VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention describes a vehicle occupant restraint system (10) comprising at least one vehicle seat (12) and at least one inflatable airbag (14) associated with the vehicle seat (12), wherein the airbag (14) is mounted above the associated vehicle seat (12), and wherein the airbag (14) when inflated has a base body (16) whose envelope is wedge-shaped in the vertical direction and which, when inflated, overlaps at least to a certain extent with the vehicle seat (12) in the vertical direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint system (10) comprising at least one vehicle seat (12) and at least one inflatable airbag (14) associated with the vehicle seat (12), wherein the airbag (14) is mounted above the associated vehicle seat (12), and wherein the airbag (14) when inflated has a base body (16) whose envelope is wedge-shaped in the vertical direction and which, when inflated, overlaps at least to a certain extent with the vehicle seat (12) in the vertical direction.

2. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the base body (16) is attached to the vehicle roof (18) and when inflated extends downwards from the roof (18).

3. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the base body (16) is formed by plural fabric tubes (22) which, when the airbag (14) is inflated, form the sides of the base body (16).

4. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein plural parallel channels (32) are formed in the airbag (14) on the side remote from the vehicle seat (12).

5. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein an extension chamber (20) which is in fluid communication with the base body (16) and which deploys at the head and/or torso height of a vehicle occupant toward the associated vehicle seat (12), when the airbag (14) inflates, is arranged on the base body (16) of the airbag (14).

6. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein an extension chamber (20) which deploys at the head and/or torso height of a vehicle occupant toward the associated vehicle seat (12), when the airbag (14) inflates, is arranged on the base body (16) of the airbag (14), wherein the base body is connected to and fillable by a first inflator and the extension chamber (20) is connected to and fillable by a second inflator via a filling channel.

7. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the airbag (14) in the non-inflated state has a rolled folding, the airbag (14) being rolled in the direction away from the associated vehicle seat (12).

8. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein an extension chamber (21) which is in fluid communication with the base body (16) and which, when the airbag (14) is inflated, forms a spacer from a vehicle structure or a further airbag (14), that is arranged on a side of the base body (16) directed away from the vehicle seat (12).

9. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein at least one restraining device (24) which restricts movement of the airbag (14) in the inflated state is fastened to the base body (16), in particular wherein the restraining device (24) is fastened to a lower end of the base body (16).

10. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle seat (12) and the associated airbag (14) are mounted on a joint carrier (36).

11. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 10, wherein the carrier (36) is rotatably and/or movably mounted.

12. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 10, wherein the carrier is rotatably and/or movably mounted on an upper side and a lower side.

13. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 10, wherein the carrier (36) is mounted on a rotatably cylinder (44) or a rotatable plate.

14. The vehicle occupant restraint system (10) according to claim 13, wherein the carrier (36) is mounted on a rotatably cylinder (44) including a plate-shaped radial projection (46), a heel stop (48) being formed integrally with the projection (46).

Description

[0029] Further advantages and features of the invention will be evident from the following description and from the attached drawings which are referred to and wherein:

[0030] FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention,

[0031] FIG. 2 schematically shows a vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention as set forth in a further embodiment,

[0032] FIG. 3 schematically shows an airbag for a further vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention,

[0033] FIG. 4 schematically shows a rear view of an airbag for a vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention,

[0034] FIG. 5 schematically shows a further vehicle occupant restraint system according to the invention,

[0035] FIG. 6 schematically shows a vehicle occupant restraint system as set forth in a further embodiment according to the invention, and

[0036] FIG. 7 schematically shows a vehicle occupant restraint system as set forth in a further embodiment according to the invention.

[0037] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle occupant restraint system 10 for an automotive vehicle.

[0038] The vehicle occupant restraint system 10 comprises a vehicle seat 12 and an inflatable airbag 14 associated with the vehicle seat 12.

[0039] For inflating the airbag 14, one or more inflators can be provided which are not shown in the Figures for convenience.

[0040] The vehicle seat 12 can be supported to be rotatable about a vertical axis, specifically about at least 160, preferably about 360.

[0041] The airbag 14 has a base body 16 which in the inflated state overlaps in the vertical direction at least to a certain extent with the vehicle seat 12.

[0042] The envelope of the base body 16 is wedge-shaped in the vertical direction. In other words, the envelope of the base body 16 is triangular in a lateral view.

[0043] In the illustrated example configurations, the triangle is a right triangle, the side directed to a vehicle occupant being perpendicular to a vehicle roof 18. However, one can deviate from the rectangular shape.

[0044] The base body 16 of the airbag 14 is attached to the vehicle roof 18 and, when inflated, extends downwards from the vehicle roof 18.

[0045] When it is not inflated, the airbag 14 has a rolled folding, i.e., in a direction away from the associated vehicle seat 12. This is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 by a broken line which represents the side of the base body 16 directed to the vehicle seat 12.

[0046] In the non-inflated state, the airbag 14 is arranged behind a roof liner, for example.

[0047] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a further vehicle occupant restraint system 10.

[0048] The vehicle occupant restraint system 10 according to FIG. 2 differs from the system of FIG. 1 by the fact that two extension chambers 20, 21 are additionally provided.

[0049] The first extension chamber 20 is in fluid communication with the base body 16 and upon inflation of the airbag 14 deploys at the head and/or torso height of a vehicle occupant toward the associated vehicle seat 12. Thus, the vehicle occupant can be stabilized even better in his/her sitting position.

