Buckle airbag
First Claim
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1. A safety mechanism for an occupant seated on a seat of a vehicle, comprising:
- a tongue connected to a webbing;
a buckle assembly configured to be coupled to the tongue to thereby secure the webbing in front of the occupant;
wherein the buckle assembly includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator for generating inflation gas for the airbag;
where the buckle assembly is configured to be positioned along a centerline that divides the seat into left and right portions; and
wherein the airbag is positioned and configured to deploy upwardly from within the buckle assembly to a deployed position in front of the occupant.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant safety mechanism for an occupant of a vehicle includes a buckle assembly, an airbag cushion, an inflator, and webbing. The airbag cushion is coupled to the buckle assembly, such as in a buckle assembly housing, and is configured to deploy from the buckle assembly. The webbing is coupled to the buckle assembly and substantially fixed points disposed on the vehicle, on a seat, or both, so as to restrain the occupant a seat during a dynamic vehicle event. The inflator is configured to deploy the airbag cushion upon occurrence of a dynamic vehicle event.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A safety mechanism for an occupant seated on a seat of a vehicle, comprising:
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a tongue connected to a webbing; a buckle assembly configured to be coupled to the tongue to thereby secure the webbing in front of the occupant; wherein the buckle assembly includes an inflatable airbag and an inflator for generating inflation gas for the airbag; where the buckle assembly is configured to be positioned along a centerline that divides the seat into left and right portions; and wherein the airbag is positioned and configured to deploy upwardly from within the buckle assembly to a deployed position in front of the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A safety mechanism for an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
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a pair of webbing portions configured to restrain the occupant, wherein each of the webbing portions is configured to pass over a shoulder of the occupant; a buckle assembly for securing the webbing portions when the occupant is positioned in a seat; an inflator; wherein buckle assembly includes a housing containing an airbag cushion, and at least one buckle mechanism for connecting the webbing portions to the buckle assembly; wherein the inflator is configured to provide inflation gas for inflating the airbag cushion upon occurrence of a dynamic vehicle event; and wherein the airbag cushion is configured to deploy upwardly in front of the chest of the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A seat belt assembly for restraining an occupant of a vehicle, comprising:
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a pair of webbing portions, wherein each webbing portion is configured to pass over a shoulder of the occupant and wherein each webbing portion is connected to a tongue member; a buckle assembly anchored to the vehicle configured to releasably connect to each of the tongue members to secure the shoulder webbing portions in position; wherein the buckle assembly includes an inflator and an airbag cushion, and wherein the inflator is configured to provide gas for inflating the airbag cushion, the airbag cushion is configured to inflate and deploy out of the buckle assembly into a position in front of the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification