Passenger restraint system

• US 20090014990A1
• Filed: 06/05/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Germany GmbH (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Takata - Petri AG (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kraft, Michael, Heudorfer, Benedikt, Loibl, Johann, Pursche, Oliver
• Granted Patent: US 7,819,423 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint system includes an inflatable airbag arranged in a vehicle seat. When the airbag is triggered it at least partially unfolds in the direction of travel on a side of the vehicle seat facing the vehicle interior. The vehicle seat includes a backrest frame extending in a substantially vertical direction in the vehicle seat and substantially aligned in the direction of travel. The airbag is connected to a front end of the backrest frame pointing in the direction of travel.

Claims

1. A vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising:

an inflatable airbag arranged in a vehicle seat, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate and at least partially unfold in the direction of travel of the vehicle on a side of the vehicle seat facing the vehicle interior,

wherein the vehicle seat includes a backrest frame that extends in a substantially vertical direction in the vehicle seat and is substantially aligned in the direction of travel,

wherein the airbag is connected to a front end of the backrest frame facing in the direction of travel.

2. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection of the airbag to the backrest frame is located on the front end of the backrest frame.

3. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection of the airbag to the backrest frame is located adjacent to the front end of the backrest frame along a component of the frame extending in the direction of travel of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spacing between a connecting structure for fastening the airbag to the backrest frame and the front end of the backrest frame is not greater than half of the spacing between the front end of the backrest frame and a rear end of the backrest frame in the direction of travel.

5. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection of the airbag to the backrest frame is along a connecting line extending in a substantially vertical direction corresponding to the shape of the backrest frame.

6. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the airbag is connected to the backrest frame along the connecting line at a plurality of fastening points.

7. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection of the airbag to the backrest frame is formed by an auxiliary material layer connected to the airbag and to the front end of the backrest frame.

8. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connection of the auxiliary material layer to the airbag comprises a stitched connection of the auxiliary material layer to a material layer along the periphery of the airbag.

9. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the connection of the auxiliary material layer to the airbag comprises an adhesively bonded connection of the auxiliary material layer to a material layer of the airbag.

10. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 7, wherein, the auxiliary material layer is guided around a holding part connected to the front end of the backrest frame to connect the auxiliary material layer to the front end of the backrest frame.

11. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the holding part is screwed to the front end of the backrest frame.

12. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the holding part is connected to the front end of the backrest frame.

13. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the auxiliary material layer forms a loop with a layer facing the airbag and a layer facing away from the airbag.

14. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the auxiliary material layer is connected to the backrest frame adjacent to the front end of the backrest frame.

15. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising:

an airbag module carrier connected to the front end of the backrest frame.

16. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the module carrier is connected to the front end of the backrest frame with the holding part.

17. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the module carrier is arranged in the loop formed by the auxiliary material layer and is connected to the front end of the backrest frame with at least one layer of the loop.

18. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises one or more darts to form one or more non-inflatable partial regions of the airbag.

19. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag forms at least one column that is resistant to buckling and runs in a substantially vertical direction.

20. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag forms at least one column that is resistant to buckling and runs in a substantially horizontal direction.

21. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a region of the inflated airbag is connected to the auxiliary material layer and is supported on the backrest frame, thereby stabilizing and positioning the airbag.

22. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflated airbag has a main chamber and at least one auxiliary chamber, the main chamber being connected to the front end of the backrest frame, the auxiliary chamber adjoining a side of the main chamber facing away from the direction of travel and being flow-connected to the main chamber.

23. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the at least one auxiliary chamber at least partially engages a side of the vehicle seat facing away from the direction of travel.

24. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises at least one check strap that runs in the interior of the airbag and that connects a first layer of the airbag to a second layer of the airbag when in an inflated state.

25. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the check strap extends substantially in the direction of travel in the inflated airbag.

26. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal pressure of the gas in the inflated airbag is greater than about 1.5 bar.

27. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the internal pressure of the gas in the inflated airbag is approximately 2 bar.

28. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag has no gas outlet openings.

29. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the airbag, which is connected to the front end of the backrest frame over a defined length, is stored in the vehicle seat in a substantially vertical direction along the backrest frame when folded.

30. A vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising:

an inflatable airbag arranged in a vehicle seat, when triggered the airbag at least partially unfolding in a direction of travel on a side of the vehicle seat facing a vehicle interior, the vehicle seat comprising a backrest frame extending in a substantially vertical direction in the vehicle seat and substantially aligned in the direction of travel,

wherein the inflated airbag has a main chamber and at least one auxiliary chamber, the auxiliary chamber adjoining a side of the main chamber facing away from the direction of travel, the auxiliary chamber being flow-connected to the main chamber.

31. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the auxiliary chamber at least partially engages the vehicle seat at the side of the vehicle seat facing away from the direction of travel.

32. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the main chamber of the airbag is connected to a front end of the backrest frame in the direction of travel.

33. A vehicle occupant restraint system, comprising:

an inflatable airbag arranged in a vehicle seat, when triggered the airbag at least partially unfolding in a direction of travel on a side of the vehicle seat facing a vehicle interior, the vehicle seat comprising a backrest frame extending in a substantially vertical direction in the vehicle seat and substantially aligned in the direction of travel,

wherein the airbag comprises at least one check strap that runs in the interior of the airbag and that connects a first layer of the airbag to a second layer of the airbag when in an inflated state.

34. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the check strap extends substantially in the direction of travel when the airbag is inflated.

35. The vehicle occupant restraint system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the airbag is connected to a front end of the backrest frame in the direction of travel.