WO2015036527A1

WO2015036527A1 - Airbag system, vehicle seat with an airbag system and method for activating an airbag system

Info

Publication number: WO2015036527A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/069475
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Schock; Thomas Reiter
Original assignee: Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date: 2013-09-13
Filing date: 2014-09-12
Publication date: 2015-03-19
Also published as: DE102013015209A1; DE102013015209B4

Abstract

The invention relates to an airbag system (17), to a vehicle seat (5) with such an airbag system and to a method for activating an airbag system (17), wherein the airbag system (17) is equipped with at least one first protective cushion (19) which, in an uninflated state (20), is arranged as a folded and/or rolled package (21) in a receiving housing (18), and is inflatable by means of at least one inflation device (22, 23). In order to make various accommodation options of the airbag system (17) possible in a motor vehicle, it is provided that the first protective cushion (19), in the form of the package (21) which is still rolled and/or folded, is conveyed out of the receiving housing (18) into an inflation starting position (25) outside the receiving housing (18), in which the first protective cushion (19) is unfolded and/or unrolled into a protective position (27) by a medium and is also inflated.

Description

Airbag system, vehicle seat with an airbag system and method for activating an airbag system

description

The invention further relates to an airbag system with at least a first inflatable protective cushion, according to the preamble of patent claim 1. The invention further relates to a vehicle seat with such an airbag system and to a method for activating an airbag system according to claim.

From DE 92 16 516 U1 an airbag system with a gas-fillable protective cushion is known, which is housed in the unfilled and folded state in a serving as a housing storage space. The protective pad unfolds laterally out of the vehicle seat and is inflated to a protective position in front of the vehicle occupant. The protective cushion is supported on an interior lining of a vehicle door. The protective pad has a lower, approximately upright portion extending from the storage space over a height such that an upper, approximately horizontally extending portion of the protective cushion above the thighs in front of the vehicle occupant can inflate. The lower and the upper portion of the protective cushion are made in one piece from a shell and thus form a coherent filling volume. This results in the deployment of the protective cushion to a sudden, large increase in volume of the protective cushion, so that a corresponding inflator reaches the limit of their filling or it comes to the complete filling of the protective cushion to low inflation pressures of the gas within the protective cushion. The forces acting on the protective pad remain very small and may not sufficiently support the exact positioning of the pad. As a result, the protective cushion first unfolds upwards out of the storage container. out and along the inner lining of the door to the top and very late in front of the vehicle occupants. Smaller obstacles can influence the desired positioning of the protective cushion in the protective position at these low inflation pressures and may even hinder them.

From US 5,513,877 A an airbag system with a one-piece, inflatable protective cushion is known, which has a gas-tight and optionally equipped with a valve partition between two chambers. In an unfilled and folded state, the protective pad is housed in a containment housing such that a lower portion of the protective pad's shell and an upper portion of the protective pad's envelope are rolled in opposite directions. When the airbag system is activated, only the lower chamber or the lower section is initially filled by the partition wall between the two chambers of the protective cushion, so that the lower section unrolls, but entrains the upper section of the envelope, whereby the upper section of the cover Case also unrolled. The upper chamber of the protective cushion is filled only through the lower chamber of the protective cushion, so that it may sometimes come to a slower inflation in the protective position of the upper chamber. In addition, there is also the danger here that due to a low inflation pressure, in particular in the upper chamber, the forces acting on the protective cushion remain small and thus the exact positioning of the protective cushion may not be adequately supported. Smaller obstacles can influence the desired positioning, in particular the upper chamber of the protective cushion and may even hinder in this known airbag system.

From DE 196 00 278 C1, an airbag system is known, which is integrated in a seat, namely on the footwell of the motor vehicle facing the front of the seat cushion. As a result, the freedom of movement of the occupant in the area of the footwell may be restricted and it may also come to a reduced comfort during entry and exit despite lowering of the module carrier. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an airbag system of the type mentioned above, which is flexible in terms of its accommodation options in the vehicle and allows a reproducible deployment of the protective cushion.

