Air bag deployment arrangement

• US 20050156412A1
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Panagos, Bill C., Schulte, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,134,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/201 Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening

Abstract

An assembly for a vehicle seat includes an air bag module having an inflatable air bag, and a trim cover that covers at least a portion of the air bag module. The trim cover further has a deployment seam for allowing the air bag to deploy through the trim cover. The assembly also includes an air bag deployment member that substantially circumscribes the air bag module. The deployment member is connected to the trim cover on only one side of the deployment seam.

Claims

1. An assembly for a vehicle seat comprising:

an air bag module including an inflatable air bag;

a trim cover that covers at least a portion of the air bag module, the trim cover having a deployment seam for allowing the air bag to deploy through the trim cover; and

an air bag deployment member that substantially circumscribes the air bag module, the deployment member being connected to the trim cover on only one side of the deployment seam.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the deployment member has first and second ends, the first end being connected to the trim cover, and the second end being connected to a portion of the deployment member proximate the first end.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the deployment member comprises a one piece band that circumscribes the air bag module.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the deployment member comprises multiple pieces that are connected together such that the deployment member circumscribes the air bag module.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a frame for supporting the air bag module, and wherein the deployment member at least partially surrounds the frame.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the air bag module further includes an inflator for inflating the air bag, and a housing that substantially surrounds the air bag and the inflator.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the air bag module further includes an inflator for inflating the air bag, and a covering member that at least partially surrounds the air bag.

8. A cushion assembly for a vehicle seat comprising:

a frame;

an air bag module supported by the frame, the air bag module including an inflatable air bag, and an inflator for inflating the air bag;

a trim cover that covers at least a portion of the air bag module, the trim cover having a deployment seam for allowing the air bag to deploy through the trim cover; and

an air bag deployment band for guiding deployment of the air bag, the deployment band substantially circumscribing the air bag module, the deployment band further having first and second ends, the first end being connected to the trim cover on one side of the deployment seam, and the second end being connected to a portion of the deployment band proximate the first end.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the deployment band includes a single piece band body that extends from the first end to the second end.

10. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the deployment band comprises multiple pieces that are connected together.

11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the second end of the deployment band is not connected directly to the trim cover.

12. An assembly for a vehicle seat comprising:

an air bag module including an inflatable air bag;

a trim cover covering at least a portion of the air bag module; and

an air bag deployment device for guiding deployment of the air bag, the deployment device having first and second sections, the first section being connected to the trim cover and extending toward a first side of the air bag module, the second section being connected to the first section at a location proximate the trim cover and extending toward a second side of the air bag module.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the air bag module further includes a housing that at least partially surrounds the air bag, the housing including first and second housing portions that are movable away from each other upon inflation of the air bag, and wherein the first section of the deployment device is connected to the first housing portion, and the second section of the deployment device is connected to the second housing portion.

14. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the first and second sections of the deployment device cooperate to substantially surround the air bag module.

15. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the trim cover has a deployment seam for allowing the air bag to deploy through the trim cover, and wherein the first section of the deployment device is connected to the trim cover on one side of the deployment seam.

16. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the second section is not connected directly to the trim cover.

17. The assembly of claim 12 further comprising a frame for supporting the air bag module, and wherein at least one of the sections of the deployment device is connected to the frame.