Side airbag energy management system

• US 9,834,166 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2016
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Line, Johnathan Andrew, Soyka, Jr., Richard Joseph, Voelker, Martin, Desai, Manoj, Hosbach, Christian J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Verley, Nicole T
• Application Number:
  US15/175,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20170349131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/503 attached to the backrest B60N2/504 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/6009 covering more than only the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/64 Back-rests or cushions B60N2/2222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/686 Panel like structures
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0032 Position of passenger
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/161 characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23146 seat mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/23138 specially adapted for side protection B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle seating assembly that includes a vehicle seating assembly that includes a seatback having a passenger support attached to a trim carrier with a suspension assembly connecting a support structure. The support structure includes a first trim piece, a seat frame, and a rear panel portion. The rear panel portion includes one or more upper inverted hooks, an energy transfer bracket, and one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips. An airbag deployment system is positioned proximate the first trim piece and a second trim piece and configured to deploy an airbag between the first and second trim pieces. The deployment energy is dissipated through the one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips of the rear panel portion.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat back assembly comprising:

a passenger support;

a suspension assembly coupling the passenger support to a support structure, wherein the support structure comprises a first trim piece, a seat frame, and a rear panel portion;

wherein the rear panel portion comprises one or more upper inverted hooks, an energy transfer bracket, and one or more 2-stage attachment clips;

a side airbag coupled in position to the frame member; and

an airbag deployment system configured to deploy the side airbag generating a deployment energy wherein the deployment energy is transferred to one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, and one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips;

wherein the seat frame remains attached but can be lifted up from the one or more upper inverted hooks and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips to dissipate the deployment energy.

2. The vehicle seat back assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips are attached in a rectangular architecture on the rear panel portion.

3. The vehicle seat back assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks has a hook angle from 40°

to 50°

to engage the seat frame through a frame member opening.

4. The vehicle seat back assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks comprises a ribbed hook wall extending out towards the seat frame.

5. The vehicle seat back assembly of claim 4, wherein the ribbed hook wall has a thickness of at least 10 mm.

6. The vehicle seat back assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks is a pair of upper inverted hooks and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips is a pair of lower 2-stage attachment clips.

7. The vehicle seat back assembly of claim 1, wherein the energy transfer bracket is a reinforced area on the rear panel portion that forms an outer edge of a map pocket.

8. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

a passenger support;

a suspension assembly;

a support structure comprising a first trim piece, a seat frame, and a rear panel portion; and

an airbag deployment system configured to deploy a side airbag using the rear panel portion comprising one or more upper inverted hooks, an energy transfer bracket, and one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips to dissipate a deployment energy;

wherein the seat frame can be lifted up from the one or more upper inverted hooks and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips to dissipate the deployment energy.

9. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips are attached in a rectangular architecture on the rear panel portion.

10. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks have a hook angle from 40°

to 50°

to engage the seat frame through a frame member opening.

11. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks comprise a ribbed hook wall extending out towards the seat frame.

12. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 11, wherein the ribbed hook wall has a thickness of at least 10 mm.

13. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks is a pair of upper inverted hooks and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips is a pair of lower 2-stage attachment clips.

14. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 8, wherein the energy transfer bracket is a reinforced area on the rear panel portion that forms an outer edge of a map pocket.

15. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:

an airbag deployment system configured to deploy a side airbag coupled to a seat frame using a rear panel portion comprising one or more upper inverted hooks, an energy transfer bracket, and one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips;

wherein the seat frame can be lifted up from the one or more upper inverted hooks and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips to dissipate the deployment energy.

16. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks, the energy transfer bracket, and the one or more lower 2-stage attachment clips are attached in a rectangular architecture to the rear panel portion.

17. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks have a hook angle of 40°

to 50°

to engage the seat frame through a frame member opening.

18. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 15, wherein the one or more upper inverted hooks comprises a ribbed hook wall having a thickness of at least 10 mm extending out towards the seat frame.