Safety device having at least one back seat airbag, for a motor vehicle

• US 6,557,887 B2
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Wohllebe, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/976,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20020036398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/753, 297/216.13
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A rear seat airbag device is arranged with an airbag housing mounted to a rear portion of a front seat of a vehicle. The housing has an airbag deployment opening which deploys the airbag upwardly and toward the head and chest portion of a rear seat occupant.

Claims

1. A rear seat airbag device arranged for installation in a vehicle having an adjustable front seat assembly including a front seat bottom having an underframe, and a front seat backrest, comprising:

an airbag;

an airbag cover over said airbag in an uninflated, partially deployed condition, said cover mounted over a rear surface of said front seat backrest with said airbag between said cover and said backrest, and said cover and said airbag being adjustable with said front seat assembly, said airbag cover forming an airbag deployment opening between said cover and said backrest directed to deploy said airbag toward a head and chest portion of a rear seat occupant, and

at least one gas generator arranged to inflate said airbag, wherein said gas generator is connected to said seat bottom underframe.

2. A rear seat airbag device according to claim 1 wherein said airbag is arranged to deploy in a first stage to expand said cover away from said rear surface and in a second stage to deploy an upper portion of said airbag through said deployment opening toward said head and chest portion of a rear seat occupant.

3. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 2 wherein said cover extends from said front seat bottom to a middle portion of said backrest, and wherein said cover is articulated to said front seat bottom.

4. A rear seat airbag device as specified in claim 1 wherein said backrest has a limited range of adjustment.