[0050] As an alternative, it is possible that the first extension chamber 20 is not in fluid communication with the base body 16 and is filled via a filling channel 23 by a separate inflator. In so doing, it can be easily achieved that the base body and the extension chamber have a different internal pressure in the inflated state.

[0051] The second extension chamber 21 is arranged on a side of the base body 16 directed away from the vehicle seat 12.

[0052] The second extension chamber 21, too, is in fluid communication with the base body 16.

[0053] When the airbag 14 is inflated, the second extension chamber 21 forms a spacer, specifically from a vehicle structure or another airbag 14.

[0054] Both extension chambers 20, 21 are optional and can be provided individually or in combination.

[0055] The extension chambers 20, 21 do not necessarily have to be block-shaped, as shown in the Figures, but the extension chambers 20, 21 may have bumps or hollows.

[0056] FIG. 3 schematically shows an airbag 14 which can be used alternatively in the vehicle occupant restraint systems 10 according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

[0057] In the airbag 14 shown in FIG. 3, the base body 16 is formed by plural fabric tubes 22 which, when the airbag 14 is inflated, constitute the lateral edges of the base body 16. Such a base body 16 has a comparatively small volume to be inflated so that the airbag 14 according to FIG. 3 deploys particularly quickly.

[0058] As an option, a horizontally extending cross member 26 which is also formed by a fabric tube can be provided on a side of the base body 16 facing the vehicle occupant.

[0059] FIG. 3 also illustrates two optional restraining devices 24 which by one end are fastened to the airbag 14 and, by another end, are fastened to a vehicle structure. The airbag 14 is stabilized in the inflated state by the restraining devices 24 in a restraining position.

[0060] The restraining devices 24 are pull straps or fabric tubes, for example.

[0061] Alternatively, the base body 16 can be formed, as a matter of course, also as a solid body or of plural mat-shaped elements having tubular chambers as the remote side of an airbag 14 shown in FIG. 4.

[0062] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a side of the airbag 14 remote from the vehicle seat 12 according to a further embodiment.

[0063] The side remote from the vehicle seat 12 is formed by plural parallel channels 32 in the airbag 14. As a result, the airbag 14, specifically the base body 16, is particularly stable.

[0064] The channels 32 can be formed by seams 34 in two superimposed fabric layers.

[0065] Alternatively, the channels 32 can be formed by individual fabric tubes.

[0066] The channels 32 are in fluid communication with the remainder of the base body 16 and preferably with each other so that the channels 32 equally inflate when the airbag 14 is inflated.

[0067] FIG. 5 shows a vehicle occupant restraint system 10 comprising two vehicle seats 12 which are opposite to each other at least in the illustrated sitting position.

[0068] Each vehicle seat 12 is associated with a separate airbag 14, the airbags 14 being arranged between the two vehicle seats 12.

[0069] Each of the two airbags 14 includes the extension chambers 20, 21 described in connection with FIG. 2.

[0070] The extension chambers 21 directed away from the vehicle seat and serving as spacers are adjacent to each other so that the two airbags 14 mutually bear against each other in the inflated state.

[0071] In addition, the two extension chambers 20 directed toward the vehicle seat are connected to an upper end of the base body 16 by a restraining device 24.

[0072] The two airbags 14 are supported relative to each other by the extension chambers 21 and the restraining devices 24, allowing the airbags 14 to be excellently stabilized.

[0073] FIG. 6 schematically shows a further vehicle occupant restraint system 10.

[0074] According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle seat 12 and the associated airbag 14 are supported on a joint carrier 36.

[0075] The airbag 14 also has the extension chambers 20, 21 described in connection with FIG. 2.

[0076] The extension chamber 21 in the illustrated example configuration serves as a spacer from a vehicle structure, specifically from a monitor 38 which is equally supported on the carrier 36.

[0077] The carrier 36 is rotatably and/or movably mounted, by a suspension 40 at the vehicle roof 18 in the example configuration. In this way, the vehicle seat 12 can be flexibly positioned.

[0078] FIG. 7 schematically shows a further vehicle occupant restraint system 10.

[0079] The vehicle occupant restraint system 10 illustrated in FIG. 7 differs from the vehicle occupant restraint system 10 illustrated in FIG. 6 in that the carrier 36 is rotatably and/or movably mounted on an upper side and a lower side, which ensures particularly stable support.

[0080] The pivots of the suspension 40 and of the support 42 provided on the vehicle floor 41 are superimposed in the vertical direction.

[0081] The support 42 is implemented by a rotatably mounted cylinder 44.

[0082] A plate-shaped radial projection 46 on which a vehicle occupant can put his/her feet extends from the cylinder 44.

[0083] A heel stop 48 is integrally formed with the projection 46 for better support of the vehicle occupant, specifically to obtain optimum positioning of the legs of a vehicle occupant.

[0084] The vehicle seat 12 is connected to the cylinder 44 in plural supporting points 50, which also contributes to a stable support of the vehicle seat 12.

[0085] Instead of a cylinder 44 having a projection 48, the vehicle seat 12 can be mounted on a rotatable plate on the vehicle floor. A heel stop can also be integrally formed with the plate.

[0086] The cylinder 44 or the plate, resp., is preferably rotatable about 360.