Vehicle airbag

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018361981-A1
Application number	US-201715623016-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Dec 20, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A passive restraint includes inflatable members inflatable to an inflated position. The inflatable members are elongated along a longitudinal axis and spaced from each other in a lateral direction in the inflated position. The passive restraint includes uninflatable panels arranged in an alternating arrangement with the inflatable members. Each panel is elongated in the lateral direction when the inflatable members are inflated and extends from one of the inflatable members to another one of the inflatable members.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A passive restraint comprising:
inflatable members inflatable to an inflated position, the inflatable members being elongated along a longitudinal axis and spaced from each other in a lateral direction in the inflated position; and uninflatable panels arranged in an alternating arrangement with the inflatable members, each panel being elongated in the lateral direction when the inflatable members are inflated and extending from one of the inflatable members to another one of the inflatable members.

2 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , wherein a cross section of at least one of the inflatable members is circular.

3 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , wherein the panels are aligned in a common plane.

4 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , wherein the panels are elongated along the longitudinal axis.

5 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , wherein the uninflatable panels each include a plurality of segments extending from one of the inflatable members to another one of the inflatable members and spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis.

6 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , further comprising an inflation pipe having a first port and a second port, the first port positioned to provide fluid to one of the inflatable members, and the second port positioned to provide fluid to another one of the inflatable members.

7 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , further comprising an inflation pipe having a plurality of ports, each of the plurality of ports positioned to provide fluid to a separate inflatable member of the inflatable members.

8 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of inflation pipes extending from a central junction and in fluid communication with the inflatable members.

9 . The passive restraint of claim 8 , wherein one of the plurality of inflation pipes is perpendicular to another of the plurality of inflation pipes.

10 . The passive restraint of claim 8 , wherein the central junction includes a buffer chamber.

11 . The passive restraint of claim 10 , further comprising an inflator disposed within the buffer chamber.

12 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , wherein the panels are formed of fabric.

13 . The passive restraint of claim 1 , wherein the panels and the inflatable members define a plurality of curtains extending outwardly from a center point.

14 . The passive restraint of claim 13 , wherein one of the plurality of curtains is perpendicular to another one of the plurality of curtains.

15 . A vehicle comprising:
seats spaced from each other; inflatable members inflatable to an inflated position, the inflatable members in the inflated position being disposed between the seats and elongated along a longitudinal axis and spaced from each other in a lateral direction; and uninflatable panels arranged in an alternating arrangement with the inflatable members, each panel being elongated in the lateral direction when the inflatable members are inflated and extending from one of the inflatable members to another one of the inflatable members.

16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a floor, the inflatable members supported by the floor.

17 . The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a roof, the inflatable members supported by the roof.

18 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the panels and the inflatable members define a curtain extending in a vehicle front-to-rear direction.

19 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the panels and the inflatable members define a plurality of curtains extending outwardly from a center point, one of the plurality of curtains extending in a vehicle front-to-rear direction and another one of the plurality of curtains extending in a vehicle side-to-side direction.

20 . The vehicle of claim 15 , further comprising a floor, the seats rotatability supported by the floor.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Faruque Mohammad Omar
• Farooq S M Iskander
• Jaradi Dean M

Classifications

• 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

• B60R21/231

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

• B60R2021/23161

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

• B60R2021/2615

  for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags · CPC title

• B60R21/214

  in roof panels · CPC title