Seatback-mounted airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11858446-B2
Application number	US-202117237108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 22, 2021
Priority date	Apr 22, 2021
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

An assembly for a vehicle includes a dash. The assembly includes a seat having a seatback and a head restraint extending upwardly from the seatback. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the seatback. The airbag is inflatable from the seatback toward the dash in a seat-rearward direction to an inflated position. The airbag includes an upper portion adjacent the head restraint and a pair of lobes extending from the upper portion along the head restraint in a seat-forward direction in the inflated position. The head restraint is between the lobes in the inflated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a dash;
a seat having a seatback and a head restraint extending upwardly from the seatback; and
an airbag supported by the seatback and inflatable from the seatback toward the dash in a seat-rearward direction to an inflated position;
the airbag in the inflated position having a lower portion supported by the seatback and an upper portion supported by the lower portion, the upper portion extending from the lower portion upwardly to behind the head restraint; and
the airbag including a pair of lobes connected to the upper portion seat-rearward of the head restraint in the inflated position, the lobes extending from the upper portion along the head restraint in a seat-forward direction in the inflated position, the head restraint being between the lobes in the inflated position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lower portion has a first thickness from the seatback in the seat-rearward direction and the upper portion has a second thickness from the seatback in the seat-rearward direction, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising an inflator in direct fluid communication with the lower portion, the upper portion being in fluid communication with the inflator through the lower portion.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a windshield extending upwardly from the dash, the upper portion of the airbag abutting the head restraint, the dash, and the windshield in the inflated position.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the upper portion is wedged between the head restraint, the dash, and the windshield in the inflated position.

6. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a windshield, the upper portion of the airbag including a top panel abutting the windshield and a bottom panel abutting the dash in the inflated position.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the top panel and the bottom panel meet at a point of the airbag that is distal-most from the head restraint in the inflated position.

8. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the airbag includes a vent in the top panel.

9. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lobes are above the seatback in the inflated position.

10. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the airbag includes a tether between the upper portion and the lower portion.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lobes are above the seatback in the inflated position.

12. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the bottom panel of the upper portion of the airbag extends upwardly from the lower portion of the airbag to the top panel of the upper portion of the airbag in the inflated position, the bottom panel of the upper portion extending upwardly from the lower portion of the airbag at an angle relative to the lower portion.

13. A seat comprising:
a seatback;
a head restraint extending upwardly from the seatback; and
an airbag supported by the seatback and inflatable from the seatback in a seat-rearward direction to an inflated position;
the airbag in the inflated position having a lower portion supported by the seatback and an upper portion supported by the lower portion, the upper portion extending from the lower portion upwardly to behind the head restraint; and
the airbag including a pair of lobes connected to the upper portion seat-rearward of the head restraint in the inflated position, the lobes extending from the upper portion along the head restraint in a seat-forward direction in the inflated position, the head restraint being between the lobes in the inflated position.

14. The seat of claim 13 , wherein the lower portion has a first thickness from the seatback in the seat-rearward direction and the upper portion having a second thickness from the seatback in the seat-rearward direction, the second thickness being greater than the first thickness.

15. The seat of claim 14 , further comprising an inflator in direct fluid communication with the lower portion, the upper portion being in fluid communication with the inflator through the lower portion.

16. The seat of claim 14 , wherein the upper portion including a top panel and a bottom panel that meet at a point of the airbag that is distal-most from the head restraint in the inflated position.

17. The seat of claim 16 , wherein the airbag includes a vent in the top panel.

18. The seat of claim 14 , wherein the airbag includes a tether between the upper portion and the lower portion.

19. The seat of claim 13 , wherein the lobes are above the seatback in the inflated position.

20. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein the bottom panel of the upper portion of the airbag extends upwardly from the lower portion of the airbag to the top panel of the upper portion of the airbag in the inflated position, the bottom panel of the upper portion extending upwardly from the lower portion of the airbag at an angle relative to the lower portion.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Shen Ming
• Chen Huipeng
• Kim Agnes S
• Mccoy Robert William
• Cheng James Chih
• El-Jawahri Raed Essa

Classifications

• B60R21/207 Primary

  in vehicle seats · CPC title

• B60R21/239

  characterised by their venting means · CPC title

• B60R21/2338

  Tethers · CPC title

• B60R21/231 Primary

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

• B60R21/26

  characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow {(arrangement or mounting thereof to the vehicle B60R21/20; blasting cartridges for producing gas under pressure in general F42B3/04; initiators or igniters therefor F42B3/10)} · CPC title