Seat center airbag system with pelvic restraint chamber

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a seat-mounted airbag assembly (100) including a first side cushion (110A) configured to deploy from a first side of a vehicle seat and a second side cushion (110B) configured to deploy from a second side of the vehicle seat opposite the first side, the assembly (100) further including: a first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) configured to deploy from the first side of the vehicle seat, wherein the first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) is operably coupled with the first side cushion (110A), and wherein the first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) is configured to inhibit forward translation of a vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engaging a first one of an upper thigh and / or a pelvic region of the vehicle occupant; and a second pelvis restraint cushion (120B) configured to deploy from the second side of the vehicle seat, wherein the second pelvis restraint cushion is operably coupled with the second side cushion (110B), and wherein the second pelvis restraint cushion (120B) is configured to inhibit forward translation of the vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engaging a second one of the upper thigh and / or the pelvic region of the vehicle occupant.

Description

SUMMARY

[0001] Many vehicle environments lack sufficient pelvic restraint that can be provided by, for example, knee bolsters and / or toe boards. Autonomous vehicles or vehicles with highly autonomous functionality, such as highly automated driving (HAD) vehicles, are particularly prone to having poor pelvic restraint. Accordingly, some restraint / safety systems designed for such vehicles can be particularly prone to restraining occupants.

[0002] For example, some systems deploy airbag cushions from the seat itself, rather than from the steering wheel or adjacent vehicle panel. Such systems can use a belt known as a "looping belt" to provide a reaction surface to keep the airbag close to the passenger during inflation. However, in certain crash events, such as frontal impacts, especially when the passenger is not restrained to the seat by a conventional seatbelt, such systems are typically prone to allowing the passenger's pelvis to move forward. This is due to a lack of sufficient restraint to the occupant's pelvic region during inflation.

[0003] Accordingly, the present inventors have determined that it would be desirable to provide apparatuses, systems, and methods that overcome one or more of the foregoing limitations and / or other limitations of the prior art. In some embodiments, the inventive concepts disclosed herein can thus provide a cushion that is specifically configured to provide pelvic restraint that is typically lacking in seat-mounted airbag cushion systems. In some embodiments, such restraint can be provided by one or more pelvic restraint chambers that, in some embodiments, can be fluidly coupled with a main chamber of an airbag cushion that is configured to inflate on opposite sides of a vehicle occupant's chest.

[0004] In one more specific example of a seat-mounted airbag assembly, the assembly can include a first side cushion configured to deploy from a first side of a vehicle seat. The assembly can further include a first belt coupled with the first side cushion and configured to tension the first side cushion during deployment. The assembly can further include a second side cushion configured to deploy from a second side of the vehicle seat opposite the first side, and a second belt coupled with the second side cushion and configured to tension the second side cushion during deployment. The assembly can further include one or more pelvic restraint inflation chambers configured to inhibit forward translation of a vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engaging at least one of the vehicle occupant's upper thighs and / or pelvic region. In preferred embodiments, there are two pelvic restraint inflation chambers, one configured to contact each of the occupant's thighs.

[0005] In some embodiments, the pelvic restraint inflation chambers can be configured to inflate between the occupant's upper thighs / pelvic region in the vehicle seat and the main inflation chamber of the airbag cushion.

[0006] In some embodiments, the pelvic restraint chamber can be fluidly or otherwise operably coupled with at least one of the first side cushion and the second side cushion.

[0007] Some embodiments can further include one or more features configured to facilitate desired inflation characteristics, such as internal and / or external tethers or pleats. For example, in some embodiments, one or more external tethers can be coupled between the pelvic restraint inflatable chamber and at least one of the first side cushion and the second side cushion, which can allow the pelvic restraint chamber to extend at a desired angle from the main chamber, such as along the upper thighs of the occupant. In some such embodiments, the external tethers can be configured to direct deployment of the pelvic restraint inflatable chamber at an angle relative to at least one of the first side cushion and the second side cushion.

[0008] Some embodiments can further include an internal tether coupled between the pelvic restraint inflatable chamber and at least one of the first side cushion and the second side cushion. The internal tether can be configured to direct deployment of the pelvic restraint inflatable chamber at an angle relative to at least one of the first side cushion and the second side cushion.

[0009] Some embodiments can further include a pleated region, which can further facilitate bending of the pelvic restraint inflatable chamber as desired. For example, a pleated fabric can be sewn together at a particular location to reduce the length on one side in order to provide an angle between the side chamber and the pelvic restraint chamber.

