ACTIVE POSITIONING AIRBAG ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS
First Claim
1. An airbag system for use with an aircraft seat, the airbag system comprising:
- an airbag stowed in a housing positioned forward of the aircraft seat and above a strike area associated with the aircraft seat, wherein the airbag includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein, in response to a crash event, the upper portion is configured to inflate proximate the housing and deploy in a generally upward direction away from the strike area, the lower portion is configured to inflate from the upper portion and deploy in a generally horizontal direction to an upper position above the strike area, and after the lower portion has inflated and deployed to the upper position, the lower portion is configured to move downwardly from the upper position to a lower position between the strike area and an occupant seated in a generally upright position in the aircraft seat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Airbag assemblies and associated systems and methods for use in aircraft and other vehicles are described herein that can provide crash protection for occupants seated in an upright position while not injuring or striking occupants in the brace position. An airbag system configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology can include an airbag configured to deploy through an opening of a housing during a crash event. The housing can be affixed to a seat or other interior portion (e.g., a fixed portion) of an aircraft forward of a passenger seat. The airbag can initially deploy in a direction away from an occupant in the seat and then move into position between a potential strike hazard and the occupant such that the airbag system can be used to protect occupants seated in an upright position while not injuring occupants in the brace position.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An airbag system for use with an aircraft seat, the airbag system comprising:
an airbag stowed in a housing positioned forward of the aircraft seat and above a strike area associated with the aircraft seat, wherein the airbag includes an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein, in response to a crash event, the upper portion is configured to inflate proximate the housing and deploy in a generally upward direction away from the strike area, the lower portion is configured to inflate from the upper portion and deploy in a generally horizontal direction to an upper position above the strike area, and after the lower portion has inflated and deployed to the upper position, the lower portion is configured to move downwardly from the upper position to a lower position between the strike area and an occupant seated in a generally upright position in the aircraft seat. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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2-3. -3. (canceled)
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4. An airbag system for use with an aircraft seat, the airbag system comprising:
and airbag stowed in a position forward of the aircraft seat and above a strike area associated, with the aircraft seat, wherein the airbag is configured to inflate and deploy in a generally upward direction away from the strike area, and then downwardly to a position between the strike area and an occupant seated in a generally upright position in the aircraft seat, in response to a crash event. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An airbag system for use with an aircraft seat, the airbag system comprising:
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an airbag stowed above a strike hazard forward of the aircraft seat; and means for deploying the airbag in a generally upward direction away from the strike hazard, and then downwardly to a position between the strike hazard and an occupant seated in the aircraft seat to protect the occupant during a crash event, wherein deploying the airbag protects the occupant from striking the hazard forward of the aircraft seat when the occupant is seated in an upright orientation during the crash event, and wherein deploying the airbag avoids inflating the airbag against the occupant when the occupant is seated in an out-of-position orientation during the crash event. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of deploying an airbag between a strike hazard positioned forward of an aircraft seat and an occupant seated in the aircraft seat, the method comprising:
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detecting a deceleration event above a preset magnitude; inflating the airbag from a housing positioned above the strike hazard in response to detecting the deceleration event, wherein inflating the airbag includes initially deploying the airbag from the housing in a first direction away from the strike hazard, and then deploying the airbag in a second direction toward the strike hazard to position the airbag between the strike hazard and the occupant seated in the aircraft seat. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification