Vehicle passenger protection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12296778-B1
Application number	US-202418920541-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 18, 2024
Priority date	Jan 5, 2024
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

A vehicle passenger protection system includes: a seat provided in an internal space of a vehicle; a mobile crash pad provided in the internal space of the vehicle to be movable toward the seat, wherein the mobile crash pad includes a first airbag module provided inside the vehicle and including a first airbag cushion, and a guide rail engaged to the first airbag cushion and configured to serve as a deployment path of the first airbag cushion when the first airbag cushion is deployed; and a controller operably connected to the mobile crash pad and configured to predict a vehicle accident, and move the mobile crash pad toward the seat and deploy the first airbag cushion in the mobile crash pad when an accident is expected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle passenger protection system comprising:
a seat provided in an internal space of a vehicle;
a mobile crash pad provided in the internal space of the vehicle to be movable toward the seat, wherein the mobile crash pad includes:
a first airbag module provided inside the vehicle and including a first airbag cushion; and
a guide rail engaged to the first airbag cushion and configured to serve as a deployment path of the first airbag cushion in response that the first airbag cushion is deployed; and

a controller operably connected to the mobile crash pad and configured to predict a vehicle accident, and move the mobile crash pad toward the seat and deploy the first airbag cushion in the mobile crash pad in response that the vehicle accident is expected.

2. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 1 , wherein the seat is provided to be movable forward and rearward as well as left and right in the internal space of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the mobile crash pad further includes a housing that includes a closed cross-section and defines an appearance of the mobile crash pad, and
wherein a floor of the vehicle is provided with a cradle including a moving rail coupled to the housing and configured to serve as a movement path for the housing.

4. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 3 ,
wherein the housing extends in a height direction of the vehicle in the closed cross-section of the housing, and
wherein, inside the housing, the first airbag module is accommodated, and outside the housing, the guide rail configured to serve as the deployment path for the first airbag cushion is provided.

5. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 3 , wherein the cradle includes:
a first portion extending in a longitudinal direction or a width direction of the vehicle; and
a second portion extending in a height direction of the vehicle and coupled to the first portion.

6. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 3 , wherein the seat is provided inside the cradle to be movable forward and rearward as well as left and right.

7. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the mobile crash pad further includes a sensor configured to detect whether or not a passenger is seated on the seat, and
wherein the controller operably connected to the sensor is further configured to move the mobile crash pad toward the seat and to deploy the first airbag cushion within the mobile crash pad in response that the passenger is seated on the seat and the vehicle accident is expected.

8. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the mobile crash pad to a point which is a predetermined distance away from a passenger seated on the seat in response that the vehicle accident is expected.

9. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the mobile crash pad to a previous location thereof in response that the vehicle accident is expected but does not occur.

10. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to deploy the first airbag cushion in the mobile crash pad in response that the vehicle accident occurs.

11. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 1 , wherein the seat is provided with a second airbag module including a second airbag cushion, and
wherein the controller is further configured to deploy the second airbag cushion to cover a portion of a passenger's body in response that the vehicle accident occurs.

12. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the mobile crash pad to a point which is a predetermined distance away from the passenger seated on the seat in response that the vehicle accident is expected, and
wherein the controller is further configured to deploy the first airbag cushion and the second airbag cushion in response that the vehicle accident occurs, and to move the mobile crash pad toward the passenger so that the first airbag cushion and the second airbag cushion are brought into contact with each other in response that the deployment of the first airbag cushion is completed.

13. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 1 ,
wherein the mobile crash pad is provided with a sensor configured to detect whether or not a passenger is seated, and
wherein the controller operably connected to the sensor is further configured to determine a condition of the passenger via the sensor in response that the vehicle accident occurs.

14. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile crash pad is provided with a speaker.

15. The vehicle passenger protection system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to transmit white noise via the speaker in response that the vehicle accident occurs.

16. A vehicle comprising:
a seat provided in an internal space of the vehicle;
a mobile crash pad provided in the internal space of the vehicle to be movable toward the seat, wherein the mobile crash pad includes:
a first airbag module provided inside the vehicle and including a first airbag cushion; and
a guide rail engaged to the first airbag cushion and configured to serve as a deployment path of the first airbag cushion in response that the first airbag cushion is deployed; and

a controller operably connected to the mobile crash pad and configured to predict a vehicle accident, and move the mobile crash pad toward the seat and deploy the first airbag cushion in the mobile crash pad in response that the vehicle accident is expected.

17. The vehicle of claim, 16 , further including:
a moving rail connected to a housing of the mobile crash pad to serve as a movement path for the housing.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the mobile crash pad to a point which is a predetermined distance away from a passenger seated on the seat in response that the vehicle accident is expected.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 ,
wherein the seat is provided with a second airbag module including a second airbag cushion,
wherein the controller is further configured to move the mobile crash pad to a point which is a predetermined distance away from a passenger seated on the seat in response that the vehicle accident is expected, and
wherein the controller is further configured to deploy the first airbag cushion and the second airbag cushion in response that the vehicle accident occurs, and to move the mobile crash pad toward the passenger so that the first airbag cushion and the second airbag cushion are brought into contact with each other in response that the deployment of the first airbag cushion is completed.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp

Inventors

• Hwang Yun Jeong
• Lee Joon Ho
• Kim Jun U
• Song Ji Hyun
• Kim Dong Hyun

Classifications

• B60R2021/0293

  Additional pads or cushions in vehicle compartments, e.g. movably mounted · CPC title

• B60R2021/0273

  automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision · CPC title

• B60R21/20

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

• B60R21/055

  Padded {or energy-absorbing} fittings {, e.g. seat belt anchors (sun visors B60J3/00; head rests B60N2/80)} · CPC title

• B60R21/02 Primary

  Occupant safety arrangements or fittings {, e.g. crash pads (seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839)} · CPC title