Vehicle seat air bag arrangement

• US 6,217,062 B1
• Filed: 04/19/2000
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Sinnhuber, Ruprecht, Breyvogel, Jörg
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/552,016
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 280/733, 297/216.13, 297/216.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/68 Seat frames
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2612 Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A vehicle seat air bag arrangement has a side operating air bag module including a gas generator, an air bag package and a gas delivery device which connects the gas generator to the air bag package. The vehicle seat has a backrest part and a seat part each having a frame with frame members constructed in such a way that they can accommodate air bag module components providing a very packed and secure accommodation of air bag module parts which has a favorable effect on driving safety and production costs.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement comprising a seat having a backrest part and a seat part connected to the backrest part, at least one of the backrest part and the seat part containing a frame made of a plurality of frame members including a side frame member and a horizontal frame member, and at least one side-operating air bag module including a gas generator, an air bag package located at a distance from the gas generator, and a gas delivery device connecting the gas generator to the air bag package, the air bag package being mounted in a side frame member and the gas generator being mounted in another frame member.

2. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein at least one frame member is formed, at least in part, to constitute a gas delivery device.

3. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein at least one frame member has, at least in part, a hollow shape produced by internal high-pressure molding.

4. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the gas generator is mounted in a horizontal frame member of the frame.

5. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the gas generator is mounted in a lower horizontal frame member of a frame for the backrest part.

6. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the gas generator is mounted in a front horizontal frame member of the seat part.

7. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the gas generator is mounted in a second side frame member of the frame.

8. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the air bag package is fitted into a recess of the side frame member.

9. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the air bag package includes support means in the form of an essentially surrounding flange.

10. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the gas generator includes a housing that is, at least in part, an integral component of one of the frame members.

11. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 1 wherein both the backrest part and the seat part include a frame having side frame members and horizontal frame members and including an air bag package mounted in a side frame member of each frame and a gas generator mounted in a horizontal frame member of each frame.

12. A vehicle seat air bag arrangement according to claim 11 wherein a gas generator is mounted in a front horizontal frame member of the seat part and a gas generator is mounted in a lower horizontal frame member of the backrest part.