Ejection mitigation device

• US 7,806,432 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2007
• Issued: 10/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: Allred, Josh, Nelson, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming; Faye M.
• Application Number:
  US11/850,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20090058054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.2, 280/743.1, 280/743.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

An airbag system for protecting a passenger in a motor vehicle including an ejection mitigation device configured to substantially cover an inside surface of the motor vehicle such as the rear window or the front windshield. The ejection mitigation device may be attached to one or more deployment guides which can then be attached to a driver or passenger side inflatable airbag. The deployment guides may be configured to guide the deployment of the ejection mitigation device during inflation of the driver and passenger side inflatable airbags.

Claims

1. An ejection mitigation system for protecting a passenger in a motor vehicle, the ejection mitigation system comprising:

a non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device configured to substantially cover the rear window of the motor vehicle, wherein the rear ejection mitigation device has a first end opposite from a second end;

a passenger side deployment guide;

a first deployment guide slider movably attached to the passenger side deployment guide,

wherein the first deployment guide slider is linked to the first end of the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device;

a driver side deployment guide;

a second deployment guide slider movably attached to the driver side deployment guide,

wherein the second deployment guide slider is linked to the second end of the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device;

a passenger side inflatable airbag linked to the first deployment guide slider; and

a driver side inflatable airbag linked to the second deployment guide slider;

wherein the passenger side deployment guide and the driver side deployment guide are configured to guide the deployment of the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device; and

whereby the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device is deployed, when the driver side inflatable airbag and passenger side inflatable airbag are inflated, due to the movement of the second deployment guide slider in the driver side deployment guide and the first deployment guide slider in the passenger side deployment guide.

2. The ejection mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the passenger side inflatable airbag and the driver side inflatable airbag are linked to the first and second deployment guide sliders with a tether.

3. The ejection mitigation system of claim 2, wherein the deployment of the passenger side inflatable airbag and the driver side inflatable airbag pulls on the tethers and moves the first and the second deployment guide sliders down the deployment guides thereby deploying the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device.

4. The ejection mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the deployment guides comprise rails, tracks, channels, rods, or combinations thereof.

5. The ejection mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the first and the second deployment guide sliders move only in a single direction down the deployment guides thereby maintaining the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device in a deployed position.

6. The ejection mitigation system of claim 1, wherein the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device is attached to the motor vehicle near an upper edge of the rear window and, wherein the passenger side deployment guide and the driver side deployment guide are configured to guide the deployment of the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device down toward the bottom of the rear window of the motor vehicle.

7. An ejection mitigation system for protecting a passenger in a motor vehicle, the ejection mitigation system comprising:

a non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device configured to substantially cover the front windshield of the motor vehicle, wherein the non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device has a first end opposite from a second end;

a passenger side deployment guide;

a first deployment guide slider movably attached to the passenger side deployment guide,

wherein the first deployment guide slider is linked to the first end of the front ejection mitigation device;

a driver side deployment guide;

a second deployment guide slider movably attached to the driver side deployment guide,

wherein the second deployment guide slider is linked to the second end of the front ejection mitigation device;

a passenger side inflatable airbag linked to the first deployment guide slider;

a driver side inflatable airbag linked to the second deployment guide slider;

wherein the passenger side deployment guide and the driver side deployment guide are configured to guide the deployment of the front ejection mitigation device; and

whereby the non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device is deployed, when the driver side inflatable airbag and passenger side inflatable airbag are inflated, due to the movement of the second deployment guide slider in the driver side deployment guide and the first deployment guide slider in the passenger side deployment guide.

8. The ejection mitigation system of claim 7, wherein the deployment guides comprise rails, tracks, channels, rods, or combinations thereof.

9. The ejection mitigation system of claim 7, wherein the first and the second deployment guide sliders move only in a single direction down the deployment guides thereby maintaining the non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device in a deployed position.

