Side impact air bag deployable between a vehicle body and an occupant
First Claim
1. An air bag restraint apparatus for use in a vehicle having a body and a seat within the body, said apparatus arranged for protecting a vehicle occupant and comprising:
- an armrest mounted adjacent to an outboard side of the vehicle seat, said armrest having inboard and outboard sides; and
an air bag stowed within the armrest for deployment through the outboard side thereof into a space between the outboard side of the armrest and the vehicle body, wherein the air bag deploys outward against the vehicle body and expands upward along the body to protect the occupant'"'"'s torso from side impact.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle side impact air bag system is disclosed wherein the air bag is located in an outboard armrest. During a collision, the air bag deploys outward away from the occupant and against the vehicle door or side body panel. Preferably, the air bag fills the entire space between the occupant and the door in order to protect the torso, neck and head of the occupant during the collision. The inventive system may be used with a movable door or an adjacent portion of the vehicle body. Various embodiments are disclosed, including pivotably attaching the armrest to the seat, removably attaching the armrest to the seat, attaching the armrest to the floor, forming the armrest in the floor, and attaching the armrest to the door or vehicle body.
59 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An air bag restraint apparatus for use in a vehicle having a body and a seat within the body, said apparatus arranged for protecting a vehicle occupant and comprising:
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an armrest mounted adjacent to an outboard side of the vehicle seat, said armrest having inboard and outboard sides; and an air bag stowed within the armrest for deployment through the outboard side thereof into a space between the outboard side of the armrest and the vehicle body, wherein the air bag deploys outward against the vehicle body and expands upward along the body to protect the occupant'"'"'s torso from side impact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An air bag restraint apparatus arranged for protecting a vehicle occupant and comprising:
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an armrest adapted for mounting adjacent to a vehicle seat; an air bag located within the armrest for deployment during a side impact to the vehicle; and a bolster located in the armrest for cushioning lateral movement of the occupant during a side impact, the bolster being made from a progressively deformable material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification