Seats with restraint systems

Abstract

A seat with a restraint system includes a seat back, two armrest portions, and two airbags. Each armrest portion is rotatably coupled to the seat back about a generally vertical axis from a stowed position extending in a forward direction to a deployed position extending forward of the seat back. Each airbag is secured to one of the armrest portions and is inflatable to an inflated position in which one of the airbags is disposed forward of the other of the airbags relative to the seat back.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicle seats and more particularly to the field of vehicle seat restraint systems. Background Art

[0002] The vehicle is equipped with airbags. In the event of a collision, an inflator activates the airbag and supplies an inflation medium to the airbag, and the airbag is pressurized and acts as a cushion for the passenger during the collision. The airbags are located at various fixed positions in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. 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 air curtains installed in the roof rails. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] Figure 1 is a top view of the vehicle with the roof removed for illustration purposes.

[0004] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the seats of a vehicle.

[0005] Figure 3 is a top view of the seat with the armrest section in the stowed position.

[0006] Figure 4 is a top view of the seat with the armrest section in the deployed position.

[0007] Figure 5 is a top view of the seat with the armrest portion in the deployed position and the airbag in the inflated position.

[0008] Figure 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the seat with the air bag in the inflated position.

[0009] Figure 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of an armrest of a seat, wherein the armrest portion is in a stowed position.

[0010] Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of an armrest with the armrest portion in a deployed position and the air chamber undischarged.

[0011] Fig. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of an armrest with the armrest portion in the deployed position and the air chamber exhausted.

[0012] Fig.10 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest portion with the airbag in the uninflated position.

[0013] Fig.11 is a cross-sectional view of the armrest portion with the airbag in the inflated position.

[0014] Fig.12 It is a block diagram of the seat control system.

[0015] Fig.13 is a process flow diagram of a process for deploying an armrest portion and inflating an airbag. Summary of the invention

[0016] A seat includes a seat back, two armrest portions, and two airbags, each secured to one of the armrest portions. Each armrest portion is rotatably coupled to the seat back about a generally vertical axis from a stowed position extending in a forward direction to a deployed position extending forward of the seat back. Each airbag is inflatable to an inflated position in which one of the airbags is disposed forward of the other of the airbags relative to the seat back.

[0017] The armrest portion may be a front armrest portion, and the seat may include two rear armrest portions fixed relative to the seat back, and each front armrest portion is rotatably coupled to one of the rear armrest portions.

[0018] The seat may include two inflators, each of which is positioned to rotate one of the armrest portions to the deployed position when deflated. The inflator may include a first inflator and a second inflator, and the seat may include a piston cylinder and a piston head disposed in the piston cylinder, and a gas expansion chamber may be enclosed by the piston head and the piston cylinder, and the inflator may be disposed in the gas expansion chamber. The seat may include a sleeve slidably disposed in the piston cylinder, and the piston head may be slidably disposed in the sleeve. The gas expansion chamber may be enclosed by the sleeve and the piston head. The sleeve may include a first end face and a second end face spaced apart from the first end face, and the gas expansion chamber may be disposed between the piston head and the first end face. The piston head may be coupled to one of the armrest portions, and the position of the piston head relative to the piston cylinder may correspond to the position of the one of the armrest portions relative to the seat back.

[0019] The armrest portion may include a first armrest portion and a second armrest portion, and the seat may include a piston rod fixed to the piston head and rotatably coupled to the first armrest portion.

[0020] The piston cylinder may be rotatably coupled to the seat back.

[0021] The armrest portion is rotatable between the stowed position and the deployed position without defusing the inflator.

[0022] The inflator may be an armrest inflator, and the seat may include an airbag inflator each fluidly connected to one of the airbags, and a controller in communication with the armrest inflator and the airbag inflator. The controller is programmed to instruct the armrest inflator to discharge and to instruct the airbag inflator to discharge a preset time after the armrest inflator discharges.

[0023] Each armrest portion may include a bottom panel, an outer panel, a top panel, and an inner panel, and the top panel and the outer panel may be hingedly coupled for each armrest portion. The inner panel and the top panel may be hingedly coupled for each armrest portion. The inner panel and the bottom panel may be releasably connected for each armrest portion. The top panel and the inner panel may each be rotated from a non-deployed position to a deployed position. The top panel and the inner panel may each have a range of rotational motion, and each range of motion may stop at the deployed position.

