Vehicle oblique impact absorbing system

• US 9,566,929 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2015
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Carney, Frankie, Belwafa, Jamel E., Barnhart, Michael, Abramoski, Edward Joseph, Nusier, Saied
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew
• Application Number:
  US14/969,262
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23161 specially adapted for protecting at least two passengers, e.g. preventing them from hitting each other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23576 Sewing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

An instrument panel includes a frame, an intermediate airbag supported by the frame in an uninflated position, and a first airbag supported by the frame. The first airbag is disposed in a first direction from the intermediate airbag. The first and intermediate airbags are inflatable to an inflated position. The intermediate airbag includes an extension extending in the first direction in the inflated position.

Claims

1. An impact absorbing system comprising:

an instrument panel; and

a first airbag, a second airbag, and an intermediate airbag each supported by the instrument panel in an uninflated position and each being inflatable to an inflated position;

the first airbag disposed in a first direction from the intermediate airbag;

the intermediate airbag including a base portion between the first and second airbags and an extension extending from the base portion in the first direction in the inflated position, the first airbag being disposed between the extension and the instrument panel when the intermediate airbag and the first airbag are both in the inflated position.

2. The vehicle impact absorbing system of claim 1, the intermediate airbag being between the first and second airbags in the uninflated position.

3. The vehicle impact absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate airbag includes a first panel and a pair of side panels, wherein the first panel includes a base and two legs extending from the base of the first panel spaced from each other and supported by the instrument panel, and wherein the side panels are spaced from each other and are each connected to the first panel along the base of the first panel and the two legs.

4. The vehicle impact absorbing system of claim 3, wherein the legs include a narrow portion supported by the instrument panel and a wide portion connected to the base.

5. The vehicle impact absorbing system of claim 4, wherein the wide portion is at least one of substantially rectangular and substantially triangular.

6. The vehicle impact absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the intermediate airbag includes a central axis, the intermediate airbag being asymmetric about the central axis.

7. The vehicle impact absorbing system of claim 1, wherein the second airbag is disposed in a second direction from the intermediate airbag and the intermediate airbag includes a second extension extending from the base portion in the second direction in the inflated position.

8. The vehicle impact absorbing system of claim 1, further comprising a steering wheel supported by the instrument panel and supporting the first airbag, wherein the instrument panel includes a panel spaced from the steering wheel and covering the second airbag, and further comprising a control cluster between the steering wheel and the panel, wherein the intermediate airbag is disposed above the control cluster.

9. An impact absorbing system comprising:

an instrument panel;

a first seat back; and

a first airbag, a second airbag, and an intermediate airbag each supported by the instrument panel in an uninflated position and each being inflatable to an inflated position;

the intermediate airbag including a base portion between the first and second airbags and an extension extending from the base portion between the first airbag and the first seat back in the inflated position.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a second seat back, wherein the intermediate airbag includes a second extension extending from the base portion between the second airbag and the second seat back.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the intermediate airbag includes a first panel and a pair of side panels, wherein the first panel includes a base and two legs extending from the base spaced from each other and supported by the instrument panel, and wherein the side panels are spaced from each other and are each connected to the first panel along the base and the two legs.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the legs include a narrow portion supported by the instrument panel and a wide portion connected to the base.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wide portion is substantially rectangular.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the wide portion is substantially triangular.

15. An instrument panel comprising:

an instrument panel frame;

a first airbag, a second airbag, and an intermediate airbag each supported by the frame in an uninflated position and each being inflatable to an inflated position;

the first airbag disposed in a first direction from the intermediate airbag;

the intermediate airbag including an end spaced distal relative to the instrument panel frame a base portion between the first and second airbags and an extension extending from the base portion in the first direction in the inflated position at the end of the intermediate airbag.

16. The instrument panel of claim 15, wherein the intermediate airbag includes a first panel and a pair of side panels, wherein the first panel includes a base and two legs extending from the base spaced from each other and supported by the frame, and wherein the side panels are spaced from each other and are each connected to the first panel along the base and the two legs.

17. The instrument panel of claim 16, wherein the legs include a narrow portion supported by the frame and a wide portion connected to the base.

18. The instrument panel of claim 17, wherein the wide portion is substantially rectangular.

19. The instrument panel of claim 17, wherein the wide portion is substantially triangular.

20. The instrument panel of claim 15, wherein the second airbag is disposed in a second direction from the intermediate airbag, the intermediate airbag including a second extension extending in the second direction.