Airbag module for bus and motor coach

• US 7,909,360 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2008
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Marriott, Brandon Scott, Messner, Thomas Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US12/232,915
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/730.2
• US Class Current: 280/730.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2076 Removable covers with tear seams
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A bus includes a plurality of bus seats with a side airbag module mounted to each of the plurality of bus seats. The bus includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect a collision event and a side airbag control module configured to determine which side airbag modules to deploy based on information received from the plurality of sensors. The control module is configured to selectively deploy one or more of the side airbag modules.

Claims

1. A seat assembly for a bus or motor-coach, comprising:

a bus seat with a seat bottom and a seat back; and

a side airbag module with a side airbag attached to the seat back configured to protect an occupant on the bus seat,

wherein the side airbag comprises a plurality of chambers,

wherein one of the plurality of chambers is a higher pressure chamber than a second of the plurality of chambers, and wherein the higher pressure chamber is configured to inflate to a position lower than the second of the plurality of chambers when the airbag is inflated.

2. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the side airbag is mounted inside the seat back.

3. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the side airbag is configured to deploy through a frangible seam in the seat back.

4. The seat assembly of claim 2, wherein the side airbag is mounted to a frame of the seat, wherein the side airbag includes a cover with a frangible tear seam, and wherein the side airbag deploys through the frangible tear seam in the cover.

5. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the side airbag is mounted to the seat outside of the seat back between an outside side edge of the seat back and an interior wall of the bus.

6. The seat assembly of claim 5, wherein the side airbag module is covered by a cover.

7. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein the side airbag comprises a coverage area of approximately 820 to 970 square inches.

8. The seat assembly of claim 1, wherein rigid or semi-rigid module components are positioned in the bus seat at a location between 0 and 500 mm above a seat bight line at an intersection of the seat back and seat bottom.

9. A bus or motor-coach with an airbag assembly, comprising:

a plurality of bus seats, each seat including a seat bottom and a seat back;

a side airbag module mounted to each of the plurality of bus seats;

a plurality of sensors configured to detect a collision event; and

a side airbag control module configured to determine which side airbag modules to deploy based on information received from the plurality of sensors, the control module configured to selectively deploy one or more of the side airbag modules.

10. The bus or motor-coach of claim 9, further comprising a curtain airbag module configured to deploy simultaneously with one or more side airbag modules.

11. The bus or motor-coach of claim 9, wherein one side airbag module mounted in a first bus seat of the plurality of bus seats is configured to deploy rearward of the first bus seat toward occupants in a second bus seat of the plurality of bus seats positioned behind the first bus seat.

12. An airbag module for a bus seat, comprising:

a side airbag mounted to a bus seat;

an inflator for inflating the side airbag, wherein exit orifices of the inflator are embedded in the side airbag; and

a cover component comprising an upper cover and lower cover configured to cover the side airbag in an uninflated state,

wherein the side airbag includes a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber.

13. The airbag module of claim 12, wherein the side airbag has a coverage area of approximately 820 to 970 square inches.

14. The airbag module of claim 12, further comprising at least one clamp to secure the side airbag module to a bus seat.

15. The airbag module of claim 12, wherein the high pressure chamber is configured to inflate to a position lower than the low pressure chamber when the airbag is inflated.