Seat bolster chamber
First Claim
1. A side impact system for protection of an occupant of a vehicle of the type including a side airbag adapted to be inflated by gas from an inflator, wherein when inflated the side airbag positions beside the occupant, the side impact system comprising:
- a vehicle seat bolster forming a seat bolster cavity;
an inflatable side airbag stored in a deflated condition, the side airbag including;
at least one side panel forming an exterior of the side airbag, the side panel having an outer portion defining an outer chamber; and
a tube panel disposed within the side panel and joined to a seat bolster portion of the side panel, the tube panel defining a seat bolster chamber and having at least one opening to allow gas to flow from the seat bolster chamber to the outer chamber, wherein the tube panel, the seat bolster portion of the side panel, and the seat bolster chamber remain substantially within the seat bolster cavity when inflated and the tube panel having an outer edge substantially adjacent to an outer edge of the seat bolster cavity, the seat bolster portion of the side panel contacting an inner side of the seat bolster cavity when the side airbag is inflated;
an inflator operable to provide gas to the seat bolster chamber and the outer chamber.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A side impact system for protection of an occupant of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat bolster forming a seat bolster cavity and an inflatable side airbag. The airbag includes a side panel having an outer portion defining an outer chamber. A tube panel is disposed within the side panel and joined to a seat bolster portion of the side panel. The tube panel defines a seat bolster chamber and has an opening to allow gas to flow from the seat bolster chamber to the outer chamber. The tube panel, the seat bolster portion of the side panel, and the seat bolster chamber remain within the seat bolster cavity when inflated. The seat bolster portion of the side panel contacts an inner side of the seat bolster cavity when the airbag is inflated. An inflator is operable to provide gas to the seat bolster chamber and the outer chamber.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A side impact system for protection of an occupant of a vehicle of the type including a side airbag adapted to be inflated by gas from an inflator, wherein when inflated the side airbag positions beside the occupant, the side impact system comprising:
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a vehicle seat bolster forming a seat bolster cavity; an inflatable side airbag stored in a deflated condition, the side airbag including; at least one side panel forming an exterior of the side airbag, the side panel having an outer portion defining an outer chamber; and a tube panel disposed within the side panel and joined to a seat bolster portion of the side panel, the tube panel defining a seat bolster chamber and having at least one opening to allow gas to flow from the seat bolster chamber to the outer chamber, wherein the tube panel, the seat bolster portion of the side panel, and the seat bolster chamber remain substantially within the seat bolster cavity when inflated and the tube panel having an outer edge substantially adjacent to an outer edge of the seat bolster cavity, the seat bolster portion of the side panel contacting an inner side of the seat bolster cavity when the side airbag is inflated; an inflator operable to provide gas to the seat bolster chamber and the outer chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A side airbag for protection of an occupant of a vehicle of the type adapted to be inflated by gas from an inflator, wherein when inflated the side airbag positions beside the occupant, the side airbag comprising:
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at least one exterior panel forming an outer enclosure; an inner baffle disposed within the outer enclosure, the inner baffle separating the outer enclosure to form a seat bolster chamber and configured for substantially remaining in a seat bolster cavity of a vehicle seat when inflated and an outer chamber, the inner baffle defining at least one opening to allow gas to flow from the seat bolster chamber to the outer chamber; and a loop fabric inflator diffuser disposed within the seat bolster chamber and configured to remain inside the seat bolster cavity upon inflation of the seat bolster chamber, the loop fabric inflator diffuser defining first and second diffuser holes in opposite sides of the loop fabric inflator diffuser. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A side airbag for protection of an occupant of a vehicle of the type adapted to be inflated by gas from an inflator, wherein when inflated the side airbag positions beside the occupant, the side airbag comprising:
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at least one side panel stitched together at its perimeter to form an outer enclosure having an outer seam, the side panel having an outer portion and a seat bolster portion; a tube panel disposed within the outer enclosure and separating the outer enclosure to form an outer chamber and a seat bolster chamber, the seat bolster chamber being surrounded by the seat bolster portion of the side panel and configured for substantially remaining in a seat bolster cavity of a vehicle seat when inflated, the tube panel cooperating with the outer portion of the side panel to form the outer chamber; and an inflator in fluid communication with the seat bolster chamber and operable to provide gas to the seat bolster chamber, the tube panel defining at least one opening to allow gas to flow from the seat bolster chamber to the outer chamber; and a fabric diffuser surrounding the inflator, the diffuser defining first and second diffuser holes in opposite sides of the diffuser, the diffuser being located within the seat bolster chamber and configured to remain inside the seat bolster cavity upon inflation of the seat bolster chamber, wherein the side panel defines a vent hole for venting gas to outside the side airbag, the vent hole being defined in the outer portion of the side panel, and the vent hole being spaced apart from the outer seam.
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Specification