OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEM

• US 20100078921A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 04/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Rao, Manoharprasad K., Spahn, Brian Robert, Brown, Jerry R., Ruthinowski, Richard Edward, Ryan, Sean Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,802,809 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0039 Body parts of the occupant or pedestrian affected by the accident
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

System and method for protecting an occupant in a vehicle seat, through the use of an occupant protection system is disclosed, wherein the vehicle seat includes a backrest section and a seat section. The occupant protection system includes a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, wherein the first airbag assembly is containable within an airbag recess located within a vehicle roof portion. A second airbag assembly is included having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location. The second airbag assembly is mounted to a frame that is integrated with the seat while being external to a seat cushion. The first inflatable airbag is configured to extend downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state. The second inflatable airbag is configured to extend upward from the deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state.

Claims

1. An occupant protection system for a vehicle having a roof portion, wherein the roof portion includes at least one airbag recess, the system comprising:

at least one occupant seat having a frame integrated with a backrest section and a seat section, wherein the seat section includes a seat cushion.

a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, the first airbag assembly being containable within the airbag recess;

a second airbag assembly having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location, the second airbag assembly being mounted to the frame that is integrated with the seat section, the frame being external to the seat cushion; and

the first inflatable airbag being configured to extend downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state, and the second inflatable airbag being configured to extend upward from the deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state,

wherein the first inflatable airbag is operable to inflate at a lower pressure than the second inflatable airbag thereby loading the pelvic-thorax region and pushing a passenger away from a vehicle door.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame includes a seat track for mounting the seat to a vehicle floor, the second airbag assembly being mounted to the frame and having an angle in the range of 0°

and 120°

between a line that is normal to the deployment location and the seat track.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first airbag assembly includes an airbag module having an inflator adapted to cause inflation of the first airbag at a lower volumetric pressure than the second airbag.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second airbag assembly includes an airbag module having an inflator adapted to cause inflation of the second airbag at a higher volumetric pressure than the first airbag.

5. The system of claim 1, further including a trim panel that is attachable to the seat section to substantially enclose the second airbag assembly having the second airbag.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second airbag assembly and the first airbag assembly are deployed sequentially.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein an air gap exists between the first inflatable airbag and the second inflatable airbag while in the inflated state.

8. An occupant protection system for a vehicle having a roof portion, wherein the roof portion includes at least one airbag recess, the system comprising:

at least one occupant seat having a frame integrated with a backrest section and a seat section, the seat section including a seat cushion;

a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, the first airbag assembly being containable within the airbag recess;

a second airbag assembly having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location, the second airbag assembly being mounted to the frame that is integrated with the seat section, the frame being external to the seat cushion;

the first inflatable airbag being configured to extend downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state, the second inflatable airbag being configured to extend upward from the airbag deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state, the first inflatable airbag is operable to inflate at a lower pressure than the second inflatable airbag thereby loading the pelvic-thorax region and pushing a passenger away from a vehicle door; and

wherein an air gap of up to 6 inches exists between the first inflatable airbag and the second inflatable airbag while in the inflated states.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the frame includes a seat track for mounting the seat to a vehicle floor and wherein the second airbag assembly, having the deployment location, is mounted to the frame with an angle in the range of 0°

and 120°

between a line that is normal to the deployment location and the seat track.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the first airbag assembly includes an airbag module having an inflator adapted to cause inflation of the first airbag at a lower volumetric pressure than the second airbag.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the second airbag assembly includes an airbag module having an inflator adapted to cause inflation of the second airbag at a higher volumetric pressure than the first airbag.

12. The system of claim 8, further including a trim panel that is attachable to the seat section to substantially enclose the second airbag assembly having the second airbag.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the second airbag assembly and the first airbag assembly are deployed sequentially.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein deployment of the second airbag assembly precedes deployment of the first airbag assembly.

15. A method of protecting occupants within a vehicle having a roof portion that includes at least one airbag recess, at least one occupant seat having a frame integrated with a backrest section and a seat section, wherein the seat section includes a seat cushion, the method comprising:

providing an occupant protection system including,

a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, the first airbag assembly being containable within the airbag recess,

a second airbag assembly having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location, the second airbag assembly being mounted to the frame that is integrated with the seat section, the frame being external to the seat cushion;

sensing the occurrence of a vehicular condition;

deploying the first airbag, at a lower pressure than the second airbag, upon sensing the vehicular condition, thereby causing inflation of the first airbag, wherein the first airbag extends downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state; and

deploying the second airbag, at a higher pressure than the first airbag, upon sensing the vehicular condition, thereby causing inflation of the second airbag, wherein the second airbag extends upward from the deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the frame includes a seat track for mounting the seat to a vehicle floor and wherein the second airbag assembly is mounted to the frame having an angle in the range of 0°

and 120°

between a line that is normal to the airbag deployment location and the seat track.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein providing an occupant protection system includes a trim panel that is attachable to the seat section to substantially enclose the second airbag assembly having the second airbag.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second airbag assembly and the first airbag assembly are deployed sequentially.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein an air gap exists between the first inflatable airbag and the second inflatable airbag while in the inflated state.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first airbag assembly and the second airbag assembly include an airbag module having an inflator being adapted to cause inflation of the first airbag and the second airbag, respectively.