Seats with airbags

Abstract

The seat includes a seat back having a top, a seat bottom connected to the seat back, an airbag, a drawstring secured to the seat back below the top and attached to the airbag, and an airbag extension. The airbag inflates from an undeployed position in the top to a deployed position attached to the top and extending forward of a front panel of the seat back. The airbag extension inflates from the airbag in the deployed position forward of the seat bottom.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat, and more particularly to a seat with a safety airbag. Background Art

[0002] The vehicle is equipped with airbags. In the event of a collision, the inflator is activated and provides an inflation medium to the airbag, and the airbag is pressurized during the collision and acts as a cushion for the occupant. The airbags are located at various fixed locations in the vehicle passenger compartment. The vehicle generally includes a driver airbag installed in the steering wheel, a passenger airbag installed in the dashboard in the forward direction of the vehicle from the front passenger seat, and side airbags installed in the roof rails. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to the present invention, there is provided a seat, comprising:

[0004] Including the top seat back;

[0005] seat bottom that connects to the seat back;

[0006] an air bag inflatable to a deployed position, the air bag in the deployed position being attached to the top and extending forward of the seat back;

[0007] a drawstring secured to the seat back below the top and attached to the airbag; and

[0008] An airbag extension that can inflate from the airbag in the deployed position in front of the seat bottom.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drawstring defines a radial inflation path for the airbag, the path being centered about the location where the drawstring is secured to the seat back.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, wherein the seat back includes a side panel, the drawstring can be moved from an undeployed position to a deployed position, in which the drawstring is covered by the side panel and leads to the airbag in the undeployed position, and in the deployed position, the drawstring extends out of the side panel and leads to the airbag in the deployed position.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the side panel includes a breakable seam extending along the draw strap in the undeployed position.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the side panel is a first side panel, the seat back comprises a second side panel opposite to the first side panel, and the drawstring extends from the first side panel to the second side panel.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seat back includes a front panel extending from the first side panel to the second side panel, and the airbag in the deployed position extends between the drawstring and the front panel.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the airbag comprises a main body and a first wing and a second wing, and when the airbag is in the deployed position, the first wing extends from the main body toward the first side panel, and the second wing extends from the main body toward the second side panel.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the invention, wherein when the airbag is in the deployed position, the wing portion extends between the drawstring and the front panel.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an airbag includes an inflation chamber, a main shell surrounding the inflation chamber, and a reinforcement plate extending between a drawstring and the main shell and attached to the main shell.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the airbag comprises a housing portion, and the drawstring is attached to the housing portion.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the housing portion extends between the drawstring and the front panel of the seat back when the airbag is in the deployed position, and the drawstring extends between the housing portion and the front panel of the seat back when the airbag is in the non-deployed position.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the drawstring is a first drawstring, the seat further comprises a second drawstring secured to the seat back below the top and attached to the airbag extension.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the first pull strap is fixed to the seat back at a first attachment point, and the second pull strap is fixed to the seat back at a second attachment point below the first attachment point.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, in which the airbag extension is inflatable from an undeployed position folded against the airbag to a deployed position extending from the airbag in front of the seat bottom, the second draw strap is movable from the undeployed position to the deployed position, the second draw strap in the undeployed position extends from the second attachment point to the first attachment point to the airbag extension in the undeployed position when the airbag is in the undeployed position, and the second draw strap in the deployed position extends from the second attachment point to the airbag extension in the deployed position.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second draw strap in the deployed position is spaced apart from the first attachment point.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the second draw strap can be moved from the non-deployed position to the intermediate position, to the deployed position, and the second draw strap in the intermediate position extends from the second attachment point to the first attachment point, to the airbag extension portion which is in the non-deployed position when the airbag is in the deployed position.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the seat back comprises a first side panel and a second side panel opposite to the first side panel, and the second pull strap extends from the first side panel to the second side panel.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the airbag extension portion in the deployed position extends between the second drawstring and the seat bottom.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the airbag extension portion includes an inflation chamber, an extension shell surrounding the inflation chamber, and a reinforcement plate extending between the second draw strap and the extension shell and attached to the extension shell.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the airbag in the deployed position extends more than halfway from the top to the bottom of the seat. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle with a passenger compartment exposed for illustration;

