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EP-4741233-A1 - CLOSURE COVER OF AN AIRBAG ASSEMBLY AND SEAT BACK ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE COMPRISING IT

EP4741233A1EP 4741233 A1EP4741233 A1EP 4741233A1EP-4741233-A1

Abstract

This invention refers to a closure cover of an airbag assembly and a vehicle seat back assembly comprising it, wherein the closure cover (116) comprises a first and a second area, a retaining system set to mechanically attach the closure cover (116) to the seat back cover (115) and to break when the airbag (114) exerts a pushing force on said closure cover (116) greater than the default value, allowing said airbag (114) to exit from the hollow cavity (211) towards the open space created between said front edge of the closure cover (116) and the side surface (212) of the seat back cover (115), and a positioning system set to keep the closure cover (116) mechanically attached to the seat back cover (115) after breakage.

Inventors

  • MORENO BARBETA, Alfons
  • FERNANDEZ PADILLA, Miguel Angel

Assignees

  • Seat, S.A.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20251106

Claims (15)

  1. A closure cover of an airbag assembly, said closure cover (116) being set to be assembled to a seat back cover (115) of a seat back assembly (111) of a vehicle seat, covering a hollow cavity (211) in which the airbag assembly (114) is arranged, characterized in that the closure cover (116) comprises a first area set to cover part of the side surface (212) of the seat back cover (115), and a second area set to cover part of the rear surface (215) of the seat back cover (115), said closure cover (116) further comprising: - a retaining system arranged on a front edge of the first area of the closure cover (116), the retaining system being set to mechanically attach the closure cover (116) to the seat back cover (115) and to break when the airbag (114) exerts a pushing force on said closure cover (116) greater than the default value, allowing said airbag (114) to exit from the hollow cavity (211) towards the open space generated between said front edge of the closure cover (116) and the side surface (212) of the seat back cover (115); - a positioning system arranged on a rear edge of the second area of the closure cover (116), the positioning system being set to keep the closure cover (116) mechanically attached to the seat back cover (115) after the breakage of the retaining system.
  2. The closure cover, according to Claim 1, wherein the positioning system comprises at least one projecting plate (127) extending from the rear edge of the second area of the closure cover (116), said plate being set to couple with at least one pertinent plate housing (412) located on the rear side (121) of the hollow cavity (211) of the seat back cover (115).
  3. The closure cover, according to Claim 2, wherein the positioning system comprises at least one brake housing (126) extending from the rear edge of the second area of the closure cover (116), said brake housing being set to couple with the pertinent projecting brakes (411) located on the rear side (121) of the hollow cavity (211) of the seat back cover (115).
  4. The closure cover, according to Claim 3, wherein the positioning system comprises at least two projecting plates (127) and at least two brake housings (126) evenly distributed along the rear edge of the second area of the closure cover (116), and wherein the "at least two projecting plates" (127) and the "at least two brake housings" (126) are alternately arranged with each other.
  5. The closure cover, according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the "at least two projecting plates" (127) and/or the "at least two brake housings" (126) extend in a direction substantially parallel to the vertical plane defined by the second area of the closure cover (116).
  6. The closure cover, according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, comprising at least one positioning protrusion (124) arranged on the rear edge of the second area of the closure cover (116) and extending from said rear edge, said positioning protrusion (124) being set to position the closure cover (116) in relation to the seat back cover (115) during the assembly operation.
  7. The closure cover, according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the retaining system comprises a plurality of retaining slots (122) extending from the front edge of the first area of the closure cover (116) and evenly distributed along said front edge, said retaining slots (122) being set to receive retaining clips (214) arranged on the front side (213) of the hollow cavity (211) of the seat back cover (115).
  8. The closure cover, according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the retaining system comprises a plurality of retaining clips (214) extending from the front edge of the first area of the closure cover (116) and evenly distributed along said front edge, said retaining clips (214) being set to be press-fitted into the pertinent retaining slots (122) arranged on the front side (213) of the hollow cavity (211) of the seat back cover (115).
  9. The closure cover, according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, comprising a braking strap (123) wherein a first end is fixed on the rear surface of the closure cover (116), and wherein a second end opposite the first end of the braking strap (123) is set to be attached to the frame (112) of the vehicle seat.
  10. The closure cover, according to Claim 9, wherein the second end of the braking strap (123) is inserted through a guide slot located in the seat back cover (115).
  11. A vehicle seat back assembly, comprising: - a frame (112); - a seat foam (113) adapted to cover the frame (112); - a seat back cover (115) attachable to the frame (112) and adapted to cover the rear surface and, at least partially, the side surfaces of the vehicle seat back assembly (111); - at least one airbag assembly (114) arranged in a respective hollow cavity (211) of the seat back cover (115); and - at least one closure cover (116), according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, said "at least one closure cover" (116) being arranged to cover the "at least one airbag assembly" (114).
