Vehicle partition

• US 10,336,275 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2017
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sundararajan, Srinivasan, Barbat, Saeed David
• Primary Examiner(s): English, James A
• Application Number:
  US15/618,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20180354444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/026 Rigid partitions inside vehicles, e.g. between passengers and load compartments B60R21/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components

Abstract

A vehicle includes a floor having a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion between the front and rear portions. A partition is supported on the floor between the front and middle portions, extending in a cross-vehicle direction. An airbag housing supported by the partition has an airbag inflatable from the housing to an inflated position. In the inflated position, the airbag extends from the housing in a vehicle-rearward direction.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a floor having a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion between the front and rear portions;

a partition supported on the floor between the front and middle portions and extending in a cross-vehicle direction;

the partition supporting a first airbag housing having a first airbag inflatable to an inflated position;

the first airbag extending in a vehicle-rearward direction in the inflated position; and

a retaining cover moveable between an open position and a closed position, the retaining cover covering at least a portion of the front portion of the floor in the closed position.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the partition extends from the floor in a generally perpendicular direction relative to the floor.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the front portion is between an instrument panel and the partition.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the front portion is devoid of seats.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the front portion of the floor is recessed relative to the middle portion of the floor.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the partition supports a second airbag housing having a second airbag inflatable to an inflated position, the second airbag housing spaced from the first airbag housing in the cross-vehicle direction.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a front seat disposed on the front portion of the floor and facing the vehicle-rearward direction, a first space on the front portion of the floor extending between a first side of the front seat and a left end of the floor, and a second space on the front portion of the floor extending between a second side of the front seat and a right end of the floor.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second spaces is recessed relative to the middle portion of the floor.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, further comprising a second retaining cover, each of the retaining cover and the second retaining cover being moveable between an open position and a closed position, the retaining cover covering at least a portion of the first space in the closed position, the second retaining cover covering at least a portion of the second space in the closed position.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the partition defines an opening aligned with the front seat in the cross-vehicle direction.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein in the inflated position, the first airbag covers at least a portion of the opening.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the partition supports a second airbag housing having a second airbag inflatable to an inflated position, the first airbag housing supported by the partition on a first side of the opening and the second airbag housing supported by the partition on a second side of the opening.

13. The vehicle of claim 12, wherein the second airbag covers at least a portion of the opening in the inflated position.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a first middle seat disposed on the middle portion of the floor.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a second middle seat disposed on the middle portion of the floor and spaced from the first middle seat.

16. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a rear seat disposed on the rear portion of the floor.

17. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a vehicle body having a left side and a right side, the vehicle body including a first door on the left side and a second door on the right side.

18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first and second doors are slidably mounted to the vehicle body.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a floor having a front portion, a rear portion, and a middle portion between the front and rear portions;

a partition supported on the floor between the front and middle portions and extending in a cross-vehicle direction;

the partition supporting a first airbag housing having a first airbag inflatable to an inflated position;

the first airbag extending in a vehicle-rearward direction in the inflated position; and

a front seat disposed on the front portion of the floor and facing the vehicle-rearward direction, a first space on the front portion of the floor extending between a first side of the front seat and a left end of the floor, and a second space on the front portion of the floor extending between a second side of the front seat and a right end of the floor;

wherein the partition defines an opening aligned with the front seat in the cross-vehicle direction.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein in the inflated position, the first airbag covers at least a portion of the opening.