Seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus

• US 6,561,540 B1
• Filed: 09/02/1999
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ohno, Mitsuyoshi, Kato, Hisaaki, Hasegawa, Yasunori
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEENDER, FLORIAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/389,056
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/730.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.1, 297/216.13, 297/216.14, 297/216.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42 the seat constructed to protect the occupant from the effect of abnormal g-forces, e.g. crash or safety seats for protecting children B60N2/26; arm-rests B60N2/75; head-rests B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

In a seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus, a seat back frame has side frames each provided at a corresponding widthwise direction side of a seat. An air bag accommodating concave portion is formed in one of the side frames which opposes a vehicle door such that the concave portion extends inward from an end portion of the seat back frame in the widthwise direction of the seat. The air bag accommodating concave portion accommodates an inflator and a folded air bag. A seat pad is provided for covering the seat back frame, and a seat surface layer is provided for covering the seat pad. The seat surface layer covers the air bag accommodating concave portion and the seat pad.

Claims

1. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus, comprising:

a seat back frame having side frames each provided at a corresponding widthwise direction side of a seat;

an air bag accommodating concave portion formed in one of said side frames which opposes a vehicle door such that said concave portion extends inward from an end portion of said seat back frame in the widthwise direction of the seat, and is adapted to accommodate an inflator and a folded air bag wherein the air bag accommodating concave portion includes a recessed portion adapted to receive the inflator such that, when assembled, the inflator is received within the recessed portion such that the recessed portion envelopes at least half of the circumference of the inflator, and is covered by the folded air bag in the air bag accommodating concave portion, and the folded air bag contacts a surface of the air bag accommodating concave portion;

a seat pad for covering said scat back frame; and

a seat surface layer for covering said seat pad, wherein said seat surface layer covers said air bag accommodating concave portion and said seat pad.

2. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seat pad has a substantially U-shaped slit formed in a side pad portion of said seat pad at a position opposing said air bag accommodating concave portion, said substantially U-shaped slit including a base portion and two parallel leg portions forming a substantially U-shape, the leg portions extending from the base portion toward the rear of the vehicle.

3. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seat surface layer has a sewn portion, and said sewn portion is broken upon expansion of said air bag.

4. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said air bag accommodating concave portion has an inflator accommodating portion for accommodating said inflator.

5. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

fixing means which is provided on said side frame and for fixing said air bag to said side frame.

6. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said fixing means is an elongated member.

7. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seat back frame has an upper frame for connecting said side frames each of which is provided at a corresponding widthwise direction side of the seat.

8. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said upper frame is a pipe-shaped member.

9. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said seat back frame has a connecting member for connecting the rear end portions of said side frames each of which is provided at a corresponding widthwise direction side of the seat.

10. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said connecting member is a plurality of wires arranged in the longitudinal direction of said side frames.

11. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus, comprising:

a seat back frame having side frames each provided at a corresponding widthwise direction side of a seat, one side frame opposing a vehicle door being shaped so as to define;

(a) a recessed air bag accommodation portion for accommodating an air bag which when in place has at least a portion thereof in contact with a surface of said air bag accommodating portion, (b) a recessed inflator accommodating portion for receiving an inflator for inflating said air bag, the recessed portion enveloping at least half of the circumference of the inflator when it is positioned within the inflator accommodating portion, and (c) an inflator mounting opening to allow said inflator to pass through said one side frame so that it can be positioned within said inflator accommodating portion;

a seat pad for covering said seat back frame; and

a seat surface layer for covering said seat pad,

wherein said seat surface layer covers said inflator mounting opening, said side impact air bag apparatus and said seat pad, and

wherein said seat pad has a substantially U-shaped slit formed in a side pad portion of said seat pad at a position opposing said inflator mounting opening, said substantially U-shaped slit including a base portion and two parallel leg portions forming a substantially U-shape, the leg portions extending from the base portion toward the rear of the vehicle.

12. A seat structure comprising:

a seat back frame having a plate-shaped side frame at a widthwise direction end portion of a seat, the side frame having an air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion; and

an air bag body connected to an inflator and actuated by the inflator, the folded air bag body being accommodated in and in contact with a surface of the air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion,

wherein the airbag apparatus accommodating concave portion having a recessed portion for receiving the inflator such that, when assembled, the inflator is received within the recessed portion such that, the recessed portion envelopes at least half of a circumference of the inflator, and is covered by the air bag body located within the air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion.

13. A seat structure according to claim 12, wherein an inflator accommodating concave portion is formed in the side frame, and at least a portion of the inflator is disposed in the inflator accommodating concave portion.

14. A seat structure according to claim 12, wherein the air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion is of a size which is sufficient to accommodate the entire air bag body in a folded state.

15. A seat structure according to claim 12, wherein the air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion faces toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side.

16. A seat structure according to claim 12, wherein, in a usual state of accommodating the folded air bag body, the air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion is covered by a lid.

17. A seat structure having a side impact air bag apparatus, comprising:

seat pads for supporting a central portion of a back and side portions of a back of a seated vehicle occupant;

a side frame disposed at a vehicle longitudinal direction rear side of the seat pad supporting a side portion of the back of the seated vehicle occupant, a concave portion for accommodating an air bag apparatus being formed at a vehicle outer side surface of the side frame, wherein said concave portion having a recessed portion therein;

an inflator accommodated in the recessed portion of the concave portion of the side frame, at least half of the circumference of the inflator being enveloped by the recessed portion; and

a folded air bag body accommodated in and in contact with a surface of the concave portion of the side frame at a vehicle outer side of the inflator, wherein the inflator being received with the recessed portion such that, when assembled, the inflator is covered by the air bag body, the air bag body being inflated by the inflator.

18. A seat structure according to claim 17, wherein an inflator accommodating concave portion is formed in the side frame, and at least a portion of the inflator is disposed in the inflator accommodating concave portion.

19. A seat structure according to claim 17, wherein the air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion is of a size which is sufficient to accommodate the entire air bag body in a folded state.

20. A seat structure according to claim 17, wherein the air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion faces toward a vehicle transverse direction outer side.

21. A seat structure according to claim 17, wherein in a usual state of accommodating the folded air bag body, the air bag apparatus accommodating concave portion is covered by a lid.