  12. The seat back assembly, according to Claim 11, wherein the seat back cover (115) comprises at least one plate housing (412) located on the rear side (121) of the hollow cavity (211) and set to couple with the pertinent projecting plate (127).
  13. The seat back assembly, according to any one of Claims 11 or 12, wherein the seat back cover (115) comprises at least one projecting brake (411) located on the rear side (121) of the hollow cavity (211) of the seat back cover (115) and set to couple with the pertinent brake housing (126).
  14. The seat back assembly, according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the seat back cover (115) comprises a plurality of retaining clips (214) arranged on the front side (213) of the hollow cavity (211) of the seat back cover (115) and evenly distributed along said front side (213), said retaining clips (214) being set to couple with a plurality of retaining slots (122).
  15. The seat back assembly, according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein the seat back cover (115) comprises a plurality of retaining slots (122) arranged on the front side (213) of the hollow cavity (211) of the seat back cover (115) and evenly distributed along said front side (213), said retaining slots (122) being set to couple with a plurality of retaining clips (214).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention lies within the field of automotive engineering. More specifically, it refers to a closure cover of an airbag assembly and to the seat back assembly comprising it. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In general, a vehicle front seat assembly comprises a seat base and a seat back assembly. Depending on the seat model, said seat back assembly may comprise a frame, a seat foam adapted to cover the frame, and a seat back cover attachable to the frame and adapted to cover the rear surface and, at least partially, the side surfaces of the vehicle seat back assembly. Current solutions may further comprise at least one airbag assembly. The side airbag assembly includes an inflatable airbag installed between an outer side of the seat back cushion and an outer side surface of the vehicle front seat back. During a collision, the side airbag inflates to offer protection to the vehicle's occupants. As the airbag inflates, the outer side surface of the seat back separates from the trim cover, creating an opening between the trim cover, the seat back cushion, and the outer side surface of the front seat back. The opening through which the airbag expands faces outward in the vehicle forward direction, along the "X"-axis, to protect the side of the front seat occupant. Current solutions require a complex system whose installation in the vehicle involves a long assembly time for the installer. Furthermore, the current setup may cause damage either to the expanding airbag or to an occupant inside the passenger compartment during the detachment of the outer side surface of the seat back that allows the airbag outlet to open without causing damage. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a solution that is easy to install and enables proper deployment of the airbag assembly, avoiding the drawbacks of existing devices in the state of the art, such as contact with the rear seat occupants or with the head of the front seat occupant. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of this invention is to provide a solution related to a closure cover of an airbag assembly. Said closure cover is set to be assembled onto a seat back cover of a seat back assembly of a vehicle seat, covering a hollow cavity located on the side surface of said seat back cover. Said hollow cavity comprises the airbag assembly, from which the closure cover is detachable. Specifically, this invention refers to a closure cover comprising: a first and a second area, set to cover a part of the side surface of the seat back cover and a part of the rear surface of the seat back cover, respectively;a retaining system arranged on a front edge of the first area of the closure cover; anda positioning system arranged on a rear edge of the second area of the closure cover. In this way, the front edge or first edge of the first area of the closure cover is the edge of the first area contacting the side surface of the seat back cover. The rear edge or second edge of the first area of the closure cover forms a ridge with the second area of the closure cover, specifically with the front edge or first edge of the second area of the closure cover. In turn, the rear edge or second edge of the second area of the closure cover is the edge of the second area contacting the rear surface of the seat back cover. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity and clarity in the description, considering the ridge between the first and second areas of the closure cover, this invention uses "front edge" to refer to the area joined to the side surface of the seat back cover, and "rear edge" to refer to the area joined to the rear surface of the seat back cover. The retaining system is set to mechanically attach the closure cover to the seat back cover. Furthermore, the retaining system may break, in use, when the airbag located in the hollow cavity of the side surface exerts a pushing force, greater than the default value, on said closure cover. Breaking of the retaining system allows the airbag to exit from the hollow cavity, where it is initially located, towards the open space generated between said front edge of the closure cover and the side surface of the seat back cover. This breakage occurs in a controlled fashion, ensuring that the opening of the closure cover is appropriate. In turn, the positioning system is set to keep the closure cover mechanically attached to the seat back cover after the breakage of at least one retainer. Thanks to this invention, which defines a closure cover having a first and a second area arranged in an "L" setup, a proper and controlled deployment of the airbag assembly is achieved, ensuring a correct opening while avoiding safety issues by reducing contact with the rear seat occupants or with the head of the front seat occupant. Specifically, if the hinge connection is placed on the same side surface, it would be more difficult to achieve a strong connection that keeps the cover securely attached to the seat structure, and the