Deployable passenger enclosure

• US 10,023,145 B1
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Rivera, Felix Jose Alvarez, Larner, Daniel Lynn, Daniel, Thomas, McCool, Courtney, Gupta, Atul, Lombrozo, Peter Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Freedman, Laura
• Application Number:
  US15/228,328
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/06 Safety nets, transparent sheets, curtains, or the like, e.g. between occupants and glass B60R21/026 , B60R21/11, B60R21/12, B60R21/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2334 Expansion control features

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to deployable structures, such as airbag systems, for vehicles. A system is disclosed for reducing likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision. The system may include a seat configured to accommodate the passenger and an airbag system. At least a portion of the airbag system may be incorporated into a vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system. The airbag system may include an airbag and a locking feature. The locking feature may be configured to lock the airbag with a locking portion of a vehicle when the airbag system has been deployed. The locking feature may be attached to the airbag. Aside from airbags, other confining structures, such as nets, shades, curtains, etc., may also be used as deployable structures.

Claims

1. A system for reducing likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision, the system comprising:

a vehicle having a first seat configured to accommodate the passenger and a locking portion incorporated into a structure of the vehicle; and

an airbag system having at least a first portion incorporated into the vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system, the airbag system including an airbag and a locking feature configured to lock the airbag with the locking portion of the vehicle when the airbag system has been deployed, the locking feature being attached to the airbag, and wherein the locking portion is configured to move relative to the structure of the vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking portion is configured to rotate relative to the structure of the vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking portion is configured to rotate in correspondence with rotation of the first seat prior to deployment of the airbag system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking portion is configured to translate relative to the structure of the vehicle in correspondence with a translation movement of the first seat prior to deployment of the airbag system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking feature includes a ball pin projection configured to lock with the locking portion when the airbag system has been deployed.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the locking portion includes a one way hinge lock incorporated into a headliner of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking feature includes a magnet configured to lock with the locking portion when the airbag system has been deployed.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the locking portion includes a magnet incorporated into a headliner of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking feature includes a piercing lock.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the locking feature includes a one way snap.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising the vehicle having a second seat, wherein a second portion of the airbag system is incorporated into the second seat, and the second seat is oriented towards the first seat in the vehicle, the second portion and the first portion being configured to form a partial enclosure around the first seat when the airbag system has been deployed in order to reduce the likelihood of injury to the passenger when the passenger is in the first seat.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motor configured to facilitate movement of the locking portion relative to the structure of the vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the locking portion in conjunction with a corresponding rotation of the first seat.

14. A method for reducing likelihood of injury to a passenger in a collision, the method comprising:

selecting an airbag system for deployment, the airbag system having at least a portion incorporated into a vehicle prior to deployment of the airbag system, wherein a first seat within the vehicle is configured to accommodate the passenger and the airbag system includes an airbag and a locking feature attached to the airbag;

deploying the airbag system by inflating the airbag;

interlocking the locking feature with a one-way hinge lock incorporated into a structure of the vehicle, comprising the steps of;

sliding an end portion of the locking feature through a first side of the one-way hinge lock until the end portion passes through the one-way hinge lock; and

engaging a surface of the end portion with a second side of the one-way hinge lock, the first side and second side being opposing sides of the one-way hinge lock.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, prior to deploying the airbag system, positioning the one-way hinge lock to facilitate the interlocking by rotating the one way hinge lock relative to the structure of the vehicle in correspondence with rotation of the first seat.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising, prior to deploying the airbag system, positioning the one way hinge lock to facilitate the interlocking by translating the one-way hinge lock relative to the structure of the vehicle in correspondence with a translation movement of the first seat.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein inflating the airbag and the interlocking takes place prior to the collision.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein inflating the airbag takes place in response to the collision.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein selection of the airbag for deployment is based on a passenger position relative to the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein a second portion of the airbag system includes a second airbag incorporated into a second seat prior to deployment of the airbag system, and the second seat is oriented towards the first seat in the vehicle, and wherein deploying the airbag system causes the airbag and the second airbag to form a partial enclosure around the first seat in order to reduce the likelihood of injury to the passenger.