[0024] The seat may include two stops fixed relative to the seat back, wherein each armrest portion includes a cutout that engages one of the stops. The cutouts may be sized to allow the armrest portion to rotate between the stowed position and the deployed position and to prevent the armrest portion from rotating past the stowed position and past the deployed position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The seat 38 with attachment features as described herein provides the benefits of airbag protection regardless of the orientation of the seat 38 in the vehicle 30. In the event of a collision, the airbags 116, 118 can be deployed and can prevent secondary collisions between an occupant sitting in the seat 38 and components of the passenger compartment 32 of the vehicle 30, such as the dashboard, windows, or pillars. In addition, also in the event of a collision, the airbags 116, 118 can prevent or reduce the severity of loose objects in the passenger compartment 32 from striking the occupant. The airbags 116, 118 can reduce the likelihood of an occupant "slipping" during a collision, that is, sliding forward along the seat bottom 44 out of position. Therefore, the seat 38 with the airbags 116, 118 can reduce injuries to the occupant during a collision. At the same time, the seat 38 allows greater freedom of movement for the occupant by possibly replacing the seat belt. The armrest 62 that holds the airbags 116, 118 is spaced apart from the occupant and can be deployed to the appropriate position in the event of a collision.

[0026] 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 independently or to a lesser extent dependent on 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 this disclosure, 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 remainder; and non-autonomous operation means that the human driver controls the propulsion system, the braking system, and the steering system.

[0027] The vehicle 30 includes a passenger compartment 32. The passenger compartment 32 accommodates occupants 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 of the vehicle 30, which are disposed on and coupled to the floor 36.

[0028] The seats 38 may be bucket seats (as shown), bench seats, or another type of seat. Each seat 38 defines a forward direction F as the direction in which the occupant sitting in the seat 38 faces. The seat 38 may be rotatably coupled to the floor 36 via, for example, a pedestal 40. The seats 38 may each be rotatable relative to the passenger compartment 32 around a substantially vertical axis. Each seat 38 may face the vehicle forward direction, the vehicle rearward direction, or any direction therebetween. Any direction that the seat 38 faces is relative to the forward direction F of the seat 38.

[0029] The seat 38 may include a seat back 42, a seat bottom 44, and a headrest 46. The headrest 46 may be supported by the seat back 42 and may be fixed or movable relative to the seat back 42. The seat back 42 may be supported by the seat bottom 44 and may be fixed or movable relative to the seat bottom 44. The seat back 42, the seat bottom 44, and / or the headrest 46 may be adjusted with multiple degrees of freedom. Specifically, the seat back 42, the seat bottom 44, and / or the headrest 46 may be adjustable themselves, in other words, there are adjustable components in the seat back 42, the seat bottom 44, and / or the headrest 46, and / or may be adjusted relative to each other. The seat back 42 includes a front side 48 that the occupant contacts when sitting in the seat 38, a rear side 50 facing in the opposite direction to the front side 48, and a left side 52 and a right side 54 facing and connecting the front side 48 and the rear side 50. The seat back 42 defines a plane P that passes through the center of the seat back 42 and extends perpendicularly and forwardly relative to the seat back 42 .

[0030] The seat bottom 44 may include an anti-submarine slope 56 and a cushion 58. The cushion 58 may cover the anti-submarine slope 56. The anti-submarine slope 56 may be harder than the cushion 58, i.e., require greater force to compress. The anti-submarine slope 56 may be inclined upward in the forward direction of the seat. The anti-submarine slope 56 may include a peak 60 at the maximum height of the anti-submarine slope 56, and the peak 60 may be set forward at more than half the position relative to the seat bottom 44. The peak 60 of the anti-submarine slope 56 may be positioned below the thigh and in front of the buttocks of an occupant with a height of the 50th percentile. The anti-submarine slope 56 may extend across the front end of the seat bottom 44 in a lateral direction relative to the seat 38. The anti-submarine slope 56 may be positioned to reduce the possibility of an occupant "submarine", i.e., sliding under the restraint system during a collision.

[0031] The seat 38 includes two armrests 62 attached to the seat back 42. The armrests 62 may extend from the left side 52 and the right side 54 of the seat back 42. The armrests 62 may be positioned at a height relative to the seat back 42 at which an occupant may rest their forearms on the armrests 62. Each armrest 62 may include a rear armrest portion 64 and a front armrest portion 66. The armrests 62 may be symmetrical about the plane P (except for the airbags 116, 118), and components described below as constituting one of the armrests 62 may also constitute the other of the armrests 62. Common numbers identify common features of the armrests 62.

[0032] The rear armrest portion 64 is fixed relative to the seat back 42. The rear armrest portion 64 can extend from the left side 52 and the right side 54 of the seat back 42. The rear armrest portion 64 can be occupant non-adjustable; that is, the occupant cannot move the rear armrest portion 64 relative to the seat back 42.

[0033] The front armrest portions 66 are directly coupled to the rear armrest portions 64 and indirectly coupled to the seat back 42. Each front armrest portion 66 extends from one of the rear armrest portions 64. The front armrest portions 66 may be free hanging, i.e., cantilevered from the rear armrest portions 64, i.e., attached to and extending from the rear armrest portions 64, and not directly attached to any other component.

[0034] Each front armrest portion 66 is rotatably coupled to one of the rear armrest portions 64, and the front armrest portions 66 are indirectly rotatably coupled to the seat back 42. The front armrest portions 66 can rotate relative to the rear armrest portions 64 around a substantially vertical axis V between a stowed position and a deployed position. Specifically, the rear armrest portions 64 and the front armrest portions 66 are arranged substantially horizontally to support the arms of the occupants, and can be slightly offset from the true horizontal, for example, to be in a position for comfortably supporting the arms of the occupants. Therefore, the front armrest portion 66 can rotate around a substantially vertical axis V (i.e., truly vertical or slightly offset from truly vertical), for example, to accommodate the horizontal arrangement just described above.

[0035] The front armrest portions 66 in the stowed position extend in a forward direction relative to the seat back 42. The front armrest portions 66 in the stowed position may extend in the same direction as the rear armrest portions 64 extend. The front armrest portions 66 in the stowed position may be parallel to each other. The front armrest portions 66 in the deployed position extend in front of the seat back 42. The front armrest portions 66 in the deployed position may be angled inwardly from the rear armrest portions 64 relative to the seat back 42. Each front armrest portion 66 in the deployed position may form an obtuse angle with one of the rear armrest portions 64.

[0036] Each armrest 62 may include a pivot 68 that rotatably couples the front armrest portion 66 and the rear armrest portion 64. The pivot 68 may have a front pivot portion 70 that is fixed relative to the front armrest portion 66, a rear pivot portion 72 that is fixed relative to the rear armrest portion 64, and a pin 74 that connects the front pivot portion 70 and the rear pivot portion 72. The pin 74 may allow rotational movement of the front pivot portion 70 relative to the rear pivot portion 72. The front pivot portion 70 may be integral with and part of the front armrest portion 66, and the rear pivot portion 72 may be integral with and part of the rear armrest portion 64.

[0037] Each armrest 62 includes a cutout 128 and a stop 130 that engages the cutout 128. The stop 130 is included in one of the rear armrest portion 64 and the front armrest portion 66, and the cutout is included in the other of the rear armrest portion 64 and the front armrest portion 66. For example, the stop 130 can be included in the rear armrest portion 64 (such as the rear pivot portion 72); and the cutout 128 can be included in the front armrest portion 66 (such as the front pivot portion 70). The cutout 128 can be shaped as an arc of a circle centered on the pin 74 and centered on a generally vertical axis V. The cutout 128 can be sized to allow the front armrest portion 66 to rotate between the stowed position and the deployed position, and to prevent the armrest portion from rotating past the stowed position and past the deployed position. For example, when the front armrest portion 66 is in the stowed position, the stop 130 contacts one end of the cutout 128 , and when the front armrest portion 66 is in the deployed position, the stop 130 contacts the other end of the cutout 128 .

[0038] A piston cylinder 76 is rotatably coupled to the seat back 42 and disposed in each rear armrest portion 64. The piston cylinder 76 has a tubular shape extending from a closed end 78 to an open end 80. The closed end 78 of the piston cylinder 76 can be connected to a piston cylinder hinge 82. The piston cylinder hinge 82 can have a fixed position relative to the seat back 42. The piston cylinder 76 can freely rotate about the piston cylinder hinge 82.

[0039] The sleeve 84 is slidably disposed in the piston cylinder 76. The sleeve 84 may have a tubular shape extending from a first end face 86 to a second end face 88 spaced apart from the first end face 86. (The adjectives "first" and "second" are used throughout this document as identifiers and are not intended to indicate importance or order.) The tubular shape may engage with the interior of the piston cylinder 76 so that the sleeve 84 may only slide in the direction of elongation of the piston cylinder 76. For example, the sleeve 84 may be cylindrical with an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the piston cylinder 76. The first end face 86 may be closed. The second end face 88 may be open.

[0040] The piston head 90 is slidably disposed in the piston cylinder 76, more specifically, in the sleeve 84. The cross-sectional shape of the piston head 90 may engage with the interior of the sleeve 84 so that the piston head 90 can slide only in the elongated direction of the sleeve 84. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the piston head 90 may be circular, with a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sleeve 84.

[0041] The piston head 90 is coupled to the front armrest portion 66 via, for example, a piston rod 92. The piston rod 92 extends from a first end 94 fixed to the piston head 90 to a second end 96 rotatably coupled to the front armrest portion 66 (e.g., the front pivot portion 70). The second end 96 of the piston cylinder 76 can be connected to a piston rod hinge 98. The piston rod hinge 98 can have a fixed position relative to the front pivot portion 70. The piston rod 92, and therefore the piston head 90, can freely rotate about the piston rod hinge 98.

[0042] The gas expansion chamber 100 is enclosed by the piston head 90 and the piston cylinder 76, more specifically, by the piston head 90 and the sleeve 84. The gas expansion chamber 100 is disposed between the piston head 90 and the first end surface 86 of the sleeve 84. The piston head 90 and the sleeve 84 define the gas expansion chamber 100. The piston head 90 can be fitted in the sleeve 84 close enough to prevent the gas in the gas expansion chamber 100 from escaping from the gas expansion chamber 100.

[0043] The armrest inflator 102 is positioned to rotate the front armrest portion 66 to the deployed position when discharged. The armrest inflator 102 is disposed in the gas expansion chamber 100. The armrest inflator 102 may be or may include a filler 104 that can be burned to produce gas. The filler 104 may be formed of a solid mixture of substances that reacts to produce gas when ignited. For example, the filler 104 may be formed of sodium azide (NaNO3), potassium nitrate (KNO3), and silicon dioxide (SiO2), which react to form nitrogen (N2).

[0044] The position of the piston head 90 relative to the piston cylinder 76 corresponds to the position of the front armrest portion 66 relative to the seat back 42. The front armrest portion 66 can be rotated to the deployed position from any position by discharging the armrest inflator 102, and the front armrest portion 66 can be rotated between the stowed position and the deployed position without discharging the armrest inflator 102. The front armrest portion 66 can be rotated by an occupant of the seat 38, in which case the sleeve 84 slides in the piston cylinder 76 and the piston head 90 is fixed relative to the sleeve 84 when the front armrest portion 66 rotates. If the armrest inflator 102 is discharged, the pressure of the inflation gas in the gas expansion chamber 100 pushes the first end surface 86 of the sleeve 84 to the closed end 78 of the piston cylinder 76 and pushes the piston head 90 toward the second end surface 88 of the sleeve 84.

[0045] The front armrest portion 66 includes a bottom panel 106, an outer panel 108, a top panel 110, and an inner panel 112. The top panel 110 and the outer panel 108 are hingedly connected by a panel hinge 132. The inner panel 112 and the top panel 110 are hingedly connected by a panel hinge 132. The inner panel 112 and the bottom panel 106 are releasably connected. The bottom panel 106 and the outer panel 108 are attached.

[0046] The top panel 110 can rotate relative to the outer panel 108 from the non-deployed position to the deployed position. The top panel 110 has a range of rotational motion that stops at the deployed position. The inner panel 112 can rotate relative to the top panel 110 from the non-deployed position to the deployed position. The inner panel 112 has a range of rotational motion that stops at the deployed position. The panel stop 114 can be positioned to prevent the top panel 110 and the inner panel 112 from rotating beyond the deployed position to outside the range of motion. The panel stop 114 can be fixed to the outer panel 108, the top panel 110 and / or the inner panel 112.

[0047] The seat 38 includes two airbags 116, 118, namely, a first airbag 116 and a second airbag 118, each of which is fixed to one of the front armrest portions 66. The first airbag 116 can be expanded from an unexpanded position to an expanded position. The first airbag 116 in the unexpanded position is arranged in the front armrest portion 66 and is covered and hidden by the panels 106, 108, 110, 112 of the first armrest portion. The first airbag 116 in the expanded position extends upward and backward toward the seat back 42. When the front armrest portion 66 is in the deployed position, the first airbag 116 in the expanded position intersects the plane P. When expanding from the unexpanded position to the expanded position, the first airbag 116 pushes the inner panel 112 and the top panel 110 to the deployed position. The first airbag 116 in the expanded position is arranged between the seat back 42 and the outer panel 108, the top panel 110 and the inner panel 112. The outer panel 108 , the top panel 110 , and the inner panel 112 serve as reaction surfaces for a first air bag 116 .

[0048] The second airbag 118 is expandable from an unexpanded position to an expanded position. The second airbag 118 in the unexpanded position is disposed in the front armrest portion 66 and is covered and concealed by the panels 106, 108, 110, 112 of the first armrest portion. The second airbag 118 in the expanded position extends upward and rearward toward the seat back 42. When the front armrest portion 66 is in the deployed position, the second airbag 118 in the expanded position intersects the plane P. When expanded from the unexpanded position to the expanded position, the second airbag 118 pushes the inner panel 112 and the top panel 110 to the deployed position. The second airbag 118 in the expanded position is disposed between the seat back 42 and the outer panel 108, the top panel 110, and the inner panel 112. The outer panel 108, the top panel 110, and the inner panel 112 serve as reaction surfaces for the second airbag 118. The second airbag 118 in the inflated position is arranged in front of the first airbag 116 in the inflated position relative to the seat back 42; in other words, the second airbag 118 in the inflated position is arranged in a direction parallel to the plane P away from the first airbag 116 and away from the seat back 42, that is, in the direction F forward from the first airbag 116.

[0049] The airbags 116, 118 may be formed from any suitable airbag material (e.g., a braided polymer). For example, the airbags 116, 118 may 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 may include a coating, such as silicone, neoprene, polyurethane, etc. For example, the coating may be a polyorganosiloxane.

[0050] The seat 38 includes two airbag inflators 120, one fluidly connected to the first airbag 116 and one fluidly connected to the second airbag 118. Upon receiving a signal from, for example, a controller 122, the airbag inflators 120 can inflate the airbags 116, 118 with an inflatable medium, such as a gas. The airbag inflators 120 can be, for example, pyrotechnic inflators that use a chemical reaction to drive an inflation medium to the airbags 116, 118. The airbag inflators 120 can be of any suitable type, such as a cold gas inflator.

[0051] The controller 122 is a microprocessor-based controller. The controller 122 includes a processor, a memory, etc. The memory of the controller 122 includes a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor and for electronically storing data and / or a database.

[0052] The controller 122 can send and receive data through a communication network 124 and / or any other wired or wireless communication network, such as a controller area network (CAN) bus, Ethernet, WiFi, a local interconnect network (LIN), an on-board diagnostic connector (OBD-II). The controller 122 communicates with the armrest inflator 102, the airbag inflator 120, and the collision sensor 126 via the communication network 124.

[0053] The collision sensor 126 is adapted to detect a collision with the vehicle 30. The collision sensor 126 may be of any suitable type, such as post-contact sensors, such as linear or angular accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, and contact switches; and pre-collision sensors, such as radar, lidar, and vision sensing systems. The vision system may include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors, etc. The collision sensor 126 may be located at a plurality of points in or on the vehicle 30.

[0054] Fig.13 is a process flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process 1300 for deploying the front armrest portion 66 and inflating the airbags 116, 118 in response to a collision. The controller 122 is programmed to perform the steps of the process 1300; in other words, the memory of the controller 122 stores executable instructions for performing the steps of the process 1300.

[0055] Process 1300 begins in decision block 1305, where controller 122 determines whether controller 122 has received data from impact sensor 126 indicating that a collision has occurred. If controller 122 has not received data indicating a collision, process 1300 begins again.

[0056] If the controller 122 has received data indicative of a collision, then next, in block 1310 , the controller 122 instructs the armrest inflator 102 via the communication network 124 to discharge (ie, discharge the charge 104 ), thereby pushing the front armrest portion 66 to the deployed position.

[0057] Next, in block 1315, the controller 122 waits for a preset time. The preset time is a value stored in the memory of the controller 122. The preset time can be selected to substantially allow the amount of time for the front armrest portion 66 to move to the deployed position. Substantially or other adjectives used herein referring to "size, duration, shape" may vary slightly from what is described due to physical defects, power outages, machining or other manufacturing variations, etc.

[0058] Next, in block 1320, the controller 122 instructs the airbag inflators 120 to discharge via the communication network 124. The controller 122 may instruct both airbag inflators 120 to discharge simultaneously, or the controller 122 may instruct one of the airbag inflators 120 to discharge and then instruct the other of the airbag inflators 120 to discharge after a preset delay. The preset delay may be selected so that the second airbag 118 inflates further away from the seat back 42 than the first airbag 116.

[0059] The airbags 116, 118 can cushion the occupant of the seat 38 during a collision and can reduce injuries to the occupant. Cushioning from the airbags 116, 118 can occur regardless of the orientation of the seat 38 relative to the passenger compartment 32. The intersection of the airbags 116, 118 across the plane P in opposite directions can hold the occupant in the seat 38. The airbags 116, 118 can push the occupant down against the seat bottom 44, thereby helping the anti-submarine slope 56 prevent the occupant from sliding out of the seat 38.

[0060] The present disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it should be understood that the terminology used is intended to be in the nature of descriptive words rather than restrictive. In light of the above teachings, many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible, and the present disclosure may be practiced in ways other than those specifically described.

[0061] According to the present invention, a seat is provided, which comprises: a seat back; two armrest portions, each of which is rotatably connected to the seat back around a substantially vertical axis from a stowed position extending in a forward direction to a deployed position extending in front of the seat back; and two airbags, each of which is fixed to one of the armrest portions and can be expanded to an expanded position, in which one of the airbags is arranged in front of the other of the airbags relative to the seat back.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the armrest portion is a front armrest portion, the seat further comprising two rear armrest portions fixed relative to the seat back, wherein each front armrest portion is rotatably coupled to one of the rear armrest portions.

[0063] According to one embodiment, the above invention is further characterized by two inflators, each of which is positioned to rotate one of the armrest sections to the deployed position when deflated.

[0064] According to one embodiment, the inflator includes a first inflator and a second inflator, and the seat also includes a piston cylinder and a piston head arranged in the piston cylinder, wherein a gas expansion chamber is enclosed by the piston head and the piston cylinder, and the inflator is arranged in the gas expansion chamber.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the invention further features a sleeve slidably disposed in the piston cylinder, wherein the piston head is slidably disposed in the sleeve.

[0066] According to one embodiment, the gas expansion chamber is enclosed by the sleeve and the piston head.

[0067] According to one embodiment, the sleeve comprises a first end surface and a second end surface spaced apart from the first end surface, and the gas expansion chamber is disposed between the piston head and the first end surface.

[0068] According to one embodiment, the piston head is coupled to one of the armrest parts and a position of the piston head relative to the piston cylinder corresponds to a position of the one of the armrest parts relative to the seat back.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the armrest portion includes a first armrest portion and a second armrest portion, and the seat further includes a piston rod fixed to the piston head and rotatably coupled to the first armrest portion.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the piston cylinder is rotatably coupled to the seat back.

[0071] According to one embodiment, the armrest portion is rotatable between the stowed position and the deployed position without defusing the inflator.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the inflator is an armrest inflator, the seat further comprising airbag inflators each fluidly connected to one of the airbags, and a controller in communication with the armrest inflator and the airbag inflators.

[0073] According to one embodiment, the controller is programmed to instruct the armrest inflator to discharge and to instruct the airbag inflator to discharge a preset time after the armrest inflator discharges.

[0074] According to one embodiment, each armrest portion comprises a bottom panel, an outer side panel, a top panel and an inner side panel, and the top panel and the outer side panel are hingedly coupled for each armrest portion.

[0075] According to one embodiment, the inner side panel and the top panel are hingedly coupled for each armrest portion.

[0076] According to one embodiment, the inner side panel and the bottom panel are releasably connected for each armrest portion.

[0077] According to one embodiment, the top panel and the inner side panel are each rotatable from a non-deployed position to a deployed position.

[0078] According to one embodiment, the top panel and the inner side panel each have a range of rotational motion, and each range of motion stops at the deployed position.

[0079] According to one embodiment, the invention is further characterized by two stops fixed relative to the seat back, wherein each armrest portion includes a cutout that engages one of the stops.

[0080] According to one embodiment, the cutout is sized to allow the armrest portion to rotate between the stowed position and the deployed position and to prevent the armrest portion from rotating past the stowed position and past the deployed position.

Claims

1. A seat, comprising: Seat backs; two armrest portions each rotatably coupled to the seat back about a generally vertical axis from a stowed position extended in a forward direction to a deployed position extending forward of the seat back; as well as Two airbags are each secured to one of the armrest portions and are inflatable to an inflated position in which one of the airbags is disposed forward of the other of the airbags relative to the seat back.

2. The seat of claim 1, wherein each front armrest portion comprises a bottom panel, an outer side panel, a top panel and an inner side panel, and the top panel and the outer side panel are hingedly coupled for each armrest portion.

3. The chair of claim 1 further comprising two stops fixed relative to the seat back, wherein each armrest portion includes a cutout that engages one of the stops.

4. The seat according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the armrest portion is a front armrest portion, the seat further comprising two rear armrest portions fixed relative to the seat back, wherein each front armrest portion is rotatably connected to one of the rear armrest portions.

5. The seat of claim 1 further comprising two inflators each positioned to rotate one of the armrest portions to the deployed position upon deflation.

6. The seat according to claim 5, wherein the inflator comprises a first inflator and a second inflator, and the seat further comprises a piston cylinder and a piston head arranged in the piston cylinder, wherein a gas expansion chamber is enclosed by the piston head and the piston cylinder, and the inflator is arranged in the gas expansion chamber.

7. The seat of claim 6, further comprising a sleeve slidably disposed in the piston cylinder, wherein the piston head is slidably disposed in the sleeve.

8. The seat of claim 7, wherein the gas expansion chamber is enclosed by the sleeve and the piston head.

9. The seat of claim 7, wherein the sleeve includes a first end surface and a second end surface spaced apart from the first end surface, and the gas expansion chamber is disposed between the piston head and the first end surface.

10. The seat of claim 9, wherein the piston head is coupled to one of the armrest portions, and a position of the piston head relative to the piston cylinder corresponds to a position of the one of the armrest portions relative to the seat back.

11. The chair of claim 6, wherein the armrest portion includes a first armrest portion and a second armrest portion, the chair further comprising a piston rod fixed to the piston head and rotatably coupled to the first armrest portion.

12. The seat of claim 6, wherein the piston cylinder is rotatably coupled to the seat back.

13. The seat of claim 5, wherein the armrest portion is rotatable between the stowed position and the deployed position without defusing the inflator.

14. The seat of any one of claims 5 to 13, wherein the inflator is an armrest inflator, the seat further comprising airbag inflators each fluidly connected to one of the airbags, and a controller in communication with the armrest inflator and the airbag inflators.

15. The seat of claim 14 wherein the controller is programmed to instruct the armrest inflator to discharge and to instruct the airbag inflator to discharge a preset time after the armrest inflator discharges.

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