Motor vehicle seat with a back rest and air bag assembly

• US 4,946,191 A
• Filed: 12/08/1988
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH & Company
• Original Assignee: Keiper Recaro GmbH & Company
• Inventors: Putsch, Peter-Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Application Number:
  US07/281,230
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/730, 280/733, 280/734, 280/743, 280/735, 297/391, 297/DIG. 3
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/03 Pneumatic

Abstract

In a vehicle seat, particularly a motor vehicle seat, the back rest of which includes at least one forwardly projecting side wing in the area supporting the shoulders of the user. The side wing is provided with at least one recess in which an air bag and actuating device is located. Upon lateral impact the air bag inflates to protect the sideways movement of the user'"'"'s head.

Claims

1. Vehicle seat, particularly a motor vehicle seat for supporting a vehicle user, comprising a back rest having a head rest for supporting only a back side of the user'"'"'s head, an area supporting the shoulders of the user, and having at least one forwardly projecting side wing in the area supporting the shoulders of the seat user but not laterally of the user'"'"'s head, wherein the vision of the user is unobstructed, said side wing having an upper surface;

said side wing including at least one recess positioned in said upper surface, in which an inflatable air bag is located, whereby said air bag, in the inflated condition of said air bag, forms a support laterally adjacent the head of the seat user.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said vehicle seat back rest includes a pair of side wings, each positioned in said area supporting the shoulder of the user.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said back rest includes a plurality of recesses, each of said recesses including an air bag therein.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is arranged in the side wing so as to provide a forward support for the user in the inflated condition of said air bag.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further including a seat belt system having at least one shoulder strap, said shoulder strap being attached to the back rest.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 2, further including a seat belt system having at least one shoulder strap, said shoulder strap being attached to the back rest.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 3, further including a seat belt system having at least one shoulder strap, said shoulder strap being attached to the back rest.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, further including a seat belt system having at least one shoulder strap, said shoulder strap being attached to the back rest.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 1 wherein an additional air bag is arranged in the side wing so as to provide a downward support for the user in the inflated condition of said additional air bag.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 4, further including an additional air bag, wherein one of said air bags is arranged in the side wing so as to provide a downward support for the user in the inflated condition of the air bag.