Airbag for protection of multiple body regions

• US 9,272,680 B1
• Filed: 06/15/2010
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mirzazadeh, Abbas
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Karen
• Application Number:
  US12/816,221
• Time in Patent Office: 2,086 Days
• Field of Search: 280/730.1, 280/734, 245/5, 244/118.5, 244/121
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0619 with energy absorbing means specially adapted for mitigating impact loads for passenger seats, e.g. at a crash
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use

Abstract

The different advantageous embodiments comprise an apparatus comprising an airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into a configuration that covers a region around a seat in which a top of a head, a front of a head, upper body region, knees, and shins of a passenger in the seat is expected to be located when an event occurs in which the airbag is deployed.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an airbag, the airbag having a surface with a concave shape relative to a side of the airbag facing a passenger, the airbag configured to inflate into a configuration that covers a region around a seat in which a top of a head, a front of the head, upper body region, knees, and shins of the passenger in the seat is expected to be located when an event occurs in which the airbag is deployed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration has a c-shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an inflation system connected to the airbag, wherein the inflation system is configured to inflate the airbag into the configuration.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a sensor system connected to the inflation system, wherein the sensor system is configured to detect the event and send a signal to the inflation system to cause the inflation system to inflate the airbag to the configuration in response to detecting the event.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the airbag is implemented in an aircraft.

6. A system for passenger protection, the system comprising:

a number of concave airbags, the number of concave airbags each having a surface with a concave shape relative to a side of the airbag facing a passenger, wherein the number of concave airbags is configured to inflate and extend over a top of a head of the passenger, before a face of the passenger, before an upper body region of the passenger, and before knees and shins of the passenger;

an inflation system configured to inflate the number of concave airbags in response to a trigger; and

a number of sensors configured to detect an event and generate the trigger to the inflation system to inflate the number of concave airbags.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the system is implemented on an aircraft.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the number of sensors include at least one of a pressure sensor and an event sensor.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the inflation system uses an igniter and propellant to create gas and inflate the number of concave airbags.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the number of concave airbags further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are separate and individual airbags that deploy simultaneously, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each take on a form of a c-shape when deployed.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are part of one continuous airbag, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each take on a form of a c-shape when deployed.

13. A method for airbag deployment, the method comprising:

detecting an event requiring airbag deployment;

triggering an inflation system to deploy a number of airbags, wherein the number of airbags has a concave surface relative to a side of the airbag facing a passenger, and wherein the number of airbags takes on a form of a c-shape that extends at least partially over a top of a head of the passenger when deployed;

igniting propellant to inflate the number of airbags; and

maintaining inflation of the number of airbags for a given period of time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of airbags is configured to protect a number of regions of a body of the passenger from objects that may move as a result of the event detected.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the number of regions include at least one of the top of a head, front of a face, upper chest, top of knees, front of the knees, and front of shins.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of airbags is implemented on an aircraft.

17. A system for protection of a passenger, the system comprising:

a concave airbag system, comprising at least one concave airbag configured to inflate and extend over a top of a head of the passenger, before a face of the passenger, before an upper body region of the passenger, and before knees and shins of the passenger, wherein the concave airbag system has a concave surface relative to a side of the airbag facing the passenger and further comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are at least one of separate and individual airbags that deploy simultaneously and one continuous airbag, and wherein the upper portion and the lower portion each take on a form of a c-shape when deployed;

an inflation system configured to inflate the concave airbag system in response to a trigger, wherein the inflation system uses an igniter and propellant to create gas and inflate the concave airbag system; and

a number of sensors configured to detect an event and generate the trigger to the inflation system to inflate the concave airbag system, wherein the number of sensors include at least one of a pressure sensor and an event sensor, and wherein the inflation system is implemented on an aircraft.