This object is achieved with an airbag system having the features mentioned in claim 1. This object is also achieved according to claim 20 with a vehicle seat having such an airbag system. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for activating an airbag system, which method has the features mentioned in claim 23. Advantageous embodiments, embodiments and / or developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The airbag system according to the invention comprises at least a first inflatable protective pad, which in a deflated or unfilled state is folded and / or rolled into a receiving housing, and has at least one triggerable inflator for the first protective pad. According to the invention, the airbag system is provided with a transport device for the first protective pad, through which the first protective cushion can still be conveyed out of the receiving housing as the folded and / or rolled package into an inflation mode position outside the receiving housing, in which the first protective cushion becomes a desired one Protective position deployable and / or unroll and inflatable positionable. The promotion of the protective cushion in the unfilled state in the Aufblasstart position allows a total of faster and more accurate positioning of the inflating protective cushion for the exact and desired capture of the protective position in the fully inflated state. By the transport device according to the invention, the protective cushion can be prepositioned in the unfilled state as a package, for example to an obstacle, such as the thigh of a vehicle occupant, and in particular raised, whereby the subsequent inflation of the first protective cushion can be done quickly and unhindered in the desired protection position. The transport device according to the invention also allows an embodiment of the first protective cushion with a smaller volume, so that early corresponding inflation pressures in the interior of the first protective cushion. Accordingly, correspondingly high forces act to position the protective cushion relative to the vehicle occupant. By scheduling the first activated transport to advance the first protection pad to the inflation start position, and then inflating the protection pad, the protection pad can be quickly and accurately brought into the desired protection position relative to the vehicle occupant. In addition, the airbag system according to the invention can be accommodated at different installation locations in the motor vehicle, since the transport device can convey and position the first protective cushion relative to an obstacle so that it can be inflated into the protective position.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the transport device forms a support structure for the first protective cushion. As a result, the inflation of the first protective cushion can take place in the exact protective position. Likewise, the transport device in the fully inflated state can support the first protective pad and hold it in the desired protective position.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the transport device is designed as at least one inflatable support cushion and forms the support structure. The support cushion according to the invention moves the rolled and / or folded first protective cushion into a favorable and defined inflation position relative to the vehicle occupant, so that the first protective cushion can be inflated to the desired and exact protection position. Preferably, the support pad may be folded and / or rolled in the receptacle housing in a deflated or unfilled condition.

Preferably, the support cushion has a lower volume to be filled than the first protective cushion. As a result, the protective cushion can be quickly transported as a package in the desired Aufblasstartposition. Preferably, the support cushion can also be filled with a significantly higher inflation pressure than the first protective pad, so that the desired Aufblasstartposition can be reached even faster. The first protective pad can then be removed from the inflatable tion unfolded and inflated tion, wherein for this inflation pressures can be selected, which are usually used for protective cushion, in particular between 0.2 to 0.5 bar overpressure. The inflation pressure for the protective pad is preferably higher, in particular between 0.4 and 0.8 bar (overpressure). It is almost always preferable that the inner pressure of the support pad is higher than the maximum inner pressure of the pad.

According to a particularly preferred development of the invention, the inflatable support cushion can form a second protective cushion of the airbag system. For example, the inflatable support cushion may be part of a side impact protection, in particular if the support cushion or the second protection cushion is inflated between a vehicle seat and, for example, a side structure of the motor vehicle. According to one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the inflatable support cushion is designed to be unventilated. Such a support cushion keeps the established inflation pressure relatively long (thus has a long service life) and can serve as a support structure for the first protective cushion for a sufficient time. Unventilated in the course of this application means that the support cushion has no outlet valve or the like for the medium for filling the support cushion.

According to one embodiment of the invention it is provided that the inflator is provided both for the drive of the transport device, so in particular for inflating the support pad, as well as for inflating the first protective pad in the protective position. The airbag system may thus be constructed compact with a single inflator.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that an overflow path for inflating the first protective cushion is formed between the transport device, in particular the support cushion, and the first protective cushion. This arrangement is preferably used for an airbag system with only a single inflator. Furthermore, according to a development of the invention, it is provided that the overflow path between the transport device and the first protective cushion is equipped with a valve, in particular a pressure relief valve. In this way, the time control for activating the transport device, in particular the inflation of the support cushion, and the subsequent filling of the first protective cushion can be achieved in a simple manner, in particular when the valve opens in the overflow path and releases it when the transport device the first protective cushion has been brought as a package into the desired inflation start position.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a separate inflation line is provided between the inflator and the first protective pad. However, it would be conceivable for a valve to be arranged in the top-up line as described above, which takes over the time control for the activation of the transport device and the subsequent inflating of the first protective bag. The inflation line may directly connect the first protection pad to the inflator. Preferably, in this embodiment, the transport device, in particular the Stützkis- sen, unventilated as described above.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the inflation line is designed to be flexible. Thus, the first protective pad may already be connected to the inflator both in the rolled and / or folded and inflated-type positions.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the inflation line is folded and / or rolled housed in the airbag housing. This provides a space-saving arrangement of the individual components in the airbag housing. If the first protective pad is conveyed via the transport device into the inflation start position, the inflation line is unfolded and / or unrolled. According to another embodiment, it is provided that for the first protective cushion, a first inflator and for the transport device, in particular the support cushion, a second inflator is provided. According to this embodiment, the first protective pad is in particular connected to the first inflator with an inflation line as described above. In one embodiment with two separate inflators, the possibility of tuning the desired different inflation pressures for the first protective cushion and the transport device is advantageous. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, both inflators are arranged in the receiving housing. This allows a compact and simple construction of the airbag system.

