Restraint system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10407015-B2
Application number	US-201715634038-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 27, 2017
Priority date	Jun 27, 2017
Publication date	Sep 10, 2019
Grant date	Sep 10, 2019

Abstract

A restraint system includes a seat and a seat airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position. The restraint system includes an instrument panel and a forward airbag supported by the instrument panel and inflatable to an inflated position. When the seat airbag is in the inflated position and the forward airbag is in the inflated position, the seat airbag extends from the seat to the forward airbag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A restraint system, comprising:
a seat;
a seat airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position;
an instrument panel;
a forward airbag supported by the instrument panel and inflatable to an inflated position; and
a second forward airbag inflatable to an inflated position, the forward airbag and the second forward airbag defining a gap between the forward airbag and the second forward airbag when the forward airbag and the second forward airbag are each in the inflated position;
wherein when the seat airbag is in the inflated position and the forward airbags are in the inflated position, the seat airbag extends from the seat to the forward airbag into the gap and in contact with the forward airbag and the second forward airbag.

2. The restraint system of claim 1 , further comprising a steering wheel, wherein the second forward airbag is supported by the steering wheel.

3. The restraint system of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle door and a second seat airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position, wherein when the second seat airbag and the forward airbag are each in the inflated position, the second seat airbag is disposed between the forward airbag and the vehicle door.

4. The restraint system of claim 3 , further comprising an impact sensor programmed to detect a side impact and an actuator programmed to inflate the second seat airbag upon detecting the side impact.

5. The restraint system of claim 1 , further comprising an impact sensor programmed to detect an impact direction and an actuator programmed to inflate the seat airbag based on the detected impact direction.

6. The restraint system of claim 1 , further comprising a second seat including a second seat airbag supported by the second seat and inflatable to an inflated position, wherein when the seat airbag is in the inflated position and the forward airbag is in the inflated position, the second airbag extends from the second seat to the forward airbag.

7. A restraint system, comprising:
an impact sensor programmed to detect an impact direction;
a seat;
a first airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position;
a second airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position;
a forward airbag inflatable to an inflated position;
a second forward airbag inflatable to an inflated position; and
an actuator in communication with the first airbag and the second airbag;
wherein, based on the impact direction, the actuator is programmed to selectively inflate one of the first airbag and the second airbag to extend from the seat to the forward airbag in the inflated position in contact with the forward airbag and the second forward airbag.

8. The restraint system of claim 7 , wherein the seat includes a first side and an opposing second side, the first airbag being disposed in the first side and the second airbag being disposed in the second side.

9. The restraint system of claim 7 , further comprising an impact sensor programmed to detect a side impact.

10. The restraint system of claim 9 , wherein, upon detecting the side impact, the actuator is programmed to actuate one of the first airbag and the second airbag.

11. The restraint system of claim 7 , wherein the impact direction is one of a left oblique impact direction and a right oblique impact direction, and the actuator is programmed to inflate the first airbag when the impact direction is the left oblique impact direction and to inflate the second airbag when the impact direction is the right oblique impact direction.

12. The restraint system of claim 7 , further comprising a second seat including a third airbag supported by the second seat inflatable to an inflated position and a fourth airbag supported by the second seat inflatable to an inflated position, wherein, based on the impact direction, the actuator is programmed to inflate one of the third airbag and the fourth airbag.

13. The restraint system of claim 12 , wherein the impact direction is one of a left oblique impact direction and a right oblique impact direction, and the actuator is programmed to inflate one of the first airbag and the second airbag and one of the third airbag and the fourth airbag when the impact direction is the left oblique impact direction and to inflate the other of the first airbag and the second airbag and the other of the third airbag and the fourth airbag when the impact direction is the right oblique impact direction.

14. A vehicle, comprising:
a pillar;
an instrument panel;
a steering wheel;
a seat;
a forward airbag supported by the instrument panel and inflatable to an inflated position;
a second forward airbag supported by the steering wheel and inflatable to an inflated position, the forward airbag and the second forward airbag defining a gap between the forward airbag and the second forward airbag when the forward airbag and the second forward airbag are each in the inflated position;
a first seat airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position; and
a second seat airbag supported by the seat and inflatable to an inflated position;
wherein when the forward airbag, the second forward airbag, and the first seat airbag are each in the inflated position, the first seat airbag extends from the seat to the forward airbag into the gap and in contact with the forward airbag and the second forward airbag; and
when the forward airbag and the second seat airbag are each in the inflated position, the second seat airbag is disposed between the forward airbag and the pillar.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising an actuator programmed to inflate the first seat airbag and the second seat airbag.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising an impact sensor programmed to detect an impact direction, wherein the actuator is further programmed to inflate one of the first seat airbag and the second seat airbag and to prevent inflation of the other of the first seat airbag and the second seat airbag based on the detected impact direction.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second pillar;
a second seat;
a third seat airbag inflatable to an inflated position supported by the second seat; and
a fourth seat airbag inflatable to an inflated position supported by the second seat;
wherein when the second forward airbag and the third seat airbag are each in the inflated position, the third seat airbag extends from the second seat to the second forward airbag into the gap and in contact with the second forward airbag; and
when the second forward airbag and the fourth seat airbag are each in the inflated position, the fourth seat airbag is disposed between the second forward airbag and the second pillar.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , further comprising an impact sensor programmed to detect an impact direction, and an actuator programmed to inflate at least one of the first seat airbag, the second seat airbag, the third seat airbag, and the fourth seat airbag based on the detected impact direction.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the impact direction is one of a left oblique impact direction and a right oblique impact direction, and wherein the actuator is further programmed to inflate the first seat airbag and the fourth seat airbag when the detected impact direction is the left oblique impact direction.

20. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the impact direction is one of a left oblique impact direction and a right oblique impact direction, and wherein the

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Belwafa Jamel E
• Faruque Mohammad Omar
• Cheng James Chih

Classifications

• B60R2021/23107

  the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system · CPC title

• B60R21/23138

  specially adapted for side protection (B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60R2021/23161

  specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other · CPC title

• B60R21/231

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

• B60R2021/01034

  Controlling a plurality of restraint devices · CPC title