AIRBAG ASSEMBLY FOR LEG FLAIL PROTECTION AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20160052636A1
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Published: 02/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AmSafe, Inc. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gullotto, Giuseppe, Moeller, Trenton Dirk
• Granted Patent: US 10,569,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0053 Legs
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/06205 Arrangements of airbags
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/02 Supports or holding means for living bodies

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.

Claims

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.

2. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the housing is positioned at least proximate a side-facing seat in an aircraft.

3. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the housing includes an aperture configured to receive a tool to be inserted therethrough to induce at least one bend in the gas delivery hose positioned therein.

4. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the gas delivery hose includes at least one bend in the cavity of the housing prior to airbag deployment, and wherein the gas delivery hose is configured to straighten and push the airbag out of the housing upon deployment.

5. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the fabric tube extends into the airbag and is configured to receive a portion of the gas delivery hose, wherein the fabric tube includes a stiffener plate secured between one or more layers of fabric that form the fabric tube.

6. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the housing is formed from a plurality of plates assembled together in a generally rectangular configuration, and wherein the plurality of plates includes a rear plate, upper plate, lower plate, and side plates surrounding the cavity of the housing, and further wherein the first end of the gas delivery hose is attached to the housing with one or more fasteners behind the rear plate such that the fasteners are positioned outside the cavity.

7. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the airbag, when inflated, has a generally wedge-shaped cross-sectional shape.

8. The airbag system of claim 7 wherein the airbag includes a first side extending laterally from the attachment of the gas delivery hose and a second side extending laterally in a direction opposite the first side, the second side having a length greater than the first side.

9. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the airbag, when inflated, has a generally C-shaped cross-sectional shape.

10. The airbag system of claim 1, further comprising a tether having a first end coupled to the airbag and a second end coupled to the housing, wherein the tether is positioned to retain the airbag to the housing after the airbag is deployed.

11. The airbag system of claim 10 wherein the tether is an upper tether and the fabric tube is a lower tether configured to retain the airbag to the housing after the airbag is deployed, and wherein the fabric tube and upper tether are secured to the housing behind a rear plate of the housing.

12. The airbag system of claim 1, further comprising an electronics module assembly having a sensor, wherein the electronics module is operably coupled to the inflator and configured to initiate airbag deployment when a significant dynamic event is detected by the sensor, and further wherein a post-tensioner retraction unit operably coupled to the electronics module assembly is initiated to retract the airbag after the airbag is deployed.

13. The airbag system of claim 1 wherein the airbag is stowed in the cavity with folded opposing first and second side portions prior to inflation such that one of the first and second side portions nearest the occupant'"'"'s legs unfurls towards the occupant before the other first and second side portions unfurls in an opposite direction away from the occupant when the airbag is inflated.

14. A method of deploying an airbag forward of a side-facing seat occupant'"'"'s legs in a vehicle, the method comprising:

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.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein inflating the airbag includes inflating an airbag having a generally wedge-shaped cross-sectional shape such that the first side portion unfurls forward of and to the side of the occupant'"'"'s legs.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein inflating the airbag having the generally wedge-shaped cross-section includes inflating the airbag such that the first side portion unfurls and extends in front of the occupant'"'"'s legs.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein inflating the airbag includes inflating an airbag having a generally C-shaped cross-sectional shape, and wherein the airbag is configured to rotate around a front portion of the seat to react against a side portion of the seat to inhibit occupant leg flail.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein inflating the airbag includes unfurling a folded top portion of the airbag upward above the housing after the first folded side portion is unfurled.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising deflating the airbag after the airbag is inflated by releasing gas through one or more vents in the airbag.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

securing the airbag via a first tether and a second tether when the airbag is inflated,

wherein the first tether is attached to the airbag and the housing, and

wherein the gas delivery hose extends through the second tether attached to the airbag and the housing.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein detecting a significant dynamic event includes detecting a significant dynamic event of an aircraft.

22. An airbag system for use in a vehicle, the airbag system comprising:

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.

23. The airbag system of claim 22 wherein the opening is at least proximate a side-facing seat of an aircraft.