According to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first protective cushion has at least one internal tether with at least one darts. The dart ruptures upon reaching a certain inflation pressure inside the first protective cushion, so that the protective cushion can now fully unfold in depth. Before the dart ruptures, the total volume or deployment depth of the protective bag is limited so that the protective pad can quickly assume its protective position relative to the vehicle occupant and only then does the inflation pressure in the guard position increase to rupture the at least one dart. Only then does the protective cushion occupy its total volume with the intended deployment depth.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that the first protective cushion forms a front airbag. This application forms a preferred embodiment but is not limited thereto. According to one embodiment of the invention it is provided that in the non-inflated or unfilled state, the transport device and the flexible inflation line are arranged side by side in the receiving housing, resulting in a compact construction of the airbag system. Another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a partition wall is arranged in the receiving housing between the transport device and the flexible inflation line. This prevents influencing of the inflation line by the activated transport device, in particular the inflatable support cushion.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that in the uninflated or unfilled state, the first protective cushion is arranged as the folded and / or rolled package on the transport device, which further contributes to a compact structure of the Airbagsys- system.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the transport device, in particular the support cushion, has a recess in which the first protective cushion is arranged as a folded and / or rolled package and can be conveyed into the inflation start position.

The vehicle seat according to the invention, for example for a passenger car, a bus with a plurality of individual seats in a plurality of rows of seats, a truck or the like, has at least one airbag system of the type described above according to at least one of the claims 1 to 19. Thus, the inventive airbag system, in particular as a front airbag, regardless of the known arrangement in the panel, be arranged in the vehicle. This allows new design solutions of the vehicle interior. In particular, the classic dashboard or dashboard can be affected by these new design options. Thus, in the future, vehicle interiors can either be equipped with or without a significantly smaller dash panel, in particular in the passenger area, or new space is provided in the dash panel, so that other vehicle components, for example for communication technology, can be accommodated instead of the previous airbag systems , At the same time offers the vehicle seat according to the invention a way to maintain the protective function of a front airbag.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the vehicle seat according to the invention, it is provided that the airbag system according to the invention is arranged on or in a lateral seat cheek. For example, the airbag system can be embedded in the seat back or attached laterally thereto. In this case, the airbag system preferably forms a front airbag for the vehicle occupant seated on this seat. Basically, the arrangement of the airbag system is not limited to the vehicle seat, so that it is conceivable to attach the airbag system as a separate component on the vehicle adjacent to the vehicle seat

Additionally or alternatively, the airbag system may be arranged on a rear seat structure of the vehicle seat. In this case, the airbag system preferably forms a front airbag for a vehicle occupant seated on a seat arranged behind it. Of course, a vehicle seat according to the invention may include both an airbag system for the vehicle occupant seated thereon and for a vehicle occupant seated on a vehicle seat arranged behind it.

The inventive method for activating an airbag system, in particular an airbag system according to at least one of claims 1 to 19, serves to activate at least one in a receiving housing in a non-inflated or unfilled state as a folded and / or rolled package and by at least an inflatable inflatable first protective cushion. According to the invention, it is provided that the first protective cushion, as the still folded and / or rolled package, is conveyed out of the receiving housing into an inflation start position, in particular raised, in which the first protective cushion is unfolded by a medium into a protective position and / or unrolled and inflated. The resulting advantages are already stated in connection with the representation of the airbag system, so that reference is made to this extent. According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, a support cushion, in particular a second protective cushion, is inflated to convey the first protective cushion into the inflation type position. Thus, the first protective pad can be positioned in the desired Aufblasstart position.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the first protective pad is first of all brought into the inflation start position and subsequently inflated. It would be conceivable that the Aufblasstartposition is not a static position, but rather the inflation of the first protective pad is already started during transport from the receiving housing out. According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the Aufblasstart position is at the end of a conveying path from the unfilled or uninflated state in an end position of a transport device for conveying the first protective pad.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that a higher inflation pressure of the medium is generated for inflating the support cushion than for inflating the first protective cushion. Thus, a quick pre-positioning of the present as a package first protective pad is achieved in the Aufblasstartposition.

According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the medium for inflating overflows over time between the support cushion and the first protective cushion. For such a control, a single inflator would be necessary, for example, a valve, in particular pressure relief valve is provided for the timing of the overflow of the medium from the support cushion in the first protective pad.

According to another embodiment of the method according to the invention, the support cushion and the first protective pad are each filled with medium from a separate inflator. In this case, the activation of the two inflators may be timed, so that after a particularly preferred In the first embodiment, first, the support pad is inflated to bring the protection pad in package form into the inflation-type position, and then the first protection pad is inflated to the desired protection position. According to a development of the invention, it is provided that when conveying the first protective cushion in the Aufblasstartposition an inflation line for the first protective cushion is deployed. The first protective cushion can thus be connected to an inflator arranged in the receiving housing. A particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the Aufblasstartposition of the first protective pad is selected above a thigh or next to the thigh of a vehicle occupant. Thus, with the method according to the invention, a front airbag can be activated, ie unfolded and / or unrolled, and inflated into the desired protective position.

A still further particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the first protective cushion is first positioned in a vehicle interior and then increased in its deployment depth to achieve the protective position of the first protective cushion. This facilitates the positioning of the protective cushion relative to the vehicle occupant.

The features described and / or shown in this application may be combined alone and in any combination with another of the features described and / or shown. This also applies to a feature which is only shown combined in combination with another feature described and / or shown. The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to embodiments with reference to the drawings. Show it: 1a) to 1d) according to a first embodiment, an airbag system in different deployment states each in a front and a side view,

2 and 3 in detail a respective second and third embodiment of an airbag system,

FIG. 4 shows in detail the airbag system according to FIG. 2 in a completely unfolded state, FIG.

Fig. 5, 6 and 7 in detail a fourth, fifth and sixth respectively

Embodiment of an airbag system,

8 and 9 a seventh embodiment of an airbag system in different deployment states,

10, 11 and 12 an eighth, ninth and tenth embodiments of a

Airbag system,

13a) and b) in different views, an eleventh embodiment of an airbag system,

14 shows the airbag system according to FIG. 13 in a completely unfolded state, FIG.

15, 16 a twelfth embodiment of an airbag system in different deployment states and

17, 18 a thirteenth embodiment of an airbag system in different deployment states.

In Fig. 1a), a motor vehicle with a bottom structure 1 and a side structure 2 is shown in fragmentary detail in the left half of the figure in frontal view, wherein the side structure 2 may comprise a fixed side wall and / or a vehicle side door. The side structure 2 is provided with an inner lining 4 on its inner side facing a vehicle interior 3. On the floor structure 1, a vehicle seat 5 is fixed, which is arranged in longitudinal guides 6 in the vehicle longitudinal direction displaceable in the vehicle interior 3. The vehicle seat 5 comprises a seat cushion 7, preferably with so-called lateral seat cheeks 8, a backrest 9, preferably with so-called lateral backrest cheeks 10, and a headrest 1 extending from the backrest 9. The seat cheeks 8 can transfer the seat surface 12 of the seat cushion 7 - protrude and so a vehicle occupant 13 (right half of FIG. 1 a)) provide lateral support. The backrest cheeks 10 can project beyond the backrest surface 14 of the backrest 9 and thus also provide lateral support to the vehicle occupant 13. From the motor vehicle, a control panel 15, also referred to as an instrument panel, as well as a windshield 16 can be seen.

For the vehicle occupant 13, who may be a driver of the motor vehicle, a passenger or a rear passenger, an airbag system 17 is provided, which is designed as a so-called front airbag and the upper body and the head of the vehicle occupant 13 before impact on the control panel 15 and Windscreen 16 should protect. The airbag system 17 is integrated or embedded in the seat cheek 8 in this embodiment, which is arranged adjacent to the side structure 2 of the motor vehicle. The airbag system 17 includes a containment housing 18, an inflatable first guard pad 19 housed in the containment housing 18 in a deflated or unfolded state 20 as a folded and / or rolled package 21. The airbag system 17 further includes a first and / or second inflator 22, 23, which is / are attached inside or outside the receiving housing 18, preferably under the package 21. In addition, the airbag system 17 comprises a transport device 24 which, in the event of activation of the airbag system 17 triggered by a corresponding accident, conveys the protective cushion 19 present as a folded and / or rolled packet 21 out of the receiving housing 18, in particular in the exemplary embodiment shown, the package 21 from the receiving housing 18 until the folded and / or rolled packet 21 is placed in a puff position 25 is conveyed, in particular raised, which can be seen in Fig. 1 b). In the Aufblasstartposition 25, the present as a package 21 protective pad 19 is inflated via the inflator 22, in particular gas generator, with a medium, whereby the protective pad 19 unfolds and / or unrolls and inflates. The inflation style position 25 is selected so that the protective cushion 19 can inflate above the thigh 26 of the occupant 13 in front of the chest and head. The inflation type position 25 is preferably located above the side wall 8 and optionally adjacent to or above the thigh 26 of the occupant 13. Generally, the inflation type position 25 is defined to be above or at least laterally adjacent to an obstacle such as the thigh 26 or the seat back 8. from which the protective pad 19 can unfold substantially uninfluenced or unhindered into the desired protective position 27, here in front of the chest or the head of the occupant 13, as shown in FIG. 1d).

Starting from the inflation mode position 25, the protective cushion 19 unfolds and / or unrolls and is thereby inflated by the inflator 22 so that it expands in the direction of the opposing seat back 8 and upwards, as shown in FIG. 1c). When the expanding protective pad 19 has reached its desired height and lateral extent in the direction of the opposing seat cheek 8, it can not further expand at first, since at least one inner tether 28 with a tearable darts 29 front and rear portions 30, 31 of the protective pad 19th forming sheath 32 of the first protective pad 19 in a partially unfolded state with reduced Erstre- ekungstiefe ET holds. Since due to the at least one tether 28, the protective pad 19 can not expand further, the inflation pressure of the medium within the shell 32 increases, in such a way that the darts 29 tears, whereby the length of the at least one tether 28 increases and the protective pad 19th 1d) can expand into the complete protective position 27 between the occupant 13 and the control panel 15 until the complete extension angle ET shown in FIG. By the transport means 24, the first protective pad 19 is still transported as the folded and / or rolled packet 21 in the inflation type position 25, in which the first protective pad 19 is then prepositioned and can be unfolded and / or unrolled to the desired full protective position 27 by inflation , While the first protective pad 19 is inflated from the unfilled state as a package 21 to the fully protective position 27, the extended transport 24 forms a support structure for the protective pad 19, so that the protective pad 19 against the side structure 2, as shown in FIG. 1 c) in the left half of the picture, and is supported against a sinking below the inflation type position 25.