[0010] Some embodiments can further include a second pelvic restraint inflatable chamber, wherein the pelvic restraint inflatable chamber is configured to deploy against a first upper thigh of a vehicle occupant, and wherein the second pelvic restraint inflatable chamber is configured to deploy against a second upper thigh of the vehicle occupant.

[0011] In an example of a seat-mounted airbag assembly according to other embodiments, the assembly can include a first side cushion configured to deploy from a first side of a vehicle seat and a second side cushion configured to deploy from a second side of the vehicle seat opposite the first side. The assembly can further include a first pelvic restraint cushion configured to deploy from the first side of the vehicle seat, wherein the first pelvic restraint cushion is operably coupled with the first side cushion, and wherein the first pelvic restraint cushion is configured to inhibit forward translation of a vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engagement with a first one of the upper thighs and / or the pelvic region of the vehicle occupant. The assembly can further include a second pelvic restraint cushion configured to deploy from the second side of the vehicle seat, wherein the second pelvic restraint cushion is operably coupled with the second side cushion, and wherein the second pelvic restraint cushion is configured to inhibit forward translation of the vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engagement with a second one of the upper thighs and / or the pelvic region of the vehicle occupant.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first pelvic restraint cushion can be configured to deploy at an angle relative to the first side cushion.

[0013] In some embodiments, the first pelvic restraint cushion can comprise an inflatable chamber of the first side cushion. The second pelvic restraint cushion can also be configured to deploy at an angle relative to the second side cushion and / or can comprise an inflatable chamber of the second side cushion.

[0014] Some embodiments can further include means for angling the pelvic restraint cushions relative to the side cushions, such as a pleated elbow or other pleated region formed along the region connecting the first and second pelvic restraint cushions and the first and second side cushions, one or more external tethers, and / or one or more internal tethers.

[0015] Some embodiments can for example include a first tether or set of tethers coupled between the first pelvic restraint cushion and the first side cushion, a second tether or set of tethers coupled between the second pelvic restraint cushion and the second side cushion.

[0016] In examples of methods for restraining forward translation of a vehicle occupant during a crash event, in accordance with some implementations, the method can include deploying a first seat-mounted airbag cushion along a first side of the vehicle occupant and deploying a second seat-mounted airbag cushion along a second side of the vehicle occupant. A first pelvic restraint chamber can be deployed below the first seat-mounted airbag cushion at an angle relative to the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and toward an upper portion of a first thigh of the vehicle occupant. The first pelvic restraint chamber can restrain forward translation of the vehicle occupant within the vehicle seat during deployment.

[0017] Some implementations can further include deploying a second pelvic restraint chamber below the second seat-mounted airbag cushion at an angle relative to the second seat-mounted airbag cushion and toward an upper portion of a second thigh of the vehicle occupant.

[0018] In some implementations, the first and second pelvic restraint chambers can be deployed toward each other and / or toward respective thighs of the vehicle occupant.

[0019] In some implementations, a single inflator can be used to inflate both the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and the first pelvic restraint chamber.

[0020] In some implementations, the steps of deploying the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and / or deploying the second seat-mounted airbag cushion can be performed prior to deploying the first pelvic restraint chamber. For example, in some implementations, one or both of the seat-mounted airbag cushions can be deployed / inflated, the deployment / inflation of which can be followed by inflation of one or both of the pelvic restraint chambers as a subsequent inflation phase.

[0021] Features, structures, steps, or characteristics disclosed herein in connection with one implementation can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more alternative implementations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0022] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive implementations of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 is a side view of a seat-mounted airbag cushion system with pelvic restraint in accordance with some implementations;

[0024] Figure 2 is a front view of the seat-mounted airbag cushion system before deployment;

[0025] Figure 3 is a front view of the seat-mounted airbag cushion system after deployment; and

[0026] Figure 4 is a side view of the seat-mounted airbag cushion system after deployment, showing the pelvic chamber before and after inflation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] A detailed description of devices, systems and methods consistent with various implementations of the present disclosure is provided below. Although several implementations are described, it is understood that the present disclosure is not limited to any particular implementation disclosed, but covers many alternatives, modifications, and equivalents. Also, while numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the implementations disclosed herein, some implementations can be practiced without some or all of these details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in particular detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure aspects of the implementations.

