Safety device having at least one back seat airbag, for a motor vehicle

• US 20020036398A1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Published: 03/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Wohllebe, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 6,557,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A rear seat airbag device is arranged with an airbag housing mounted to a rear portion of a front seat of a vehicle. The housing has an airbag deployment opening which deploys the airbag upwardly and toward the head and chest portion of a rear seat occupant.

Claims

1. A rear seat airbag device arranged for installation in a vehicle having a adjustable front seat assembly including a front seat and backrest, comprising:

an airbag;

an airbag housing enclosing said airbag in an undeployed condition, mounted to a rear portion of said front seat, and adjustable with said front seat assembly, said airbag housing having an airbag deployment opening directed to deploy said airbag toward a head and chest portion of a rear seat occupant, and

at least one gas generator connected to said airbag housing and arranged to inflate said airbag.

2. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 1 wherein said airbag housing and said gas generator are arranged within said rear portion of said front seat, and wherein said airbag deployment opening is directed toward a rear seat of said vehicle and in an upward direction, and wherein said airbag includes a flat and narrow lower portion and a voluminous upper portion, and is arranged to deploy in a first stage with said lower portion expanding along and behind said backseat and in a second stage expanding said voluminous upper portion in front of said head and chest portions of said rear seat occupant.

3. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 2 wherein said deployment opening comprises a cover having a seam, said seam being arranged to tear upon deployment of said airbag.

4. A rear seat airbag device according to claim 1 wherein said housing includes a first housing portion mounted within said rear portion of said front seat and a second housing portion comprising a cover arranged along and over a rear surface of said backseat, wherein said airbag is arranged between said rear surface and said cover in an undeployed condition and wherein said airbag is arranged to deploy in a first stage to expand said cover away from said rear surface to form a cushion thereon, and in a second stage to deploy an upper portion of said airbag toward said head and chest portion of a rear seat occupant.

5. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 4 wherein said cover extends from said front seat to a middle portion of said backrest, and wherein said cover is articulated to said front seat.

6. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 1 wherein there is provided a stirrup in the form of an inverted U having first and second legs connect at an end portion to said rear portion of said front seat, and wherein said airbag housing is mounted in a cross-bar of said U-shaped stirrup with said deployment opening facing upward and rearward.

7. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 6 wherein said cross-bar is padded and forms a knee cushion.

8. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 6 wherein said first and second legs are articulated to said rear portion of said front seat.

9. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 6 wherein said first and second legs are articulated with a spring connection.

10. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 6 wherein said first and second legs are fixedly mounted to said rear portion of said front seat and wherein a space is provided between said stirrup and said backrest for limited range adjustment of said backseat.

11. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 1 wherein said backrest has a limited range of adjustment.

12. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 11 wherein said backrest is arranged to move to a reclining position when said vehicle in not being operated and has said limited smaller range of adjustment when said vehicle is operated.

13. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 11 wherein said backrest is arranged to reclined when a corresponding rear seat is occupied and has said limited smaller range of adjustment when said corresponding rear seat is vacant.

14. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 1 wherein said airbag is arranged to be inflated only when a corresponding rear seat is occupied.