Aircraft airbag system

• US 9,428,132 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Seats Co.
• Original Assignee: Zodiac Seats France (Safran SA)
• Inventors: Lee, Nick, Kwok, Nathan, Story, Jake, Knox, David, Obadia, Jean-Marc, Payne, John, Cailleteau, Jeremy, Daout, Jean-Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): GOODEN JR, BARRY J
• Application Number:
  US13/912,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20140027574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.1, 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 244/118.5, 244/118.6, 244/121, 244/122.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0093 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/00 Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2201/00 Airbags mounted in aircraft for any use
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 25/02 Supports or holding means for living bodies

Abstract

An airbag system assembly configured to be positioned in the interior of a vehicle that includes an aft wall configured to be positioned forward of a passenger seat and an airbag system. The aft wall includes front and aft surfaces and the aft wall includes a first flap that is formed by a plurality of weakness lines in at least the front surface thereof. The airbag system includes at least a first airbag module having a first airbag support plate with front and aft surfaces. The first airbag support plate is secured to the front surface of the aft wall, and the first airbag support plate includes a first airbag that is configured to deploy in the event of a crash condition and that is disposed on the aft surface of the first airbag support plate. The first airbag is positioned adjacent the first flap.

Claims

1. An airbag system assembly configured to be positioned in a vehicle interior, the airbag system assembly comprising:

a closet monument configured to be positioned forward of a passenger seat, wherein the closet monument comprises an upper portion comprising at least a first storage compartment extending between a front surface and an aft surface of the upper portion, the first storage compartment defining a front to aft depth of the upper portion,

the closet monument further comprising a lower portion, the lower portion comprising at least a second storage compartment extending between a front surface and an aft surface of the lower portion, the second storage compartment defining a front to aft depth of the lower portion, wherein the front to aft depth of the lower portion is smaller than the front to aft depth of the upper portion,

a transition portion between the upper portion and the lower portion that provides an inwardly curved knee space for a passenger sitting behind the storage monument, the inwardly curved knee space positioned generally above a height of a seat pan of a seat positioned rearwardly of the storage monument,

a first flap formed by a plurality of weakness lines in at least the aft surface of the upper portion of the storage monument, and

an airbag system comprising at least a first airbag module having a first airbag support plate with a plate front surface and a plate aft surface, wherein the first airbag support plate is secured to the aft surface of the upper portion of the storage monument, wherein a first airbag configured to deploy in an event of a crash condition is disposed on the plate aft surface of the first airbag support plate.

2. The airbag system assembly of claim 1 wherein the plurality of weakness lines include a left weakness line, a right weakness line and one of a top or a bottom weakness line that cooperate to define a hinge section.

3. The airbag system assembly of claim 1 wherein the airbag system further comprises at least a first inflator tank, and wherein the first inflator tank is positioned on the plate front surface of the first airbag support plate.

4. The airbag system assembly of claim 1 wherein the monument includes an upper panel, a lower panel, and a curved transition panel positioned between the upper and the lower panels, wherein the upper panel and the lower panel are positioned such that they are not aligned vertically.

5. The airbag system assembly of claim 1 wherein the airbag system further comprises at least a first inflator tank, and wherein the first inflater tank is positioned apart from the first airbag support airbag plate in the monument and is connected to the airbag via a gas delivery hose.

6. The airbag system assembly of claim 1 wherein the airbag system includes at least a second airbag module having a second airbag support plate with a plate front surface and a plate aft surface, wherein the second airbag support plate is secured to the aft surface of the monument, wherein the second airbag support plate includes a second airbag configured to deploy in the event of the crash condition and that is disposed on the plate aft surface of the second airbag support plate, wherein the second airbag is positioned adjacent the first flap.

7. The airbag system assembly of claim 6 wherein the second airbag module is positioned below the first airbag module on the monument, wherein the first airbag module is positioned such that it will be contacted by a passenger'"'"'s head in the event of the crash condition, and wherein the second airbag module is positioned such that it will be contacted by a portion of the passenger'"'"'s anatomy below the head.

8. A closet monument assembly configured to be positioned in a vehicle interior, the closet monument assembly comprising:

a closet monument that includes a front wall, an aft wall, an outer wall and an inner wall that cooperate to define a monument interior comprising an upper portion storage area and a lower portion storage area, wherein the inner wall includes at least a first door that provides access to the storage area of the upper portion, wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are not aligned vertically, a transition between the upper portion and the lower portion configured to provide an inwardly curved knee space that provides knee room for a passenger seated behind the aft wall, the inwardly curved knee space positioned generally above a height of a seat pan of a seat positioned rearwardly of the monument, and

an airbag system mounted on the aft wall or disposed within the monument interior, wherein the airbag system includes at least a first airbag that is configured to deploy in an event of a crash condition.

9. The closet monument assembly of claim 8 wherein the aft wall includes a front surface and an aft surface, wherein the airbag system is disposed within the monument interior and is secured to the front surface of the aft wall, wherein the aft wall includes a first flap that is formed by a plurality of weakness lines in the front surface thereof to form a tear seam, and wherein the first airbag is positioned adjacent the first flap.

10. The closet monument assembly of claim 8 further comprising a plurality of weakness lines comprising a left weakness line, a right weakness line and one of a top or a bottom weakness line that cooperate to define a hinge section.

11. The closet monument assembly of claim 10 wherein the airbag system is at least partially housed within an airbag compartment, and wherein the inner wall includes an airbag access door that provides access to the airbag compartment.

12. The closet monument assembly of claim 8 wherein the airbag system includes an airbag module that comprises an airbag support plate having a front surface and an aft surface, wherein the first airbag is disposed on the aft surface of the airbag support plate, and wherein the airbag support plate is secured to the aft wall of the closet monument.

13. The closet monument assembly of claim 12 wherein the airbag system further comprises at least a first inflator tank, and wherein the first inflator tank is positioned on the front surface of the airbag support plate.

14. The closet monument assembly of claim 12 wherein the airbag system further comprises at least a first inflator tank, and wherein the first inflater tank is positioned apart from the first airbag support airbag plate in the monument and is connected to the airbag via a gas delivery hose.

15. The closet monument assembly of claim 8 wherein the upper portion has a greater depth than the lower portion.

16. The closet monument assembly of claim 15 wherein the aft wall includes an upper panel, a lower panel and a curved transition panel positioned between the upper and the lower panels, wherein the upper panel and the lower panel are positioned such that they are not aligned vertically.

17. The closet monument assembly of claim 16 wherein the airbag system includes an airbag module that comprises an airbag support plate having a front surface and an aft surface, wherein the first airbag is disposed on the aft surface of the airbag support plate, and wherein the airbag support plate is secured to the aft wall.

18. The closet monument of claim 16 wherein the upper panel of the aft wall includes a front surface and an aft surface, wherein the airbag system is disposed within the monument interior and is secured to the front surface of the upper panel, wherein the aft wall includes a first flap that is formed by a plurality of weakness lines in the front surface thereof, and wherein the first airbag is positioned adjacent the first flap.

19. The closet monument assembly of claim 18 wherein the airbag system is housed within an airbag compartment, and wherein the inner wall includes an airbag access door that provides access to the airbag compartment.

20. An airbag system assembly configured to be positioned in an aircraft interior, the airbag system assembly comprising:

a storage monument positioned forward of a passenger seat, the storage monument comprising a front surface and an aft surface, the aft surface defining a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion comprising a first depth extending throughout an entirety of the upper portion and forming an upper storage area, the lower portion comprising a second depth extending throughout an entirety of the lower portion and forming a lower storage area, wherein the first depth is larger than the second depth,

a difference between the first depth and the second depth forming an inwardly curved knee space for a passenger sitting behind the monument,

a first flap formed by a plurality of weakness lines in the aft surface of the monument, and

an airbag system comprising at least a first airbag module having a first airbag support plate with a plate front surface and a plate aft surface, wherein the first airbag support plate is secured to the aft surface of the monument, wherein a first airbag configured to deploy in an event of a crash condition is disposed on the plate aft surface of the first airbag support plate.