Side airbag assembly and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a side airbag assembly (S) having an airbag module (A) which has a side airbag (1) and which is assigned to a rear seat in a vehicle, wherein the rear seat has a seat backrest with adjustable inclination. According to the invention, a joint element (2) is coupled to the airbag module (A) and to the seat backrest in such a way that the airbag module (A) is positioned according to the inclination of the seat backrest. The invention further relates to a vehicle having such a side airbag assembly (S).

Description

[0001] Side airbag arrangement and vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to a side airbag arrangement comprising an airbag module having a side airbag, which is assigned to a rear seat in a vehicle, wherein the rear seat has a seat backrest with adjustable inclination. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle having such a side airbag arrangement.

[0003] A side airbag device is known from JP 2014043128 A. The side airbag device includes a rotary shaft recessed into the side part of a seatback of a reclining seat and aligned parallel to the tilting center axis of the seatback's reclining action, a mounting member rotatably connected to the side part by the rotary shaft, an airbag attached to the mounting member, and a link mechanism, one end of which is rotatably connected to a position different from the tilting center axis of the reclining seat. The other end is rotatably connected to a different position of the rotary shaft of the mounting member. The link mechanism rotates the mounting member to tilt the airbag toward the front of the vehicle according to an inclination angle when the seatback is tilted toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of specifying a novel side airbag arrangement for a vehicle and a vehicle.

[0005] The object is achieved according to the invention by a side airbag arrangement which has the features specified in claim 1 and by a vehicle which has the features specified in claim 5.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. A side airbag arrangement comprising an airbag module having a side airbag, which is assigned to a rear seat in a vehicle, wherein the rear seat has a seat backrest whose inclination is adjustable, provides, according to the invention, that a joint element is coupled to the airbag module and the seat backrest in such a way that the airbag module is positioned depending on the inclination of the seat backrest.

[0007] The airbag module is thus coupled to the seat backrest, so that when the seat backrest's angle changes, the airbag module and thus the side airbag move accordingly. Occupant protection, particularly injury protection, can thus be optimized for a rear seat occupant in the event of a side collision. A side airbag arrangement designed in this way essentially ensures that the side airbag deploys between a vehicle part, particularly a side window and / or a vehicle door panel, and the occupant, so that contact between the occupant and the vehicle part can be largely ruled out, thereby significantly reducing the risk of injury to the occupant in the event of a side collision.

[0008] The airbag module is located outside the seat backrest and yet can be positioned with and by means of it, so that the installation space required for the seat backrest can be reduced. This side airbag arrangement can also reduce the costs and weight of a seat structure in relation to the rear seat. The airbag module is rotatably connected to the bodyshell of the vehicle by an area opposite a connection point of the joint element on the airbag module. In particular, the airbag module is connected to the bodyshell of the vehicle so that it can be ensured as far as possible that the side airbag extends between the vehicle part and the occupant, whereby the side airbag can be supported on the vehicle part, at least during its deployment.

[0009] In a further embodiment, the airbag module is arranged in a wheel arch area of ​​the vehicle's bodyshell, concealed by a wheel arch trim. The airbag module is arranged in the wheel arch area of ​​the vehicle to largely prevent interactions between the side airbag and the seat backrest of the rear seat, for example a rear seat bench, and the side airbag can therefore assume its active position unhindered. In one embodiment, the joint element is strip-shaped, with one end of the joint element being rotatably connected to the airbag module and an opposite end being rotatably connected to the seat back. By means of the joint element, the airbag module is firmly connected to both the vehicle and the seat back, with the length of the joint element being selected depending on the available travel in relation to the greatest possible inclination of the seat back.

[0010] In one possible embodiment, the wheel arch lining has a predetermined opening point which breaks open when the side airbag is deployed, so that the side airbag can assume its active position between the vehicle part and the occupant, thereby increasing occupant protection, i.e. injury protection, for the occupant.

[0011] Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle with a side airbag arrangement having an airbag module with a side airbag, which is assigned to a rear seat in a vehicle, wherein the rear seat has a seat backrest with adjustable inclination. According to the invention, a joint element is coupled to the airbag module and the seat backrest such that the airbag module is positioned depending on the inclination of the seat backrest.

[0012] By means of a side airbag arrangement designed in this way, occupant protection, in particular injury protection, for a rear seat occupant can be improved in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, particularly since the airbag module and thus the side airbag are positioned when the inclination of the rear seat backrest is adjusted. Thus, regardless of the occupant's seating position, a high degree of occupant protection can be achieved due to the inclination of the seat backrest, in particular because it can be essentially ensured that the side airbag deploys between a vehicle part and the occupant, thus largely precluding contact between the occupant and the vehicle part.

