WO2013008999A1

WO2013008999A1 - Side airbag module for vehicle seat

Info

Publication number: WO2013008999A1
Application number: PCT/KR2012/003556
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tae Ik Gwon; Soon Bok Lee; Do Hun Kim
Original assignee: Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date: 2011-07-12
Filing date: 2012-05-07
Publication date: 2013-01-17
Also published as: KR20130008337A; KR101292323B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a side airbag module for a vehicle seat. The side airbag module enhances the support strength of an airbag to resist the impact applied thereto from a passenger, and prevents the airbag from rotating toward the rear portion of a vehicle. The side airbag module includes an airbag and an inflator to deploy the airbag by supplying gas into the airbag, and a support member to receive the airbag in a folded state and to support an opposite side of the airbag facing one side of the airbag that collides with a passenger in a state that the airbag is deployed. The airbag includes a main bag to protect the head and the body of the passenger and an anti-rotation bag to protect the main bag from rotating toward the rear portion of the vehicle when the main bag is inflated.

Description

SIDE AIRBAG MODULE FOR VEHICLE SEAT

The present invention relates to a side airbag module installed in at least one side portion inside a vehicle seat.

Airbag modules for a vehicle reduce an impact applied to a passenger when the passenger collides with the interior of the vehicle due to an impact applied to the vehicle.

Among the airbag modules, a side airbag module is generally known in the art, in which the side airbag module deploys an airbag between a sidewall of a vehicle provided with a door and a passenger. Such a side airbag module is installed in at least one side portion inside a seatback of a vehicle seat.

In the side airbag module, if gas is supplied into the airbag from an inflator, an airbag housing is destroyed due to the inflation pressure of the airbag and the airbag moves between seat pads provided in a seat cover to tear a seam of the seat cover, and then deploys out of the seatback.

The airbag may protect the body and the head of a passenger, respectively, or may simultaneously protect both the body and the head of the passenger. The airbag may be fabricated by using a soft material to reduce the impact from the passenger.

Such an airbag requires a predetermined support strength to maintain the airbag in a proper deployment state (in shape and position) against the impact from the passenger.

However, the airbag has the form of a cantilever. In other words, a portion of the airbag connected to the inflator is supported in a state that the airbag has been inflated. Accordingly, the portion of the airbag connected to the inflator is especially weak. Therefore, the airbag may be easily bent or rotated in the vicinity of the portion of the airbag connected to the inflator as the impact is applied thereto from the passenger.

In addition, in the process of inflation of the airbag, the airbag rotates toward a rear portion of the vehicle about the portion of the airbag connected to the inflator due to the inflation pressure of the airbag, so that the airbag may get out of the position for protecting the passenger from the impact. In particular, in the case of the airbag that simultaneously protects the body and the head of the passenger, the airbag has a substantially L shape, so that the airbag may more easily rotate to the rear portion of the vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag module for a vehicle seat, capable of properly maintaining the deployment state (in shape and position) of an airbag by preventing the airbag from being bent or rotated due to the impact when a passenger collides with the airbag inflated in vehicle clash.

An object of the present invention is to provide a side airbag module for a vehicle seat, capable of preventing an airbag from rotating to the rear portion of a vehicle due to the inflation pressure during the inflation of the airbag.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a side airbag module for a vehicle seat which is installed in at least one side portion inside a seatback of the vehicle seat and includes an airbag, an inflator to deploy the airbag by supplying gas into the airbag, and a support member to receive the airbag in a folded state and to support an opposite side of the airbag facing one side of the airbag that collides with a passenger in a state that the airbag is deployed.

According to the present invention, the support member may include a base wall having one end coupled to a rear wall of a seat frame installed in the vehicle seat and a support wall protruding from an opposite end of the base wall toward a front portion of a vehicle to support the opposite side of the airbag.

According to the present invention, the support member may include an additional base wall coupled to a sidewall of a seat frame, which is installed in the vehicle seat, together with the inflator through a coupling member, a base wall extending from the additional base wall, and a support wall extending from the base wall toward a front portion of a vehicle to support the opposite side of the airbag.

