Headrest airbag

• US 7,523,957 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Palm, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US11/534,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20080073886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/730.2, 297/391
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/60 Removable protective coverings
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

The present invention affords a headrest airbag for reducing or preventing whiplash and/or head injuries related to vehicle collisions. The headrest airbag is comprised of a trim material that encloses a headrest member, a receiving means for receiving an exchangeable gas bag module and an exchangeable gas bag module at least partially inserted into the receiving means. The exchangeable gas bag module is comprised of an inflatable gas bag and a gas generator for inflating the gas bag. The gas bag maintains its location within the receiving means of the headrest airbag whether it is inflated or not. The inflated gas bag reduces the distance that a head of a driver or passenger is thrown in a rearward direction before coming into contact with a headrest, and reduces the force of such an impact.

Claims

1. A headrest airbag module that encloses a headrest member, said headrest airbag module comprising:

a trim material having a receiver for receiving an exchangeable gas bag module and an opening for placing the headrest airbag module on the headrest member and removing it therefrom, said trim material enclosing the headrest member and said receiving means positioned forwardly of and adjacent to a front surface of the headrest member;

an exchangeable gas bag module at least partially inserted into said receiver of said trim material, said gas bag module having an inflatable gas bag and a gas generator for inflating said gas bag.

2. The headrest airbag of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure means bounding each side of said opening.

3. The headrest airbag of claim 2, wherein said enclosure means on each side of said opening is selected from the group consisting of zippers, buttons, magnets, hook and loop fasteners, and combinations thereof.

4. The headrest airbag of claim 2, further comprising said opening having at least one slot, said at least one slot operable to allow said trim material to fit around a headrest post of the headrest member.

5. The headrest airbag of claim 4, wherein said at least one slot is two slots, said two slots operable to allow for said trim material to fit around two headrest posts of the headrest member.

6. The headrest airbag of claim 5, wherein said enclosure means has at least two buttons operable for said trim material to enclose the headrest member between said two headrest posts.

7. A headrest airbag for attachment to a headrest member, said headrest airbag comprising:

a trim material having a receiver for receiving an exchangeable gas bag module and an opening for placing the headrest airbag module on the headrest member and removing it therefrom, said trim material enclosing the headrest member and said receiver positioned rearwardly of and adjacent to a back surface of the headrest member;

an exchangeable gas bag module at least partially inserted into said receiver of said trim material, said gas bag module having an inflatable gas bag and a gas generator for inflating said gas bag.

8. The headrest airbag of claim 7, further comprising an enclosure means bounding each side of said opening.

9. The headrest airbag of claim 8, wherein said enclosure means on each side of said opening is selected from the group consisting of zippers, buttons, magnets, hook and loop fasteners, and combinations thereof.

10. The headrest airbag of claim 8, further comprising said opening having at least one slot, said at least one slot operable to allow said trim material to fit around a headrest post of the headrest member.

11. The headrest airbag of claim 10, wherein said at least one slot is two slots, said two slots operable to allow for said trim material to fit around two headrest posts of the headrest member.

12. The headrest airbag of claim 11, wherein said enclosure means has at least two buttons operable for said trim material to enclose the headrest member between said two headrest posts.