[0013] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0014] Showing:

[0015] Fig. 1 shows schematically a side airbag arrangement for a rear seat of a vehicle and Fig. 2 shows schematically the side airbag arrangement with increased inclination of a seat back of the rear seat.

[0016] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0017] Figure 1 shows a side airbag arrangement S for a rear seat (not shown in detail) of a vehicle with a side airbag 1 in an active position. Figure 2 shows the side airbag arrangement S with the side airbag 1 in its active position with an increased inclination of a seat backrest (not shown in detail) of the rear seat. Furthermore, Figure 2 shows the side airbag 1 as a function of the inclination setting of the seat backrest in Figure 1 using a dashed line.

[0018] It is generally known that a side airbag 1 is rigidly arranged in the rear area of ​​a vehicle, in particular a sedan and in comparatively flat vehicles, in the region of a rear wheel arch of the vehicle. In particular, the side airbag 1, i.e., an airbag module A, is arranged in such a way as to prevent interactions with the seat back, in particular a rear seat bench. If the seat back is adjustable in inclination, a change in the angle of inclination of the seat back can result in the protective potential of the side airbag 1 not being fully ensured, in particular because the seat back can influence the deployment and / or positioning of the side airbag 1 in its active position.

[0019] In the following, a side airbag arrangement S is described which is designed such that the side airbag 1 is positioned depending on the inclination of the seat back of the rear seat, so that injury protection for a passenger on the rear seat can be optimized, in particular in the event of a side collision of the vehicle.

[0020] The side airbag assembly S comprises the airbag module A with a side airbag 1 and a gas generator (not shown in detail) fluidically coupled to the side airbag 1. The side airbag assembly S also comprises a joint element 2.

[0021] The side airbag arrangement S is arranged in a region of the rear wheel arch of the vehicle, i.e., on a body shell, concealed by a wheel arch lining 3. A predetermined opening point (not shown) is incorporated into the wheel arch lining 3, which opens upon deployment of the triggered side airbag 1. The side airbag 1 can fully deploy from an airbag outlet opening and assume its active position between the occupant in the rear seat and a vehicle part, in particular a vehicle window and / or a vehicle door panel and / or a C-pillar, thereby significantly reducing the risk of injury to the occupant.

[0022] In order to ensure that the side airbag 1 assumes its active position regardless of the inclination of the seat backrest and unfolds between the occupant and the vehicle part or parts, so that contact between the occupant and the vehicle part or parts can be largely ruled out, the airbag module A is coupled to a bodyshell of the vehicle (not shown in detail) and the seat backrest by means of the joint element 2. The joint element 2 is strip-shaped, with one end 2.1 being rotatably connected to the airbag module A and an opposite end 2.2 being rotatably connected to the seat back. The length of the joint element 2 is selected such that the seat backrest can have a maximum possible inclination and the airbag module A is guided accordingly by a rotary movement of the joint element 2, as shown in Figure 2.

[0023] Furthermore, the airbag module A is rotatably connected to a body shell of the vehicle by a region opposite a connection point P1 of the joint element 2 on the airbag module A, in particular by a further connection point P2 opposite. As a result, the airbag module A is moved along with the seat back when the seat backrest is adjusted, so that it can be largely ensured that the side airbag 1, in its active position, optimizes injury protection for the occupant, since the side airbag 1 extends between the occupant and at least one vehicle part, so that at least one head impact of the occupant against the at least one vehicle part can be prevented. List of reference symbols

[0024] 1 side airbag

[0025] 2 joint element

[0026] 2.1 End

[0027] 2.2 opposite end

[0028] 3 wheel arch trim

[0029] A airbag module

[0030] S side airbag arrangement

[0031] P1 connection point

[0032] P2 additional connection point

Claims

Patent claims 1. Side airbag arrangement (S) with an airbag module (A) having a side airbag (1) and being assigned to a rear seat in a vehicle, the rear seat having a seat backrest whose inclination is adjustable, characterized in that a joint element (2) is coupled to the airbag module (A) and the seat backrest in such a way that the airbag module (A) is positioned as a function of the inclination of the seat backrest and the airbag module (A) is rotatably connected to a bodyshell of the vehicle with a region opposite a connection point (P1) of the joint element (2) on the airbag module (A).

2. Side airbag arrangement (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the joint element (2) is strip-shaped, one end (2.1) being rotatably connected to the airbag module (A) and an opposite end (2.2) being rotatably connected to the seat back.

3. Side airbag arrangement (S) according to claim 1, characterized in that the airbag module (A) is arranged in a wheel arch area of ​​the bodyshell of the vehicle, concealed by a wheel arch lining (3).

4. Side airbag arrangement (S) according to claim 3, characterized in that the wheel arch lining (3) has a predetermined opening point which breaks open when the side airbag (1) is deployed.

5. Vehicle with a side airbag arrangement (S) according to one of claims 1 to 4.

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