Front rail mounted airbag
First Claim
1. An airbag system for mitigating intrusion from an impact with an offset rigid barrier to a forward corner of a motor vehicle having a front side body panel having an exterior and interior surface, the airbag system comprising:
- a motor vehicle front rail having a forward projecting distal end;
an airbag attached proximate the distal end of the front rail, the airbag having a stowed condition and an inflated condition, wherein the airbag in the inflated condition has a triangular configuration defined in part by an angular leading edge corresponding to a hypotenuse of the triangular configuration and a rearward end corresponding to a base of the triangular configuration, wherein the angular leading edge of the airbag is disposed proximate the interior surface of the front side panel when in the inflated condition;
an inflator operationally coupled with the airbag responsive to electrical actuation for inflating the airbag with a gas;
an impact detection sensor for generating a signal upon an impact event; and
a controller for processing the signal generated by the detection sensor and electrically actuating the inflator upon computing a predetermined impact severity to the forward corner of the motor vehicle, wherein the angular leading edge of the airbag in the inflated condition acts through the front side panel against the offset rigid barrier so as to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag system mitigates intrusion in the event of an offset rigid barrier impact to a forward corner of a motor vehicle. An airbag is attached proximate a distal end of a front rail. When in the inflated condition, the airbag has an angular leading edge. An impact detection sensor generates a signal upon a corner impact event, whereby a controller processes the signal generated by the detection sensor and electrically actuates an inflator upon a predetermined impact severity. The angular leading edge of the airbag in the inflated condition acts against the offset rigid barrier to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An airbag system for mitigating intrusion from an impact with an offset rigid barrier to a forward corner of a motor vehicle having a front side body panel having an exterior and interior surface, the airbag system comprising:
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a motor vehicle front rail having a forward projecting distal end; an airbag attached proximate the distal end of the front rail, the airbag having a stowed condition and an inflated condition, wherein the airbag in the inflated condition has a triangular configuration defined in part by an angular leading edge corresponding to a hypotenuse of the triangular configuration and a rearward end corresponding to a base of the triangular configuration, wherein the angular leading edge of the airbag is disposed proximate the interior surface of the front side panel when in the inflated condition; an inflator operationally coupled with the airbag responsive to electrical actuation for inflating the airbag with a gas; an impact detection sensor for generating a signal upon an impact event; and a controller for processing the signal generated by the detection sensor and electrically actuating the inflator upon computing a predetermined impact severity to the forward corner of the motor vehicle, wherein the angular leading edge of the airbag in the inflated condition acts through the front side panel against the offset rigid barrier so as to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. An airbag system for a motor vehicle comprising a front rail, an airbag attached to the front rail, and a front side body panel having an exterior and interior surface proximate the airbag, the airbag when inflated having a triangular configuration defined in part by an angular leading edge corresponding to a hypotenuse of the triangular configuration and a rearward end corresponding to a base of the triangular configuration, wherein the angular leading edge of the airbag is disposed proximate the interior surface of the front side panel when inflated, an inflator, a sensor for generating a signal upon an impact to a corner of the vehicle by an object, and a controller for receiving the signal from the sensor and actuating the inflator, wherein the leading edge is proximate to and acts through the front side body panel to generate a lateral force against the object.
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17. A method of employing an airbag system mounted in a forward corner of a motor vehicle to generate a lateral force against an offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
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providing a motor vehicle front rail having a forward projecting distal end; providing a front side panel body having an exterior and interior surface; attaching an airbag proximate the distal end of the front rail, the airbag having a stowed condition and an inflated condition, wherein the airbag in the inflated condition defines a triangular configuration defined in by an angular leading edge corresponding to a hypotenuse of the triangular configuration and a rearward end corresponding to a base of the triangular configuration, wherein the angular leading edge of the airbag is disposed proximate the interior surface of the front side panel when in the inflated condition; equipping the airbag with an inflator operationally coupled with the airbag responsive to electrical actuation for inflating the airbag with a gas; providing an impact detection sensor for generating a signal upon an impact event; and providing a controller for processing the signal generated by the detection sensor; electrically actuating the inflator upon a predetermined impact severity to the forward corner of the motor vehicle; and presenting the angular leading edge of the airbag in the inflated condition to act through the front side body panel against the offset rigid barrier so as to generate a lateral force against the offset rigid barrier to push the motor vehicle away from the barrier and thereby redirect impact energy by lateral movement of the motor vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification