Vehicle table with deployable airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10059296-B2
Application number	US-201615068681-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2016
Priority date	Mar 14, 2016
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle interior includes an interior compartment and a table in the interior compartment. The table has a top surface including a perimeter. An airbag extends around the perimeter of the top surface of the table. The airbag is inflatable in response to a vehicle impact to limit the likelihood of an occupant impacting the table and/or to absorb energy from the occupant during the vehicle impact.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle interior comprising:
an interior compartment;
a table in the interior compartment, the table having a top including a peripheral edge; and
an airbag extending around the peripheral edge of the top of the table, the airbag being inflatable to an inflated position and deploying radially from the peripheral edge to the inflated position.

2. The vehicle interior according to claim 1 , further comprising a cover supported by the table, the airbag disposed between the table and the cover.

3. The vehicle interior according to claim 2 , wherein the cover includes a tear seam.

4. The vehicle interior according to claim 3 , wherein the airbag is aligned along the tear seam and positioned thereon.

5. The vehicle interior according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag is inflatable radially from the table to an inflated position.

6. The vehicle interior according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag is annular in the inflated position.

7. The vehicle interior according to claim 6 , wherein the airbag extends entirely around the peripheral edge of the top of the table.

8. The vehicle interior according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag has an impact surface including an indentation in the inflated position.

9. The vehicle interior according to claim 8 , further comprising a tether engaged with the airbag at the indentation in the inflated position.

10. The vehicle interior according to claim 8 , further comprising a seat positioned to be adjacent the indentation when the airbag is in the inflated position.

11. The vehicle interior according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag has an impact surface including an indentation in the inflated position, and wherein the airbag is supported by an airbag base, and a tether extends from the airbag base to the indentation.

12. The vehicle interior according to claim 1 , wherein the airbag has an impact surface including a plurality of indentations spaced about the top in the inflated position, and further comprising a plurality of seats positioned to be adjacent the plurality of indentations, respectively, when the airbag is in the inflated position.

13. The vehicle interior according to claim 1 , further comprising an inflator supported by the table and in fluid communication with the airbag.

14. The vehicle interior according to claim 13 , further comprising a vehicle body defining the interior compartment, wherein the table is retractable relative to the vehicle body.

15. The vehicle interior according to claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle body defining the interior compartment and an inflator fixed relative to the vehicle body in fluid communication with the airbag, wherein the table is retractable relative to the vehicle body.

16. A vehicle interior comprising:
a table including a base and a top spaced from the base;
the table having an adjustable height from the base to the top;
an airbag supported by the table; and
a processor programmed to initiate an inflation of the airbag based on the adjustable height of the table in response to detection of a vehicle impact.

17. The vehicle interior according to claim 16 , further comprising a table height sensor connected to the processor.

18. The vehicle interior according to claim 16 , further comprising a vehicle body, wherein the table is retractable relative to the vehicle body.

19. The vehicle interior according to claim 16 , further comprising an inflator supported by the table and in fluid communication with the airbag.

20. The vehicle interior according to claim 16 , further comprising a vehicle body and an inflator fixed relative to the vehicle body in fluid communication with the airbag, wherein the table is retractable relative to the vehicle body.

21. A vehicle interior comprising:
an interior compartment;
a table in the interior compartment, the table having a top surface including a perimeter; and
an airbag extending around the perimeter of the top surface of the table;
wherein the airbag is inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag being annular in the inflated position.

22. A vehicle interior comprising:
an interior compartment;
a table in the interior compartment, the table having a top surface including a perimeter;
an airbag extending around the perimeter of the top surface of the table; and
an inflator in fluid communication with the airbag, wherein the table is retractable relative to the vehicle body.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Farooq S M Iskander
• Jaradi Dean M
• Faruque Mohammed Omar

Classifications

• B60R21/2338

  Tethers · CPC title

• B60R21/20 Primary

  Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components · CPC title

• B60R21/231

  characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration · CPC title

• B60N3/001 Primary

  of tables or trays · CPC title

• B60R21/0136

  responsive to actual contact with an obstacle {, e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle (monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558)} · CPC title