Cargo area airbag

• US 9,296,351 B1
• Filed: 09/24/2014
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Madrigal Medina, Sal Alejandro, Limon Sepulveda, Jonathan Efren, Ruiz, Alberto
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, DREW J
• Application Number:
  US14/495,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20160082914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0273 automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/026 Rigid partitions inside vehicles, e.g. between passengers and load compartments B60R21/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/06 Safety nets, transparent sheets, curtains, or the like, e.g. between occupants and glass B60R21/026 , B60R21/11, B60R21/12, B60R21/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels

Abstract

A vehicle cargo restraint system is provided for a vehicle having a forward seating area and an interior rearward cargo area. The system includes a pane mounted adjacent an interior roof of the vehicle. An airbag is provided for powering the panel from a position adjacent the roof of the vehicle to a position wherein a portion of the panel is adjacent the forward seating area dividing the forward seating area from the cargo area of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle cargo restraint system for a vehicle having a forward seating area and an interior rearward cargo area, said system comprising:

a panel mounted adjacent an interior roof of said vehicle; and

an airbag for powering said panel from a position adjacent said roof of said vehicle to a position wherein a portion of said panel is contacting a seat of said forward seating area dividing said forward seating area from said cargo area.

2. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein said panel is fabricated from a rigid polymeric material.

3. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein said panel has means of latching with a vehicle seat within said vehicle seating area when said panel has been deployed by said airbag.

4. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein said panel forms a portion of an interior roof panel of said vehicle.

5. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein said panel is concealed by an interior roof panel of said vehicle.

6. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 5 wherein said interior roof panel forms a secondary panel.

7. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein said vehicle has at least first and second rows of seating and said cargo space can be extended by modifying said second row of seating and wherein there is at least first and second longitudinally spaced panels mounted adjacent said interior roof of said vehicle.

8. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 7 wherein when said second row of seating is not modified to extend said cargo area, said first panel is disabled.

9. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein there is an operator controlled switch for deactivating said vehicle cargo restraint system.

10. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein said panel has a living hinge.

11. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein said panel has a pivotal hinge.

12. A vehicle cargo restraint system as described in claim 1 wherein said portion of said panel is pivoted forwardly along an obtuse angle for contacting said seat.

13. A method of restraining cargo items in a rearward interior cargo area of a vehicle from a forward seating area during an exigent event comprising:

mounting a panel adjacent a roof of said vehicle;

signaling an existence of an exigent event; and

deploying an airbag in response to said signaling to position a portion of said panel contacting a seat in said seating area to separate said cargo area from said seating area to inhibit travel of items within said cargo area from passing into said seating area.

14. A method as described in claim 13 further comprising latching said panel with a seat within said seating area to maintain the position of said panel separating said cargo area from said seating area.

15. A method as described in claim 13 further comprising signaling said cargo restraint system based upon a sensing of a rollover incident.

16. A method as described in claim 13 further comprising signaling said system of an exigent situation based upon a sensing of a crash of said vehicle.

17. A method as described in claim 13 further comprising preventing a deployment of said panel based upon a seat being in an upright position when said seat is in an extendable portion of said cargo area.

18. An automotive vehicle comprising:

a frame providing an enclosure with a forward seating area and a rearward interior cargo area;

a panel mounted adjacent an interior roof of said vehicle; and

an airbag for powering said panel from a position adjacent said roof of said vehicle to a position wherein a portion of said panel is adjacent said forward seating area dividing said forward seating area from said cargo area; and

wherein said vehicle has at least first and second rows of seating and said cargo space may be extended by modifying said second row of seating and wherein there is at least first and second longitudinally spaced panels mounted adjacent said interior roof of said vehicle with air bags for powering said respective panels.

19. A vehicle as described in claim 18 wherein when said second row of seating is not modified to extend said cargo area, said first panel is disabled.

20. A vehicle as described in claim 18 wherein there is an operator controlled switch for deactivating said airbag.

21. A method of restraining cargo items in a rearward interior cargo area of a vehicle from a forward seating area during an exigent event;

comprising;

mounting a panel adjacent a roof of said vehicle;

signaling an existence of an exigent event;

deploying an airbag in response to said signaling to position a portion of said panel adjacent a seat in said seating area to separate said cargo area from said seating area to inhibit travel of items within said cargo area from passing into said seating area; and

preventing a deployment of said panel based upon a seat being in an upright position when said seat is in an extendable portion of said cargo area.