Inflated Confinement Specially Positioned Relative To Occupant Or Conforming To The Body Shape Of Occupant Patents (Class 280/730.1)
  • Patent number: 12043197
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle roof and a liftgate. The liftgate has a first end elongated along and adjacent to the vehicle roof and rotatably connected to the vehicle roof. The liftgate has a second end and a third end spaced from each other. The second end and the third end each extend from the first end away from the vehicle roof. An airbag is supported by the liftgate. The airbag includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is elongated along the first end and the second segment is elongated along the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Zhibing Deng, Joseph E. Abramczyk, Deepak Patel
  • Patent number: 12036941
    Abstract: An airbag system includes a vehicle having a vehicle seat rotated between an upright position to a fully reclined position. An airbag is positioned forward of a passenger seated on the vehicle seat, the airbag positioned in a stowed condition and a fully inflated condition. A horizontal cushion of the airbag in the fully inflated condition extends from a main airbag section. The horizontal cushion is contacted by a head of the passenger and prevents rotation of the head into direct contact with one or both knees of the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Chin-Hsu Lin, Chang Kyu Son
  • Patent number: 12024254
    Abstract: To provide a motorcycle airbag device that contributes to the stabilization of the deployment behavior and the deployment posture of the airbag. An airbag device mounted on a motorcycle having a gas generator that generates an expansion gas, where the airbag is expanded by the expansion gas, and by deploying in front of the occupant, restrains forward movement of the occupant. Furthermore, the airbag has a stepped portion that protrudes forward when deployed and is supported by a structural portion around the top of the handlebars of the motorcycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Makoto Fuma, Sho Murakami, Ryota Ishigaki, Masaru Habu
  • Patent number: 12017602
    Abstract: An in-seat airbag device having an airbag main body including: an outer side airbag portion having a front-rear chamber that expands past one side of a head of a passenger toward a seat front side, a left-right chamber that expands from a seat front side end portion of the front-rear chamber toward a seat width direction inner side and is disposed at a seat front side of a face of the passenger, a distal end chamber that expands from a seat width direction inner side end portion of the left-right chamber toward a seat rear side and is disposed at another side of the head of the passenger, and a tether that joins the front-rear chamber and the distal end chamber; and an inner side airbag portion that expands and is disposed between the front-rear chamber, the left-right chamber and the distal end chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Ohno, Toshiki Iwama, Takeshi Yamamoto, Masashi Hotta, Yoshito Kusuhara
  • Patent number: 11999268
    Abstract: A method for determining an occupant class for a vehicle seat includes obtaining, via first and second seat weight sensors, first and second seat weight indications for the vehicle seat. The first seat weight sensor is located on the lateral side of the vehicle seat at a front location on the vehicle seat. The second seat weight sensor is located on the lateral side of the vehicle seat at a rear location on the vehicle seat. The method also includes obtaining a vehicle acceleration value from a vehicle acceleration sensor. The method also includes determining a raw weight on the vehicle seat as twice the sum of the first and second seat weight indications, and determining a filtered weight based on the raw weight. The method further includes determining the occupant class based on the filtered weight in response to the vehicle acceleration value being less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ZF ACTIVE SAFETY AND ELECTRONICS US LLC
    Inventors: Raymond David, Harshad Dharmatti
  • Patent number: 11998067
    Abstract: A safety device adapted to be worn by a wearer (6) for preventing the injuries in particular to the hips by airbag inflation, comprises: a portable inflatable bag (1); a source (2) of releasable gas coupled to the bag (1); a belt buckle (3, 4) in which a plurality of sensors are arranged, one of which measures the ambient temperature and the other thermal sensor (5) measures the body temperature of a wearer (6) to enable triggering of the airbag in case of a fall only when the device is worn by a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SERVICE A LA PERSONNE TECHNOLOGIE ACTIVE SARL
    Inventor: Thierry Jeandupeux
  • Patent number: 11981278
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle roof and a vehicle floor spaced downwardly from the vehicle roof. The vehicle includes a post slidably supported by one of the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof and a tether slidably engaged with the other of the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof. The tether extends from the other of the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof toward the post. The post is slidable relative to the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof from a stowed position to a deployed position. The vehicle includes a support member mounted to the post between the vehicle floor and the vehicle roof. The vehicle includes an airbag supported by the support member. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position when the post is in the deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S.M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11981283
    Abstract: A rear-seat airbag configured to expand and deploy inward of a vehicle from a door trim beside a rear seat includes a first expansion air chamber and a second expansion air chamber. The first expansion air chamber is configured to expand and deploy to a space facing leg parts of a passenger in the rear seat that are above knees of the passenger. The second expansion air chamber is configured to expand and deploy to a space between the first expansion air chamber and the passenger in the rear seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isamu Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 11975670
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat, an armrest supported by the seat, and a bar supported by the armrest. The armrest is elongated along an axis. The bar is translatable along the axis from a stowed position overlapping the armrest to a deployed position extending from the armrest. The bar is pivotable relative to the armrest in a seat-inboard direction from a non-pivoted position to a pivoted position. An airbag is supported by the bar. The airbag is inflatable from the bar to an inflated position when the bar is in the deployed position and the pivoted position. The airbag includes a first inflatable portion inflatable along the bar and a second inflatable portion supported by the first inflatable portion in the inflated position. The first inflatable portion surrounds the bar in the inflated position. The second inflatable portion is inflatable upwardly from the first inflatable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11975674
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for airbag systems suited for autonomous vehicles. Such an airbag system may include a first chamber, a second chamber, a dual-stage inflator, an orifice blocker mechanism and a control module. The dual-stage inflator may be in fluid communication with the first chamber via a first orifice and in fluid communication with the second chamber via a second orifice. The orifice blocker mechanism may be configured to block and unblock gas flow from the second orifice to the second chamber. The control module may be configured to activate the dual-stage inflator in order to inflate one or both of the first chamber and the second chamber with gas based on a position of the orifice blocker mechanism relative to the second orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Stuart Macey, Wenyu Lian
  • Patent number: 11964623
    Abstract: There is provided a computer implemented method for executing a model, for detecting safety seat events, comprising: receiving a plurality of records, each represents measurements taken by a motion sensor mounted on a child safety seat or a base of a child safety seat installed in a vehicle while the vehicle is static or in motion; executing at least one model to classify each of the plurality of records; detecting an occurrence of a child related event based on outputs of the execution of the at least one model; and activating a protection mechanism by a protection mechanism unit according to the detected occurrence of child related event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BabyArk LTD
    Inventors: Anan Hasan, Shy Mindel
  • Patent number: 11951927
    Abstract: An assembly includes a vehicle seat having a seat bottom and a seatback supported by the seat bottom. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the seatback. The airbag is inflatable to an inflated position. The assembly includes a seatbelt webbing extending from the seatback to the airbag. The seatbelt webbing is between the airbag and the seatback in the inflated position. The assembly includes a pyrotechnic device supported by the seat bottom and operatively coupled to the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11926279
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a roof airbag apparatus for mobility which protects the occupant seated in the cabin in such a manner that the roof airbag is deployed downward from the cabin roof, and safely protects the occupant from impact in such a manner that the occupant is securely restrained by the airbag as the deployment shape of the airbag is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Ho Min
  • Patent number: 11904795
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a seatback having an interior portion with a seatback frame disposed therein. A retraction mechanism includes a first bracket operably coupled to the seatback frame. A second bracket is operably coupled to the first bracket by an actuator that is operable between at-rest and actuated positions. A tether member includes a body portion that is operably coupled between the first and second brackets of the retraction mechanism for movement therewith. The tether member moves from a deployed position to a retracted position when the actuator moves from the at-rest position to the actuated position. A belt member is operably coupled to the tether member. The belt member is operable between a deployed position, wherein the belt member is disposed in front of the back support portion of the seatback, and a stowed position, wherein the belt member is received in the interior portion of the seatback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Johnathan Andrew Line, Joseph Michael Kish, Macit Aktas, Benjamin Yilma, Derek Board, Kevin Michael Pline, Raed El-Jawahri, Jeff Charles Paddock, James Robert Chascsa, II, Marcos Silva Kondrad, Rachel Demerly, Robyne McBride
  • Patent number: 11897408
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a passenger compartment having a roof structure having a front header, a pair of side headers and a rear header. A headliner is disposed beneath the roof structure. At least one inflatable bladder is disposed along at least one of the front header, the pair of side headers and the rear header. The at least one inflatable bladder is connected to an inflator. A rib structure is disposed adjacent to the at least one inflatable bladder. The inflatable bladder inflates to a maximum height of 12 cm below the at least one of the front header, the pair of side headers and the rear header.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Jeff E. Nasca, Daniel W. Booth, Wonhee M. Kim, Peter J. Gareau, William J. Barnes
  • Patent number: 11897409
    Abstract: An apparatus for helping to protect occupants of a vehicle in the event of a collision includes a deployable restraint having a stored, predeployment condition in a vehicle floor. The restraint is deployable from the floor to restrain the feet and/or lower legs of an occupant from swinging forward and upward in response to a vehicle collision. In one configuration, the deployable restraint can include a module comprising an airbag and an inflator for inflating and deploying the airbag. The module can include a door that opens in response to deployment of the airbag and that serves as a reaction surface for the airbag. In another configuration, the deployable restraint can include a restraining panel configured to move to a deployed position extending above the vehicle floor adjacent the occupants lower leg and feet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Gould, Gabriela Diaz, Kurt F. Fischer, Hylus Ranjit Raj Jayakar, Kiran Mohan Veepuri, David Varcoe
  • Patent number: 11897412
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a passenger airbag. The passenger airbag according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a main panel, and side panels arranged on both sides of the main panel, wherein the main panel includes a contact part to be in contact with a head of a passenger when the passenger airbag is deployed, and a folded portion partitioning the contact part such that both sides of the contact part protrude as the contact part is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang Soo Cho, Min Su Jang
  • Patent number: 11889874
    Abstract: A wearable airbag device that is adapted to be worn by a wearer for protecting one or more targeted body parts of the wearer. The airbag device includes an airbag that includes one or more protecting inflatable portions each of which is configured to be inflated with an inflation gas and cover one of the one or more targeted body parts, and a means for preventing each of the protecting inflatable portions from being dislocated from the targeted body part at airbag deployment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihito Yanagisawa, Yusuke Kawamura, Wataru Miura, Motoyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11884226
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has a passenger compartment for at least one vehicle user and has at least one sensor device for detecting a location of the vehicle user in the passenger compartment. At least one retaining device is used to fix the vehicle user in his/her location. A control device is provided to activate the at least one retaining device according to a signal of at least one impact sensor of the motor vehicle. The at least one retaining device is designed to fix the vehicle user in a location in the passenger compartment different from a vehicle seat of the motor vehicle. A method operates such a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Amereller, Florian Ober, Sascha Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 11873049
    Abstract: To enable a retainer to be easily manufactured in accordance with a position where an inflator is disposed. In an airbag device for a saddled vehicle including: a retainer provided behind a head pipe; an inflator; and an airbag accommodated in the retainer, the airbag being configured to be expanded by gas released by the inflator and deployed in front of a passenger, the retainer has a box shape formed by assembling a plurality of components, the inflator is disposed to be offset outward in a vehicle width direction relative to the head pipe, the first component covers the inflator from a vehicle front side, a second component is provided behind the head pipe, and a third component is provided on a side of the passenger and is fitted to the second component and the first component from a back side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi Kurohori, Takashi Sato, Yutaka Aikyo, Makoto Fuma, Masaru Habu, Sho Murakami
  • Patent number: 11858447
    Abstract: An occupant restraint system (30) comprises a seat (14), at least one airbag integrated in the seat (14) and an airbag control device. The seat (14) is adjustable at least between a first seating position and a second seating position, the seat (14) in the second seating position having an orientation (A) that is rotated vis-à-vis the first seating position about an angle of rotation (?) from 170° to 190°. The airbag has a first inflated state and a second inflated state in which the airbag has an external geometry different from the one in the first inflated state. Accordingly, the airbag control device is arranged so that, in the case of need, the airbag adopts the first inflated state when the seat (14) is in the first seating position, and the airbag adopts the second inflated state when the seat (14) is in the second seating position. Further, a vehicle (10) comprising such an occupant restraint system (30) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Gerd Zischka
  • Patent number: 11858454
    Abstract: Airbag cushions and related assemblies comprising improved internal tethers for reshaping deployment. In some embodiments, the assembly may comprise an inflatable cushion and an internal tether comprising an elongated axis positioned within the inflatable cushion, wherein the internal tether comprises a first concave portion attached to a first internal surface of the inflatable cushion and a second concave portion attached to a second internal surface of the inflatable cushion. The first concave portion and the second concave portion may be configured to redirect inflation of the inflatable cushion to form, upon deployment, two enlarged deployment regions and a reduced deployment region between the two enlarged deployment regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Young, Xiahong Wang, Devin Steve Silverwood, HongSeok Kim
  • Patent number: 11760292
    Abstract: A sleeping occupant crash protection system includes an occupant sleeping compartment positioned within an autonomous vehicle. A substantially flat platform of the occupant sleeping compartment supports an occupant reclining in a horizontal sleep position. An elastic bedsheet is positioned in direct contact with an upper surface of the platform positioned between the occupant and the platform. A sensing system is in communication with the occupant sleeping compartment and triggers deployment of a bedsheet displacement system during a vehicle rapid deceleration event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Yi-Pen Cheng, Chin-hsu Lin, Louis D. Thole, Wonhee Michael Kim
  • Patent number: 11731576
    Abstract: Problem: To effectively suppress movement toward a collision site of an occupant even when the occupant is seated only in the driver's seat. Resolution Means: a side airbag device 1 provided on a side surface portion on the center side in the width direction of the backrest SB of the seat s of one of the driver's seat Sd and the passenger seat Sn, and is provided with a cushion 2 that constrains movement of the occupant p toward a site where an impact is applied during a collision event. A portion of the inflator 3 is inserted into the cushion 2. The cushion 2 comprises a main chamber 2 a and a sub-chamber 2 b disposed on the base panel 4 b opposite the occupant side base panel 4 a of the main chamber 2 a that is seated by the occupant p seated in the driver seat Sd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Makoto Fuma, Yuto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11718262
    Abstract: An airbag system for restraining a lower body of a vehicle occupant during a collision event and a method for deploying the same are disclosed. The airbag system includes a panel and a restraining airbag. The panel defines a support surface that is adapted to be deployed from a first configuration to a second configuration responsive to the collision event. In the first configuration, the panel forms part of an instrument panel of a vehicle and, in the second configuration, the panel is at least partially separated from the instrument panel of the vehicle. The restraining airbag is adapted to be deployed adjacent to the support surface of the panel between the support surface and the lower body of the vehicle occupant responsive to the collision event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Johan Rosenberg, Sebastian Rutelin
  • Patent number: 11689833
    Abstract: In some examples, a system includes an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) having at least one sensor configured to generate a stream of usage data; and an analytical stream processing component comprising: a communication component that receives the stream of usage data; a memory configured to store at least a portion of the stream of usage data and at least one model for detecting a safety event signature, wherein the at least one model is trained based as least in part on a set of usage data generated by one or more other articles of PPE of a same type as the article of PPE; and one or more computer processors configured to: detect the safety event signature in the stream of usage data based on processing the stream of usage data with the model, and generate an output in response to detecting the safety event signature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Steven T. Awiszus, Eric C. Lobner, Michael G. Wurm, Kiran S. Kanukurthy, Jia Hu, Matthew J. Blackford, Keith G. Mattson, Ronald D. Jesme, Nathan J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 11628794
    Abstract: A roof airbag for vehicles is proposed. The roof airbag includes: a main chamber configured to be deployed as gas is introduced therein through a diffuser; an overlap chamber into which the gas is introduced and configured to be deployed into a shape that overlaps the main chamber around the diffuser; and a support chamber into which the gas is introduced and configured to be deployed while overlapping a roof frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Ho Min, Kyu Sang Lee
  • Patent number: 11623600
    Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes a frontal curtain airbag. The airbag has overlying panels that are interconnected. The airbag is deployable a deployed condition in which the airbag spans across a width of a windshield opening of the vehicle. A restraining panel is separate from and extends widthwise over the panels of the airbag. The restraining panel is connected to the airbag and has a width configured to cause opposing end portions of the deployed airbag to be bent toward one another and into a curved configuration. Pressurization in the deploying airbag tensions the restraining panel widthwise. The tensioned restraining panel maintains the bend in the deploying airbag so that an effective airbag depth is measured between the restraining panel and the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Dylan Moran, Ali Emambakhsh, Joseph Popek
  • Patent number: 11623603
    Abstract: An airbag includes a U-shaped chamber, a head-impact chamber, and an uninflatable panel. The U-shaped chamber has a first side leg, a second side leg, and a top extending from the first side leg to the second side leg. The head-impact chamber is disposed between the first side leg and the second side leg. The uninflatable panel extends from the first leg to the second leg adjacent the head-impact chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignees: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, AUTOLIV ASP, INC.
    Inventors: Rongrong Zhou, Robert William McCoy, David W. Schneider, Dean M. Jaradi, Kevin Siasoco, Frank J. Herzenstiel
  • Patent number: 11618408
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system (10) comprises a front airbag (12) and an auxiliary airbag (30) both of which are assigned to a joint vehicle seat (22), wherein, prior to its deployment, the auxiliary airbag (30) is arranged in a roof region of the vehicle and, in the filled state, as a further front airbag extends ahead of a vehicle occupant (24) and between the front airbag (12) and the vehicle occupant (24) in the assigned vehicle seat (22) and bears against the front airbag (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Freisler, Benjamin Weimer
  • Patent number: 11618404
    Abstract: An assembly includes a seat having a seatback. The assembly includes an airbag supported by the seatback and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag extends from the seatback to an end in the inflated position. The assembly includes a spool rotatably supported by the seatback. The assembly includes a belt extending along the airbag in the inflated position. The belt extends from the spool to the end of the airbag. The belt is extendable from the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi, Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq
  • Patent number: 11613228
    Abstract: A roof airbag for vehicles is proposed. The roof airbag includes: a main chamber configured to be deployed as gas is introduced therein through a diffuser; and an overlap chamber into which the gas may be introduced and configured to be deployed into a shape that overlaps the main chamber around the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Ho Min
  • Patent number: 11613226
    Abstract: A restraint system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag mounted to the vehicle roof. The airbag has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition having a front-facing occupant receiving portion and an opposite rear-facing portion facing away from the occupant. The airbag has one or more connections with the vehicle roof, with the airbag and the connections being configured such that the roof serves as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to a forward moving occupant impacting the occupant receiving portion. The system is non-reliant on the rear-facing portion of the airbag engaging and using vehicle structure as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to the impacting occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC.
    Inventors: Kurt F. Fischer, Angelo J. Adler, Alexandra E. Schroeder, Hylus Ranjit Raj Jayakar, Dylan P. Moran
  • Patent number: 11590927
    Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for protecting a pedestrian and a control method thereof. The apparatus for protecting a pedestrian includes a front object detection unit configured to detect an object in front of a vehicle; a collision detection unit configured to detect a collision of a vehicle; a protection module driving unit configured to drive a protection module for protecting a pedestrian when the pedestrian collides with the vehicle; and a control unit configured to determine the front object as a hood lift target on the basis of a detection result of the front object detection unit, to determine the collision as a hood lift target collision on the basis of a detection result of the collision detection unit, and to operate the protection module driving unit in case of the hood lift target collision of the hood lift target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byung Hyuk Park
  • Patent number: 11577680
    Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle floor. The assembly includes a base slidably supported by the vehicle floor with the base being slidable relative to the vehicle floor from a stowed position to a deployed position. The assembly includes a tray supported by the base and an airbag supported by the base adjacent the tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque, S. M. Iskander Farooq, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11560117
    Abstract: A vehicle occupant restraint system comprises an airbag module (12) including an inflator (18) and a frontally acting airbag (16), wherein the airbag (16) includes an inflator-side inflation end (46) as well as a first free end (56) located in the inflated state of the airbag (16) within a vehicle interior. In a first period during deployment of the airbag (16), the first free end (56) is still connected via a tether (74) to the airbag module (12), wherein the tether (74) becomes detached upon reaching a predetermined tensile force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventors: Antonio Navarro Arranz, Ramon Ramos Agustin
  • Patent number: 11541834
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a floor and an occupant seating area above the floor. An airbag is fixed to the floor and is inflatable upwardly from the floor to an inflated position. At least a portion of the airbag in the inflated position extends endlessly around the occupant seating area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: S. M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammad Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi
  • Patent number: 11518328
    Abstract: A protective system is provided including an airbag system for protecting a body part of a user in case of an accident, including a control unit and a communication interface. The protective system further includes an external device having a communication interface. The communication interface of the airbag system is configured to communicate with the external device using wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: HÖVDING SVERIGE AB
    Inventor: Heino Wendelrup
  • Patent number: 11479201
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a multiple-chamber airbag structure where the airbag design has at least a stiff lower section to reduce the chest velocity and a soft upper section to meet the HIC requirements. Although stowed and deployed as a unitary airbag, the present invention includes separate chambers, which allows for independent gas inflation and stiffness control with venting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SCHROTH SAFETY PRODUCTS LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Akoma, Manuel Marroquin, Kasey Garces
  • Patent number: 11472364
    Abstract: A vehicle seat has a lower seat part and a seat backrest. The seat backrest has a backrest structure, a central backrest section which has at least one backrest cushion and a backrest cover, and a left and a right backrest side wall. The seat backrest is provided with at least one expansion element which has at least one cavity that is enclosed by a membrane and can be filled with an expansion fluid from a fluid source. At least one respective fillable cavity of the at least one expansion element is integrated into the backrest cushion of the central backrest section or is provided between the backrest structure and the backrest cushion of the central backrest section to the left and the right of the backrest longitudinal central plane at a lateral distance thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Huf, Sylvia Kleindl, Fabian Koehler, Robert Martin, Martin Unger
  • Patent number: 11453360
    Abstract: An air-bag apparatus includes: a frame member that is tiltable along a seat back of a vehicle seat; and a bag body that is embedded in the frame member, that is inflated and expanded to a front of an occupant seated on the vehicle seat at a time of an impact input, and that prevents a body of the occupant from being separated from the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Shimizu, Hiroyuki Ito, Takashi Saso
  • Patent number: 11433846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a side impact protection device comprising a side curtain airbag (22), wherein the side curtain airbag (22) includes a cushion area (24) extending along the side window (90) and at least partially covering the latter in the inflated state, comprising an upper securing edge (28) by which the cushion area (24) is secured to the lateral roof rail (18), and comprising a holding area (26) in the inflated state extending away from the side window (90) and from the cushion area (24) which constitutes the inner end of the side curtain airbag (22) and which is secured by its upper edge (29) to the vehicle roof (40) spaced apart from the lateral roof rail (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: DALPHI METAL ESPANA S.A.
    Inventor: Oscar Ugarte Alba
  • Patent number: 11433849
    Abstract: A knee airbag module comprising a housing (10) and a knee airbag is described. A first section of the knee airbag following from its first end is rolled into a first direction of rotation when the knee airbag is in its stowed state. In order to optimise the knee airbag for a mounting situation in which a gap is present between the vehicle rearward end of the housing and the lower end of the instrument panel, a second section of the knee airbag following the first section is rolled in a second direction of rotation, contrariwise to the first direction rotation, such that the stowed knee airbag comprises an at least partially rolled package comprising the first section being rolled to a first roll section (50) and the second section being rolled to a second roll section (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Patrik Ivarsson, Jonas Gustafsson, Henrik Balague
  • Patent number: 11414037
    Abstract: The invention describes an airbag (10) for a vehicle occupant restraint system, wherein the airbag (10) in the inflated state includes a front side (24) forming an occupant impact surface and an opposite rear side (22). The front side (24) and the rear side (22) are formed by shell portions (14, 16) of the airbag (10) being connected to each other at their outer edges (34, 36). The front side (24) is longer along a centerline (M) extending in the longitudinal direction of the airbag (10) than the rear side (22) so that, in the inflated state, the airbag (10) takes a curved shape. The front side (24) has at least one shaping line (42) extending substantially curved and transversely to the centerline (M) at which shaping line two shell portions (34, 36) are connected to each other. The respective outer edges (34, 36) of the front side (24) and the respective outer edges (34, 36) of the rear side (22) are of the same overall length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ZF AUTOMOTIVE GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Daniel Elija
  • Patent number: 11407375
    Abstract: An airbag apparatus for a vehicle includes: an airbag cushion including: a main panel; a main portion including a first sewn part joined to the main panel and a first chamber part, the main portion disposed in a side of a passenger when the airbag cushion is expanded by gas injected in the first sewn part; and an auxiliary portion including a second sewn part and a second chamber part, the auxiliary portion disposed in front of the passenger when the airbag cushion is expanded by gas injected in the second sewn part; and a connection member including a first end connected to the main portion of the airbag cushion and a second end fixed to the second sewn part of the auxiliary portion, the connection member being configured to guide the airbag cushion to be expanded in a shape of surrounding the passenger when the airbag cushion is expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok Min Lee, Sang Won Hwangbo, Choong Ryung Lee
  • Patent number: 11407335
    Abstract: Provided is a vehicle seat that is rotatable relative to a vehicle body and can prevent a collision between an object located around a seat body and an occupant by airbags. A vehicle seat includes: a seat body (6) supported by a vehicle body (2b) so as to be rotatable around a substantially vertical axis; a pair of airbags (17) provided on either lateral side edge of the seat body and configured to deploy to respective lateral sides of an occupant seated on the seat body; a rotation angle detecting device (15) provided on the seat body and configured to detect a rotation angle of the seat body relative to the vehicle body; and a control device (22) configured to control deploying operation of the respective airbags independently of each other. The deploying operation includes a deploying amount and/or a deploying timing. The control device is configured to individually control the deploying operation of the pair of airbags according to the rotation angle detected by the rotation angle detecting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: TS Tech Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinichi Tanabe, Kenichi Niitsuma, Hidetoshi Ozawa
  • Patent number: 11396268
    Abstract: A seatback-mounted rear airbag assembly is disclosed wherein the airbag assembly is mounted forward of an occupant of a rearward vehicle seating position and disposed at least partially within a seatback of a vehicle seating position forward of the occupant. The airbag assembly is disposed partially within the seatback and partially within a headrest whereby a lower attachment and an upper attachment of an inflatable airbag cushion couple the inflatable airbag cushion at multiple points to properly disposed the inflatable airbag cushion forward of the occupant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventor: David W. Schneider
  • Patent number: 11390235
    Abstract: An air bag device in which due to coupling between airbag chambers, a passenger is directly restrained in a seat located at each of various positions such that the air bag device responds to various collision modes. The air bag device includes a bridge chamber unfolding in a shape covering a first side of a seat and a front thereof, and a hook chamber unfolding in a shape covering a second side of the seat and the front thereof and coupled to the bridge chamber by a first coupling device in a part overlapping with the bridge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sung Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 11364965
    Abstract: A saddle riding vehicle airbag device can be disposed compactly and the airbag can be deployed vertically upward. In the saddle riding vehicle airbag device provided with a retainer that is provided in front of a seat for a rider, an inflator and an airbag that is housed in the retainer, is inflated by means of a gas discharged from the inflator and is deployed in front of the rider, in which the retainer is provided with an L-shaped airbag passage that causes the airbag to deploy upward in a left-right direction, and, in a deployed state, the airbag is formed bilaterally asymmetrical with respect to a left-right center line of the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yutaka Aikyo, Takashi Sato, Makoto Fuma
  • Patent number: 11358559
    Abstract: An occupant protection system for a vehicle may include an expandable curtain and/or an expandable bladder configured to be expanded from a stowed state to a deployed state. In the deployed state, the expandable curtain may include first and second sides configured to extend along respective portions of first and second interior sides of the vehicle. The expandable curtain may also include a transverse portion extending between the first and second sides, and the first and second sides, and the transverse portion of the expandable curtain may form a contiguous barrier. The expandable bladder when deployed may be supported by the expandable curtain during contact by an occupant. The occupant protection system may also include a deployment control system configured to cause the expandable curtain and/or the expandable bladder to expand to the deployed state. The occupant protection system may be used in vehicles having a carriage-style seating arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Zoox, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Jost, Timothy David Kentley-Klay, Andrew John Piper, Josh Alexander Jimenez