Triggering device

• US 7,575,274 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Frank, Harald, Storath, Josef, Albrecht, Uwe
• Primary Examiner(s): Cranmer; Laurie K
• Application Number:
  US12/002,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20080211273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 609 Days
• Field of Search: 297/216.12, 297/216.1, 297/391, 297408-410
• US Class Current: 297/216.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/19 Pyrotechnical actuators

Abstract

The present invention relates to a an actuation unit having a triggering device for the moving of a headrest into a predetermined position, with the triggering device comprising a pyrotechnic gas generator and a triggering member which is movable from a blocking position into a release position.

Claims

1. An actuation unit for moving a head rest in a vehicle seat and comprising a triggering device, said triggering device comprising:

a housing body defining a chamber,

a pyrotechnic gas generator within said housing body and adapted for producing a pressurized gas within said chamber,

a piston extending through said housing body and having an inner end and an outer end, said piston being movable in response to said pressurized gas within said chamber, and

a triggering member adapted to engage the outer end of the piston and movable from a blocking position to a release position in response to movement of said piston by said pressurized gas,

wherein said piston comprises a bore extending from said inner end to said outer end for releasing said pressurized gas.

2. An actuation unit for moving the head rest in a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein said triggering member includes a lever engaging said outer end of said piston and pivotable between said blocking position and said release position, wherein said lever covers said bore in said blocking position and uncovers said bore in said released position to discharge said pressurized gas from said chamber.

3. An actuation unit for moving the head rest in a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein said piston is at least partly inside said chamber in said blocking position and is displaceable in the direction out of said chamber in response to said pressurized gas.

4. An actuation unit for moving the head rest in a vehicle seat of claim 1, wherein said chamber is bounded at one side by a cover which has an opening which is provided with a guide for said piston and through which said piston extends.

5. An actuation unit for moving the head rest in a vehicle seat of claim 4, wherein said inner end of said piston comprises a flange that engages said cover to limit movement of said piston in response to said pressurized gas.

6. An actuation unit for moving the head rest in a vehicle seat of claim 5, wherein said cover is fastened to said housing body by means of an ultrasonic welding process.