[0029] Figure 2 is a side view of a seat of a passenger compartment with an airbag in a non-deployed position;

[0030] Figure 3 is a front view of a seat with an airbag in a non-deployed position;

[0031] Figure 4 is a side view of a seat with an air bag in a partially deployed position;

[0032] Figure 5 is a side view of a seat with an air bag in another partially deployed position;

[0033] Figure 6 is a side view of a seat with an airbag in a deployed position and an airbag extension in a non-deployed position;

[0034] Figure 7 is a front view of a seat with an airbag in a deployed position and an airbag extension in a non-deployed position;

[0035] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of a seat with an air bag in a deployed position;

[0036] Fig. 9is a side view of a seat with an airbag in a deployed position and an airbag extension in a deployed position;

[0037] Fig.10 is a front view of a seat with an airbag in a deployed position and an airbag extension in a deployed position;

[0038] Fig.11 It is a block diagram of the airbag control system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The seat includes a seat back having a top, a seat bottom connected to the seat back, an airbag, a drawstring secured to the seat back below the top and attached to the airbag, and an airbag extension. The airbag is inflatable from an undeployed position in the top to a deployed position connected to the top and extending forward of a front panel of the seat back. The airbag extension is inflatable from the airbag in the deployed position forward of the seat bottom.

[0040] The drawstring may define a radial inflation path for the airbag, and the path may be centered at the location where the drawstring is secured to the seat back. The seat back may include a side panel, and the drawstring may be movable from an undeployed position to a deployed position, in which the drawstring is covered by the side panel and leads to the airbag in the undeployed position, and in the deployed position, the drawstring extends out of the side panel and leads to the airbag in the deployed position. The side panel may include a breakable seam extending along the drawstring in the undeployed position. The side panel may be a first side panel, and the seat back may include a second side panel opposite the first side panel, and the drawstring may extend from the first side panel to the second side panel. The seat back may include a front panel extending from the first side panel to the second side panel, and the airbag in the deployed position may extend between the drawstring and the front panel. The airbag may include a body and a first wing and a second wing, and when the airbag is in the deployed position, the first wing may extend from the body toward the first side panel, and the second wing may extend from the body toward the second side panel. When the airbag is in the deployed position, the wing may extend between the drawstring and the front panel.

[0041] The airbag may include an inflatable chamber, a main shell surrounding the inflatable chamber, and a reinforcement panel extending between the drawstring and the main shell and attached to the main shell.

[0042] The airbag may include a housing portion, and the drawstring may be attached to the housing portion. The housing portion may extend between the drawstring and the front panel of the seat back when the airbag is in the deployed position, and the drawstring may extend between the housing portion and the front panel of the seat back when the airbag is in the non-deployed position.

[0043] The drawstring may be a first drawstring, and the seat may further include a second drawstring secured to the seat back below the top and attached to the airbag extension. The first drawstring may be secured to the seat back at a first attachment point, and the second drawstring may be secured to the seat back at a second attachment point below the first attachment point. The airbag extension may be inflated from an undeployed position folded against the airbag to a deployed position extending from the airbag in front of the seat bottom, and the second drawstring may be moved from the undeployed position to the deployed position, and the second drawstring in the undeployed position may extend from the second attachment point to the first attachment point to the airbag extension in the undeployed position while the airbag is in the undeployed position, and the second drawstring in the deployed position may extend from the second attachment point to the airbag extension in the deployed position. The second drawstring in the deployed position may be spaced from the first attachment point. The second drawstring may be moved from the undeployed position to an intermediate position to a deployed position, and the second drawstring in the intermediate position may extend from the second attachment point to the first attachment point to the airbag extension in the undeployed position while the airbag is in the deployed position. The seat back may include a first side panel and a second side panel opposite the first side panel, and the second drawstring may extend from the first side panel to the second side panel. The airbag extension in the deployed position may extend between the second drawstring and the seat bottom. The airbag extension may include an inflatable chamber, an extension shell surrounding the inflatable chamber, and a reinforcement plate extending between the second drawstring and the extension shell and attached to the extension shell.

[0044] In the deployed position, the airbag can extend more than halfway from the top to the bottom of the seat.

[0045] A seat with an airbag and an airbag extension provides the benefits of airbag protection regardless of the orientation of the seat. In the event of a collision, the airbag and airbag extension can deploy and can prevent secondary collisions between an occupant sitting in the seat and components of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, such as the instrument panel, windows, or pillars. In addition, also in the event of a collision, the airbag and airbag extension can prevent or reduce the severity of loose objects in the passenger compartment striking an occupant. A seat with an airbag and an airbag extension can therefore reduce injuries to an occupant during a collision.

[0046] refer to Figure 1, the vehicle 30 may be an autonomous vehicle. A computer (not shown) may be configured to operate the vehicle 30 completely or to a lesser extent independently of human driver intervention. The computer may be programmed to operate the propulsion system, the braking system, the steering system, and / or other vehicle systems. For purposes of the present invention, autonomous operation means that the computer controls the propulsion system, the braking system, and the steering system; semi-autonomous operation means that the computer controls one or two of the propulsion system, the braking system, and the steering system, and the human driver controls the rest; and non-autonomous operation means that the human driver controls the propulsion system, the braking system, and the steering system.

[0047] The vehicle 30 includes a passenger compartment 32. The passenger compartment 32 accommodates occupants 99 of the vehicle 30, if any. The passenger compartment 32 may be surrounded and / or defined by a body 34 of the vehicle 30. A floor 36 may define a bottom of the passenger compartment 32. The passenger compartment 32 includes one or more seats 38 for occupants 99 of the vehicle 30 disposed on and coupled to the floor 36.

[0048] refer to Figure 1-10 The seats 38 may be bucket seats (as shown), bench seats, or other types of seats. Each seat 38 defines a forward direction as the direction in which an occupant 99 sitting in the seat 38 faces. Figure 1 As shown, the seats 38 can be rotatably coupled to the bottom plate 36. The seats 38 can each rotate around a vertical axis relative to the passenger compartment 32. Each seat 38 can face the vehicle forward direction, the vehicle rearward direction, or any direction therebetween. Any direction that the seat 38 faces is relative to the front direction of the seat 38.

[0049] The seat 38 may include a seat back 40, a seat bottom 42 coupled to the seat back 40, and a headrest 44 coupled to the seat back 40. The headrest 44 may be supported by the seat back 40 and may be fixed or movable relative to the seat back 40. The seat back 40 may be supported by the seat bottom 42 and may be fixed or movable relative to the seat bottom 42. The seat back 40, the seat bottom 42, and / or the headrest 44 may be adjustable with multiple degrees of freedom. Specifically, the seat back 40, the seat bottom 42, and / or the headrest 44 may themselves be adjustable, in other words, have adjustable components within the seat back 40, the seat bottom 42, and / or the headrest 44, and / or may be adjustable relative to each other.

[0050] refer to Figure 2 and 3, the seat back 40 includes a first side panel 46, a second side panel 48 opposite the first side panel 46, a front panel 50 extending from the first side panel 46 to the second side panel 48, and a rear panel 52 extending from the first side panel 46 to the second side panel 48. (Throughout this document, the adjectives "first" and "second" are used as identifiers and are not intended to indicate importance or order.) The front panel 50 faces a forward direction relative to the seat 38. The rear panel 52 faces rearward relative to the seat 38, that is, in a direction opposite to the forward direction. The first side panel 46 and the second side panel 48 face transversely relative to the seat 38. The seat back 40 includes a top 54, which is the uppermost portion of the seat back 40, that is, the vehicle-upward end of the seat back 40. The top 54 can be part of the front panel 50 of the seat back 40. In such a configuration, the top 54 and the front panel 50 face the same direction, specifically, facing forward relative to the seat 38.

