Airbag Which Deploys Along Multiple Sides of Occupant

• US 20080048421A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1994
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sanders, Thomas, Sanders, Sylvia, Breed, David
• Application Number:
  US11/927,768
• Publication Number:
  US 20080048421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/735
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23504 characterised by material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23519 Resin for coating fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite coated fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2636 The volume of gas being continuously adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2032 the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• 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 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 : using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/30 : with means to draw ambient air into the flow line and mix such air with the inflation fluid

Abstract

An airbag module arranged in or mounted to a vehicle ceiling alongside the left or right side of the passenger compartment and including an airbag having a first portion for deploying to one side of an occupant and a second portion for deploying to a perpendicular side of the occupant. An inflator is arranged in flow communication with an interior of the airbag and generates an inflating medium to inflate the airbag to provide the airbag with an inflated state in which the compartments contain the inflating medium. The first portion can deploy in front of the occupant and the second portion can deploy to a lateral side of the occupant, e.g., between the occupant and the windows on the right or left side of the vehicle, such that the second portion is situated alongside the one or more windows along the left or right side of the passenger compartment.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame defining a passenger compartment and a ceiling defining a top of said passenger compartment;

windows on left and right sides of said passenger compartment;

an airbag module arranged in or mounted to said ceiling alongside the left or right side of said passenger compartment and including an airbag having a first portion for deploying to one side of an occupant and a second portion for deploying to a perpendicular side of the occupant; and

an inflator arranged in flow communication with an interior of said airbag and which generates an inflating medium to inflate said airbag to provide said airbag with an inflated state in which said compartments contain the inflating medium.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first portion deploys in front of the occupant and the second portion deploys to a lateral side of the occupant such that the second portion is situated alongside the one or more windows along the left or right side of said passenger compartment.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first and second portions are integral with one another.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said first portion deploys along an entire side of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said second portion is oriented perpendicular to said first portion.

6. A vehicle, comprising:

a frame defining a passenger compartment and a ceiling defining a top of said passenger compartment;

windows on left and right sides of said passenger compartment;

an airbag module arranged in or mounted to said ceiling alongside the left or right side of said passenger compartment and including an airbag arranged to wrap around a corner of said passenger compartment and thereby provide protection on multiple sides for the occupant; and

an inflator arranged in flow communication with an interior of said airbag and which generates an inflating medium to inflate said airbag to provide said airbag with an inflated state in which said compartments contain the inflating medium.

7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein said airbag has a first portion for deploying to one side of an occupant and a second portion for deploying to a perpendicular side of the occupant.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the first portion deploys in front of the occupant and the second portion deploys to a lateral side of the occupant such that the second portion is situated alongside the one or more windows along the left or right side of said passenger compartment.

9. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said first and second portions are integral with one another.

10. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said first portion deploys along an entire side of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein said second portion is oriented perpendicular to said first portion.

12. A method for protecting an occupant in a vehicle during an accident involving the vehicle, comprising:

arranging an airbag module in a ceiling defining a passenger compartment of the vehicle alongside a left or right side of the passenger compartment;

arranging an uninflated airbag in the airbag module in a position in which it will, when inflated, deploy downward from the airbag module to a position alongside two sides of the occupant; and

sensing an accident for which deployment of the airbag is desired; and

then

generating an inflating medium to inflate the airbag to provide the airbag with an inflated state in which the airbag contains the inflating medium and are situated alongside the one or more windows along the left or right side of the passenger compartment.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing the airbag with a first portion and a second portion which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first portion when the airbag is deployed.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first portion deploys in front of the occupant and the second portion deploys to a lateral side of the occupant such that the second portion is situated alongside the one or more windows along the left or right side of said passenger compartment.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second portions are integral with one another.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the first portion deploys along an entire side of the vehicle.