LOW RISK DEPLOYMENT SIDE AIRBAG SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A side airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a seat for supporting an occupant and a side structure adjacent the seat, the seat including a seatback and a headrest with a support structure therein, the side structure including a door trim panel and a side window, the side airbag system comprising:
- an airbag module having an inflator, a housing, and an airbag cushion, the airbag module being installed within the headrest and mounted to the support structure in the headrest;
the housing having an open end directed in a first direction, the first direction being disposed between perpendicular to the side structure and forward with respect to the vehicle when viewed in a top view, the first direction further being disposed between generally horizontal and vertical with respect to the vehicle when viewed in a rear view;
the airbag cushion having a first face which is adjacent the side structure when the airbag cushion is inflated and an opposed second face which is directed toward the occupant when the airbag cushion is inflated, the first and second faces each having a perimeter and a central region, the perimeters of the first and second faces being joined to form the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion further having a tether extending between the central regions of the first and second faces, the tether having a tether length in the range of 50 to 150 mm and restraining the first and second faces such that substantially the entirety of the central regions are spaced apart by at least a distance equal to the tether length when the airbag cushion is inflated; and
the airbag cushion deploying laterally forward with respect to the vehicle toward a gap located between the occupant'"'"'s head and the side structure for the protection of the occupant'"'"'s head during a side impact crash.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side head airbag is installed in a headrest of a vehicle seat and deploys laterally forward with respect to the vehicle toward a gap located between an occupant'"'"'s head and a side window for the protection of the occupant'"'"'s head during a serious side impact crash. The side head airbag has a tether constructed in such a way as to minimize the inefficient voids that are commonly seen from side curtain airbags. The side head airbag may have a two chamber construction to improve the energy absorption mechanism from an elastic loading/unloading to a plastic loading/unloading along with a roll-over protection. Another restraint may be installed, separately from the head airbag, in a seatback or in a side structure to protect an occupant'"'"'s thorax and/or pelvis during a serious side impact crash.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A side airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a seat for supporting an occupant and a side structure adjacent the seat, the seat including a seatback and a headrest with a support structure therein, the side structure including a door trim panel and a side window, the side airbag system comprising:
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an airbag module having an inflator, a housing, and an airbag cushion, the airbag module being installed within the headrest and mounted to the support structure in the headrest; the housing having an open end directed in a first direction, the first direction being disposed between perpendicular to the side structure and forward with respect to the vehicle when viewed in a top view, the first direction further being disposed between generally horizontal and vertical with respect to the vehicle when viewed in a rear view; the airbag cushion having a first face which is adjacent the side structure when the airbag cushion is inflated and an opposed second face which is directed toward the occupant when the airbag cushion is inflated, the first and second faces each having a perimeter and a central region, the perimeters of the first and second faces being joined to form the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion further having a tether extending between the central regions of the first and second faces, the tether having a tether length in the range of 50 to 150 mm and restraining the first and second faces such that substantially the entirety of the central regions are spaced apart by at least a distance equal to the tether length when the airbag cushion is inflated; and the airbag cushion deploying laterally forward with respect to the vehicle toward a gap located between the occupant'"'"'s head and the side structure for the protection of the occupant'"'"'s head during a side impact crash. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A side airbag system for an automotive vehicle having a seat for supporting an occupant and a side structure adjacent the seat, the seat including a seatback and a headrest with a support structure therein, the side structure including a door trim panel and a side window, the side airbag system comprising:
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an airbag module having an inflator, a housing, and an airbag cushion, the airbag module being installed within the headrest and mounted to the support structure in the headrest; the housing having an open end directed in a first direction, the first direction being disposed between perpendicular to the side structure and forward with respect to the vehicle when viewed in a top view, the first direction further being disposed between generally horizontal and vertical with respect to the vehicle when viewed in a rear view; the airbag cushion having at least a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber being attached to the housing and the second chamber being attached to the first chamber, a partitioning membrane disposed between the two chambers, the partitioning membrane having a small opening defined therethrough for gas to flow from the first chamber into the second chamber; and the airbag cushion deploying laterally forward with respect to the vehicle toward a gap located between the occupant'"'"'s head and the side structure for the protection of the occupant'"'"'s head during a side impact crash. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification