Safety arrangement in a vehicle seat

• US 7,997,611 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Philips, Marc, Dufaut, Dominique, Haesaert, Charles, Le Guen, Jean
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Brown; Drew
• Application Number:
  US12/224,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20090273166A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,622 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/743.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety device in a vehicle seat with a seat frame on which a seat cushion is fitted, and with an airbag unit with a gas generator and an airbag, which airbag unit is arranged on the seat frame below the seat cushion. It is the object of the invention to provide a safety device which effectively avoids the seat user slipping forwards in the event of an accident and at the same time is simple to produce and fit. The object is achieved in that the airbag when not activated rests in an unfolded and flat manner on the seat frame.

Claims

1. A safety device in combination with a vehicle seat having a seat frame on which a seat cushion is attached, the safety device comprising:

an airbag unit with a gas generator;

a gas bag disposed below the seat cushion and on the seat frame, the gas bag in a nonactivated state rests flat on the seat frame; and

a support plate covering at least one part of the gas bag in the non-activated state relative to the seat cushion, the support plate biased toward the gas bag.

2. A safety device in combination with a vehicle seat having a seat frame on which a seat cushion is attached, the safety device comprising:

an inflatable gas bag disposed below the seat cushion and on the seat frame, the gas bag in a nonactivated state rests flat on the seat frame, the gas bag including an inflatable region and a non-inflatable peripheral region, the peripheral region including at least one attachment portion;

a gas generator in fluid communication with a cavity of the gas bag and operative to deliver inflation gas to the cavity for inflating the gas bag; and

a plurality of attachment elements extending through openings in the attachment portion of the peripheral region of the gas bag and interconnecting the gas bag to the vehicle seat, the openings spaced from the cavity of the gas bag;

wherein the at least one attachment portion is releasable from the vehicle seat when the gas bag is inflated;

wherein the attachment elements release the gas bag from the vehicle seat in resonse to inflation of the gas bag.

3. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the seat frame includes a support and the gas bag rests on the support.

4. The safety device according to claim 3, wherein the support is formed plate-shaped and the gas bag rests on said support.

5. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the gas generator is mounted on the seat frame.

6. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the gas generator is mounted below the seat frame.

7. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the gas generator is attached to the seat frame with at least one attachment bolt.

8. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein a support plate covers at least one part of the gas bag in the non-activated state relative to the seat cushion.

9. The safety device according to claim 8, wherein the support plate is part of the seat frame.

10. The safety device according to claim 8, wherein the support plate is folded in the direction of the gas bag.

11. The safety device according to claim 8, wherein the support plate is articulably mounted on the seat frame.

12. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the seat frame forms a housing for the gas generator.

13. The safety device according to claim 12, wherein a support of the seat frame defines the gas generator.

14. The safety device according to claim 2, wherein the gas bag is a fabric gas bag.