[0051] refer to Figure 2-10 , the seat back 40 includes an air bag 56. The air bag 56 can be in an undeployed position (eg Figure 2 and 3 ) to the deployed position (as shown) Figure 6-10 ). The airbag 56 includes an inflatable chamber 58 and a main shell 60 surrounding and defining the inflatable chamber 58. The main shell 60 may be formed by panels (not shown) sewn together. The main shell 60 includes an outer shell 62 and an inner shell 64. When the airbag 56 is in the deployed position, the outer shell 62 faces away from the seat 38, that is, forward relative to the seat 38, and the inner shell 64 faces the seat 38, that is, pressed against the occupant 99 of the seat 38. The outer shell 62 and the inner shell 64 may or may not correspond to the panels of the airbag 56.

[0052] The airbag 56, i.e., the panel of the airbag 56, can be formed from any suitable airbag material (e.g., a braided polymer). For example, the airbag 56 can be formed from braided nylon yarn (e.g., nylon 6-6). Other suitable examples include polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyester, or any other suitable polymer. The braided polymer can include a coating such as silicone, neoprene, polyurethane, etc. For example, the coating can be a polyorganosiloxane.

[0053] refer to Figure 2 and 3 , the air bag 56 can be inflated from the undeployed position in the top portion 54. In the undeployed position, the air bag 56 is disposed in a housing 66 disposed in the top portion 54 of the seat back 40. In the undeployed position, the air bag 56 can be coiled or folded, and the outer shell 62 or a portion of the outer shell 62 can be closer to the occupant 99 than the inner shell 64 or a portion of the inner shell 64 (i.e., opposite to when the air bag 56 is in the deployed position).

[0054] refer to Figure 2-10 , a first strap 68 is fixed to the seat back 40 below the top 54 and is attached to the airbag 56. The first strap 68 extends from the first side panel 46 to the second side panel 48. More specifically, one end of the first strap 68 is attached to a first attachment point 70 at the first side panel 46, and the other end of the first strap 68 is attached to the first attachment point 70 at the second side panel 48. The positions of the two first attachment points 70 may be symmetrical about the seat 38. Between the two first attachment points 70, the first strap 68 is attached to the airbag 56. The first strap 68 may be moved from a non-deployed position when the airbag 56 is in the non-deployed position to a deployed position when the airbag 56 is in the deployed position.

[0055] refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In the undeployed position, the first draw strap 68 extends from one of the first attachment points 70 to the air bag 56 under one of the side panels 46, 48, and from the air bag 56 to the other attachment point 70 under the other of the side panels 46, 48. The portion of the first draw strap 68 that extends under the side panels 46, 48 is covered by the side panels 46, 48. When the air bag 56 is in the undeployed position, the first draw strap 68 extends between a portion of the housing 62 and the front panel 50 of the seat back 40; in other words, when the air bag 56 is in the undeployed position, at least some of the housing 62 is further away from the front panel 50 than the portion of the first draw strap 68 that is attached to the air bag 56.

[0056] refer to Figure 2 , 4 -6 and 9, the side panels 46, 48 each include a breakable seam 72 extending along the first draw tape 68 in the undeployed position. The seam 72 can extend generally vertically along each side panel 46, 48. The portion of the first draw tape 68 extending below the side panels 46, 48 extends generally parallel to the seam 72. Each seam 72 can extend from the first attachment point 70 or from the second attachment point 74 to the top 54. The seam 72 is breakable relative to the rest of the side panels 46, 48, that is, it tears or separates under a tensile stress that is lower than the tensile stress that tears or separates the rest of the side panels 46, 48. For example, the seams 72 can each be a series of perforations, can each be a thinner line of material than the rest of the side panels 46, 48, etc. Reference Figure 6-8 , the airbag 56 can be inflated to a deployed position attached to the top 54 and extending forward of the front panel 50. The airbag 56 can extend completely laterally through the front panel 50, that is, laterally through the first side panel 46 and through the second side panel 48. The airbag 56 extends to the legs of the occupant 99. The airbag 56 extends most of the way from the top 54 to the seat bottom 42, for example, extending more than halfway from the top 54 to the seat bottom 42.

[0057] As described below, when the airbag 56 and the airbag extension 84 are in the deployed position, the airbag extension 84 extends from the airbag 56. In the deployed position, the seat back 40, the seat bottom 42, the airbag 56, and the airbag extension 84 surround the occupant 99 to absorb energy from the occupant, regardless of the direction of the collision, such as a side collision, a frontal collision, a rear collision, a rollover collision, etc., and regardless of the position of the seat 38, that is, regardless of the direction the seat 38 faces. The seat back 40, the seat bottom 42, the airbag 56, and the airbag extension 84 allow the seat 38 to be designed without a seat belt. In other words, the seat back 40, the seat bottom 42, the airbag 56, and the airbag extension 84 restrain the occupant 99 so that a seat belt is not required, that is, the seat 38 can be designed without a seat belt or the occupant 99 can choose not to use a seat belt in certain circumstances. Because the air bag 56 deploys from the top 54 of the seat back 40 , the air bag 56 holds the occupant 99 on the seat 38 during a rollover event.

[0058] The airbag 56 in the deployed position extends between the first strap 68 and the seat back 40. More specifically, when the airbag 56 is in the deployed position, a portion of the housing 62 extends between the first strap 68 and the front panel 50 of the seat back 40. In other words, when the airbag 56 is in the deployed position, the portion of the first strap 68 attached to the airbag 56 is farther from the front panel 50 of the seat back 40 than the housing 62 (conversely, when the airbag 56 is in the non-deployed position, the housing 62 is farther from the front panel 50 of the seat back 40 than the portion of the first strap 68 attached to the airbag 56).

[0059] Continue to refer Figure 6-8 In the deployed position, the first strap 68 extends from one of the side panels 46, 48 through the air bag 56 in the deployed position to the other of the side panels 46, 48. The first strap 68 extends from the first attachment point 70 in a forward direction and extends laterally across the air bag 56. The first strap 68 extends to the exterior of the air bag 56 relative to the seat back 40. The first strap 68 extends around the housing 62 of the air bag 56. The first strap 68 constrains the air bag 56 against the occupant 99 that is pushed into the air bag 56 during a collision.

[0060] refer to Figure 2 and 4-6, the first tie strap 68 defines a radial inflation path R for the airbag 56. The radial inflation path R is centered on the first attachment point 70, that is, the position where the first tie strap 68 is fixed to the seat back 40. When the airbag 56 is unrolled or deployed between the undeployed position and the deployed position, the housing 62 moves from the portion of the first tie strap 68 connected to the airbag 56 relative to the outside of the front panel 50 of the seat back 40 to the portion of the first tie strap 68 connected to the airbag 56 relative to the inside of the front panel 50 of the seat back 40. In other words, the housing 62 rotates around the portion of the first tie strap 68 attached to the airbag 56 during inflation.

[0061] refer to Figure 4-10 , the airbag 56 may include a first reinforcement plate 76 extending between the first draw strap 68 and the main shell 60 and attached to the main shell 60. More specifically, the first reinforcement plate 76 may be attached to the outer shell 62. The first reinforcement plate 76 may extend over an outer surface of the outer shell 62. In other words, the first reinforcement plate 76 does not define the inflation chamber 58, and the outer shell 62 extends completely between the first reinforcement plate 76 and the inflation chamber 58. The first reinforcement plate 76 is an additional layer of material so that the airbag 56 has a thicker wall at the location where the first reinforcement plate 76 is disposed on the main shell 60 than at the location of the rest of the main shell 60. The first reinforcement plate 76 may be formed of the same material as the main shell 60 or a different material.

[0062] refer to Figure 6 and 9 In the deployed position, the air bag 56 includes a main body 78, a first wing 80, and a second wing 82. The main body 78 is disposed in front of the front panel 50 of the seat back 40 and in front of the occupant 99. When the air bag 56 is in the deployed position, the first wing 80 extends from the main body 78 toward the first side panel 46, and the second wing 82 extends from the main body 78 toward the second side panel 48. The wings 80, 82 extend between the first drawstring 68 and the front panel 50. The wings 80, 82 extend beside the arms of the occupant 99. The wings 80, 82 extend between the first drawstring 68 and the occupant 99.

[0063] refer to Figure 6-7 9-10, the airbag extension 84 is attached to the airbag 56. The airbag extension 84 is in the undeployed position (eg, Figure 6 and 7 ) to the deployed position (as shown) Fig. 9 and 105 ). The airbag extension 84 includes an inflatable chamber 86 and an extension shell 88 surrounding and defining the inflatable chamber 86. The inflatable chamber 86 of the airbag extension 84 communicates with the inflatable chamber 58 of the airbag 56. The extension shell 88 may be formed from panels (not shown) sewn together. The airbag extension 84 may be formed from the same material as the airbag 56 or a different material.

[0064] refer to Figure 6 and 7 In the undeployed position, the airbag extension 84 is folded against the airbag 56. The airbag 56 can be in the undeployed position or in the deployed position.

[0065] The second drawstring 90 may be secured to the seat back 40 below the top portion 54 and attached to the airbag extension 84. The second drawstring 90 extends from the first side panel 46 to the second side panel 48. More specifically, one end of the second drawstring 90 is attached to the second attachment point 74 at the first side panel 46, and the other end of the second drawstring 90 is attached to the second attachment point 74 at the second side panel 48. The two second attachment points 74 may be symmetrical about the seat 38, and the positions of the two second attachment points 74 may be below the first attachment point 70. Between the second attachment points 74, the second drawstring 90 is attached to the airbag extension 84. The second drawstring 90 may be movable from the non-deployed position to the intermediate position to the deployed position.

[0066] refer to Figure 2 , the second draw strap 90 in the undeployed position extends from the second attachment point 74 to the first attachment point 70 to the airbag extension 84 in the undeployed position when the airbag 56 is in the undeployed position. In the undeployed position, the second draw strap 90 extends from one of the second attachment points 74 to the corresponding first attachment point 70 to the airbag extension 84 below the corresponding side panel 46, 48, and from the airbag 56 to the other of the first attachment points 70 to the other of the second attachment points 74 below the other of the side panels 46, 48. The portion of the second draw strap 90 extending below the side panels 46, 48 (i.e., the portion extending from the second attachment point 74 to the first attachment point 74 to the airbag extension 84) is covered by the side panels 46, 48. The portion of the second draw strap 90 extending below the side panels 46, 48 extends generally parallel to the seam 72.

[0067] refer to Figure 6In the intermediate position, the second draw strap 90 extends from the second attachment point 74 to the first attachment point 70, and to the airbag extension 84 in the undeployed position when the airbag 56 is in the deployed position. The second draw strap 90 extends from the second attachment point 74 to the corresponding first attachment point 70 below the side panels 46, 48, extends from the first attachment point 70 in a forward direction out of the side panels 46, 48, and extends laterally across the airbag 56 in the deployed position and across the airbag extension 84 in the undeployed position.

[0068] refer to Fig. 9 and 10 , the airbag extension 84 may be inflated from the airbag 56 to the deployed position in front of the seat bottom 42. The airbag extension 84 may extend completely laterally across the front of the seat bottom 42. The airbag extension 84 may extend most of the way from the airbag 56 to the floor 36 of the passenger compartment 32, for example, may extend more than halfway from the airbag 56 to the floor 36. The airbag extension 84 may extend in front of the legs of the occupant 99. The airbag extension 84 may extend between the second drawstring 90 and the seat bottom 42.

[0069] Continue to refer Fig. 9 and 10 In the deployed position, a second drawstring 90 extends from one of the side panels 46, 48, to the airbag extension 84 in the deployed position, to the other of the side panels 46, 48. The second drawstring 90 extends from the second attachment point 74 in a forward direction and extends laterally across the airbag extension 84. The second drawstring 90 has been separated from the first attachment point 70, and thus the second drawstring 90 is spaced apart from the first attachment point 70. The second drawstring 90 extends to the exterior of the airbag extension 84 relative to the seat bottom 42. The second drawstring 90 constrains the airbag extension 84 against the legs of an occupant 99 that is pushed into the airbag extension 84 during a collision.

[0070] refer to Fig. 9 , the second reinforcing plate 92 may extend between the second draw strap 90 and the extension shell 88 and be attached to the extension shell 88. The second reinforcing plate 92 extends on the outer surface of the extension shell 88. In other words, the second reinforcing plate 92 does not define the inflation chamber 86, and the extension shell 88 extends completely between the second reinforcing plate 92 and the inflation chamber 86. The second reinforcing plate 92 is an additional layer of material so that the airbag extension 84 has a thicker wall at the location where the second reinforcing plate 92 is disposed on the extension shell 88 than at that location of the rest of the extension shell 88. The second reinforcing plate 92 may be formed of the same material as the extension shell 88 or a different material.

[0071] refer to Fig.11, the inflator 94 may be connected to the airbag 56 and communicate with the inflation chamber 58 of the airbag 56 and the inflation chamber 86 of the airbag extension 84. Upon receiving a signal from, for example, the controller 96, the inflator 94 may inflate the airbag 56 and the airbag extension 84 with an inflatable medium (e.g., a gas). Specifically, the inflator 94 inflates the inflation chamber 58 of the airbag 56 and the inflation chamber 86 of the airbag extension 84. The inflator 94 may be, for example, a pyrotechnic inflator that uses a chemical reaction to drive an inflation medium to the airbag 56. The inflator 94 may be of any suitable type, such as a cold air inflator.

[0072] The controller 96 is a microprocessor-based controller. The controller 96 includes a processor, a memory, etc. The memory of the controller 96 includes a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor and for electronically storing data and / or databases. The controller 96 can be the same or different device as the computer responsible for autonomous control of the vehicle 30.

[0073] The controller 96 may send signals via a communication network 98 (e.g., a controller area network (CAN) bus, Ethernet, wireless network (WiFi), local interconnect network (LIN), on-board diagnostic connector (OBD-II), and / or any other wired or wireless communication network). The controller 96 may communicate with the inflator 94 and the collision sensor 100 via the communication network 98.

[0074] Continue to refer Fig.11 , the collision sensor 100 is adapted to detect a collision with the vehicle 30. The collision sensor 100 may be of any suitable type, such as a post-contact sensor (such as a linear or angular accelerometer, a gyroscope, a pressure sensor, and a contact switch); and a pre-crash sensor (such as a radar, a lidar, and a vision sensing system). The vision system may include one or more cameras, a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor, a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, etc. The collision sensor 100 may be located at a plurality of points in or on the vehicle 30.

[0075] In the event of a collision to the vehicle 30, the collision sensor 100 may detect the collision and transmit a signal to the controller 96 via the communication network 98. The controller 96 may transmit a signal to the inflator 94 via the communication network 98. The inflator 94 may deflate and inflate the airbag 56. During inflation, the airbag 56 unwinds or deploys in front of the occupant 99 of the seat 38. When the first and second tethers 68, 90 tear through the seam 72 between the first attachment point 70 and the top 54, the outer shell 62 of the airbag 56 attached to the first tether 68 unwinds or deploys along the radial inflation path R. The inner shell 64 of the airbag 56 in the undeployed position is farther from the front panel 50 of the seat back 40 than the outer shell 62, and the inner shell 64 of the airbag 56 in the deployed position is closer to the front panel 50 than the seat back 40. The center of mass of the airbag 56 is thus deployed more downwardly than forwardly relative to the seat back 40, thereby keeping the airbag 56 closer to the torso of the occupant 99 during deployment. When the airbag 56 is fully deployed, the airbag extension 84 is deployed. The unwinding or deployment of the airbag 56 can prevent the inflation medium from inflating the airbag extension 84 until the airbag 56 is fully or mostly deployed. The airbag extension 84 is deployed downwardly and forwardly in front of the seat bottom 42 and the shin of the occupant 99. The second drawstring 90 tears through the seam 72 between the first attachment point 70 and the second attachment point 74. The second drawstring 90 guides the airbag extension 84 downwardly than forwardly and keeps the airbag extension 84 closer to the shin of the occupant 99. The airbag 56 and the airbag extension 84 can thus extend primarily around the exposed portion of the occupant 99, thereby providing protection during a collision.

[0076] The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it should be understood that the terminology used is intended to be illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Based on the above teachings, many modifications and variations of the present invention are feasible, and the present invention can be practiced in addition to the specific description. "Substantially" as used herein means that the size, duration, shape or other adjectives may vary slightly from what is described due to physical defects, power interruptions, processing or other manufacturing changes, etc.

Claims

1. A seat, comprising: a seat back, the seat back comprising a top, a first side panel, a second side panel opposite the first side panel, and a front panel extending from the first side panel to the second side panel; a seat bottom connected to said seat back; an airbag inflatable to a deployed position, the airbag in the deployed position being attached to the roof and extending forward of the seat back, the airbag including a housing portion; a drawstring secured to the seat back below the top portion and attached to the housing portion of the airbag; as well as an airbag extension inflatable from the airbag in the deployed position forward of the seat bottom; wherein the drawstring defines a radial inflation path for the airbag, the path being centered about the location where the drawstring is secured to the seat back; The drawstring extends from the first side panel to the second side panel; The drawstring can be moved from a non-deployed position to a deployed position, in which the drawstring is covered by the first side panel and leads to the safety airbag in the non-deployed position, and in the deployed position, the drawstring extends out of the first side panel and leads to the safety airbag in the deployed position; the first side panel including a breakable seam extending along the draw strap in the undeployed position; as well as The airbag in the deployed position extends between the draw strap and the front panel.

2. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the shell portion extends between the drawstring and the front panel of the seat back when the airbag is in the deployed position, and wherein the drawstring extends between the shell portion and the front panel of the seat back when the airbag is in the non-deployed position.

3. The seat of claim 1 wherein the drawstring is a first drawstring, the seat further comprising a second drawstring secured to the seat back below the top portion and attached to the airbag extension.

4. The seat of claim 3, wherein the first strap is secured to the seat back at a first attachment point, and the second strap is secured to the seat back at a second attachment point below the first attachment point.

5. The seat of claim 4 , wherein the airbag extension is inflatable from an undeployed position folded against the airbag to a deployed position extending from the airbag in front of the seat bottom, the second draw strap is movable from the undeployed position to a deployed position, the second draw strap in the undeployed position extending from the second attachment point to the first attachment point to the airbag extension in the undeployed position when the airbag is in the undeployed position, and the second draw strap in the deployed position extends from the second attachment point to the airbag extension in the deployed position.

6. The seat of claim 5, wherein the second draw strap in the deployed position is spaced apart from the first attachment point.

7. The seat of claim 6 , wherein the second draw strap is movable from the undeployed position to an intermediate position to the deployed position, and the second draw strap in the intermediate position extends from the second attachment point to the first attachment point to the airbag extension portion that is in the undeployed position when the airbag is in the deployed position.

8. The seat of claim 7, wherein the seat back includes a first side panel and a second side panel opposite the first side panel, and the second drawstring extends from the first side panel to the second side panel.

9. The seat of claim 8 wherein the air bag extension in the deployed position extends between the second draw strap and the seat bottom.

10. The seat of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the airbag in the deployed position extends more than halfway from the top to the seat bottom.

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