Side airbag device, method for operation thereof and vehicle seat therewith

• US 6,029,993 A
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inova GmbH - Technische Entwicklungen
• Original Assignee: Inova GmbH - Technische Entwicklungen
• Inventors: Mueller, Olaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): McKinley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US09/165,744
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/743.2, 280/733
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• 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 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2644 using only solid reacting substances, e.g. pellets, powder
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 22/1952 Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor

Abstract

A side air bag system has at least one inflatable air bag, a supporting strap which can be tensioned in the area of the inflated air bag, as well as operating devices for tensioning the supporting strap and inflating the air bag into their protective positions. The supporting strap is coupled with the air bag such that the tensioning supporting strap pushes the air bag out of its folded position into its protective position. An operating process for a side air bag system has at least one inflatable air bag, a supporting strap which can be tensioned in the area of the inflated air bag and operating devices for inflating the air bag and tensioning the supporting strap into their final protective positions, in which case the unfolding of the air bag from a folded condition into an at least essentially unfolded condition is at least supported by the tensioning of the supporting strap.

Claims

1. A side air bag system, comprising:

a seat having a back rest element and a seat element;

at least one inflatable air bag arranged in the seat in an uninflated state;

a supporting strap coupled with the air bag, one end being secured to the backrest element;

operating devices for tensioning the supporting strap and inflating the air bag into a protective position, another end of the supporting strap being coupled to one of the operating devices;

wherein the supporting strap pulls the air bag out of a folded position in the seat and into a protective position when tensioned, said tensioning of the supporting strap restraining lateral movement of a seat occupant while allowing the air bag to inflate in the protective position.

2. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the air bag is designed to have a cushion-shape which extends in the protective position between the backrest element and the seat element.

3. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the air bag has a substantially triangular shape such that, in the protective position, a first side fits along the backrest element, a second side fits along the seat element and a third side extends between the backrest element and the seat element.

4. The side air bag system according to claim 2, wherein the cushion-shape is substantially triangular such that a first side fits along the backrest element, a second side fits along the seat element and a third side extends between the backrest element and the seat element.

5. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting strap is situated in one of an interior of the air bag and in a guide assigned to an outer cover of the air bag, and further wherein the supporting strap is one of connected at least in sections with the outer cover of the air bag and constructed integrally with the air bag.

6. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the operating devices tension the supporting strap at least partially before inflation of the air bag begins.

7. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the operating devices are designed to inflate the air bag during the tensioning of the supporting strap.

8. The side air bag system according to claim 7, wherein the operating devices inflate the air bag beginning simultaneously with the tensioning of the supporting strap.

9. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the operating devices comprise a tensioning device for the supporting strap and a filling device for the air bag, the tensioning device and the filling device being coupled and interacting with one another.

10. The side air bag system according to claim 9, wherein the filling device comprises at least one of a gas generator and a gas storage device.

11. The side air bag system according to claim 9, wherein the tensioning device comprises at least one energy accumulator and driving devices which can be acted upon by the energy accumulator for tensioning the supporting strap, and further wherein the driving devices contain a releasable return stop which, with respect to triggering of the operating devices, automatically releases in a time-delayed manner.

12. The side air bag system according to claim 10, wherein the tensioning device comprises at least one energy accumulator and driving devices which can be acted upon by the energy accumulator for tensioning the supporting strap, and further wherein the driving devices contain a releasable return stop which, with respect to triggering of the operating devices, automatically releases in a time-delayed manner.

13. The side air bag system according to claim 10, wherein the gas generator and/or the gas storage device of the filling device is at least part of an energy accumulator of the tensioning device.

14. The side air bag system according to claim 11, wherein the energy accumulator of the tensioning device is at least a part of the gas generator and/or the gas storage device of the filling device.

15. The side air bag system according to claim 10, wherein the air bag is connected in a gas-tight manner with one of the gas generator and the gas storage device.

16. The side air bag system according to claim 11, wherein the air bag is connected in a gas-tight manner with one of the gas generator and the gas storage device, and further wherein the supporting strap is permanently coupled to the driving devices.

17. The side air bag system according to claim 11, wherein a permanent coupling of the supporting strap to the driving devices occurs automatically upon triggering.

18. The side air bag system according to claim 16, wherein the driving devices comprise a piston acted upon by the energy accumulator and to which the supporting strap is coupled.

19. The side air bag system according to claim 18, wherein the supporting strap is coupled to the piston automatically by the triggering of the driving devices.

20. The side air bag system according to claim 10, wherein one of the gas generators and the gas storage device of the filling device is pyrotechnically activatable.

21. The side air bag system according to claim 11, wherein the energy accumulator of the tensioning device is pytrotechnically activatable.

22. The side air bag system according to claim 10, wherein one of the gas generator and the gas storage device of the filling device has a multi-stage design.

23. The side air bag system according to claim 11, wherein the energy accumulator of the tensioning device has a multi-stage design.

24. The side air bag system according to claim 10, wherein one of the gas generator and the gas storage device of the filling device is electrically triggerable.

25. The side air bag system according to claim 24, wherein at least a first stage of the gas generator and/or the gas storage device of the filling device is electrically triggerable.

26. The side air bag system according to claim 11, wherein the energy accumulator of the tensioning device is electrically triggerable.

27. The side air bag system according to claim 16, wherein at least a first stage of the energy accumulator of the tensioning device is electrically triggerable.

28. The side air bag system according to claim 22, wherein at least a second stage of the gas generator and/or the gas storage device of the filling device is mechanically triggerable.

29. The side air bag system according to claim 23, wherein at least a second stage of the energy accumulator of the tensioning device is mechanically triggerable.

30. The side air bag system according to claim 24, wherein at least a second stage of the gas generator and/or the gas storage device of the filling device is mechanically triggerable.

31. The side air bag system according to claim 26, wherein at least a second stage of the energy accumulator of the tensioning device is mechanically triggerable.

32. The side air bag system according to claim 24, wherein at least mechanically, portions of the triggering system are provided twice and can be acted upon simultaneously but independently of one another.

33. The side air bag system according to claim 26, wherein at least mechanically, portions of the triggering system are provided twice and can be acted upon simultaneously but independently of one another.

34. The side air bag system according to claim 28, wherein at least mechanically, portions of the triggering system are provided twice and can be acted upon simultaneously but independently of one another.

35. The side air bag system according to claim 29, wherein at least mechanically, portions of the triggering system are provided twice and can be acted upon simultaneously but independently of one another.

36. The side air bag system according to claim 30, wherein at least mechanically, portions of the triggering system are provided twice and can be acted upon simultaneously but independently of one another.

37. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein on an end assigned to the operating devices, the supporting strap is formed by a material resistant to operating temperatures in the operating devices.

38. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein the supporting strap has, at least in an area of the air bag situated in the protective position, a width which is significantly larger than its thickness, and further wherein the width of the supporting strap is in a range of approximately 10% to approximately 90% of a diameter of the air bag.

39. The side air bag system according to claim 38, wherein the width of the supporting strap is in the range of approximately 20% to approximately 60% of a diameter of the air bag.

40. The side air bag system according to claim 38, wherein the width of the supporting strap is in the range of approximately 25% to approximately 40% of a diameter of the air bag.

41. The side air bag system according to claim 1, further comprising two air bags coupled with pertaining supporting straps for use on both sides of an occupant, wherein the two air bags are operated via a common one of the operating devices.

42. The side air bag system according to claim 1, wherein, before triggering, the air bag and the supporting strap are arranged in an angular accommodation space designed such that, in the protective position, they span an angle formed by the angular accommodation space.

43. A process for operating a side air bag system having at least one inflatable air bag, a supporting strap tensionable in an area of the inflatable air bag, and operating devices for inflating the air bag and tensioning the supporting strap into a final protective position, the process comprising the acts of:

triggering the side air bag system;

restraining lateral movement of a seat occupant by tensioning a supporting strap for the air bag upon triggering the side air bag system;

inflating the air bag; and

supporting the inflating of the air bag such that it unfolds from a folded condition into an at least essentially unfolded condition by the tensioning of the supporting strap.

44. The process according to claim 43, further comprising the act of, after triggering the side air bag system, stretching the supporting strap before beginning to inflate the air bag.

45. The process according to claim 44, wherein the stretching of the supporting strap and the inflating of the air bag are started at least substantially simultaneously after triggering the side air bag system.

46. A motor vehicle seat, comprising:

a seat element and a backrest;

a side air bag system having at least one air bag inflatable via at least one operating device, said side air bag in its folded condition being arranged in an angular accommodation space extending on one side of the motor vehicle seat over the seat element and the backrest element,

wherein in an inflated condition, the air bag extends in a protective position between the seat element and the backrest element,

a supporting strap arranged along the air bag, said supporting strap being tensionable in an area of the inflated air bag and being coupled with the air bag such that the tensioning strap pushes the air bag into the protective position,

wherein the supporting strap together with the folded air bag is arranged in the angular accommodation space, and further wherein the at least one operating device during the triggering of the air bag is designed to act upon the supporting strap in order to tension the supporting strap into the protective position, wherein the tensioning of the supporting strap restrains lateral movement of a seat occupant while pulling the air bag into the protective position.

47. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 46, further comprising at least one of a covering and tear seams provided in the accommodation space, wherein the air bag and the supporting strap, before triggering, are situated behind the covering or the tear seams.

48. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 46, wherein the operating devices are arranged below the seat element in a driving direction.

49. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 48, wherein the operating devices are arranged transversely to the driving direction and are reinforcingly connected with one of a seat structure and a vehicle structure.

50. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 46, further comprising at least two air bags, one air bag and its assigned supporting strap being provided on each side of the motor vehicle seat.

51. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 49, wherein the two air bags are acted upon jointly by a single operating device.

52. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 46, further comprising compensating devices for coupling at least one of the supporting strap and the air bag to the operating devices.

53. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 46, wherein at least one of the supporting strap and the air bag are coupled to the operating devices when the side air bag system is triggered.

54. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 46, wherein the air bag has a substantially triangular shape, such that in the protective position a first side fits along the backrest element, a second side fits along the seat element, and a third side extends between the backrest element and the seat element.