Occupant protection system
First Claim
1. An occupant protection system for a vehicle having a roof portion, wherein the roof portion includes at least one airbag recess, the system comprising:
- at least one occupant seat having a frame integrated with a backrest section and a seat section, wherein the seat section includes a seat cushion,a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, the first airbag assembly being containable within the airbag recess;
a second airbag assembly having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location, the second airbag assembly being mounted to the frame that is integrated with the seat section, the frame being external to the seat cushion; and
the first inflatable airbag being configured to extend downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state, and the second inflatable airbag being configured to extend upward from the deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state,wherein the first inflatable airbag is operable to inflate at a lower pressure than the second inflatable airbag thereby loading the pelvic-thorax region and pushing a passenger away from a vehicle door.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and method for protecting an occupant in a vehicle seat, through the use of an occupant protection system is disclosed, wherein the vehicle seat includes a backrest section and a seat section. The occupant protection system includes a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, wherein the first airbag assembly is containable within an airbag recess located within a vehicle roof portion. A second airbag assembly is included having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location. The second airbag assembly is mounted to a frame that is integrated with the seat while being external to a seat cushion. The first inflatable airbag is configured to extend downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state. The second inflatable airbag is configured to extend upward from the deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An occupant protection system for a vehicle having a roof portion, wherein the roof portion includes at least one airbag recess, the system comprising:
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at least one occupant seat having a frame integrated with a backrest section and a seat section, wherein the seat section includes a seat cushion, a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, the first airbag assembly being containable within the airbag recess; a second airbag assembly having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location, the second airbag assembly being mounted to the frame that is integrated with the seat section, the frame being external to the seat cushion; and the first inflatable airbag being configured to extend downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state, and the second inflatable airbag being configured to extend upward from the deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state, wherein the first inflatable airbag is operable to inflate at a lower pressure than the second inflatable airbag thereby loading the pelvic-thorax region and pushing a passenger away from a vehicle door. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An occupant protection system for a vehicle having a roof portion, wherein the roof portion includes at least one airbag recess, the system comprising:
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at least one occupant seat having a frame integrated with a backrest section and a seat section, the seat section including a seat cushion; a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, the first airbag assembly being containable within the airbag recess; a second airbag assembly having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location, the second airbag assembly being mounted to the frame that is integrated with the seat section, the frame being external to the seat cushion; the first inflatable airbag being configured to extend downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state, the second inflatable airbag being configured to extend upward from the airbag deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state, the first inflatable airbag is operable to inflate at a lower pressure than the second inflatable airbag thereby loading the pelvic-thorax region and pushing a passenger away from a vehicle door; and wherein an air gap of up to 6 inches exists between the first inflatable airbag and the second inflatable airbag while in the inflated states. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of protecting occupants within a vehicle having a roof portion that includes at least one airbag recess, at least one occupant seat having a frame integrated with a backrest section and a seat section, wherein the seat section includes a seat cushion, the method comprising:
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providing an occupant protection system including, a first airbag assembly having a first inflatable airbag, the first airbag assembly being containable within the airbag recess, a second airbag assembly having a second inflatable airbag and a deployment location, the second airbag assembly being mounted to the frame that is integrated with the seat section, the frame being external to the seat cushion; sensing the occurrence of a vehicular condition; deploying the first airbag, at a lower pressure than the second airbag, upon sensing the vehicular condition, thereby causing inflation of the first airbag, wherein the first airbag extends downward from the roof portion to below a passenger shoulder-thorax protection region while in an inflated state; and deploying the second airbag, at a higher pressure than the first airbag, upon sensing the vehicular condition, thereby causing inflation of the second airbag, wherein the second airbag extends upward from the deployment location through a passenger pelvic-thorax protection region while in an inflated state. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification