AIRBAG ASSEMBLY FOR LEG FLAIL PROTECTION AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. An airbag system for use with a side-facing seat in a vehicle, wherein the side-facing seat faces generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein the airbag system comprises:
- a housing having a cavity and an opening in communication with the cavity, wherein the housing is positioned forward of a leading leg of an occupant when the occupant is seated in the side-facing seat;
an airbag assembly stowed within the cavity, the airbag assembly having an airbag configured to deploy through the opening to inhibit occupant leg rotation greater than about 35 degrees in response to a significant dynamic event; and
an inflator operably coupled to the airbag to provide gas for inflating the airbag via a gas delivery hose,wherein the gas delivery hose includes a fabric tube that comprises a first portion attached to the housing and a second portion attached to the airbag such that the airbag is at least partially tethered to the housing.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag assembly for leg flail protection and associated systems and methods are described herein. An airbag system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include, for example, a housing having a cavity and an opening in communication with the cavity, an airbag stowed within the cavity, and an inflator operably coupled to the airbag. The airbag can be configured to deploy through the opening of the housing during a crash or other significant dynamic event. The airbag can deploy outwardly from the side-facing seat to reduce occupant leg rotation during the crash or other significant dynamic event. The airbag can be pushed out of the housing before it is fully inflated. The airbag can be stowed and include folded first and second opposing side portions such that when the airbag is deployed, the portion nearest the occupant unfurls toward the occupant prior to the other portion farthest from the occupant unfurling in a direction away from the occupant.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An airbag system for use with a side-facing seat in a vehicle, wherein the side-facing seat faces generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and wherein the airbag system comprises:
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a housing having a cavity and an opening in communication with the cavity, wherein the housing is positioned forward of a leading leg of an occupant when the occupant is seated in the side-facing seat; an airbag assembly stowed within the cavity, the airbag assembly having an airbag configured to deploy through the opening to inhibit occupant leg rotation greater than about 35 degrees in response to a significant dynamic event; and an inflator operably coupled to the airbag to provide gas for inflating the airbag via a gas delivery hose, wherein the gas delivery hose includes a fabric tube that comprises a first portion attached to the housing and a second portion attached to the airbag such that the airbag is at least partially tethered to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of deploying an airbag forward of a side-facing seat occupant'"'"'s legs in a vehicle, the method comprising:
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detecting a significant dynamic event of the vehicle; in response to the detected event, inflating a gas delivery hose attached to the airbag to move the airbag out of a housing in which the airbag is stowed prior to fully inflating the airbag, wherein the housing is fixedly attached to the vehicle forward of an occupant'"'"'s legs; and inflating the airbag to its fully deployed configuration after the airbag is pushed out of the housing to inhibit occupant leg flail greater than about 35 degrees, wherein the airbag is stowed such that a first folded side portion of the airbag nearest the occupant unfurls toward the occupant prior to unfurling a second folded side portion opposite the first side portion in a direction away from the occupant when the airbag is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An airbag system for use in a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:
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an opening in an interior structure of the vehicle at least proximate a side-facing seat of the vehicle, wherein the opening is positioned between a forward portion of the vehicle and a leading leg of an occupant when the occupant is seated in the side-facing seat; an airbag assembly stowed within the opening, wherein the airbag assembly includes an airbag configured to deploy from the opening in response to a significant dynamic event; and an inflator operably coupled to the airbag via a gas delivery hose and configured to provide fluid for inflating the airbag via the gas delivery hose, wherein the airbag is secured to the interior structure of the vehicle during both stowage and deployment via upper and lower tethers, and wherein the upper and lower tethers are attached to both the interior structure and the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification