Roof mounted airbag assembly for rear seat

• US 10,272,868 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jaradi, Dean M., Faruque, Mohammed Omar, Farooq, S. M. Iskander
• Primary Examiner(s): English, James A
• Application Number:
  US15/429,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20180229681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0023 Offset collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• 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 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23388 having ends which are movable or detachable during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2165 characterised by a tear line for defining a deployment opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/237 characterised by the way they are folded
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/262 Elongated tubular diffusers, e.g. curtain-type
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/263 using a variable source, e.g. plural stage or controlled output hybrid inflators B60R21/272
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence

Abstract

An airbag assembly includes a base member and an airbag supported by the base member and being inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag includes a panel and a plurality of sheets attached to the panel. The panel includes a first portion extending in a first direction from the base member to a distal end and a second portion extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction from the base member to a distal end. Each sheet is elongated in the first direction along the first portion of the panel and elongated in the second direction along the second portion of the panel. During a vehicle impact, the momentum of the occupant may move the occupant towards the airbag. The airbag may absorb energy from the head and knees of the occupant, which may assist in reducing injuries.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a roof including a first side and a second side spaced from each other;

a base member supported by the roof;

an airbag supported by the base member and being inflatable to an inflated position;

the airbag including a panel in the inflated position having a first portion extending along the roof from the base member to a distal end adjacent to the roof and a second portion extending transverse to the roof from the base member to a distal end spaced from the roof;

the panel including a first side edge and a second side edge spaced from each other and each extending along the first portion and the second portion, the first side edge being adjacent the first side of the roof, and the second side edge being adjacent the second side of the roof; and

an external tether disposed adjacent to each side edge of the panel, the external tethers extending from the distal end of the first portion to the roof.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the panel includes an intermediate portion extending from the first portion to the second portion, the intermediate portion being attached to the base member.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the first side edge and the second side edge each extend along the intermediate portion.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the first portion and the second portion are rolled in opposite directions relative to the intermediate portion in an uninflated position.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the first portion and the second portion extend from the intermediate portion in opposite directions in an uninflated position.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the airbag includes a plurality of sheets attached to the panel, each sheet extending along the panel from the first portion to the second portion and transverse to the first portion and the second portion.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein a first sheet of the plurality of sheets is adjacent the first side edge, a second sheet of the plurality of sheets is adjacent the second side edge, and intermediate sheets of the plurality of sheets are disposed between the first sheet and the second sheet.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein, in the inflated position, the first portion extends in a first direction from the base member to the distal end of the first portion, and the second portion extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction from the base member to the distal end of the second portion, and wherein each sheet is flat in a plane extending in the first direction and the second direction.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the external tether is stretchable relative to the airbag.

10. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a deflector attached to the roof adjacent to the second portion, and in the inflated position, the first portion extends in a first direction from the base member to the distal end of the first portion, and the second portion extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction from the base member to the distal end of the second portion, the deflector extending from the roof in the second direction.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a front seat and a rear seat spaced from the front seat, the second portion of the panel disposed between the front seat and the rear seat in an uninflated position.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the front seat includes a seat bottom and a seatback extending upwardly from the seat bottom, and wherein the second portion abuts the seatback in the inflated position.

13. An airbag assembly comprising:

a base member;

an airbag supported by the base member and being inflatable to an inflated position;

the airbag including a panel in the inflated position having a first portion extending in a first direction from the base member to a distal end and a second portion extending from the base member to a distal end in a second direction transverse to the first direction; and

a plurality of sheets attached to the panel, each sheet elongated in the first direction along the first portion of the panel and elongated in the second direction along the second portion of the panel.

14. The airbag assembly according to claim 13, wherein the panel includes an intermediate portion extending from the first portion to the second portion, the intermediate portion being attached to the base member.

15. The airbag assembly according to claim 14, wherein the first portion and the second portion are rolled in opposite directions relative to the intermediate portion in an uninflated position.

16. The airbag assembly according to claim 13, wherein the panel includes a first side edge and a second side edge spaced from each other and each extending along the first portion and the second portion.

17. The airbag assembly according to claim 16, wherein a first sheet of the plurality of sheets is adjacent the first side edge, a second sheet of the plurality of sheets is adjacent the second side edge, and intermediate sheets of the plurality of sheets disposed between the first sheet and the second sheet.

18. The airbag assembly according to claim 16, wherein, in the inflated position, each sheet is flat in a plane extending in the first direction and the second direction.

19. The airbag assembly according to claim 13, wherein the distal end of the first portion and the distal end of the second portion are spaced from each other in the inflated position.

20. A system comprising:

a roof including a first side and a second side spaced from each other;

a base member supported by the roof;

an airbag supported by the base member and being inflatable to an inflated position;

the airbag including a panel in the inflated position having a first portion extending along the roof from the base member to a distal end adjacent to the roof and a second portion extending transverse to the roof from the base member to a distal end spaced from the roof;

the panel including a first side edge and a second side edge spaced from each other and each extending along the first portion and the second portion, the first side edge being adjacent the first side of the roof, and the second side edge being adjacent the second side of the roof; and

a deflector attached to the roof adjacent to the second portion, and in the inflated position, the first portion extends in a first direction from the base member to the distal end of the first portion, and the second portion extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction from the base member to the distal end of the second portion, the deflector extending from the roof in the second direction.