Vehicle impact absorbing system

• US 9,862,347 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Deng, Zhibing, Castillo jaime, Luis Enrique, Malapati, Srinivas Reddy, Patel, Deepak
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Drew J
• Application Number:
  US15/182,392
• Publication Number:
  US 20170355342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23514 coated fabric
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/235 characterised by their material
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/264 using instantaneous generation of gas, e.g. pyrotechnic B60R21/268 takes precedence

Abstract

A first airbag has a first joining panel. A second airbag has a second joining panel. The first and second airbags are both inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position. The first and second joining panels are spaced from each other in the uninflated position. In the inflated position, the first joining panel is fixed to the second joining panel.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first airbag having a first joining panel extending around a perimeter of the first airbag; and

a second airbag having a second joining panel;

wherein the first and second airbags are both inflatable from an uninflated position in which the first and second joining panels are spaced from each other to an inflated position in which the first joining panel is fixed to the second joining panel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second joining panels each include a magnet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first joining panel includes a first side of a hook and loop fastener and the second joining panel includes a second side of the hook and loop fastener.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first airbag includes a fabric panel defining an inflation chamber and the second airbag includes a fabric panel defining an inflation chamber, wherein the first side of the hook and loop fastener is fixed to the fabric panel of the first airbag external to the inflation chamber, and wherein the second side of the hook and loop fastener is fixed to the fabric panel of the second airbag external to the inflation chamber.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third airbag having a third joining panel, and wherein the third airbag is inflatable to an inflated position in which the third joining panel is fixed to a fourth joining panel.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the third joining panel extends around a perimeter of the third airbag.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a steering wheel supporting the first airbag and a vehicle roof supporting the second airbag.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a front pillar and a driver seat, the first and second joining panels being disposed between the front pillar and the driver seat when the first and second airbags are in the inflated position.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first airbag includes a fabric panel defining an inflation chamber and fixed to the first joining panel, and wherein the second airbag includes a fabric panel defining an inflation chamber and fixed to the second joining panel.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second joining panels are exterior to the inflation chambers of the first and second airbags, respectively.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second joining panels are in the inflation chambers of the first and second airbags, respectively.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the first airbag includes an inflator in communication with the inflation chamber of the first airbag, and wherein the second airbag includes an inflator in communication with the inflation chamber of the second airbag.

13. An airbag comprising:

a fabric panel defining an inflation chamber; and

a magnet fixed to the fabric panel, the magnet extending around a perimeter of the inflation chamber.

14. The airbag of claim 13 further comprising an inflator in communication with the inflation chamber.

15. The airbag of claim 13, wherein the magnet is exterior to the inflation chamber.

16. The airbag of claim 13, wherein the magnet is in the inflation chamber.

17. A system comprising:

a first airbag and a second airbag each including a fabric panel inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position;

the first airbag and the second airbag each including joining panels spaced from each other in the uninflated positions; and

means for fixing the joining panels of first airbag to the second airbag to each other when the first airbag and the second airbag are in the inflated position;

wherein the means for fixing the joining panels extends around a perimeter of the first airbag.