AIRBAG INCLUDING HUB AND INFLATABLE FINS

• US 20180065585A1
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Published: 03/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jaradi, Dean M., Faruque, Mohammed Omar, Farooq, S.M. Iskander
• Granted Patent: US 10,065,592 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/01 Arrangement of seats relative to one another
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/14 rotatable, e.g. to permit easy access B60N2/10 , B60N2/2869 take precedence
• 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 2021/23192 Roof bags, i.e. protecting the occupant in a roll-over situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23308 the individual compartments defining the external shape of the bag
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23324 Inner walls crating separate compartments, e.g. communicating with vents
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23386 External tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers

Abstract

An airbag includes a hub defining an inflation chamber and inflatable fins. The inflatable fins are connected to the hub and spaced from each other around a circumference of the hub. The inflatable fins extend radially from the hub in the inflated position.

Claims

1. An airbag comprising:

a hub defining an inflation chamber and being inflatable to an inflated position; and

inflatable fins connected to the hub and spaced from each other around a circumference of the hub; and

each of the inflatable fins extending radially from the hub in the inflated position.

2. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the hub includes panels spaced from each other around the circumference of the hub in alternating arrangement with the inflatable fins.

3. The airbag of claim 2, wherein the panels are arranged in a cylindrical pattern in the inflated position.

4. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the inflatable fins extend away from the inflation chamber in the inflated position.

5. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the inflatable fins are in fluid communication with the inflation chamber.

6. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the hub includes openings extending between the inflation chamber and the inflatable fins.

7. The airbag of claim 6, wherein each inflatable fin includes a first side and a second side opposing the first side about the opening, and a tether attached to the first side and to the second side.

8. The airbag of claim 6, further comprising a tether having a first end connected to the hub and a second end connected to the hub and extending across the opening.

9. The airbag of claim 1, wherein each inflatable fin is spaced equidistantly from adjacent inflatable fins.

10. The airbag of claim 1, wherein a first tether is attached to a first inflatable fin and a second inflatable fin external to the inflation chamber, a second tether is attached to the second inflatable fin and a third inflatable fin external to the inflation chamber, a third tether is attached to the third inflatable fin and a fourth inflatable fin external to the inflation chamber, and a fourth tether is attached to the fourth inflatable fin and the first inflatable fin external to the inflation chamber.

11. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the hub is elongated along a longitudinal axis and each inflatable fin is elongated along an axis in parallel with the longitudinal axis.

12. The airbag of claim 11, wherein the hub includes a top and a bottom spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis, and wherein the inflatable fins are spaced from the top and the bottom.

13. The airbag of claim 1, wherein the hub is cylindrical.

14. An occupant restraint system comprising:

a roof;

an airbag supported by the roof, the airbag including a hub defining an inflation chamber and being inflatable to an inflated position; and

inflatable fins connected to the hub and spaced from each other around a circumference of the hub; and

each of the inflatable fins extending radially from the hub in the inflated position.

15. The occupant restraint system of claim 14, wherein the hub includes panels spaced from each other around the circumference of the hub in alternating arrangement with the inflatable fins.

16. The occupant restraint system of claim 15, wherein the panels are arranged in a cylindrical pattern in the inflated position.

17. The occupant restraint system of claim 14, wherein the inflatable fins extend away from the inflation chamber in the inflated position.

18. The occupant restraint system of claim 14, wherein the inflatable fins are in fluid communication with the inflation chamber.

19. The occupant restraint system of claim 18, wherein the hub includes openings extending between the inflation chamber and each of the inflatable fins.

20. The occupant restraint system of claim 14, wherein a first tether is attached to a first inflatable fin and a second inflatable fin external to the inflation chamber, a second tether is attached to the second inflatable fin and a third inflatable fin external to the inflation chamber, a third tether is attached to the third inflatable fin and a fourth inflatable fin external to the inflation chamber, and a fourth tether is attached to the fourth inflatable fin and the first inflatable fin external to the inflation chamber.