Airbag Deployment Techniques

• US 20080054603A1
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Automotive Technologies International Incorporated
• Inventors: Sanders, Thomas, Sanders, Sylvia, Breed, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,726,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal 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 2021/23161 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 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23316 Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23523 Composite coated fabric B60R2021/23514
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23533 characterised by the manufacturing process
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2395 comprising means to control the venting
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• 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

Abstract

Airbag deployment system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment includes airbags arranged to substantially fill the passenger compartment upon deployment, an inflator system for inflating the airbags and a crash sensor system coupled to the inflator system for directing the inflator system to inflate the airbag. Multiple housings may be arranged around the passenger compartment, each including at least one airbag. Some of the airbags may be interconnected to provide a primary airbag and at least one secondary airbag extending from the primary airbag. The inflator system may be an aspirated inflator system. The crash sensor system may be an anticipatory sensor system. The airbags may be film airbags. One-way valves may be arranged between adjacent airbags.

Claims

1. An airbag deployment system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment, comprising:

a plurality of airbags arranged to substantially fill the passenger compartment upon deployment;

an inflator system for inflating said airbags; and

a crash sensor system coupled to said inflator system for directing said inflator system to inflate said airbag.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of housings arranged around the passenger compartment, each of said housings including at least one airbag.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein some of said airbags are interconnected to provide a primary airbag and at least one secondary airbag extending from said primary airbag.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said inflator system is an aspirated inflator system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said crash sensor system is an anticipatory sensor system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said airbags are film airbags.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising one-way valves arranged between adjacent ones of said airbags.