VEHICLE AIRBAG INCLUDING HUB AND SEGMENTS EXTENDING RADIALLY FROM THE HUB

• US 20170225641A1
• Filed: 02/05/2016
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Farooq, S.M. Iskander, Faruque, Mohammed Omar, Jaradi, Dean M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,725,064 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/143 taking a position opposite to the original one
• 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 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An airbag for a vehicle includes a hub, a first segment, a second segment, and a third segment. The first segment extends radially from the hub in a first direction. The second segment extends radially from the hub in a second direction different from the first direction. The third segment extends radially from the hub in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction. When inflated in response to a sensed impact of the vehicle, the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment may extend from the hub between occupants of the vehicle to separate the occupants during the impact of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An airbag inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position, the airbag comprising:

a hub;

a first segment extending radially from the hub in a first direction in the uninflated position;

a second segment extending radially from the hub in a second direction different from the first direction in the uninflated position;

a third segment extending radially from the hub in a third direction different from the first direction and the second direction in the uninflated position; and

a tether extending from at least one of the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment for connection to a roof of a vehicle.

2. The airbag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the second direction is substantially parallel to the third direction.

3. The airbag as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

4. The airbag as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a fourth segment extending radially from the hub in a fourth direction different from the first direction, the second direction and the third direction.

5. The airbag as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second direction is substantially parallel to the third direction.

6. The airbag as set forth in claim 5, wherein the first direction is substantially parallel to the fourth direction.

7. The airbag as set forth in claim 6, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

8. The airbag as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first segment, the second segment, the third segment, and the hub are inflatable from an uninflated position to an inflated position and are folded in a common plane in the uninflated position.

9. The airbag as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a tether extending from the first segment to the second segment.

10. A vehicle comprising:

two front seats arranged in a front row;

a rear seat and a second rear seat each spaced from the front row;

a roof and a headliner adjacent the roof;

an airbag disposed between the roof and the headliner in an uninflated position, the airbag including a first segment, a second segment, and a hub;

the first segment extending radially from the hub in the uninflated position and inflatable between the front seats;

the second segment extending radially from the hub in the uninflated position and inflatable between the front row and the rear seat;

a third segment extending radially from the hub in the uninflated position and inflatable between the front row and the second rear seat; and

a tether extending from the roof to at least one of the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment.

13. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the airbag includes a fourth segment extending radially from the hub in the uninflated position and inflatable between the rear seat and the second rear seat.

14. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the first segment and the second segment are folded in a common plane in the uninflated position.

16. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the roof supports the airbag.

17. The vehicle as set forth in claim 16, wherein the headliner includes a tear seam, and wherein the airbag is disposed between the tear seam and the roof.

18. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, wherein the airbag includes a tether extending from the first segment to the second segment.

19. The vehicle as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a floor, the front seats being rotatable relative to the floor about an axis transverse to the floor.

11. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

15. (canceled)