Tethered airbags

• US 10,471,927 B1
• Filed: 09/13/2017
• Issued: 11/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Waymo LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Gupta, Atul, Lombrozo, Peter Craig, Larner, Daniel Lynn
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US15/703,312
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01211 Expansion of air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/36 using airbags

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to airbag systems for vehicles. The airbag systems may prevent the airbags from splitting apart during impact with a pedestrian or object. The airbag system may include a first airbag attached to a first connector and a second airbag attached to a second connector. The airbag system may also include a tether attached to the first connector and the second connector, and wherein the tether is configured to be pulled taut upon the first or second airbag being deployed in an environment of a vehicle in order to reduce the likelihood of an object colliding directly with the vehicle.

Claims

1. An airbag system comprising:

a first airbag attached to a first connector;

a second airbag attached to a second connector;

a tether attached to a vehicle at a first end of the tether; and

wherein the tether is configured to be pulled taut upon the first or second airbag being deployed in an environment of a vehicle in order to reduce the likelihood of an object colliding directly with the vehicle, and wherein the tether is further configured to be pulled taut by the first or second connector pulling on a second end of the tether upon the first or second airbag being deployed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second airbag is configured to be deployed subsequently to the first airbag.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second connector is configured to slide along the taut tether.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second airbag is configured to be deployed simultaneously to the first airbag.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second airbag are positioned adjacent to each other.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the tether is positioned between the first and second airbags.

7. The system of claim 1, further including:

a third connector attached to the first airbag;

a fourth connector attached to the second airbag; and

a second tether, wherein the third and fourth connectors are attached to the second tether and the second tether is configured to be pulled taut upon a third or fourth airbag being deployed.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second airbag is configured to be positioned above the first airbag after being deployed.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle'"'"'s environment is the vehicle'"'"'s interior and the first and second airbags are interior airbags.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle'"'"'s environment is the vehicle'"'"'s exterior and the first and second airbags are external airbags.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the airbag system is positioned on the vehicle.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second airbags, the tether, and the first and second connectors are stored in a compartment attached to the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 5 further configured so that when one of the first or second airbag is deployed, the connector attached to the adjacent airbag is enabled to slide along the taut tether.

13. A method for deploying airbags in a vehicle'"'"'s vicinity in order to reduce the likelihood of an object colliding directly with the vehicle comprising:

deploying a first airbag attached to a first connector;

deploying a second airbag attached to a second connector;

wherein a tether, attached to the vehicle at a first end of the tether, and configured to be pulled taut upon the first or second airbag being deployed in an environment of the vehicle, and wherein the tether is further configured to be pulled taut and by the first or second connector pulling on a second end of the tether upon the deployment of the first or second airbag.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first connector and second connector are attached to the tether.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the connectors hold the first and second airbags together.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the tether is attached to the vehicle at a first end.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second airbag are positioned adjacent to each other, and so that when one of the airbags is deployed the connector attached to the adjacent airbag is enabled to slide along the taut tether.

16. A method for deploying airbags in a vehicle'"'"'s vicinity in order to reduce the likelihood of an object colliding directly with the vehicle comprising:

determining, by one or more processors, a collision with the object is imminent;

predicting, by the one or more processors, a location on the vehicle where the collision with the object is expected to occur;

determining an airbag system at the location on the vehicle where the collision is expected to occur;

sending, by the one or more processors, a triggering signal to deploy the airbag system; and

in response to receiving the triggering signal, deploying by one or more processors, a first airbag attached to a first connector and second airbag attached to a second connector, the first connector and second connector being attached to a tether, and wherein deploying the first airbag and the second airbag causes the tether to be pulled taut.