For the drive of the transport device 24, for example, the second inflator 23 is provided so that the formed with an increase in volume transport device 24, the position within the receiving housing 18 in a rest position package 21 of the protective cushion 19 in the Aufblasstart- position 24 relocate, in particular raise , In general, the transport device 24 could thus be formed by a lifting device which lifts the package 21 of the protective cushion 19 out of the lowered resting position lying in the receiving housing 18 into the inflation start position 25 out of the receiving housing 18. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 a) to d), the transport device 24 is formed by an inflatable cushion, similar to the first protective cushion 19, which is rolled in the rest position or in the unfilled state and / or folded inside the receiving housing 18 underneath the package 21 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 1 a) shows. By means of the first and / or second inflators 22, 23, the cushion of the transport device 24, referred to below as the support cushion 33, can be expanded from the unfilled state according to FIG. 1 a) by inflation and deployment and / or unrolling, so that the package 21 in FIG the inflation type position 25 relocated. A rest position or the unfilled state of the transport device 24 lies within the receiving housing 18, as shown in FIG. 1 a). If the transport device 24 increases its volume, the package 21 passes over a transport path as far as the inflation type position 24, which may be an end position of the expanded transport device 24. According to the exemplary embodiment of the airbag system 17 illustrated in FIG. 2, the support cushion 33 has a tube-like, lower cushion section 34 connected to the inflator 22, to which an upper, balloon-like cushion section 35 adjoins, which in the inflated state adjoins the side structure 2 supported. The lower cushion section 34 has a height which corresponds approximately to the height of the upwardly open receiving housing 18. The height of the upper cushion portion 35 is selected so that the package 21 of the protective cushion 19 can be displaced out of the receiving housing 18 into the raised inflation-type position 25. A roof 36 of the upper portion 35 of the support cushion 33 carries the packet 21 attached thereto, the roof 36 being slightly inclined in the direction of the vehicle center, not shown, so that the expansion of the protective cushion 19 in the direction of the occupants 13 is facilitated.

In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 2, the airbag system 17 according to FIG. 3 has a significantly shortened lower cushion section 34 of the support cushion 33, which - as in the previous exemplary embodiment - is fluidically connected to the inflator 22. Thus, the upper cushion portion 35 has a greater length to allow the package 21 to be brought into the inflation start position 25. The extended cushion section 35 offers a larger support surface on the side structure 2 compared to the previously described embodiment. Another difference between the airbag systems 17 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 is that an upper opening of the receiving housing 18 in FIG a smaller opening cross-section and in Fig. 3 is formed with a larger opening cross-section.

In Fig. 4, the embodiment of the airbag system 17 of FIG. 2 is now seen with fully-filled protective pad 19 in the protective position 27. It is clear that the support cushion 33 is still inflated even in the full protective position 27 of the protective pad 19 and thus the first protective pad 19 against the side structure 2 and against sinking from the Aufblasstartposition 25 down towards receiving housing 18 is supported. From the illustration of FIG. 4 it is clear that the support cushion 33 as the second Protective pad 33 'of the airbag system 17 can serve, in particular as or to support a side impact protection.

As in FIG. 4, in the exemplary embodiment of the airbag system 17 which can be seen in FIG. 5, the first protective cushion 19 is brought into the completely inflated protective position 27. For this embodiment, only a single inflator 22 is provided, which inflates the support cushion 33 or drives the transport device 24, so that the package 21 can be brought into the inflate-type position 25, and which is formed over one, preferably in the roof 36, Überströmweg 37 and the first protective pad 19 filled to inflate it in the protective position 27 can. Preferably, the overflow 37 has a valve 38, which is designed in particular as a pressure relief valve, whereby the first protective pad 19 is inflated by the opening valve 38 only when the inflation pressure in the transport device 24 and in the support pad 33 has a predetermined value, preferably reaches from 0.3 to 0.5 bar overpressure. As a result, a time-sequential control of the filling of the transport device 24 and the protective bag 19 can take place.

