Abstract
A side airbag for motor vehicles is provided. The side airbag comprises a gas bag which is to be arranged as intended on a vehicle seat, so that, in order to protect a vehicle occupant situated on the vehicle seat, it can be deployed laterally beside the vehicle occupant, and a gas generator for filling the gas bag with a gas, so that the same deploys. The gas bag and the gas generator are configured and provided to be arranged on the vehicle seat such that in the deployed state the gas bag supports itself on a backrest frame of the vehicle seat.
Claims
1. A side airbag for a motor vehicle, comprising a gas bag which is to be arranged as intended on a vehicle seat, so that, in order to protect a vehicle occupant situated on the vehicle seat, it can be deployed laterally beside the vehicle occupant, and a gas generator for filling the gas bag with a gas, so that the same deploys, wherein the gas bag comprises a head portion and a thorax portion for protection of head and thorax of the vehicle occupant, wherein the gas bag and the gas generator are configured and provided to be arranged on the vehicle seat such that in the deployed state the gas bag extends between a backrest bolster and the vehicle occupant and supports itself on a backrest frame of the vehicle seat, the backrest bolster and a back part of the vehicle seat, and wherein the gas generator is arranged on an interior side of the backrest frame.
2. The side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag supports itself on a side of the backrest frame of the vehicle seat facing the vehicle interior space or an adjacent vehicle seat.
3. The side airbag according to claim 1, wherein in the deployed state the gas bag directly supports itself on the backrest frame of the vehicle seat or indirectly via a part of a backrest cushion on the backrest frame of the vehicle seat.
4. The side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag, based on the state of the vehicle seat mounted in a motor vehicle as intended, supports itself on the backrest frame of the vehicle seat transversely to the direction of forward travel of the motor vehicle.
5. The side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag supports itself on the backrest frame of the vehicle seat substantially along its entire vertical extension.
6. The side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas generator is connected with the gas bag via a gas bag connection, which is formed by at least one flexible element separate from a gas bag envelope surrounding the interior space of the gas bag, which is fixed at the gas bag envelope.
7. The side airbag according to claim 6, wherein the gas bag connection loops around the gas generator.
8. The side airbag according to claim 6, wherein the gas bag connection is fabricated of a textile fabric.
9. The side airbag according to claim 6, wherein the gas bag connection is fixed at the gas bag by means of a seam connection.
10. The side airbag according to claim 9, wherein the seam connection is arranged in direct vicinity of the gas generator.
11. The side airbag according to claim 9, wherein the gas bag comprises two gas bag layers which for forming a gas bag envelope enclosing the interior space of the gas bag are connected with each other via at least one circumferential seam, and that the seam connection for fixing the gas bag connection at the gas bag coincides with at least a part of the circumferential seam.
12. The side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag includes a channel with a gas bag opening and that a filling hose is provided, which accommodates the gas generator and is in fluid connection with the gas bag and which serves to conduct the gas flowing out of the gas generator along a specified direction into the gas bag.
13. The side airbag according to claim 1, wherein the gas bag includes tear seams which below a pressure limit value divide the gas bag into several portions and burst when this pressure limit value is reached or exceeded.
14. The side airbag according to claim 1, wherein a pocket is provided, which encloses the gas bag in a folded state and which serves to direct the gas bag into a defined direction, when the same is filled with gas.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings.
(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a side airbag with a deployed gas bag in a state mounted in a motor vehicle seat as intended from a first perspective.
(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the side airbag of FIG. 1 from a second perspective.
(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the side airbag of FIG. 1 with a gas bag connection according to a first embodiment for connecting a gas generator and the gas bag.
(5) FIG. 4 shows a cross-section through the side airbag of FIG. 3 along the line IV-IV.
(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of the gas bag envelope of the gas bag of FIG. 4 together with the gas bag connection in a state of the gas bag envelope folded apart.
(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of the side airbag of FIG. 1 with a gas bag connection according to a second embodiment for connecting the gas generator and the gas bag.
(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of the side airbag of FIG. 1 with a filling hose.
(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of the side airbag of FIG. 1 with an inflated gas bag in the state mounted as intended with tear seams.
(10) FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of the side airbag of FIG. 1 with a deployed gas bag in the state mounted in a motor vehicle seat as intended, wherein the side airbag according to a first variant is attached to the motor vehicle seat.
(11) FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of the side airbag of FIG. 1 with a deployed gas bag in the state mounted in a motor vehicle seat as intended, wherein the side airbag according to a second variant is attached to the motor vehicle seat.
(12) FIG. 11 shows a schematic representation of the side airbag of FIG. 1 with a gas bag connection according to a third embodiment for connecting the gas generator and the gas bag.
(13) FIG. 12 shows a cross-section of a side airbag with a gas bag folded according to a first variant in the state mounted in a motor vehicle seat as intended.
(14) FIG. 13 shows a cross-section of a side airbag with a gas bag folded according to a second variant in the state mounted in a motor vehicle seat as intended.
(15) FIG. 14 shows a cross-section of the side airbag of FIG. 1 with a deployed gas bag in the state mounted in a motor vehicle seat as intended, wherein the side airbag according to a first variant is attached to the motor vehicle seat and indirectly supports itself on the backrest frame.
(16) FIG. 15 shows a cross-section of the side airbag from the embodiment of FIG. 14 with a folded gas bag.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(17) FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically show a side airbag 2 according to an embodiment of the invention in the state mounted in a motor vehicle as intended from two different perspectives. The side airbag 2 comprises a gas bag 4 and a gas generator 6. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the gas bag 4 is shown in a deployed state (filled with gas) and extends in a plane which substantially is parallel to a longitudinal vehicle axis x and a vertical vehicle axis z and is vertical to a horizontal transverse vehicle axis y of the motor vehicle. It includes a gas bag envelope 8 which encloses an interior space 10 of the gas bag 4 (see FIG. 4).
(18) In the exemplary embodiment, the gas bag 4 and the gas generator 6 are arranged on a vehicle seat 12. The gas bag 4 and the gas generator 6 are arranged on the vehicle seat 12 such that in the deployed state the gas bag 4 supports itself on a backrest 11 of the vehicle seat 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the support substantially is effected along a vertical extension of the gas bag 4 (based on the state mounted in a vehicle as intended). Furthermore, the gas bag 4 supports itself on the backrest 11 substantially along its entire vertical extension (extension along the vertical vehicle axis z). In particular, the gas bag 4 supports itself on a side of the backrest 11 of the vehicle seat 12 facing the vehicle interior space. The side of the seat or the backrest facing the vehicle interior space is understood to be that side which is located opposite the side of the seat/backrest directly facing the lateral body (and instead faces an adjacent seat).
(19) As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the gas bag 4based on the state of the associated seat mounted in a motor vehicle as intendedlaterally supports itself on a backrest bolster 13 of the backrest 11 with its side facing away from the vehicle occupant (along the horizontal transverse vehicle axis y). In the exemplary embodiment, the gas bag 4 with that side in particular directly supports itself on a backrest frame 14 which is part of the basic structure of the backrest 11. In addition, a support of the gas bag (along the longitudinal vehicle axis x) is effected on a back part 15 (shown without the associated rear supporting structure) of the vehicle seat 12.
(20) In the state mounted as intended, the gas bag 4 serves to protect a vehicle occupant situated on the vehicle seat 12 and can be deployed laterally beside the vehicle occupant. The gas generator 6 serves for filling the gas bag 4 with a gas, so that the gas bag 4 is deployed.
(21) The side airbag 2 comprises a gas bag connection 50, by which the gas generator 6 and the gas bag 4 are connected with each other (see FIG. 3). The gas bag connection 50 is designed as an element separate from the gas bag envelope 8. In the present case, it concretely is formed as tab which is attached to the gas bag envelope 8 and serves for accommodating the gas generator 6. The gas bag connection 50 is flexible and fabricated e.g. of textile fabric, namely according to one variant of the same fabric as the gas bag envelope 8.
(22) To connect the gas generator 6 and the gas bag 4 with each other, the gas bag connection 50 loops around the gas generator 6. The gas bag connection 50 advantageously is put around the gas generator 6 such that in the deployed state of the gas bag 4 the gas generator 6 is pressed against the gas bag 4 by the gas bag connection 50. This results in a relative fixation of the gas generator 6 and the gas bag 4 in direction of the transverse vehicle axis y.
(23) According to one embodiment, the gas generator 6 includes stay bolts 52 (see FIGS. 3, 4 and 6) which are provided, in order to attach the side airbag 2 to the backrest frame 14. The stay bolts 52 are arranged on a side of the gas generator 6 which faces away from the gas bag 4. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the stay bolts 52 are attached to the backrest frame 14 of the vehicle seat 12. For this purpose holes are provided in the backrest frame 14, through which the stay bolts 52 extend. The stay bolts 52 cooperate with fastening elements 53, in order to fix the side airbag 2 at the backrest frame 14. The fastening elements 53 cooperate with the stay bolts 52 by positive or non-positive connection, for example.
(24) According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the stay bolts 52 reach through a portion 14a of the backrest frame 14 which substantially extends parallel to the longitudinal vehicle axis x of the motor vehicle. The stay bolts 52 extend transversely to the longitudinal vehicle axis x of the motor vehicle.
(25) According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the stay bolts 52 reach through a portion 14b of the backrest frame 14 which substantially extends transversely to the longitudinal vehicle axis x of the motor vehicle. The stay bolts 52 extend parallel to the longitudinal vehicle axis x of the motor vehicle.
(26) By means of a seam connection 54, the gas bag connection 50 is fixed on the side of the gas bag envelope 8 facing away from the interior space 10 of the gas bag 4. To ensure that the gas bag envelope 8 also is gas-tight at the seam connection 54, the seam connection 54 is covered with a silicone layer (not shown) on the side of the gas bag envelope 8 facing the interior space 10 of the gas bag 4. The silicone layer in turn can be covered with a film (not shown). Preferably, the film is a non-adhesive plastic film which even under the influence of heat does not change its adhesive behavior. For example, it is fabricated of a polyolefin plastic.
(27) According to a first configuration of the gas bag connection 50 (see FIGS. 3-5) the same is formed of a flat fabric whose size substantially corresponds to the peripheral surface of the gas generator 6. The flat fabric is dimensioned such that it can enclose the gas generator 6 together with the gas bag envelope 8 and also can be attached to the gas bag envelope 8. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 the flat fabric of the gas bag connection 50 substantially is rectangular (independent of the shape of the gas bag envelope 8). The seam connection 54 comprises one seam each on the left and on the right of the gas generator 6 and is arranged in direct vicinity of the gas generator 6. The volume which is enclosed by the gas bag connection 50 and the gas bag envelope 8 accordingly substantially corresponds to the volume of the gas generator 6.
(28) According to a second embodiment of the gas bag connection 50 (see FIG. 6) the same is formed of a flat fabric whose size and shape are dependent on the gas bag envelope 8, among other things. The second embodiment of the gas bag connection 50 makes use of the fact that the gas bag envelope 8 regularly comprises at least two gas bag layers 56 which are connected with each other by at least one circumferential seam 58, in order to close the interior space 10 of the gas bag envelope 8. The circumferential seam 58 is sealed by a silicone layer. The second embodiment of the gas bag connection 50 substantially differs from the first embodiment in that the seam connection 54 is not arranged in direct vicinity of the gas generator 6, but coincides with at least a part of the circumferential seam 58. The seams arranged on the left and right of the gas generator 6 also coincide. For forming the seam connection 54 at least a part of the circumferential seam 58 is chosen, which is arranged relative to the gas generator 6 such that in the deployed state of the gas bag 4 shear forces occur, which ensure a relative fixation of the gas generator 6 and the gas bag 4. The volume which is enclosed by the gas bag connection 50 and the gas bag envelope 8 substantially corresponds to the volume of the corresponding portion of the gas bag envelope 8.
(29) According to a third embodiment of the gas bag connection 50 (see FIG. 11), the gas bag connection 50 is formed of gas bag layers 56 of the gas bag 4. The circumferential seam 58b separates the gas bag connection 50 from the part of the gas bag layers 56 which enclose the interior space 10 of the gas bag envelope 8. The gas bag connection 50 is formed as oblong strip of the gas bag layers 56, whose length and width substantially correspond to the length and width of the gas generator 6. The gas bag connection 50 comprises through openings 51 which are provided for accommodating the stay bolts 52 of the gas generator 6. In particular, the stay bolts 52 reach through the through openings 51, so that in the state mounted in a vehicle seat 12 as intended the gas bag connection 50 is clamped between the gas generator 6 and the backrest frame 14 of the vehicle seat 12. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 11, two through openings 51 are provided.
(30) The side airbag 2 furthermore can comprise a filling hose 60 (see FIG. 7). The filling hose 60 has a first end 62 and a second end 64 and is provided for conducting the gas flowing out of the gas generator 6 along a specified direction into the gas bag 4. For this purpose, the filling hose 60 is arranged in a channel 65 of the gas bag 4. The channel 65 comprises a gas bag opening 66 through which the gas generator 6 extends into the channel 65. Accordingly, the filling hose 60 accommodates the gas generator and is in fluid connection with the gas bag 4, in that the second end 64 of the filling hose 60 extends into the gas bag 4.
(31) By way of example, FIG. 7 shows a side airbag 2 with a gas bag connection 50 according to the second embodiment. However, the filling hose 60 likewise can be combined with a gas bag connection 50 according to one of the other embodiments. The filling hose 60 is fabricated of a textile fabric. Preferably, the fabric is the fabric of which the gas bag envelope 8, too, is fabricated. A fastening means 68 is provided at or in the vicinity of the first end 62 of the filling hose 60, in order to connect the filling hose 60 with the gas generator 6 in a gas-tight manner. In the exemplary embodiment, the fastening means 68 is designed as hose clamp.
(32) The side airbag 2 furthermore can include one or more tear seams 70 (see FIG. 8), which connect the gas bag layers 56 with each other and extend within the region defined by the circumferential seams 58. The tear seams 70 are arranged such that in the deployed state they can divide the interior space 10 of the gas bag 4 into two or more portions. The connection between the gas bag layers 56 by the tear seams 70 is not durable, but only exists below a fixed pressure limit value. When the pressure limit value is reached or exceeded, when the gas bag 4 is filled with a gas, the tear seams 70 will burst. The tear seams 70 therefore are designed here as glued silicone seams.
(33) FIG. 8 by way of example shows two tear seams 70 which each extend between an inner circumferential seam 58a and an outer circumferential seam 58b and divide the interior space 10 of the gas bag 4 into two portions. In the state of the side airbag 2 mounted on a vehicle seat 12 as intended the one portion, as a thorax portion 72, is located at the height of the thorax region of a vehicle occupant to be protected and the other portion, as a head portion 74, is located at the height of the head region of the vehicle occupant.
(34) The side airbag 2 furthermore can comprise a pocket 76 (see FIG. 12). The pocket 76 serves to accommodate the gas bag 4 in the folded state and also serves to direct the gas bag 4 into a defined direction when the same is filled with a gas.
(35) Advantageously, the gas bag 4 is sealed such that, after a certain (specifiable) internal pressure has been reached in the interior space 10 of the gas bag 4, it has a useful life of at least three seconds, in particular of at least five seconds.
(36) FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate two possibilities for the arrangement of the folded gas bag 4 in the backrest bolster 13 of a vehicle seat 12. In both embodiments, the stay bolts 52 by way of example (based on the longitudinal vehicle axis x) in the rear part reach through the portion 14a of the backrest frame 14 which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal vehicle axis x of the motor vehicle. Alternatively, the stay bolts 52 can reach through the backrest frame 14 at other points.
(37) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the gas bag 4 is folded to a bundle and arranged between the back part 15 of the backrest 11 and the backrest frame 14. The folded gas bag 4 is stowed in a pocket 76 which upon deployment directs the gas bag 4 onto a seat tear line 80, through which the gas bag 4 then can exit from the vehicle seat 12. The pocket 76 directly rests against the backrest frame 14.
(38) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13 a first portion of the gas bag 4, which is opposed to a second portion of the gas bag 4, to which the gas generator 6 is attached, is rolled up. The gas bag 4 rolled up in this way extends substantially parallel to the vertical vehicle axis z (based on the state of the side airbag mounted in a motor vehicle). The gas bag 4 rolled up in this way envelops the backrest frame 14 in a U-shaped manner. Based on the longitudinal vehicle axis x, the gas bag 4 extends from the point at which it is attached to the backrest frame 14 towards the seat tear line 80 in the backrest bolster 13, from where the gas bag 4 reverses its direction following the outer shape of the backrest bolster 13. This convolution for example provides for uniformly distributing the volume of the folded gas bag 4 in the backrest bolster 13.
(39) Depending on the construction of the backrest 11 of the vehicle seat 12, the one or the other arrangement can be chosen.
(40) The embodiment shown in FIG. 14 substantially corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 9. In FIG. 14, however, the inflated gas bag 4 indirectly supports itself on the backrest frame 14 of the vehicle seat 12. In particular, a part of the backrest cushion of the backrest bolster 13 is provided between the backrest frame 14 and the inflated gas bag 4.
(41) The indirect support of the gas bag 4 accordingly is effected indirectly via the backrest cushion of the backrest bolster 13 on the backrest frame 14.
(42) In FIG. 15, the embodiment of FIG. 14 is shown, wherein the gas bag 4 is in a folded state. The folded gas bag 4 is stowed in a pocket 76 which upon deployment directs the gas bag 4 onto a seat tear line 80, through which the gas bag 4 then can exit from the vehicle seat 12. Between this pocket 76 and the backrest 14, a part of the backrest cushion of the backrest bolster 13 is provided.
(43) For the fixation (as gas-tight as possible in the end) of the gas bag connection 50 at the gas bag envelope 8, the gas bag connection 50 is positioned on its side facing away from the interior space 10 and fixed there by means of a seam connection 54. Since the seam connection 54 in this form is not yet gas-tight with sufficient certainty, the seam connection 54 is covered with a silicone layer on the side of the gas bag envelope 8 facing the interior space 10. The silicone layer can be covered with a plastic film (e.g. of a polyolefin plastic), in particular to prevent that the silicone (which then in particular is not a thermally curing silicone) undesirably adheres to regions of the gas bag envelope 8 or to other components cooperating with the gas bag.
(44) To achieve an optimally sealing effect of the silicone layer, the silicone layer can be heat-treated (e.g. by contact with a heating device). Due to the heat treatment, the silicone starts to melt and can uniformly spread on and in the seam connection 54. In particular, there is used a thermally curing silicone (HCShot curing silicone).
(45) In the end, a gas-tight attachment of the gas bag connection 50 to the gas bag envelope 8 is obtained.
