SUPPORT SURFACE FOR PRIMARY AIRBAG IN VEHICLE

• US 20170174171A1
• Filed: 12/22/2015
• Published: 06/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Dennis, Nathaniel, Guerrero, Michael, Tangirala, Ravi, Butala, Kapil S.
• Application Number:
  US14/978,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174171A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/206 in the lower part of dashboards, e.g. for protecting the knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An apparatus includes: a deployable support surface installed in a front, driver-side section of a vehicle and configured to project outwardly from the front, driver-side section of the vehicle upon deployment in response to a collision being sensed at the vehicle. When the support surface is deployed, the deployed support surface is positioned substantially behind a deployed primary driver-side airbag and substantially outside of a region of a steering wheel, from a perspective of a driver, and positioned to support an upper body portion of the driver when a collision causing forward and lateral motion of the driver occurs.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a deployable support surface installed in a front, driver-side section of a vehicle and configured to project outwardly from the front, driver-side section of the vehicle upon deployment in response to a collision being sensed at the vehicle,

wherein, when the support surface is deployed, the deployed support surface is positioned substantially behind a deployed primary driver-side airbag and substantially outside of a region of a steering wheel, from a perspective of a driver, and positioned to support an upper body portion of the driver when a collision causing forward and lateral motion of the driver occurs.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support surface includes an airbag.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the support surface includes a knee airbag extension portion, which extends from a knee airbag installed in the vehicle when the support surface is deployed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the knee airbag extension portion extends upwardly from the knee airbag when the support surface is deployed.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the knee airbag extension portion extends upwardly from at least one of an upper-left portion and an upper-right portion of the knee airbag when the support surface is deployed.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the collision causing forward and lateral motion of the driver occurs, the knee airbag extension portion supports the upper body portion of the driver, and the knee airbag supports a lower body portion of the driver.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the knee airbag extension portion and the knee airbag are formed to share a single, substantially continuous fluid chamber.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the knee airbag extension portion and the knee airbag are formed to have individual fluid chambers, respectively, substantially separate from one another, including a knee airbag extension portion chamber and a knee airbag chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein one or more dividing members are disposed in an interior of the airbag substantially separating the knee airbag extension portion chamber from the knee airbag chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the knee airbag extension portion chamber and the knee airbag chamber are formed to have one or more of:

different pressure levels, different deployment times, and different fluid fill times.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the knee airbag extension portion and the knee airbag are formed such that, during deployment of the support surface, the knee airbag chamber is filled with fluid before the knee airbag extension portion chamber is filled with fluid.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein fluid flow between the knee airbag extension portion chamber and the knee airbag chamber occurs through a fluid flow control interface arranged in an interior of the airbag.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein fluid flows from the knee airbag chamber to the knee airbag extension portion chamber through the fluid flow control interface when a fluid level in the knee airbag chamber reaches a predetermined level.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein fluid flows from the knee airbag chamber to the knee airbag extension portion chamber through the fluid flow control interface when a load is sensed at the knee airbag caused by a lower body portion of the driver.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid flow control interface includes a flap that opens to permit fluid flow from the knee airbag chamber to the knee airbag extension portion chamber.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid flow control interface includes a folded portion that unfolds to permit fluid flow from the knee airbag chamber to the knee airbag extension portion chamber.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the fluid flow control interface includes a stitched portion that becomes unstitched to permit fluid flow from the knee airbag chamber to the knee airbag extension portion chamber.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an external tension member coupled to first and second locations on an exterior of the airbag controlling outward trajectory of the airbag when the support surface is deployed.

19. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising one or more dividing members disposed in an interior of the airbag to affect a shape of the airbag.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the collision causing forward and lateral motion of the driver occurs, the deployed primary driver-side airbag is sandwiched between the upper body portion of the driver and the deployed support surface.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support surface includes a non-inflatable surface opposing the driver.

22. A method comprising:

sensing a collision at a vehicle;

deploying a support surface installed in a front, driver-side section of the vehicle in response to sensing the collision, causing the support surface to project outwardly from the front, driver-side section of the vehicle; and

deploying a primary driver-side airbag after deployment of the support surface,

wherein, when the support surface is deployed, the deployed support surface is positioned substantially behind the deployed primary driver-side airbag and substantially outside of a region of a steering wheel, from a perspective of a driver, and positioned to support an upper body portion of the driver when a collision causing forward and lateral motion of the driver occurs.