According to an embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the airbag system 17, the first and the second inflator 22, 23, wherein the first inflator 22 is connected via an inflation line 39 with the protective pad 19 to be filled. The inflation line 39 is designed to be flexible and can be folded and / or rolled in the receiving housing 18 in the unfilled state of the protective cushion 19 shown in FIG. As further shown in FIG. 6, the support cushion 33 may also be folded and / or rolled in the unfilled state in the receiving housing 18. The support cushion 33 or the transport device 24 is connected to the second inflator 23, so that the present as a package 21 first protective pad 19 can be moved to the Aufblasstartposition 25. For this purpose, a sequential activation or activation of the inflators 22, 23 is provided. First, the second inflator 23 is triggered, whereby the transport device 24 and the support cushion 33, the package 21 of the first protective pad 19 moves in the Aufblasstartposition 25. Shortly before reaching the inflation point position 25 or upon reaching the inflation mode position 25, the first inflator 22 is activated so that the protective cushion 19 can be inflated into the protective position 27 as described above. In the non-activated state or unfilled state shown in FIG. 6, the two inflators 22, 23 are located next to each other and at a lateral distance in a compact construction, so that the transport device 24 or the unfilled support cushion 33 lies next to the inflation line 39. Above the inflation line 39 and the transport device 24 or the support cushion 33, the folded and / or rolled packet 21 of the protective cushion 19 is arranged. The exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 7 differs from the exemplary embodiment of the airbag system 17 according to FIG. 6 only in that an approximately upright dividing wall 40 is arranged between the transport device 24 or the unfilled support cushion 33 and the inflation line 39. The partition wall 40 extends from a bottom of the receiving housing 18 to below the package 21 of the protective cushion 19.

According to FIG. 8, in the chronologically coordinated control of the activation of the two inflators 22 and 23, initially only the second inflator 23 is activated, so that - as described above - the transport device 24 or the support cushion 23, the first protective pad 19 as a package 21 in the inflation type position 25 relocated. As can be seen clearly, while the flexible inflation line 39 is deployed or unrolled, whereby the protective pad 19 with the first inflator 22 remains fluidly connected. In the inflation mode position 25, the first inflator is then activated, so that the medium generated in the inflator 22 flows through the inflation line 39 into the protective cushion 19 (arrow 41 in FIG. 9) and unfolds or unrolls it and into the desired protective position 27 can inflate.

Various exemplary embodiments of the airbag system will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12. According to FIG. 10, the airbag system 17 has a receptacle housing 18 which is approximately funnel-shaped in cross-section and thus has a broad lower section and a slimmer upper section. Above the receiving housing 18 is provided with a movable flap 41 which close an opening 42 of the receiving housing 18 like a roof and - like shown - release (arrow 43) can, so that the transport device 24 and the support pad 33 can be discharged together with the package 21 of the first protective pad 19 from the housing 18 upwards (arrow 44). In addition, it is shown in FIG. 10 that the approximately cylindrical inflator 22 is arranged in its longitudinal extent parallel to the vehicle longitudinal extent, here penetrating the plane of the drawing, in the receiving housing 18 in a laterally projecting section of the lower portion of the receiving housing 18.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the airbag system 17 shown in FIG. 11, the opening 42 of the box-shaped receiving housing 18 is located in a lateral section of the receiving housing 18 facing the lateral structure 2. A movable flap 41 can close the opening 42 and in the direction of the arrow 43 the opening 42 is released, so that the transport device 24 and the support pad 33 can be moved together with the package 21 in the direction of arrow 44 in the Aufblasstart position 25. The flap 41 is formed larger in comparison to the previous embodiment. The inflator 22 extends here in its longitudinal extent transversely to the vehicle longitudinal extension, in this case parallel to the plane of the drawing. In FIG. 12, the airbag system 17 has a further enlarged flap 41 on the funnel-shaped receiving housing 18, which can close and release an opening 42, pointing in the direction of the side structure 2, of the receiving housing 18, which is indicated by the arrow 43. Accordingly, the inflator 22 arranged here again in the direction of vehicle longitudinal extension can displace the transport device 24 or the support cushion 33 and the parcel 21 of the protective cushion 19 in the direction of the arrow 44 into the inflation type position 25.

According to the above-described embodiments of the airbag system 17, the protective pad 19 is attached and fixed as a package 21 to the roof 36 of the transporting device 24 and the support pad 33, respectively. In contrast, in the embodiment of the airbag system according to FIG. 13, the support cushion 33 is provided in a frame-like or annular manner with an inner recess 45 in which the folded and / or rolled protective cushion 19 is arranged as a package 21 is attached. The protective pad 19 is rolled and / or folded as a package 21 so that it can extend laterally out of the recess 45 into the protective position 27, as shown in FIG. 14. For filling the ring-like supporting pad 33, the second inflator 23 is provided, whereas the protective pad 19 is connected to the first inflator 22 via the above-described inflation line 39. In particular, here the support cushion 33 can be formed as an enlarged second protective pad 33 'for improved side impact protection. According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 15, the airbag system 17 is further used as a front airbag, but unlike the previously described embodiments with the receiving housing 18 in the control panel 15, in particular at the bottom, arranged so that the opening 42 of the receiving housing 18 in Direction footwell of the vehicle interior 3 has. The transport device 24 is also designed here as a support cushion 33, on the roof 36, the first protective pad 19 is arranged as a package 21. The support pad 33 is arranged in a folded and / or rolled state, not shown here, within the housing 18 and is filled by suitable filling with a medium from an inflator, not shown here, so that the package 21 of the protective pad 19 in the in Fig. 15 shown Aufblasstartposition 25 can be brought above the thighs 26 of the occupant 13. For this purpose, the support cushion 33 is provided with a shell wall 46 facing the dash panel 15, which is shorter than the opposite shell wall 47, thereby resulting in the inflated state for the Stützkis- 33 an arcuate contour. As previously described, the protective pad 19 is displaced from the inflation mode position 25 to the fully inflated protective position 27, as shown in FIG. In this case, the protective cushion 19 is located between the chest area and the head of the occupant 13 and the control panel 15. The support cushion 33 can form here as a second protective cushion 33 'a knee airbag.

According to an exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the airbag system 17 is arranged in a rear seat structure 48 of the vehicle seat 5. The reversal The seat structure 48 may be the backrest 9, a seat frame 49 or a rear section 50 of the seat cushion 7. Thus, the airbag system 17 according to FIG. 17 can form a front airbag for a rear passenger 13 'seated behind the vehicle seat 5. In Fig. 17, the support cushion 33 is already completely filled and has the present as a package 21 protective cushion 19 in the Aufblasstartposition 25 along the back of the backrest 9 of the vehicle seat 5 from the receiving housing 18 moves up out. Subsequent filling of the protective cushion 19 brings this into the protective position 27 shown in FIG. 18. The support cushion 33 can form a knee airbag here as a second protective cushion 33 '.

It is clear that the exemplary embodiments of the airbag system 17 shown in FIGS. 13 to 18 may have the same features of at least one of the previously described embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 12. In principle, all the features of the airbag system 17 described with regard to the individual exemplary embodiments can be combined as desired with other exemplary embodiments of the airbag system 17. All embodiments of the airbag system have in common that the first protective pad 19 is designed substantially balloon-like, so a hose-like connection between the protective pad 19 and the transport device 24 is not present. In all embodiments of the airbag system 17, the first protective pad 19 is attached and attached exclusively to the transport device 24. Incidentally, in all Figs. 1 to 17 the same or equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

For all embodiments of the airbag system 17, a method of activating the same is used, according to which the at least one first protective pad 19 is arranged in a folded and / or rolled or unfilled state 20 as a package 21 in the receiving housing 18 and by the transporting device 24 as still rolled and / or folded parcel 21 is conveyed out of receiving housing 18 into inflation position 25 where the first protective pad 19 is deployed and / or unrolled by a medium provided by inflator 22 and / or 23 to the fully inflated protective position 27. It is envisaged that initially the transport Device 24 is activated, in particular the support pad 33 is inflated, so that the package 21 can be conveyed out of the housing 18 out. Subsequently, the protective pad 19 is activated and brought out of the Aufblasstartposition 25 out in the fully inflated protective position 27. Thus, when the airbag system 17 is activated, the first protective cushion 19, which is present as a package 21, is first brought into the inflation type position 25 first and then inflated. In this case, the Aufblasstart position 25 at the end of a transport path of the transport device 24 are, so be provided with fully extended transport device or completely inflated support pillow 33. The transport path of the transport device 24 is thus between a retracted rest position or the unfilled state of the protective pad 33, as shown for example in Fig. 1 a), and between the fully extended position or in the fully filled state of the support pad 33, such as Figs 1d), 2 or 3 show.

It would also be conceivable, however, for the inflation start position 25 to be located at any point on the transport path of the transport device 24, but outside the receiving housing 18. Thus, the filling of the first protective bag 19 could overlap in time with the activation of the transport device 24 or the filling of the transport device Support pillow 33 done.

For the filling of the support pad 33 and the first protective pad 19 different inflation pressures are used. In particular, the inflation pressure of the support pad 33 is significantly higher than the inflation pressure of the first protective pad 19. Preferably, this can be achieved with two different inflators 22, 23, which can be realized as gas generators acting differently. In an alternative embodiment, as described for example in connection with FIG. 5, the medium may consist of a single gas generator or a single inflator 22 both for the transport device 24 or support cushion 33 and for the first protective cushion 19, for example via the Overflow 37 or via the inflation line 39, are provided, wherein the medium of the transport device 24 timed flows into the first protective pad 19 or flows over. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 soil structure

2 page structure

3 vehicle interior

4 interior trim

5 vehicle seat

6 longitudinal guide

7 seat cushions

8 seat cheek

9 backrest

10 backrest cheeks

11 headrest

12 seat area

13 vehicle occupants

14 backrest surface

15 control panel

16 windshield

17 airbag system

18 housing

19 first protective cushion

20 unfilled condition

21 package

22 first inflator

23 second inflator

24 transport device

25 inflation position

26 thighs

27 protection position

28 tether

29 darts

30, 31 section shell

Support pillow 'Second Dust pillow Lower pillow section Upper pillow section

top, roof

overflow path

Valve

inflation line

partition wall

flap

opening

, 44 arrow

Extermination, 47 shell wall

rear seat structure

seat frame

rear section

Erstreckurigstiefe

Claims

claims

An airbag system (17) having at least a first inflatable protective pad (19) folded in a deflated state (20) as a package (21) and / or housed in a containment housing (18) and having at least one triggerable inflator (22, 23) for the first protective cushion (19), characterized in that the airbag system (17) has a transport device (24) for the first protective cushion (19) through which the first protective cushion (19) is still folded and / or folded. or rolled packet (21) out of the receiving housing (18) out in a lying outside the receiving housing (18) Aufblasstart position (25) is conveyed, in which the first protective pad (19) to a desired protective position (27) unfoldable and / or unrolled and is positioned inflatable.

