to the clamping element where it is deflected again. In this way, the clamping path covered by the end that can be attached to the airbag can be twice or even more than twice the clamping path covered by the clamping element. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] The invention and the technical environment are explained below by way of example with reference to the figures. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle seat equipped with a catch strap mechanism for an airbag device in an initial state. [Diagram 2] Figure 2 shows the catch strap mechanism during the tightening process. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a catch strap mechanism for a vehicle seat in an initial state. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the catch strap mechanism according to FIG. 3 during the tightening process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] The figure shows a catch strap mechanism on a vehicle seat 5. The catch strap mechanism comprises a first catch strap arrangement 1a which can be attached to an airbag by a first end 1a.1. The catch strap mechanism comprises a second catch strap arrangement 1b which can be attached to another airbag by a first end 1b.1.

[0018] The catch strap mechanism also comprises a tightening device 2, which comprises a tensioner tube 2.3 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, to which a deflection block 2.4 is connected, which has a receptacle 2.5 for a gas generator.

[0019] A piston (not visible in the figure) is disposed in the tensioner tube 2.3 and is connected to the tensioning cable 2.2, which exits from the tensioner tube 2.3 through a deflection block 2.4.

[0020] A tightening element 2.1 is attached to the tensioning cable 2.2, which deflects the catch strap arrangements 1a and 1b.

[0021] In the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2, both catch strap arrangements 1a and 1b are fixed to the holder 4 by their second ends 1a.2 and 1b.2.

[0022] When the tightening device is triggered, a piston arranged in the tensioner tube 2.3 is driven in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so that the tightening element 2.1 of figures 1 and 2 is accelerated linearly to the left. This movement of the tightening element 2.1 retracts the ends 1a.1 and 1b.1 attached to the airbag (not shown) so that the airbag is aligned after or during its deployment. The deflection of the catch strap arrangements 1a and 1b by the tightening element 2.1 forms a kind of pulley, so that the tightening path covered by the ends 1a.1 and 1b.1 is larger than the tightening path covered by the tightening element 2.1.

[0023] In the embodiment shown in figures 3 and 4, the ends 1a.2 and 1b.2 of the catch strap arrangements 1a and 1b are fixed to a tightening element 2.1. Both catch strap arrangements 1a and 1b are then deflected around a deflector 3 and by the tightening element 2.1.

[0024] During the clamping operation shown in FIG. 4, the path covered by ends 1a.1 and 1b.1 is again increased compared to the path covered by clamping element 2.1.

[0025] By using the tensioning cable 2.2, the tensioner tube 2.3 can be freely aligned relative to the linearly accelerated tightening element 2.1 and its linear tightening path. Furthermore, the tightening action of a two catch strap arrangement can be initiated with only one tightening element 2.1. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1a First catch strap configuration 1b Second catch strap configuration 1a.1 First end of first catch strap arrangement 1b.1 First end of second catch strap arrangement 1a.2 Second end of first catch strap arrangement 1b.2 Second end of second catch strap arrangement 2. Clamping device 2.1 Clamping elements 2.2 Tension Cable 2.3 Tensioner tube 2.4 Deflection Blocks 2.5 Receptacles 3 Deflector 4 Holder 5 Vehicle seats

Claims

1. 1. A catch strap mechanism for an airbag module having an airbag, comprising: at least one catch strap arrangement (1a, 1b), where one end (1a.1, 1b.1) of the catch strap arrangement (1) can be attached to said airbag, - a tightening device (2) for said catch strap arrangement, Equipped with A catch strap mechanism, wherein the tightening device (2) comprises a tightening element (2.1) which can be linearly accelerated, in particular pyrotechnically, and which tightens the catch strap arrangement (1), and wherein two catch strap arrangements (1 a, 1 b) are provided, the one tightening element (2.1) deflecting both catch strap arrangements (1 a, 1 b).

2. 2. A catch strap mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the other ends (1a.2, 1b.2) of both catch strap arrangements (1a, 1b) are fixed to the tightening element (2.1) and the catch strap arrangements (1a, 1b) are guided around a deflector (3) between the other ends (1a.2, 1b.2) and a part deflected by the tightening element (2.1).

3. A catch strap mechanism according to claim 1, comprising a holder (4) in which the other end (1a.2, 1b.2) of the catch strap arrangement (1a, 1b) can be fixed.

4. A catch strap mechanism according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tightening device (2) comprises a tension cable (2.2) capable of driving the tightening element (2.1).

5. A catch strap mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tightening device (2) comprises a piston connected to a tensioning cable (2.2), said piston being arranged in a tensioner tube (2.3) and capable of being driven by compressed gas which may be generated by a gas generator.

6. A catch strap mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the tension cable (2.2) is guided through a deflection block (2.4) in which a receptacle (2.5) for a gas generator is formed.

7. An airbag device for a vehicle seat (5), comprising: at least two airbag modules, each airbag module comprising at least one airbag and adapted to be mounted on said vehicle seat (5); - at least one catch strap mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the ends (1a.2, 1b.2) of the catch strap arrangements (1a, 1b) are respectively attached to an airbag.

8. An airbag device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the two airbag modules can be arranged on either side of the seat back.

9. A vehicle seat (5) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - Backrest and - Seat cushion; A vehicle seat (5) comprising an airbag device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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