Lear Corporation

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Michael L Tracht

Rainer Penzel

Richard G Dierl

Peter Festag

Sebastian Uschold

Mathias Klemm

Sebastian Geithner

Florian Reithmeier

Thomas Klisch

Wolfgang Herrmann

Matthias Zimmermann

Christopher Stahl

Wolfgang Hermann

Johann Musat

Eike Goetze

A system and method for assembling a trim cover. A seam may be provided to attach the first trim panel to a second trim panel. Tabs and notches may be provided with at least one of the trim panels. One or more stitch attributes may be measured in response to detection of a tab or notch.

System and method for assembling a trim cover assembly

A seat assembly that may include a seat back, an airbag module having an airbag, and a reinforcement chute. The seat back may have a seat back frame that may have a side member. The reinforcement chute may be fixedly coupled to the side member above and below the airbag module.

Seat assembly having a side airbag module

In at least certain embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a frame, a seat pad, a trim cover extending over the seat pad with the cover having a release seam, and an air bag assembly including an inflator and an air bag. In accordance with this embodiment, the air bag assembly includes an air bag guide associating the air bag assembly with the release seam, with one of the air bag guide and the air bag having rear ends connected to opposite sides of the other of the air bag guide and the air bag.

Vehicle seat assembly with air bag guide secured to an air bag

In at least certain embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a frame, a seat pad, a trim cover extending over at least part of the seat pad with the cover having a release seam, and an air bag assembly including an inflator and an air bag. In accordance with an embodiment, the air bag assembly includes an air bag guide associating the air bag assembly with the release seam, the air bag guide comprising a panel having an intermediate portion that wraps around the air bag assembly, a first end secured to the trim cover on a first side of the release seam and a second end secured to the trim cover on the first side of the release seam spaced a predetermined distance from the first end, the first end having a first width, the second end having a second width and the intermediate portion having a third width, with the sum of the first and second widths being equal to or greater than the third width.

Vehicle seat assembly with side air bag and guide panel with spaced forward ends for creating a shearing force

A vehicle seat assembly having a back panel module configured to conceal an air bag module disposed in a seat back. A back panel module may have a back panel and a side panel. The back panel and the side panel may extend along the lateral side of the seat back and form an exterior surface of the back panel module.

Vehicle seat assembly having a back panel module

A vehicle seat air bag assembly () has an air bag module () including an inflator (), an air bag () and a soft housing () enclosing the inflator and air bag. An external rigid deflector sleeve () receives an inner extremity () of the air bag module () and ensures air bag movement toward a deployment location () of the seat during inflation. The rigid deflector sleeve () may be made from metal, a synthetic resin and may have open ends (), closed ends () or one open end () and one closed end ().

Side air bag assembly for vehicle seat having external rigid deflector sleeve

A vehicle seat assembly may include an air bag module having an inflatable air bag and a housing that receives the air bag. The housing has a main body that substantially encloses the air bag prior to inflation of the air bag, and an extension formed integrally with the main body. The extension is substantially enclosed by the main body prior to inflation of the air bag, and the extension has an end. Upon inflation of the air bag, the end of the extension is configured to extend outside the main body such that the end extends between the air bag and a component of the seat assembly.

Vehicle seat assembly with air bag module having integral protection member

A vehicle seat assembly may include an air bag module having an inflatable air bag, a housing that receives the air bag, and a flexible member disposed in the housing and having an end. The seat assembly may further include a seat pad disposed outside the housing. Upon inflation of the air bag, the end of the flexible member is configured to extend outside the housing such that the end extends between a portion of the seat pad and the air bag.

Vehicle seat assembly with seat pad protection member

In at least certain embodiments, the vehicle seat assembly comprises a frame having a support portion, a seat pad, a trim cover extending over the seat pad, and an air bag assembly. In accordance with this embodiment, the air bag assembly includes an inflator and an air bag, and the air bag assembly is mounted on the support portion of the frame such that the air bag assembly is disposed inboard of the support portion of the frame.

Vehicle seat assembly with inboard side air bag

A vehicle seat assembly according to the present disclosure includes an air bag module having a front and a side, and the air bag module includes an inflatable air bag and a rigid cover at least partially covering the air bag. The rigid cover may include a protection portion that extends at least partially along the side of the air bag module. The protection portion has an end spaced away from the front of the air bag module. The seat assembly further includes a seat pad disposed outside of the air bag module, and a trim cover positioned over the seat pad. In at least one embodiment, upon inflation of the air bag, the end of the protection portion is configured to move forwardly such that the protection portion extends between the seat pad and the air bag.

Vehicle seat assembly with rigid air bag protection member

A vehicle seat assembly according to the present disclosure includes an air bag module having a front and a side, and the air bag module includes an inflatable air bag and a flexible cover at least partially covering the air bag. The flexible cover may include a protection portion that extends at least partially along the side of the air bag module. The protection portion has an end spaced away from the front of the air bag module, and the end is releasably connected to another portion of the air bag module. The seat assembly further includes a seat pad disposed outside of the air bag module, and a trim cover positioned over the seat pad. Upon inflation of the air bag, the end of the protection portion is configured to disconnect from the another portion of the air bag module and extend forwardly such that the protection portion extends between the seat pad and the air bag, or between the trim cover and the air bag.

Vehicle seat assembly with air bag protection member

A vehicle seat assembly according to the present disclosure includes an air bag module having an air bag and an inflator associated with the air bag. The air bag includes a main body configured to be inflated by the inflator, and an extension formed integrally with the main body and at least partially covering the main body. The seat assembly further includes a seat pad disposed outside the air bag module, and a trim cover positioned over the seat pad. Upon inflation of the main body of the air bag, at least a portion of the extension is configured to move forwardly such that the at least a portion of the extension extends between the seat pad and the main body, or between the trim cover and the main body.

Air bag with integral protection member

A side air bag restraint sub-assembly is disposed in a cavity in a vehicle seat. A reinforcement panel is secured to either the inflator bolts or the seat fame on one edge. The opposite edge of the reinforcement panel is sewn to a hem on one side of a tear seam.

Vehicle seat side air bag system

A vehicle seat assembly includes a frame for mounting the seat to a vehicle. The seat assembly also includes a seat pad molded from a polymeric material and located proximate the frame. A trim cover is disposed over the seat pad, and includes a seam adjacent a side of the seat pad. An airbag assembly, which includes an airbag and an inflator configured to supply gas to the airbag, is also part of the seat assembly. A force concentrator covers at least a portion of the seat pad for protecting it during deployment of the airbag. The force concentrator includes inner and outer panels which form a deployment channel for the airbag, and thereby inhibit contact of the airbag with the seat pad as the airbag deploys.

Secured force concentrator in a vehicular bolster for airbag retention and deployment

A seat assembly having a seat structure, a cover, a back panel, and a package plate. The back panel has a lateral wall that covers a receiving space in which a side airbag module is arranged. The package plate is arranged between the lateral wall and the side airbag module. The package plate has a back end that engages the seat structure and a front end disposed opposite the back end that is located within the receiving space. An airbag of the side airbag module is configured to deploy between the front end and the cover and between the cover and a free end of the lateral wall.

Growing community of inventors

Ingolstadt, Germany

Michael L Tracht