INTEGRATED AIRBAG RESTRAINT

• US 20130264803A1
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schneider, David W., Patercsak, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 8,672,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement

Abstract

A restraint system for a seat is provided and may include a first portion formed from a first material and having a first end fixed for movement with the seat and a second end movable relative to the seat. A second portion may be integral with or attached to the first portion, may be formed from the first material, and may be operable between a pre-deployed state and an inflated state.

Claims

1. A restraint system for a seat, the restraint system comprising:

a first portion formed from a first material and including a first end fixed for movement with the seat and a second end movable relative to the seat; and

a second portion attached to said first portion and formed from said first material, said second portion operable between a pre-deployed state and an inflated state.

2. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said first portion and said second portion are integrally formed from the same piece of said first material.

3. The restraint system of claim 2, wherein said first portion and said second portion include different weave patterns.

4. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said first material is one of a cut-and-sewn airbag-cushion material, a one-piece woven airbag-cushion material, or a laminate airbag-cushion material.

5. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said first end is attached to an anchor to fix said first end for movement with the seat and said second end is attached to one of a tongue or buckle for selective engagement with the other of said tongue or buckle.

6. The restraint system of claim 5, wherein said other of said tongue or buckle is attached to the seat by seatbelt webbing or airbag-cushion material.

7. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said first material is folded at said first portion to provide multiple layers of said first material at said first portion.

8. The restraint system of claim 7, wherein said first material remains folded when said second portion is in said inflated state.

9. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein said first portion is inflated when said second portion is in said inflated state.

10. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a manifold in fluid communication with said second portion and operable to selectively deliver pressurized gas to said second portion to move said second portion from said pre-deployed state to said inflated state.

11. The restraint system of claim 10, wherein said manifold is flexible to permit movement of said first portion and said second portion relative to the seat when said second portion is in said pre-deployed state.

12. The restraint system of claim 10, wherein said manifold is received within a pocket of said second portion, said pocket including at least one passageway that communicates said pressurized gas from said manifold to an interior of said second portion to move said second portion from said pre-deployed state to said inflated state.

13. The restraint system of claim 12, wherein said at least one passageway is closed prior to movement of said second portion into said inflated state.

14. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising at least one tether associated with said second portion that controls the trajectory of said second portion when said second portion is moved from said pre-deployed state to said inflated state.

15. The restraint system of claim 14, wherein said at least one tether is integrally formed with one of the first portion or the second portion.

16. In a restraint system for a seat, a seatbelt includes a first segment, a second segment, and a latch mechanism that selectively couples said first segment to said second segment to restrain an occupant in the seat, said first segment or said second segment being formed from an airbag-cushion material that includes a first portion attached at a first location to an anchor and at a second location to said latch mechanism and a second portion selectively movable from a pre-deployed state to an inflated state.

17. The seatbelt of claim 16, wherein said first portion and said second portion are integrally formed from the same piece of said airbag-cushion material.

18. The seatbelt of claim 16, wherein said airbag-cushion material is one of a cut-and-sewn material, a one-piece woven material, or a laminate material.

19. The seatbelt of claim 16, wherein said first portion and said second portion are formed from different airbag-cushion materials.

20. The seatbelt of claim 19, wherein said first portion and said second portion include different weave patterns.

21. The seatbelt of claim 16, wherein said first portion and said second portion include different weave patterns.

22. The seatbelt of claim 16, wherein said airbag-cushion material is folded at said first portion to provide multiple layers of said first material at said first portion.

23. The seatbelt of claim 22, wherein said first material remains folded when said second portion is in said inflated state.

24. The seatbelt of claim 16, wherein said first portion is inflated when said second portion is in said inflated state.

25. The seatbelt of claim 16, wherein said latch mechanism includes a buckle associated with one of said first segment and said second segment and a tongue associated with the other of said first segment and said second segment.

26. The seatbelt of claim 25, wherein said first portion is attached to said tongue.

27. The seatbelt of claim 16, further comprising a manifold in fluid communication with said second portion and operable to selectively deliver pressurized gas to said second portion to move said second portion from said pre-deployed state to said inflated state.

28. The seatbelt of claim 27, wherein said manifold is flexible to permit movement of said first portion and said second portion relative to the seat when said second portion is in said pre-deployed state.

29. The seatbelt of claim 27, wherein said manifold is received within a pocket of said second portion, said pocket including at least one passageway that communicates said pressurized gas from said manifold to an interior of said second portion to move said second portion from said pre-deployed state to said inflated state.

30. The seatbelt of claim 29, wherein said at least one passageway is closed prior to movement of said second portion into said inflated state.

31. The seatbelt of claim 16, further comprising at least one tether associated with said second portion that controls the trajectory of said second portion when said second portion is moved from said pre-deployed state to said inflated state.