Safety restraint system with an airbag having an inflatable pelvis restraint portion and related method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017190311-A1
Application number	US-201614988831-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Jan 6, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A safety restraint system for a vehicle seat having a frame, a seat back and a lower seat cushion supported on the frame includes an airbag having an inflatable pelvis restraint portion. The inflatable pelvis restraint portion extends across the lower seat cushion between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion. At least one of the first and second lateral sides is laterally movable relative to the lower seat cushion upon inflation of the airbag. The inflatable portion may be secured to the vehicle seat with a mounting strap.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A safety restraint system in combination with a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat including a frame, a seat back and a lower seat cushion supported on the frame, the safety restraint system comprising:
an airbag including an inflatable pelvis restraint portion extending across the lower seat cushion in a lateral direction between a first lateral side and a second lateral side of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion, at least one of the first and second lateral sides being laterally movable relative to the lower seat cushion upon inflation of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion.

2 . The safety restraint system of claim 1 , wherein the inflatable pelvis restraint portion is secured to the vehicle seat through an adjustable length member.

3 . The safety restraint system of claim 2 , wherein the adjustable length member has a first length in the lateral direction prior to deployment and a second, greater length in the lateral direction in response to deployment of the airbag.

4 . The safety restraint system of claim 3 , wherein the first length of the adjustable member is maintained prior to deployment of the airbag with one or more tack stitches.

5 . The safety restraint system of claim 3 , wherein the adjustable length member increases in lateral length in response to a predetermined tension.

6 . The safety restraint system of claim 3 , wherein the adjustable length member is a flexible belt folded over on itself prior to deployment of the airbag.

7 . The safety restraint system of claim 1 , further comprising a strap having first and second ends secured to the seat, at least one lateral side of the inflatable portion adapted to laterally translate relative to the strap upon deployment of the airbag.

8 . The safety restraint system of claim 7 , wherein the airbag defines an opening for slidably receiving the strap.

9 . A safety restraint system in combination with a vehicle seat having a seat including a frame, a seat back and a seat cushion supported on the frame, the safety restraint system comprising:
a mounting strap having first and second ends secured to the seat; and an airbag having an inflatable pelvis restraint portion, the airbag secured to the seat with the mounting strap such that at least one side of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion translates relative to the strap during deployment of the airbag.

10 . The safety restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the mounting strap is a flexible mounting strap.

11 . The safety restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the mounting strap is fixed relative to a first side of the airbag and translatable relative to a second side of the airbag.

12 . The safety restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the mounting strap at least partially supports the airbag.

13 . The safety restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the mounting strap is integrally formed with the airbag.

14 . The safety restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the airbag defines an opening for slidably receiving the mounting strap.

15 . The safety restraint system of claim 14 , wherein the opening is a slot.

16 . The safety restraint system of claim 14 , wherein the inflatable pelvis restraint portion extends substantially across the vehicle seat in the lateral direction.

17 . The safety restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one side of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion translates relative to the mounting strap in response to radial expansion of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion.

18 . The safety restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the inflatable pelvis restraint portion is elongated in a lateral direction and the inflatable pelvis restraint portion translates laterally relative to the vehicle seat.

19 . The safety restraint system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one side of the inflatable pelvis restraint portion that translates relative to the strap during deployment of the airbag extends laterally relative to the seat.

20 . A method of protecting an occupant of a vehicle seat, the vehicle seat including a seat cushion, the method comprising:
mounting an airbag to the vehicle seat such that the airbag at least partially extends laterally across the vehicle seat between first and second lateral sides of the airbag; inflating the airbag in response to predetermined sensed vehicle conditions; and simultaneously translating at least one of the first and second lateral sides of the airbag relative to the vehicle seat upon inflation of the airbag to accommodate radial expansion of the airbag.

21 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising:
securing first and second lateral ends of a mounting strap to the vehicle seat; and translating at least one lateral side of the airbag relative to the mounting strap in response to inflation of the airbag.

22 . The method of claim 21 , further comprising at least partially supporting the airbag with the mounting strap.

Assignees

• Autoliv Asp Inc

Inventors

• Schneider David

Classifications

• B60R21/2338

  Tethers · CPC title

• B60N2/42763

  with anti-submarining systems · CPC title

• B60R21/207 Primary

  in vehicle seats · CPC title

• B60R2021/23386

  External tether means · CPC title

• B60R2021/161

  characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory · CPC title