VEHICLE SEAT ASSEMBLY WITH INBOARD SIDE AIR BAG

• US 20130119646A1
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Published: 05/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Tracht, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/5808 comprising opening zones for airbags
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

In at least certain embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a frame having a support portion, a seat pad, a trim cover extending over the seat pad, and an air bag assembly. In accordance with this embodiment, the air bag assembly includes an inflator and an air bag, and the air bag assembly is mounted on the support portion of the frame such that the air bag assembly is disposed inboard of the support portion of the frame.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a frame having a support portion;

a seat pad adjacent the frame, the seat pad having a main body portion for supporting an occupant;

a trim cover extending over at least a part of the seat pad, the trim cover having a release seam adjacent the seat pad;

an air bag assembly mounted on the support portion of the frame within the trim cover in a spaced relationship from the release seam, the air bag assembly being disposed between the support portion of the frame and the main body portion of the seat pad such that the air bag assembly is disposed inboard of the support portion of the frame, the air bag assembly including an inflator and a folded air bag that is inflatable by the inflator to unfold and project outwardly from the seat assembly through the release seam of the trim cover; and

an air bag guide including a guide panel made of flexible material, the panel having a first end adjacent the air bag assembly and a second end adjacent the release seam.

2. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide panel is disposed between the main body portion of the seat pad and the support portion of the frame.

3. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the trim cover comprises a generally front trim panel and a generally side trim panel connected to each other to form the release seam.

4. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the trim cover comprises a front trim panel and a side trim panel connected to each other to form the release seam, the second end of the guide panel being connected to the release seam and the guide panel being disposed between the air bag assembly and the seat pad.

5. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame is made of metal.

6. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 3, wherein the seat pad optionally comprises a minor body portion, smaller than the main body portion of the seat pad, disposed between the side trim panel and the support portion of the frame.

7. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the guide panel is made of sheet material.

8. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a frame;

a seat pad adjacent the frame;

a trim cover extending over at least a part of the seat pad;

an air bag assembly mounted on the frame, the air bag assembly including an inflator and a folded air bag that is inflatable by the inflator to unfold and project outwardly from the seat assembly, the air bag assembly being disposed between the frame and the seat pad such that the frame extends along the air bag assembly outboard of the air bag module; and

an optional air bag guide including a flexible panel associated with the air bag assembly.

9. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, further comprising a plastic back panel having a portion adjacent the trim cover, the back panel configured such that the air bag, when inflated, is capable of projecting between the back panel and the trim cover.

10. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 9 wherein the frame and the seat pad cooperate to form a space in which at least a majority of the air bag assembly is disposed, the frame being disposed between the air bag assembly and portion of the back panel adjacent the trim cover.

11. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the trim cover comprises a front trim panel and a side trim panel connected to each other to form a release seam, with the side trim panel being adjacent the frame such that the frame is disposed between the side trim panel and the air bag assembly.

12. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 11, wherein the seat pad comprises a main body portion capable of supporting an occupant and a minor body portion disposed between the side trim panel and the frame, the frame being disposed between the minor body portion of the seat pad and the air bag assembly.

13. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the guide panel is present and is connected to the frame, the guide panel having two surfaces capable of cooperating to form a deployment chute for the air bag.

14. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the frame is made of a composite material including fiber disposed in a resin matrix, and the frame comprises a bucket seat shell.

15. The vehicle seat assembly of claim 8, wherein the trim cover comprises a front trim panel and a side trim panel connected to each other to form a release seam, the flexible panel having a first end adjacent the air bag assembly and a second end connected to the release seam.

16. A method of making a vehicle seat assembly, said method comprising:

providing a frame having a forwardly extending support portion;

mounting a seat pad on the support portion of the frame such that an air bag assembly space is disposed between support portion of the frame and the seat pad, the air bag assembly space being 150 to 3,500 cm³;

disposing a trim cover over at least a portion of the seat pad and the frame;

securing an air bag assembly adjacent the support portion of the frame in the air bag assembly space such that the support portion of the frame is outboard of the air bag assembly, the air bag assembly including an air bag that is inflatable; and

providing an air bag guide including a panel of sheet material, and associating the air bag guide with the air bag assembly so the panel extends between the seat pad and the air bag assembly.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a back panel having a portion adjacent the trim cover, the back panel configured such that the air bag, when inflated, is capable of projecting between the back panel and the trim cover.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the trim cover comprises a front trim panel and a side trim panel connected to each other to form a release seam, with the side trim panel being adjacent the frame such that the support portion of the frame is disposed between the side trim panel and the air bag assembly, and wherein the seat pad comprises a main body portion capable of supporting an occupant and a minor body portion disposed between the side trim panel and the frame, the support portion of the frame being disposed between the minor body portion of the seat pad and the air bag assembly.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the panel has a first end adjacent the air bag assembly and a second end secured to the trim cover, and wherein the trim cover comprises a front trim panel and a side trim panel connected to each other to form a release seam, the second end of the panel being connected to the release seam.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the frame is made of a composite material including fiber disposed in a resin matrix, and the frame comprises a bucket seat shell.