Side airbag with necking chamber

• US 10,369,956 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Deng, Zhibing, Patel, Deepak, Aekbote, Krishnakanth E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US15/463,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20180265031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 280729, 2807302
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0055 Pelvis
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0058 Shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23542 Weaving
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A side airbag for a vehicle includes a main chamber and a necking chamber. The main chamber has an opening for connecting to an inflator and a first thickness in an inflated condition. The necking chamber is peripherally surrounded by the main chamber and is connected to the main chamber by a restrictive vent. The necking chamber has a second thickness in the inflated condition less than the first thickness and is aligned with a targeted body area.

Claims

1. A side airbag for a vehicle comprising:

a main chamber including an opening for connecting to an inflator and including a first airbag thickness in an inflated condition;

a necking chamber peripherally surrounded by the main chamber and connected thereto by a restrictive vent and including a second airbag thickness in the inflated condition less than the first airbag thickness and aligned with a targeted body area; and

a wall separating the main chamber from the necking chamber and in part defining the second airbag thickness;

wherein a plurality of restrictive vents are disposed in the wall.

2. The side airbag of claim 1, wherein the opening for connecting to the inflator is at a rear of the airbag in the inflated condition and no restrictive vent is on a rear side of the necking chamber.

3. The side airbag of claim 1, wherein the airbag in the inflated condition is sized to extend substantially from a seat bottom to a top of a seat back.

4. The side airbag of claim 1, wherein the targeted body area is one of a rear rib-cage area and a pelvic area.

5. A side airbag module for a passenger vehicle comprising:

a housing shaped for mounting in a seat back;

an inflator connected to the housing; and

an airbag disposed in the housing in a deflated condition and including;

a main chamber including an opening for receiving an inflator and including a first airbag thickness in an inflated condition,

a necking chamber peripherally surrounded by the main chamber connected thereto by a restrictive vent and including a second airbag thickness in the inflated condition less than the first airbag thickness and aligned with a targeted body area; and

a wall separating the main chamber from the necking chamber and in part defining the second airbag thickness;

wherein a plurality of restrictive vents are disposed in the wall.

6. The module of claim 5, wherein the opening for connecting to the inflator is at a rear of the airbag in the inflated condition and no restrictive vent is on a rear side of the necking chamber.

7. The module of claim 5, wherein the airbag in the inflated condition is sized to extend substantially from a seat bottom to a top of a seat back.

8. The module of claim 5, wherein the targeted body area is one of a rear rib-cage area and a pelvic area.

9. A side airbag system for use in a passenger vehicle comprising:

a seat back including a cover; and

a side airbag module shaped for mounting in a seat back fixed to the seat back beneath the cover, the side airbag module including;

a housing shaped for mounting in a seat back,

an inflator connected to the housing, and

an airbag disposed in the housing in a deflated condition and including;

a main chamber including a part of the inflator disposed therein and including a first airbag thickness in an inflated condition, and

a necking chamber peripherally surrounded by the main chamber connected thereto by a restrictive vent and including a second airbag thickness in the inflated condition less than the first airbag thickness and aligned with a targeted body area;

a wall separating the main chamber from the necking chamber and in part defining the second airbag thickness;

wherein a plurality of restrictive vents are disposed in the wall with none of the vents being in a rear portion of the wall.

10. The side airbag system of claim 9, wherein the airbag in the inflated condition is sized to extend substantially from a seat bottom to a top of a seat back.

11. The side airbag system of claim 9, wherein the targeted body area is one of a rear rib-cage area and a pelvic area.