ROOF MOUNTED SEAT SUPPORT AIRBAG

• US 20190315304A1
• Filed: 04/11/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: CHEN, HUIPENG, GAO, ZHENYAN, MCCOY, ROBERT WILLIAM
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An airbag includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is for extending from a vehicle roof and engagement with a head rest of a seat in an inflated position. The lower portion forms a cushion board that extends downwardly from the upper portion for engagement with and disposition between a seatback and a restraining bar located rearward of the seatback in the inflated position.

Claims

1. An airbag comprising:

an upper portion for extending from a vehicle roof and for engagement with a head rest of a seat in an inflated position; and

a lower portion forming a cushion board extending downwardly from the upper portion for engagement with and disposition between a seatback and a restraining bar located rearward of the seatback in the inflated position.

2. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the upper portion has a thickness in a fore-aft direction that is greater than a thickness of the lower portion in the fore-aft direction.

3. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the lower portion includes a plurality of substantially evenly spaced and parallel seams and a lateral spacing thereof that in the inflated position define a plurality of ribs extending from the upper portion to a bottom of the lower portion and define a thickness of the lower portion that is less than a thickness of the upper portion.

4. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of tethers therein extending in a substantially fore-aft direction defining a thickness of the upper portion in the inflated position greater than a thickness of the lower portion.

5. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the airbag in the inflated position is substantially equal to a width of a passenger seat.

6. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of tethers therein extending in a substantially fore-aft direction that in the inflated position define a thickness of the upper portion and the lower portion includes a plurality of substantially evenly spaced and parallel seams and a lateral spacing thereof that in the inflated position define a plurality of ribs extending from the upper portion to a bottom of the lower portion and define a thickness of the lower portion that is less than the thickness of the upper portion.

7. The airbag of claim 1, including an inflator connected to the upper portion.

8. An airbag system, comprising:

a restraining bar for being fixed to a vehicle body rearward of a seatback in an installed position;

an airbag including;

an upper portion for extending from a vehicle roof and for engagement with a head rest of a seat in an inflated position, and

a lower portion forming a cushion board extending downwardly from the upper portion for disposition between and engagement with the seatback and the restraining bar in the inflated position; and

an inflator connected to the upper portion.

9. The airbag system of claim 8, wherein the upper portion has a thickness in a fore-aft direction that is greater than a thickness of the lower portion in the fore-aft direction.

10. The airbag system of claim 8, wherein the lower portion includes a plurality of substantially evenly spaced and parallel seams and a lateral spacing thereof that in the inflated position define a plurality of ribs extending from the upper portion to a bottom of the lower portion and define a thickness of the lower portion that is less than a thickness of the upper portion.

11. The airbag system of claim 8, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of tethers therein extending in a substantially fore-aft direction defining a thickness of the upper portion in the inflated position greater than a thickness of the lower portion.

12. The airbag system of claim 8, wherein the airbag in the inflated position is substantially equal to a width of a passenger seat.

13. The airbag system of claim 8, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of tethers therein extending in a substantially fore-aft direction that in the inflated position define a thickness of the upper portion and the lower portion includes a plurality of substantially evenly spaced and parallel seams and a lateral spacing thereof that in the inflated position define a plurality of ribs extending from the upper portion to a bottom of the lower portion and define a thickness of the lower portion that is less than the thickness of the upper portion.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body including a roof and a floor;

a seat fixed to the floor and the seat including a seatback; and

an airbag system connected to the roof and including;

a substantially horizontal restraining bar fixed to the vehicle body a predetermined distance rearward of the seatback,

an inflator disposed at the roof, and

an airbag connected to the inflator that in an inflated position extends downwardly from the roof for disposition between the seatback and the restraining bar.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising:

a head rest on the seatback; and

the airbag including;

an upper portion for extending from a vehicle roof and for engagement with a head rest of a seat in the inflated position, and

a lower portion forming a cushion board extending downwardly from the upper portion for disposition between and engagement with a seatback and the restraining bar in the inflated position.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the airbag in the inflated position is substantially equal to a width of a passenger seat.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the upper portion has a thickness greater in a fore-aft direction than a thickness of the lower portion in the fore-aft direction.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the lower portion includes a plurality of substantially evenly spaced and parallel seams and a lateral spacing thereof that in the inflated position define a plurality of ribs extending from the upper portion to a bottom of the lower portion and define a thickness of the lower portion that is less than a thickness of the upper portion.

19. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of tethers therein extending in a substantially fore-aft direction defining a thickness of the upper portion in the inflated position greater than a thickness of the lower portion.

20. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the upper portion includes a plurality of tethers therein extending in a substantially fore-aft direction that in the inflated position define a thickness of the upper portion and the lower portion includes a plurality of substantially evenly spaced and parallel seams and a lateral spacing thereof that in the inflated position define a plurality of ribs extending from the upper portion to a bottom of the lower portion and define a thickness of the lower portion that is less than the thickness of the upper portion.