Universal seat-mounted airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11084447-B2
Application number	US-201916533557-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2019
Priority date	Aug 6, 2019
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

A “universal” airbag system according to embodiments of the present disclosure provides for occupant protection in both conventional and unconventional seating orientations (rotated, reclined, and lying positions), when impacted in various directions. The universal airbag system features a seat mounted airbag which may be used with a seat-integrated seatbelt. The material may be selected, constructed, and attached such that it does not fail or tear under application-specific loading conditions, is strong enough to capture the occupant, has the elongation/expansion properties for a flexible yet stable shape with excursion limiting functionality, and is optionally inflatable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An airbag system comprising:
an airbag deployable from a stowed position to an inflated position, the airbag comprising:
a connected edge secured along a portion of a perimeter of a vehicle seat; and
a free edge spaced from the perimeter of the vehicle seat when the airbag is in the inflated position; and

a tether connected to the airbag along the free edge, the tether under tension when the airbag is in the inflated position.

2. The airbag system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle seat comprises a pan portion and a back portion, the back portion comprising a first side, a second side, and an upper edge extending between the first side and the second side.

3. The airbag system of claim 2 , wherein the portion of the perimeter of the vehicle seat is defined by the first side, the upper edge, and the second side.

4. The airbag system of claim 2 , wherein the tether comprises a first end secured to a first edge of the pan portion and a second end secured to a second edge of the pan portion, the first edge opposite the second edge.

5. The airbag system of claim 4 , wherein the tether is fixedly secured to the second edge.

6. The airbag system of claim 1 , wherein the airbag comprises a plurality of loops secured to the free edge, and the tether extends through the plurality of loops.

7. The airbag system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a retraction mechanism secured to the pan portion, the retraction mechanism further secured to an end of the tether and configured to partially retract the tether.

8. The airbag system of claim 2 , further comprising a second tether connected to the airbag, the second tether having one end secured proximate a first edge of the pan portion and another end secured proximate a second edge of the pan portion, the first edge opposite the second edge.

9. The airbag system of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of tether straps, each tether strap of the plurality of tether straps having a first end secured to the second tether or the airbag and a second end secured proximate the first side or the second side.

10. The airbag system of claim 9 , wherein the second end of each tether strap is secured to a retraction mechanism configured to partially retract the tether strap when the airbag is in the inflated position.

11. The airbag system of claim 9 , wherein the second end of each tether strap is secured to an extension mechanism configured to partially extend the tether strap when the airbag is in the inflated position.

12. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle seat comprising: a headrest portion; a back portion; and a bottom portion; an upper airbag stowed along a continuous section of an outer perimeter of the vehicle seat; and an upper airbag tether having a first end secured on a first side of the bottom portion and a second end secured on a second side of the bottom portion opposite the first side, the upper airbag tether attached to an edge of the upper airbag.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first end is secured by a first retraction mechanism and the second end is secured by a second retraction mechanism, the first and second retraction mechanisms configured to retract the first and second ends when the upper airbag is deployed.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising: a footrest positioned adjacent the bottom portion; and a lower airbag configured to deploy over the footrest and toward the vehicle seat.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising: a lower airbag tether having a third end secured on the first side and a fourth end secured on the second side, the lower airbag tether attached to an edge of the lower airbag.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the third end is secured by a third retraction mechanism and the fourth end is secured by a fourth retraction mechanism, the third and fourth retraction mechanisms configured to retract the third and fourth ends when the upper airbag is deployed.

17. The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the continuous section of the outer perimeter is defined in part by each of the bottom portion, the back portion, and the headrest portion.

18. A vehicle comprising:
a seat comprising a bottom portion and a backrest portion extending upward proximate a rear edge of the bottom portion; and
an airbag system deployable from a stowed position to an inflated position, the airbag system comprising at least one of:
a first airbag stowed within a halo positioned above the bottom portion, the first airbag configured to inflate downward from the halo toward the bottom portion;
a second airbag stowed along a front edge of the bottom portion, the second airbag configured to inflate upward from the bottom portion;
a seatbelt having a first anchor point on a first side airbag stowed within a first side edge of the bottom portion and a second anchor point on a second side airbag stowed within a second side edge of the bottom portion opposite the first side edge, wherein inflation of the first side airbag and the second side airbag causes each of the first anchor point and the second anchor point to move relative to the bottom portion; or
at least one third airbag stowed within an edge of the bottom portion and at least one fourth airbag stowed within an edge of a side portion, wherein the edge of the bottom portion extends upward and the edge of the side portion extends forward to form a partial enclosure.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the airbag system, when deployed, and the seat are positioned to substantially surround an occupant of the seat in at least one plane.

Assignees

• Nio Usa Inc

Inventors

• Rupp Jeffrey D
• Schoell Samantha L
• Williams Jane
• Stevens Colin J
• Fang Teh Feng

Classifications

• B60R21/2338

  Tethers · CPC title

• B60R21/23138

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

• B60R2021/23146

  seat mounted · CPC title

• B60R21/207 Primary

  in vehicle seats · CPC title

• B60R2021/23161

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