Vehicle seat with a side airbag device

• US 8,469,395 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Richez, Olivier, Vanzieleghem, Sebastien, Garret, Gilles, Langlet, Sylvain
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERLEY, NICOLE T
• Application Number:
  US13/379,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20120091695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence

Abstract

A safety device for a vehicle seat is disclosed. The vehicle seat has a backrest that extends in the transverse direction of the vehicle, the backrest having at least one lateral region and an upper region from which a headrest extends. Arranged on the backrest is a side airbag device with at least one inflator and a side airbag. The side airbag has a thorax section (22). The head section (26) emerges from the upper region of the backrest (12) beside the headrest (14) when the inflator is actuated, and the inner wall (26a) of the head section (26) is toward the interior of the vehicle relative to the inner wall (22a) of the thorax section (22). The inner wall (22a) of the thorax section (22) and the outer wall (26b) of the head section (26) are connected via overflow openings (31, 34).

Claims

1. A side airbag device for a vehicle seat of the type having a backrest extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle, the backrest having at least one lateral region and an upper region, and a headrest extending from the upper region, the side airbag device being configured to be arranged in the backrest and comprising:

an inflator and

a side airbag having a thorax section enclosing a thorax chamber in fluid communication with the inflator, and a head section separate from the thorax section and enclosing a head chamber, the thorax section and the head section each being configured to be arranged in or on the backrest and each having an inner wall that forms an impact surface, and an outer wall, the head section configured to emerge from the upper region of the backrest beside the headrest upon actuation of the inflator, the inner wall of the head section configured to be offset in a transverse direction of the vehicle relative to the inner wall of the thorax section upon complete expansion of the airbag, the inner wall of the thorax section and the outer wall of the head section each having an overflow opening, the overflow openings being in fluid communication via a filling section of the side airbag and configured to allow a gas overflow from the thorax chamber into the head chamber.

2. The side airbag device according to claim 1, further comprising that the filling section also features an outer wall with an overflow opening and an inner wall with an overflow opening, wherein the outer wall of the filling section is connected to the inner wall of the thorax section around the respective overflow openings, and the inner wall of the filling section is connected to the outer wall of the head section around the respective overflow openings.

3. A vehicle seat comprising a side airbag device according to claim 1.

4. A vehicle seat according to claim 3, further comprising a housing arranged in the upper region of the backrest, the housing having an upper opening, through which the head section emerges during expansion.

5. A vehicle seat according to claim 4, further comprising that the housing has a side opening.

6. A safety device for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle seat having a backrest extending in a transverse direction of the vehicle, the backrest having at least one lateral region and an upper region, and a headrest extending from the upper region;

a side airbag device arranged in the backrest and having;

an inflator; and

a side airbag including a thorax section enclosing a thorax chamber in fluid communication with the inflator, and a head section separate from the thorax section and enclosing a head chamber, the thorax section and the head section each arranged in or on the backrest and each having an inner wall that forms an impact surface, and an outer wall, the head section configured to emerge from the upper region of the backrest beside the headrest upon actuation of the inflator, the inner wall of the head section configured to be offset in a transverse direction of the vehicle relative to the inner wall of the thorax section upon complete expansion of the airbag, and the inner wall of the thorax section and the outer wall of the head section each having an overflow opening, the overflow openings being in fluid communication and configured to allow a gas overflow from the thorax chamber into the head chamber; and

a safety belt having an applied state configured to extend through a gap between the head section and the thorax section of the side airbag after inflation of the airbag.