US 12,263,802 B2
Vehicle passenger restraint system
Benjamin Weimer, Spraitbach (DE); Marc Elstner, Mutlangen (DE); and Werner Freisler, Schwäbisch Gmünd (DE)
Assigned to ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, Alfdorf (DE)
Appl. No. 18/015,151
Filed by ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH, Alfdorf (DE)
PCT Filed Jul. 5, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/068448
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 9, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/008406, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 13, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 118 339.0 (DE), filed on Jul. 10, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0249641 A1, Aug. 10, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 21/231 (2011.01); B60R 21/233 (2006.01); B60R 21/2338 (2011.01)
CPC B60R 21/23138 (2013.01) [B60R 21/233 (2013.01); B60R 21/2338 (2013.01); B60R 2021/23146 (2013.01); B60R 2021/23308 (2013.01); B60R 2021/23384 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle occupant restraint system comprising a vehicle seat which includes a backrest with a seat back surface, the seat back surface being provided for a vehicle occupant seated in the vehicle seat to lean against the same, and comprising an airbag module integrated in the vehicle seat which includes an airbag being U-shaped in a horizontal section plane,
wherein the airbag comprises an L-shaped restraining portion and an L-shaped supporting portion,
wherein the L-shaped restraining portion includes a fillable cushioning portion forming a first leg of the L-shape which is positioned along a seat longitudinal direction spaced apart from the seat back surface and which has a baffle directed toward the seat back surface, the baffle being provided to cushion the vehicle occupant, if he/she is displaced forward along the seat longitudinal direction, and includes a fillable connecting portion forming a second leg of the L-shape which connects the cushioning portion to the vehicle seat,
wherein the L-shaped supporting portion includes a fillable first bearing portion forming a first leg of the L-shape which is positioned along a seat longitudinal direction behind the backrest, and a fillable second bearing portion forming a second leg of the L-shape which connects the first bearing portion to the vehicle seat,
wherein the connecting portion of the restraining portion and the second bearing portion of the supporting portion form a transverse leg of the U-shape,
wherein the supporting portion includes a bearing surface directed toward the backrest, wherein the airbag is configured so that the supporting portion in a filled state has a higher internal pressure than the restraining portion so that the bearing surface is configured to engage the seatback in response to, and to counteract, a load being directed away from the seat back surface in the seat longitudinal direction and acting on the restraining portion, if the vehicle occupant impacts the baffle, so as to stabilize the restraining portion relative to the vehicle seat.