Vehicle floor system incorporating airbag

• US 6,158,766 A
• Filed: 02/26/1999
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Kowalski, Edward L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SLITERIS, JOSELYNN Y
• Application Number:
  US09/258,425
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/748, 280/751, 280/735, 280/743.1, 280/728.1
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/04 of floor mats or carpets
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23176 specially adapted for foot protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00

Abstract

A vehicle safety system includes a floor pan, an inflatable airbag and inflator integrated into the carpet and positioned on the floor pan. The airbag is positioned on the floor pan in a footwell area to selectively raise the foot of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety system comprising:

a floor pan;

an inflatable airbag and inflator integrated into a carpet and positioned on the floor pan;

wherein said airbag is positioned on the floor pan in a footwell area to selectively raise the foot of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed.

2. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the airbag and inflator are secured to the carpet by foam.

3. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, further comprising a protector plate positioned between the airbag and the carpet to protect the airbag.

4. The vehicle safety system of claim 3, further comprising a bottom plate cooperating with the protector plate to enclose the airbag.

5. The vehicle safety system of claim 4, wherein said bottom plate and protector plate are sealed to protect the airbag from moisture.

6. The vehicle safety system of claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises a thickness of approximately 10 mm before deployment and approximately 60 mm after deployment.

7. A vehicle safety flooring system comprising:

a carpet positioned in a footwell area of the vehicle; and

an inflatable airbag and inflator integrated into the carpet in the footwell area to selectively raise the foot of a vehicle occupant when the airbag is deployed.

8. The flooring system of claim 7, further comprising a protector plate positioned between the airbag and the carpet to protect the airbag from puncture.

9. The flooring system of claim 7, wherein said inflatable airbag and inflator are secured to the carpet by foam.