According to the present invention, the support member may further include a guide wall inclined toward the passenger from a front end of the support wall, and the guide wall may include a cut part to reduce a contact area with the airbag. In addition, an upper guide wall extending toward the front portion of the vehicle from an upper end of the base wall may be included.

According to the present invention, the airbag may be formed with a predetermined length to make contact with a roof of a vehicle, and, when the airbag is deployed, the airbag may make contact with the roof of the vehicle and is supported by the roof of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, the support member may include steel or plastic.

According to the present invention, the airbag may include a main bag including a body protecting part and a head protecting part of the passenger, and an anti-rotation bag formed integrally with the main bag at an upper end of a gas supply part of the main bag and deployed lengthwise toward an upper portion of a vehicle to prevent the main bag from rotating toward a rear portion of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, preferably, an upper end of the support member is placed higher than a valley portion, which is formed between the main bag and the anti-rotation bag, toward the upper portion of the vehicle.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a side airbag module for a vehicle seat, which is installed in at least one side portion inside a seatback of the vehicle seat and including an airbag and an inflator to deploy the airbag by supplying gas into the airbag. The airbag includes a main bag including a body protecting part and a head protecting part of a passenger, and an anti-rotation bag provided at a rear portion of the main bag to prevent the main bag from rotating toward a rear portion of a vehicle about a gas supply part of the main bag when the main bag is deployed.

According to the present invention, the anti-rotation bag may be deployed lengthwise toward an upper portion of the vehicle corresponding to the head protecting part.

According to the present invention, the main bag may be formed integrally with the anti-rotation bag.

According to the present invention, the main bag and the anti-rotation bag may be prepared separately from each other, and connected with individual inflators, respectively.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the passenger collides with an inflated airbag due to vehicle crash, the airbag can be maintained in the proper protective shape and position by supporting an opposite side of the airbag facing one side of the airbag colliding with the passenger.

According to the present invention, the airbag can be prevented from getting out of the position for protecting the passenger by preventing the airbag from rotating toward the rear portion of the vehicle due to the inflation pressure of the airbag.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle equipped with a side airbag module according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the deployment state of an airbag provided in the side airbag module of the vehicle according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2

FIG. 5A is a schematic perspective view showing an airbag supported by a support module according to the present invention;

FIG. 5B is an enlarged perspective view of a portion C marked as an arrow;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the structure of another side airbag module of the vehicle according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing still another side airbag module of the vehicle according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a side view obtained from the direction B shown in FIG. 7.

In the following description, a forward direction, a backward direction, and a roof direction of a vehicle are defined as front F , rear R , and up U , respectively.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the interior of a vehicle 1 equipped with a side airbag module 100 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the deployment state of an airbag 110 in the side airbag module 100 of the vehicle 1 according to the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a seat assembly 10 provided in the vehicle 1 includes a seat cushion 11, a seatback 13, a back panel 15, and a seat pad 18 covered by a seat cover 17. The side airbag module 100 is provided in at least one side portion inside the seatback 13.

The side airbag module 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is installed in one side portion inside the seatback 13, which faces a vehicle sidewall (not shown) provided thereon with a door (not shown), so that the airbag 110 is deployed between a passenger P and the vehicle sidewall.

Differently, the side airbag module 100 may be additionally installed in an opposite side portion inside the seatback 13, so that the airbag 110 may be deployed between passengers to prevent the passengers from colliding with each other.

The side airbag module 100 may be installed in at least one of both side portions (the left and right sides of the passenger P) inside the seatback 13. Although FIG. 1 shows that side airbag modules 100 are installed at both sides of a driver seat (the right of FIG. 1) and at one side of a passenger seat, the side airbag module 100 may be installed at both sides of the passenger seat (the left of FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the side airbag module 100 is mounted on a seat frame 19 provided in the seat assembly 10. The seat pad 18 includes a first seat pad 18a provided at the front F of the seat frame 19 and a second seat pad 18b provided in the vicinity of a side portion of the seat frame 19. The seat pad 18 is interposed between the seat frame 19 and the seat cover 17, and includes an impact absorbing member including sponge or PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride). The seat cover 17 includes a seam 17a adjacent to a contact part between the first and

second seat pads

18a and 18b.

The side airbag module 100 includes the airbag 110, an inflator 130 to supply gas to the airbag 110 so that the airbag 110 can be deployed, an airbag housing 150 to receive the airbag 110 having a folded state, and a support member 170 to support a portion of an opposite side 113 of the airbag 110 facing one side 111 of the airbag 110, which collides with the passenger P, while receiving the airbag housing 150.

The airbag housing 150 is destroyed due to the inflation force of the airbag 110, so that the airbag 110 is deployed out of the airbag housing 150. The airbag housing 150 includes a thin sheet material, such as fabric or synthetic resin, to wrap the airbag 110 so that the airbag housing 150 can be easily destroyed when the airbag 110 is inflated. In addition, the airbag housing 150 may include a rigid material.

The inflator 130 is coupled with a sidewall 19b of the seat frame 19, which protrudes to the front F of the vehicle 1, through a first coupling member 191 such as a bolt. The inflator 130 generates gas by exploding compressed gas or gunpowder contained therein according to the impact signals of the vehicle 1. The inflator 130 is linked with a side-impact sensor (not shown) which is installed in the vehicle 1 to detect side impact.

As shown in FIG. 4, the support member 170 increases the support strength of the airbag 110 by supporting the opposite side 113 of the airbag 110 facing one side 111 of the airbag 110 colliding with the passenger P. Accordingly, when the passenger P collides with the airbag 110 that has been inflated, the airbag 110 can be prevented from being bent in the vicinity of a portion of the airbag 110, particularly, a portion of the airbag 110 connected to the inflator 130 due to the impact applied from the passenger P, so that the airbag 110 can be maintained in the proper protective shape and position.

FIG. 5A is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the support member 170 in the side airbag module 100 of the vehicle 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 5B is an enlarged perspective view showing a part C marked as an arrow of FIG. 5A.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the support member 170 includes a base wall 171 having one end coupled with a rear wall 19a of the seat frame 19, which is substantially perpendicular to the front F and the rear R of the vehicle 1, through a second coupling member 193, such as a bolt and a nut, and a support wall 175 protruding from an opposite end of the base wall 171 to the front F of the vehicle 1 to support a portion of the opposite side 113 of the airbag 110 facing one side 111 of the airbag 110 colliding with the passenger P.

Preferably, the support wall 175 has a length corresponding to the thickness of the seatback 13 defined in the front direction of the vehicle 1, thereby ensuring a wider support area of the airbag 110.

The support wall 175 may be additionally provided at a front end thereof with a guide wall 179 obliquely extending toward the passenger P. The guide wall 179 prevents the airbag 110 from being deployed toward the door (not shown), so that the airbag 110 can be deployed at a right position between the passenger P and the door.

The guide wall 179 is provided at an end portion thereof with a cut part 17a to reduce a frictional part with the airbag 110 that is inflated.

The support member 170 may include a material, such as steel, or plastic synthetic resin, representing stiffness sufficient to prevent the airbag 110 from being bent or rotated against the impact applied from the passenger P.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an example of still another support member according to the present invention.

The basic configuration of the support member of FIG. 6 is the same as that of FIG. 3. Accordingly, hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be assigned to components identical to those of FIG. 3, and the components and the structure identical to those of FIG. 3 will not be further described.

Differently from the structure of FIG. 3, the support member 170 further includes an additional base wall 177.

The additional base wall 177 is coupled with the sidewall 19b of the seat frame 19 extending from the rear wall 19a of the seat frame 19 to the front F of the vehicle 1. The additional base wall 177 is coupled with the sidewall 19b of the seat frame 19 together with the inflator 130 by using the first coupling member 191, so that the operation man-hours can be reduced.

Referring to FIG. 4 again, the airbag 110 is inflated by gas supplied from the inflator 130, and the airbag housing 150 is destroyed. Subsequently, the airbag 110 moves through the deployment path between the first and

second seat pads

18a and 18b. Simultaneously, the airbag 110 pushes the first seat pad 18a to one side to tear the seam 17a of the seat cover 17 so that the airbag 110 is deployed out of the seat cover 17. In this case, the support wall 175 of the support member 170 prevents the second seat pad 18b from being pushed to the vehicle sidewall due to the inflation pressure of the airbag 110.

Meanwhile, the airbag 110 that is being inflated does not interfere with the door by the guide wall 179, and the deployment direction of the airbag 110 is regulated to a right position between the passenger P and the door. In addition, the frictional part with the guide wall 179 is reduced due to the cut part 179a provided in the guide wall 179, so that the airbag 110 can be smoothly deployed.

The support wall 175 supports a portion of the opposite side 113 of the airbag 110 facing one side 111 of the airbag 110 colliding with the passenger P against the impact from the passenger P, thereby preventing the airbag 110 from being pushed or bent in a direction (marked as an arrow A) in which the impact from the passenger P is applied to the airbag 110.

FIG. 5A shows an example in which the passenger P on a passenger seat is moved to the vehicle door (in the direction marked as the arrow A) to collide with the side 111 of the airbag 110. However, the collision direction of the passenger P may vary depending on collision situations.

Passengers P may collide with an airbag deployed between the passengers P. Even in this case, the support wall 175 of the support member 170 supports an opposite side of an airbag facing one side of the airbag colliding with the passenger P to resist the impact applied from the passenger P. Accordingly, the bending or rotating of the airbag 110 is reduced, so that the airbag 110 can be maintained in the proper protective shape and position.

In detail, according to the embodiment, in a case that a driver on a driver seat is inclined to the passenger seat (see FIG. 1), the support strength of the airbag 110 is enhanced by the support member 170 as described above, thereby preventing the driver on the driver seat from being inclined to the passenger seat in the collision direction, so that the driver can be prevented from colliding on the passenger on the passenger seat. Meanwhile, the guide wall 179 inclined to the driver seat from the front end of the support wall 175 prevents the airbag 110 from being deployed toward the passenger seat, so that the airbag 110 has a proper deployment position.

The airbag 110 has a length to make contact with a roof 2 of the vehicle 1 when the airbag 110 is deployed, so that the airbag 110 can be supported with respect to the roof due to the frictional force. The support strength of the airbag 110 is enhanced due to the above structure, so that passengers can be more effectively prevented from colliding with each other.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the deployment state of an airbag 120 in still another side airbag module of the vehicle 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a side view taken along an arrow B.

The side airbag module shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has the same configuration as that of the above side airbag module except for the configuration of the airbag 120. Accordingly, hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be assigned to components identical to those of FIGS. 6 and 7, and the components and the structure identical to those of FIGS. 6 and 7 will not be further described.

The airbag 120 includes a main bag 121 to protect the passenger P and an anti-rotating bag 123 to prevent the main bag 121 from rotating toward the rear R of the vehicle 1 counterclockwise (CCW) about a gas supply part H of the main bag 121 of receiving gas from the inflator 130 when the main bag 121 is inflated.

The main bag 121 includes a body protecting part 121a to protect the body of the passenger P and a head protecting part 121c to protect the head of the passenger P. The main bag 121 has a substantially L shape.

The anti-rotation bag 123 is provided at the rear R of the main bag 121 and substantially corresponds to the head protecting part 121c of the main bag 121. The anti-rotating bag 123 is deployed lengthwise up Up in the vehicle 1.

Although the main bag 121 has a characteristic to rotate counterclockwise CCW due to the inflation pressure, the anti-rotation bag 123 is supported by the base wall 171 of the support member 170 to prevent the main bag 121 from rotating.

In this case, an upper end 171a of the base wall 171 is provided higher than a valley point V formed between the main bag 121 and the anti-rotation bag 123, thereby increasing the support area of the anti-rotation bag 123. Accordingly, the effect of preventing the main bag 121 from rotating can be enhanced.

An upper guide wall 171b protruding to the front F of the vehicle 1 from the upper end 171a of the base wall 101 is provided, thereby complementing force applied to the front F of the vehicle 1 against the rotation force of the anti-rotation bag 123 (see FIGS. 1, 5A, and 7).

When the main bag 121 is formed integrally with the anti-rotation bag 123, and gas is simultaneously supplied to both of the main bag 121 and the anti-rotation bag 123 by one inflator 130, for example, sawn portions may be provided at a position where the main bag 121 is divided into the body protecting part 121a and the head protecting part 121c and a position where the main bag 121 is divided from the anti-rotation bag 123.

The sawn portion may have a structure to adjust the deployment sequence of the body protecting part 121a, the head protecting part 121c, and the anti-rotation bag 123. Accordingly, after the body protecting part 121a has been inflated, the anti-rotation bag 121 can inflated substantially simultaneously with the head protecting part 121c.

In addition, the main bag 121 and the anti-rotation bag 123 may be formed separately from each other, so that the anti-rotation bag can be inflated substantially simultaneously with the head protecting part 121c of the main bag 121. In this case, two inflators are required.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

A side airbag module for a vehicle seat, which is installed in at least one side portion inside a seatback of the vehicle seat and includes an airbag and an inflator to deploy the airbag by supplying gas into the airbag, characterized in that the side airbag module comprises a support member to receive the airbag in a folded state and to support an opposite side of the airbag facing one side of the airbag that collides with a passenger in a state that the airbag is deployed.
The side airbag module of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises:

a base wall having one end coupled to a rear wall of a seat frame installed in the vehicle seat;

a support wall extending from an opposite end of the base wall toward a front portion of a vehicle to support the opposite side of the airbag; and

a guide wall inclined toward the passenger from a front end of the support wall.
The side airbag module of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises:

an additional base wall coupled to a sidewall of a seat frame, which is installed in the vehicle seat, together with the inflator through a coupling member;

a base wall extending from the additional base wall;

a support wall extending from the base wall toward a front portion of a vehicle to support the opposite side of the airbag; and

a guide wall inclined toward the passenger from a front end of the support wall.
The side airbag module of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the guide wall comprises a cut part to reduce a contact area with the airbag.
The side airbag module of claim 2 or claim 3, further comprising an upper guide wall extending toward the front portion of the vehicle from an upper end of the base wall.
The side airbag module of claim 1, wherein the support member includes steel or plastic.
The side airbag module of claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises:

a main bag including a body protecting part and a head protecting part of the passenger; and

an anti-rotation bag formed integrally with the main bag at an upper end of a gas supply part of the main bag and deployed lengthwise toward an upper portion of a vehicle to prevent the main bag from rotating toward a rear portion of the vehicle.
The side airbag module of claim 7, wherein an upper end of the support member is placed higher than a valley portion, which is formed between the main bag and the anti-rotation bag, toward the upper portion of the vehicle.
The side airbag module of claim 1, wherein the airbag has a predetermined length to make contact with a roof of a vehicle, and, when the airbag is deployed, the airbag makes contact with the roof of the vehicle so that the airbag is supported by the roof.
A side airbag module for a vehicle seat, which is installed in at least one side portion inside a seatback of the vehicle seat and including an airbag and an inflator to deploy the airbag by supplying gas into the airbag, characterized in that the airbag comprises:

a main bag including a body protecting part and a head protecting part of a passenger; and

an anti-rotation bag provided at a rear portion of the main bag to prevent the main bag from rotating toward a rear portion of a vehicle about a gas supply part of the main bag when the main bag is deployed.
The side airbag module of claim 10, wherein the anti-rotation bag is deployed lengthwise toward an upper portion of the vehicle corresponding to the head protecting part.
The side airbag module of claim 11, wherein the main bag is formed integrally with the anti-rotation bag.
The side airbag module of claim 11, wherein the main bag and the anti-rotation bag are prepared separately from each other, and connected with individual inflators, respectively.