3-layer āCā shaped side airbag
First Claim
1. An airbag assembly for providing pressure-appropriate protection during a side impact collision generally for regions corresponding to an acromial region, a thoracic region, and a coxal region of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and seat back comprising:
- an airbag comprising a stowed configuration in which the airbag is compacted proximate an outboard side of the vehicle seat and a deployed configuration in which the airbag is positioned to protect the occupant of the vehicle seat from lateral impact, the airbag comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel, wherein the first and second fabric panels define a first inflatable cushion and the second and third fabric panels define a second inflatable cushion; and
an inflator positioned at least partially within the airbag to deliver inflation gas to the first and second inflatable cushions;
an inflator adapter tube coupled to the inflator to control inflation gas flow into the second inflatable cushion; and
a valve coupled to the inflator adapter tube to restrict gas flow from the second inflatable cushion to the first inflatable cushion;
wherein, in response to delivery of the inflation gas, the airbag transitions from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration;
wherein, in the deployed configuration and in response to impingement of the occupant against the airbag, the first inflatable cushion comprises a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion comprises a second pressure greater than the first pressure;
wherein, in the deployed configuration, the first inflatable cushion is positioned outboard and corresponding generally to the thoracic region of the occupant;
wherein the second inflatable cushion comprises a substantially C-shape comprising a bottom end region, a central region, and a top end region such that, in the deployed configuration, the second inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of the first inflatable cushion with the top end region being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the acromial region of the occupant and extending forward from the seat back, the central portion being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the a forward portion of the seat back, and the bottom end region being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the coxal region of the occupant and a portion of the seat cushion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airbag assembly may include an airbag with a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel. The first and second fabric panels may define a first inflatable cushion and the second and third fabric panels may define a C-shaped second inflatable cushion. Upon deployment, the first inflatable cushion may have a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion may have a second pressure greater than the first pressure. Further, the first inflatable cushion may be positioned directly outboard of the thoracic region and the second inflatable cushion may be positioned directly outboard of the acromial region and the coxal region, but not the thoracic region, to provide gentler cushioning for the thoracic region.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An airbag assembly for providing pressure-appropriate protection during a side impact collision generally for regions corresponding to an acromial region, a thoracic region, and a coxal region of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and seat back comprising:
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an airbag comprising a stowed configuration in which the airbag is compacted proximate an outboard side of the vehicle seat and a deployed configuration in which the airbag is positioned to protect the occupant of the vehicle seat from lateral impact, the airbag comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel, wherein the first and second fabric panels define a first inflatable cushion and the second and third fabric panels define a second inflatable cushion; and an inflator positioned at least partially within the airbag to deliver inflation gas to the first and second inflatable cushions; an inflator adapter tube coupled to the inflator to control inflation gas flow into the second inflatable cushion; and a valve coupled to the inflator adapter tube to restrict gas flow from the second inflatable cushion to the first inflatable cushion; wherein, in response to delivery of the inflation gas, the airbag transitions from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration; wherein, in the deployed configuration and in response to impingement of the occupant against the airbag, the first inflatable cushion comprises a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion comprises a second pressure greater than the first pressure; wherein, in the deployed configuration, the first inflatable cushion is positioned outboard and corresponding generally to the thoracic region of the occupant; wherein the second inflatable cushion comprises a substantially C-shape comprising a bottom end region, a central region, and a top end region such that, in the deployed configuration, the second inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of the first inflatable cushion with the top end region being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the acromial region of the occupant and extending forward from the seat back, the central portion being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the a forward portion of the seat back, and the bottom end region being positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the coxal region of the occupant and a portion of the seat cushion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for inflating an airbag disposed in a vehicle seat for providing pressure-appropriate protection during a side impact collision generally for regions corresponding to an acromial region, a thoracic region, and a coxal region of an occupant seated in the vehicle seat, the vehicle seat having a seat cushion and seat back, the method comprising:
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delivering inflation gas into the airbag from an inflator, wherein the airbag comprises a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel, wherein the first and second panels define a first inflatable cushion, wherein the second and third panels define a second inflatable cushion comprising a substantially C-shape; in response to delivery of the inflation gas into the airbag, transitioning the airbag from a stowed configuration to a deployed configuration; passing the inflation gas through an inflator adapter tube within which the inflator is at least partially positioned to control inflation gas flow into the second inflatable cushion; and passing the inflation gas through a valve coupled to the inflator adapter tube to restrict gas flow from the second inflatable cushion to the first inflatable cushion; wherein transitioning the airbag from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration comprises expanding the first inflatable cushion such that the first inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the thoracic region of the occupant; wherein transitioning the airbag from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration comprises expanding the second inflatable cushion such that the second inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of and corresponding generally to the acromial region and the coxal region of the occupant; wherein, in the deployed configuration and in response to impingement of the occupant against the airbag, the second inflatable cushion comprises a second pressure higher than a first pressure of the first inflatable cushion. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An airbag assembly for providing pressure-appropriate protection during a side impact collision generally for regions corresponding to an acromial region, a thoracic region, and a coxal region of an occupant seated in a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and seat back, comprising:
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an airbag comprising a stowed configuration in which the airbag is compacted proximate an outboard side of the seat of the vehicle and a deployed configuration in which the airbag is positioned to protect the occupant of the seat from lateral impact, the airbag comprising a first fabric panel, a second fabric panel attached to the first fabric panel, and a third fabric panel attached to the second fabric panel via a C-shaped seam, wherein the second fabric panel comprises an aperture, the first and second fabric panels define a first inflatable cushion, and the second and third fabric panels define a second inflatable cushion having a C-shape defined by the C-shaped seam; an inflator positioned at least partially within the airbag to deliver inflation gas to the first and second inflatable cushions; an inflator adaptor tube, wherein the inflator is positioned at least partially within the inflator adaptor tube, the inflator adaptor tube comprising a first end positioned to receive inflation gas through the aperture and a second end defining a gas delivery port positioned within the second inflatable cushion; a valve coupled to the inflator adapter tube to restrict gas flow from the second inflatable cushion to the first inflatable cushion; and a diffuser within the first inflatable cushion, wherein the diffuser comprises a central portion positioned between the inflator and the C-shaped seam to redirect gas flow from the inflator around the C-shaped seam; wherein, in response to delivery of the inflation gas, the airbag transitions from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration; wherein, in the deployed configuration and in response to impingement of the occupant against the airbag, the first inflatable cushion comprises a first pressure and the second inflatable cushion comprises a second pressure greater than the first pressure; wherein, in the deployed configuration, the first inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of and generally corresponding to the thoracic region of the occupant; wherein the second inflatable cushion comprises a C-shape such that, in the deployed configuration, the second inflatable cushion is positioned outboard of and generally corresponding to the acromial region and the coxal region of the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification