WO2012118324A2

WO2012118324A2 - Seat mounted side airbag apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2012118324A2
Application number: PCT/KR2012/001498
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tae Ik Gwon; Soon-Bok Lee; Wan Dong Yoo
Original assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Current assignee: Autoliv Development AB
Priority date: 2011-03-03
Filing date: 2012-02-28
Publication date: 2012-09-07
Anticipated expiration: 2013-09-03
Also published as: KR101260468B1; KR20120100201A; WO2012118324A3

Abstract

Disclosed is a seat mounted airbag apparatus, which is deployed from a side cushion of a seat to protect a lateral side of a passenger and pushes a side foam pad toward the passenger to surround the lateral side of the passenger with the side foam pad, thereby improving the safety performance. The seat mounted side airbag apparatus includes an inflator installed in a seat frame provided in a receiving section of a foam pad formed at a lateral side of a vehicle seat and a cushion connected to the inflator. When the cushion is expanded, the foam pad is divided into an inner pad and an outer pad and the inner pad pushes the passenger so that the passenger is moved away from an impact point.

Description

SEAT MOUNTED SIDE AIRBAG APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a seat mounted airbag apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a seat mounted airbag apparatus, which is deployed from a side cushion of a seat to protect a lateral side of a passenger and pushes a side foam pad toward the passenger to surround the lateral side of the passenger with the side foam pad, thereby improving the safety performance.

In general, an airbag of a vehicle is a safety system to protect a driver and passengers upon front-side collision, a lateral-side collision or an overturn of a vehicle.

Particularly, a side airbag is installed in the vehicle to protect the driver and passengers upon the lateral-side collision of the vehicle.

The side airbag can be installed in a lateral side of a seat as disclosed in UK Patent Application No. 2,397,047 (Vehicles seat and airbag unit).

According to the above Patent Application, a foam pad is provided at a lateral side of a seat such that the foam pad protrudes beyond a back plate of the seat, and a side airbag apparatus installed in a seat frame is provided in the foam pad.

As generally known in the art, the side airbag apparatus includes an inflator to generate gas and a cushion connected to the inflator and accommodated in a folded state. The side airbag apparatus is mounted in the lateral foam pad of the seat.

Thus, as the gas is injected through the explosion of the inflator, the cushion is expanded so that the airbag is deployed while tearing the foam pad, thereby protecting the lateral side of the passenger.

However, the conventional side airbag apparatus protects the passenger by attenuating the impact through the expansion of the cushion, so there is limitation to ensure the safety of the passenger.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a seat mounted side airbag apparatus, in which a foam pad having a large size is provided at a lateral side of a seat and the foam pad is torn into two parts when a cushion is expanded so that an inner foam pad pushes a lateral side of a passenger to protect the passenger from external impact.

In order to accomplish the above object, according to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a seat mounted side airbag apparatus including an inflator installed in a seat frame provided in a receiving section of a foam pad protruding from a lateral side of a vehicle seat beyond a back plate of the vehicle seat and a cushion connected to the inflator and received in the receiving section of the foam pad, characterized in that the cushion includes a primary chamber communicated with the inflator and colliding with an inner surface of the foam pad to press the foam pad when the cushion is expanded and a secondary chamber or a multiple chamber communicated with the primary chamber and expanded out of the foam pad, and the foam pad is torn as the primary chamber is expanded and an inner pad of the foam pad pushes a passenger so that the passenger is moved away from an impact point.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a gas distributing unit is provided in the primary chamber.

The gas distributing unit includes a partition wall to divide the primary chamber, the partition wall includes a first hole directed toward the inner pad, a second hole directed toward the secondary chamber.

In order to accomplish the above object, according to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a seat mounted side airbag apparatus including an inflator installed in a seat frame provided in a receiving section of a foam pad formed at a lateral side of a vehicle seat and a cushion connected to the inflator and received in the receiving section of the foam pad to divide the foam pad into an inner pad and an outer pad when the cushion is expanded, characterized in that the seat mounted side airbag apparatus includes a guide member guiding the cushion such that the cushion collides with an inner surface of the foam pad when the cushion is expanded.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the guide member has a long length to directly push the foam pad.

The guide member is a plate installed at a deployment path of the cushion.

The guide member is formed with a guide hole serving as a path for the cushion and a bending portion bent downward.

In order to accomplish the above object, according to still another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a seat mounted side airbag apparatus including an inflator installed in a seat frame provided in a receiving section of a foam pad protruding from a lateral side of a vehicle seat beyond a back plate and a cushion connected to the inflator and received in the receiving section of the foam pad to divide the foam pad into an inner pad and an outer pad when the cushion is expanded, characterized in that the seat frame includes a guide hole to guide a deployment direction of the cushion such that the cushion collides with an inner surface of the foam pad by passing through the guide hole.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the mounting state of a seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the deploying state of a seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a seat mounted side airbag apparatus, which is a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings.

A seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the present invention includes an inflator installed at a seat frame formed in a receiving section of a foam pad provided at a lateral side of a seat of a vehicle and a cushion connected to the inflator and received in the receiving section of the foam pad such that the cushion can be expanded to the outside while tearing the foam pad into an inner pad and an outer pad.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the mounting state of the seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the deploying state of the seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seat mounted side airbag apparatus A1 according to the present invention includes an inflator I installed at a seat frame 6 formed in a receiving section 40 of a foam pad 4 provided at a lateral side of a seat 2 of a vehicle and a cushion 8 connected to the inflator I and received in the receiving section 40 of the foam pad 4.

The seat 2 includes a back pate 22 making contact with a back of a passenger 100 and a foam pad 4 protruding from a lateral side of the back plate 22.

In addition, the seat frame 6 is installed in the seat 2. In detail, the seat frame 6 is inserted into the back plate 22 and the foam pad 4 to support the back plate 22 and the foam pad 4.

The seat frame 6 includes a flat pate part 62 corresponding to the back plate 22 and lateral side ends 64 which are formed at both ends f the flat plate part 62 while being inclined or bent at the right angle.

An incised groove 43 is formed at an inner surface of the receiving section 40 of the foam pad 4 such that the foam pad 4 can be easily torn.

The inflator I is mounted at the lateral side end of the seat frame 6 and the cushion 8 is connected to the seat frame 6 to communicate with the inflator I. The cushion 8 is rolled or folded such that the volume of the cushion 8 can be minimized.

The structure of the inflator I and the cushion 8 according to other embodiments may have the same structure as described above, so it will not be further described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cushion 8 includes a primary chamber 81 communicated with the inflator I and colliding with an inner surface of the foam pad 4 to press the foam pad 4 when it is expanded and a secondary chamber 82 communicated with the primary chamber 81 and expanded out of the foam pad 4.

The primary chamber 81 is expanded beyond the lateral side end 64 of the seat frame 6 while pushing the inner pad 41 so that the foam pad 4 is torn into the inner and

outer pads

41 and 42 as shown in FIG. 2.

The term "inner and outer" will be determined on the basis of the passenger. In detail, an outer portion is located away from the passenger and an inner portion is located closely to the passenger.

As the inflator I is exploded, the gas is injected into the primary chamber 81 so that the primary chamber 81 is expanded and the foam pad 4 is torn through the incised groove 43.

Thus, the inner pad 41 of the foam pad 4, which is torn by the pushing force of the primary chamber 81, pushes the passenger 100 to move the passenger 100 away from the impact point, so that the impact delivery time is delayed and the impact applied to the passenger 100 is attenuated, thereby improving the safety of the passenger 100.

A guide member 7 is fixed to the cushion 8 to increase the pushing force of the primary chamber 81 with respect to the inner pad 41. The other end of the guide member 7 is fixed to the seat frame 6.

At least one secondary chamber 82 is provided. The secondary chamber 82 is expanded after the incised groove 43 of the foam pad 4 has been torn or broken, so the secondary chamber 82 is deployed toward the lateral side of the passenger 100 similarly to the typical side airbag.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the seat mounted side airbag apparatus A2 according to the present invention includes an inflator I installed at a seat frame 6 formed in a receiving section 40 of a foam pad 4 provided at a lateral side of a seat 2 of a vehicle and a cushion 8a connected to the inflator I and received in the receiving section 40 of the foam pad 4.

The cushion 8a includes a primary chamber 81a communicated with the inflator I and colliding with an inner surface of the foam pad 4 to press the foam pad 4 when it is expanded, a secondary chamber 82a communicated with the primary chamber 81 and expanded out of the foam pad 4, a gas distributing unit 5 provided in the primary chamber 81a and a connection unit 9 for connecting the seat frame 6 with the cushion 8a.

The connection unit 9 may include a fabric tether having a predetermined length or a bracket. One end of the connection unit 9 is fixed to the cushion 8a and the other end of the connection unit 9 is fixed to the seat frame 6.

The gas distributing unit 5 includes a partition wall to divide the primary chamber 81a, the partition wall includes a first hole 51 directed toward the inner pad 41, a second hole 52 directed toward the secondary chamber 82a.

The structure of the seat mounted side airbag apparatus A2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention may be identical to the seat mounted side airbag apparatus A1 of the first embodiment, so it will not be further described below.

As shown in FIG. 3, as the inflator I is exploded, the cushion 8a is expanded by gas pressure so that the cushion 8a is expanded out of the foam pad 4 while tearing the incised groove 43.

Preferably, the first hole 51 of the gas distributing unit 5 is larger than the second hole 52 of the gas distributing unit 5.

Thus, a greater amount of gas is introduced into the cushion 8a through the first hole 51 so that a right part of the primary chamber 81 can be more expanded. Thus, the inner pad 41 corresponding to the right part of the primary chamber 81 may be strongly pushed, so the passenger 100 can be moved further from the impact point, thereby improving the safety of the passenger.

The gas introduced into the first hole 51 to expand the primary chamber 81a is mixed with the gas injected trough the second hole 52 and the mixed gas is introduced into the secondary chamber 82a to expand the secondary chamber 82a.

Therefore, the inner pad 41 pushes the passenger 100 to move the passenger 100 away from the impact point, so that the impact delivery time is delayed and the impact applied to the passenger 100 is attenuated.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a seat mounted side airbag apparatus according to the third embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a seat mounted side airbag apparatus, which is a modification of the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the seat mounted side airbag apparatus A3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention includes an inflator I, a cushion 8b and a guide member 7 to guide the expansion of the cushion 8b.

The structure of the inflator I and the cushion 8b has been described above, so it will not be further described below.

The cushion 8b is connected to the inflator I and received in a receiving section 40 of a foam pad 4. The cushion 8b is deployed to the outside while tearing the foam pad 4 into inner and

outer pads

41 and 42.

At this time, the cushion 8b is expanded while being guided by the guide member 7.

The guide member 7 is connected to the lateral side end 64 of the seat frame 6 to guide the cushion 8b such that the cushion 8b collides with the inner surface of the foam pad 4 when it is expanded.

The guide member 7 includes a flexible material and directly pushes the inner pad 41.

The guide member 7 is a plate formed with a guide hole 72 serving as a path for the cushion 8b. A portion of the guide member 7 formed with the guide hole 72 is inclined in one direction so that a bending portion 74 is formed.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 5, according to the modification A3-2 of the third embodiment, the guide member 7b that guides the deployment of the cushion 8b is prepared as a ring installed at the deployment path of the cushion 8b.

In detail, a ring 74b made from a flexible material is provided at one end of the guide member 7b to surround the cushion 8b and an extension line 76b of the guide member 7b is fixed to the seat frame 6.

Thus, the cushion 8b is bent in the form of a U-shape while passing through the guide member 7 and the ring 7b, and the volume of the cushion 8b expanded in the receiving section 40 may be increased due to the bending portion, so that the inner pad 41 of the foam pad 4 may be pushed toward the passenger.

Since the inner pad 41 is pushed toward the passenger 100, the safety of the passenger can be improved as described above.

Fourth Embodiment

As shown in FIG. 6, the seat mounted side airbag apparatus A4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes an inflator I and a cushion 8c. A guide hole 69 is formed at the lateral side end 64 of the seat frame 6 to guide the deployment direction of the cushion 8c such that the cushion 8c collides with the inner surface of the foam pad 4 while passing through the guide hole 69.

Otherwise, a tear line (not shown) may be formed at the lateral side of the seat frame 6 in such a manner that the tear line can be torn by the cushion 8c being expanded.

The cushion 8c expanded by passing through the guide hole 69 or the tear line tears the foam pad 4 and pushes the inner pad 41 toward the passenger 100, thereby improving the safety of the passenger 100 as described above.

Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that the present invention should not be limited to these exemplary embodiments but various changes and modifications can be made by one ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed.

According to the present invention, the foam pad is torn into two parts when the cushion is expanded and the inner foam pad pushes the passenger to move the passenger away from the impact point, so that the impact delivery time is delayed and the impact applied to the passenger is attenuated, thereby improving the safety of the passenger.

Claims

A seat mounted side airbag apparatus including an inflator installed in a seat frame provided in a receiving section of a foam pad protruding from a lateral side of a vehicle seat beyond a back plate of the vehicle seat and a cushion connected to the inflator and received in the receiving section of the foam pad, characterized in that

the cushion includes a primary chamber communicated with the inflator and colliding with an inner surface of the foam pad to press the foam pad when the cushion is expanded and a secondary chamber communicated with the primary chamber and expanded out of the foam pad, and the foam pad is torn as the primary chamber is expanded and an inner pad of the foam pad pushes a passenger so that the passenger is moved away from an impact point.
The seat mounted side airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein a gas distributing unit is provided in the primary chamber, and the gas distributing unit includes a partition wall having a first hole directed toward the inner pad, a second hole directed toward the secondary chamber to divide the primary chamber.
A seat mounted side airbag apparatus including an inflator installed in a seat frame provided in a receiving section of a foam pad formed at a lateral side of a vehicle seat and a cushion connected to the inflator and received in the receiving section of the foam pad, characterized in that

the seat mounted side airbag apparatus includes a guide member guiding the cushion such that the cushion collides with an inner surface of the foam pad when the cushion is expanded, and the guide member is installed at a deployment path of the cushion.
The seat mounted side airbag apparatus of claim 3, wherein the guide member is a plate connected to a lateral side end of the seat frame and is formed with a guide hole serving as a path for the cushion and a bending portion bent downward.
The seat mounted side airbag apparatus of claim 3, wherein the guide member includes an extension line connected to the seat frame and a ring provided at an end of the extension line such that the cushion passes through the ring.
A seat mounted side airbag apparatus including an inflator installed in a seat frame provided in a receiving section of a foam pad formed at a lateral side of a vehicle seat and a cushion connected to the inflator and received in the receiving section of the foam pad to divide the foam pad into an inner pad and an outer pad when the cushion is expanded, characterized in that

the seat frame includes a guide hole or a tear line to guide a deployment direction of the cushion such that the cushion collides with an inner surface of the foam pad by passing through the guide hole or the tear line.