10. The ejection mitigation system of claim 7, wherein the non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device is attached to the motor vehicle near an upper edge of the front windshield and, wherein the passenger side deployment guide and the driver side deployment guide are configured to guide the deployment of the non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device down toward the bottom of the front windshield of the motor vehicle.

11. An ejection mitigation system for protecting a passenger in a motor vehicle, the ejection mitigation system comprising:

a non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device configured to substantially cover the front windshield of the motor vehicle, wherein the non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device has a first end opposite from a second end;

a first passenger side deployment guide;

a first passenger side deployment guide slider movably attached to the first passenger side deployment guide, wherein the first passenger side deployment guide is linked to the first end of the front ejection mitigation device;

a first driver side deployment guide;

a first driver side deployment guide slider movably attached to the first driver side deployment guide, wherein the first driver side deployment guide is linked to the second end of the front ejection mitigation device;

a passenger side inflatable airbag linked to the first passenger side deployment guide slider;

a driver side inflatable airbag linked to the first driver side deployment guide slider;

wherein the first passenger side deployment guide and the first driver side deployment guide are configured to guide the deployment of the front ejection mitigation device; and

a non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device configured to substantially cover the rear window of the motor vehicle, wherein the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device has a first end opposite from a second end;

a second passenger side deployment guide;

a second passenger side deployment guide slider movably attached to the second passenger side deployment guide, wherein the second passenger side deployment guide is linked to the first end of the rear ejection mitigation device;

a second driver side deployment guide; and

a second driver side deployment guide slider movably attached to the second driver side deployment guide, wherein the second driver side deployment guide is linked to the second end of the rear ejection mitigation device;

wherein the passenger side inflatable airbag is linked to the second passenger side deployment guide slider;

wherein the driver side inflatable airbag is linked to the second driver side deployment guide slider;

wherein the second passenger side deployment guide and the second driver side deployment guide are configured to guide the deployment of the rear ejection mitigation device; and

whereby the non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device and the non-inflatable rear ejection mitigation device are deployed, when the driver side inflatable airbag and passenger side inflatable airbag are inflated, due to the movement of each deployment guide slider in each respective deployment guide.

12. An ejection mitigation system for protecting a passenger in a motor vehicle, the ejection mitigation system comprising:

an ejection mitigation device comprising a fabric curtain that is deployable between an inside surface of the motor vehicle and a vehicle occupant, wherein the non-inflatable front ejection mitigation device has a first end opposite from a second end;

a first slider that is moveably attached to a first deployment guide, wherein the first slider is linked to the first end of the ejection mitigation device;

a second slider that is moveably attached to a second deployment guide, wherein the second slider is linked to the second end of the ejection mitigation device;

a passenger side inflatable airbag linked to the first slider; and

a driver side inflatable airbag linked to the second slider;

wherein the first deployment guide and the second deployment guide are configured to guide the deployment of the ejection mitigation device substantially along the inside surface of the motor vehicle; and

wherein the first and second deployment guides comprise a locking system allowing the first and second sliders to move in a first direction but not in a direction opposite the first direction;

whereby the ejection mitigation device is deployed, when the driver side inflatable airbag and passenger side inflatable airbag are inflated, due to the movement of each deployment guide slider in each respective deployment guide.

13. The ejection mitigation system of claim 12, wherein the ejection mitigation device is at least partially inflatable.

14. The ejection mitigation system of claim 12, wherein the ejection mitigation device is configured to substantially cover the rear window on the inside of the motor vehicle.

15. The ejection mitigation system of claim 12, wherein the ejection mitigation device is configured to substantially cover the front windshield on the inside of the motor vehicle.

16. The ejection mitigation system of claim 12, wherein the passenger side inflatable airbag and the driver side inflatable airbag are linked to the first and second sliders with a tether.

17. The ejection mitigation system of claim 12, wherein the first and second deployment guides comprise at least one rail, track, channel, rod, or combinations thereof.