2. Airbag system according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport device (24) forms a support structure for the first protective pad (19).

3. Airbag system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the transport device (24) is designed as at least one inflatable support cushion (33).

4. Airbag system according to claim 3, characterized in that the inflatable support cushion (33) forms a second protective pad (33 ').

5. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inflatable support cushion (33) is formed unventilated.

6. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one inflator (22, 23) both is provided for the drive of the transport device (24) as well as for inflating the first protective pad (19).

7. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, character- ized in that between the transport device (24) and the first

Protective pad (19) an overflow (37) for inflating the first protective pad (19) is formed.

8. Airbag system according to claim 7, characterized in that the overflow path (37) is equipped with at least one valve (38), in particular overpressure valve.

9. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized in that between the at least one inflator (22, 23) and the first protective pad (19) has a separate inflation line

(39) is provided.

10. Airbag system according to claim 9, characterized in that the inflation line (39) is designed to be flexible.

11. Airbag system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the inflation line (39) folded and / or rolled in the receiving housing (18) is housed. 12. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the first protective cushion (19) a first inflator (22) and for the transport device (24) a second inflator (23) is provided. 13. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the inflators (22, 23) is arranged in the receiving housing.

14. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first protective cushion (19) has at least one internal tether (28) with at least one dart (29).

5. 15. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first protective cushion (19) forms a front airbag.

16. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a non-inflated state (20) the transit porteinrichtung (24) and the flexible inflation line (39) are arranged side by side in the receiving housing (18).

17. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the transport device (24) and the flexible

15 len inflation line (39) has a partition wall (40) in the receiving housing

(18) is arranged.

An airbag system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the deflated state (20) the first protective pad (19) as the folded and / or rolled package (21) over the

Transport device (24) is arranged.

19. Airbag system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport device (24), in particular the support cushion 5 (33), a recess (45), in which the first protective cushion

(19) is arranged as the folded and / or rolled package (21), and in which the first protection pad (19) is conveyed to the inflation type position (25). 0 20. Vehicle seat, characterized by at least one airbag system (17) according to at least one of claims 1 to 19. 21, vehicle seat according to claim 20, characterized in that the airbag system (17) on or in a lateral seat cheek (8) is arranged.

Vehicle seat according to claim 20, characterized in that the airbag system (17) is arranged in or on a rear seat structure (48).

Method for activating an airbag system (17) having at least one first protective cushion (in a non-inflated state (20) arranged as a folded and / or rolled package (21) and inflatable by at least one inflator (22, 23)) (17) 19), in particular for activating an airbag system (17) according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the first protective pad (19) as the still rolled and / or folded packet (21) from the receiving housing (18) out in a Aufblasstartposition (25) outside the receiving housing (18) is transported, in which the first protective pad (19) deployed by a medium in a protective position (27) and / or unrolled and inflated.

A method according to claim 23, characterized in that for conveying the first protective cushion (19) into the inflation type position (25), a support cushion (33), in particular a second protective cushion (33 '), is inflated.

A method according to claim 23, characterized in that upon activation of the airbag system (17) timed first the first protective pad (19) placed in the Aufblasstartposition (25) and then inflated. 26. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the inflation mode position (25) at the end of a transport path of a transport device (24) for conveying the first protective cushion (19) or before the end of the transport path, where in the transport paths between the deflated state (20) and an end position of the transport device (24).

27. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 23 to 26, characterized in that for inflating the support pad (33) has a higher

Inflation pressure of the medium is generated as for inflating the first protective pad (19).

28. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 23 to 27, characterized in that between the support cushion (33) and the first

Protective cushion (19), the medium can flow over time controlled.

29. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 23 to 27, characterized in that the support cushion (33) and the first protective pad (19) are each filled from an inflator (23, 23) with the medium.

30. The method according to claim 29, characterized in that the second inflator (23) for the support cushion (33) before the first Aufblasein- direction (22) for the first protective pad (19) is activated.

31. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 23 to 30, characterized in that when conveying the first protective cushion (19) in the Aufblasstartposition (25) an inflation line (39) sen for the first Schutzkis- (19) unfolds and / or unrolled ,

32. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 23 to 31, characterized in that the Aufblasstartposition (25) of the first protective pad (19) above a thigh (26) of a vehicle occupant (13) is selected.

33. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 23 to 32, characterized in that to reach the protective position (27) of the first Protective pad (19), the first protective pad (19) is first positioned in a vehicle interior (3) and then increased in its deployment depth (ET).