[0028] As used herein, the term “substantially” means a full or almost full range or degree of an action, feature, property, state, structure, item, or result, to achieve the same or an approximately same function. For example, an object that is “substantially” cylindrical or “substantially” vertical would mean that the object / feature is cylindrical / vertical or approximately cylindrical / vertical, thereby producing the same or approximately the same function. The exact degree of permissible deviation as a result of the term “substantially” can depend on the particular context. When used in a negative sense, the use of “substantially” is equally applicable to indicate a full or almost full lack of an action, feature, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, a structure that is “substantially” free of a bottom would either be completely free of a bottom or almost completely free of a bottom, the latter of which would have the same effect as being completely free of a bottom.

[0029] Similarly, as used herein, the term“about” is used to provide flexibility to a numerical range endpoint by providing a degree of error to the endpoint when the endpoint is precisely known, and to provide s a degree of flexibility to a numerical range endpoint when the endpoint is approximated value, measured, or otherwise is not precisely known. Thus, the term“about” is used in the context of the term“about” to account for variability in a measurement, or other approximate value.

[0030] Embodiments of the present disclosure can be best understood with reference to the following drawings and description. Like parts can be designated with like numerals throughout the drawings and the description. It is to be appreciated that components of the disclosed embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, can be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments of devices and methods of the present disclosure is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, as claimed, but is merely representative of possible embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, the steps of a method need not be performed in any particular order, or even sequentially, unless otherwise specified, and need not be performed alone without the remainder of the method, unless otherwise specified. Additional details regarding certain preferred embodiments and specific implementations will now be described in greater detail with reference to the drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 A seat center airbag system 100 is depicted in accordance with some embodiments. In certain preferred embodiments, the system 100 can be used in vehicle environments that lack effective pelvic restraint, such as restraint from a knee bolster and / or toe board. For example, in some embodiments, the system 100 can be installed in an autonomous vehicle or a highly automated driving (HAD) vehicle.

[0032] As Figure 1 shown, the system 100 includes a pair of airbag cushions configured to deploy from a vehicle seat 15 for a vehicle occupant 10 or from a location adjacent to the vehicle seat, such as from behind the vehicle seat 15. Each of these cushions includes a primary chamber 110 and a secondary or pelvic chamber 120. Preferably, the primary chamber 110 and the pelvic chamber 120 are fluidly coupled to one another such that they deploy together and can be inflated using a single inflator.

[0033] Figure 2 A front view of a vehicle seat 15 and a seat center airbag system 100 prior to deployment is depicted. As shown by the dashed lines in this figure, the system 100 can include cushions configured to deploy from both sides of the seat 15 and the occupant 10. More specifically, a first primary chamber 110A extends along a first side of the occupant 10 and the seat 15, and a second primary chamber 110B extends along a second side of the occupant 10 and the seat 15 opposite the first side. These two cushions also include secondary or pelvic chambers fluidly coupled to the primary chambers. Thus, a secondary / pelvic chamber 120A extends from a distal / bottom end of the primary chamber 110A, and a secondary / pelvic chamber 120B extends from a distal / bottom end of the secondary / pelvic chamber 110B.

[0034] As Figure 2As shown, in the initial pre-deployment position, the secondary / pelvis chambers 120A / 120B can be folded upward and inward relative to the occupant centerline toward the occupant 10 in order to ensure that inflation occurs in the proper direction, thereby preferably providing pelvic restraint during inflation to prevent or at least inhibit the occupant 10 from sliding forward potentially out of the seat 15 during certain crash events, particularly such as frontal crash events.

[0035] Various features can be provided to ensure that the secondary / pelvis chambers 120 deploy in the proper manner in order to provide the aforementioned restraint by deploying against the occupant's upper thighs and / or pelvic region. For example, in some embodiments (including the illustrated embodiment), the outer tether 115 can be provided between each of the main chambers and the secondary / pelvis restraint chambers of the assembly. Thus, the tether 115 is coupled between each of the distal ends of the secondary / pelvis chambers 120A and 120B and extends to a portion of the associated chambers 110A / 110B. Preferably, these tethers 115 are long enough to maintain the desired angle between the main chamber 110 and the adjacent secondary / pelvis chamber 120, thereby ensuring that each secondary / pelvis chamber 120 deploys adjacent the occupant's 10 thigh and pelvic region. Figure 3

[0036] In some embodiments, in addition to or potentially as an alternative to the use of tethers 115, a basting stitch / tear seam thread or the like can be used. For example, in some embodiments and implementations, each secondary / pelvis chamber 120 can be folded against its corresponding main chamber 110 such that the distal / bottom end of each secondary / pelvis chamber 120 extends partially back toward the top end of the main chamber 110. In some embodiments, this bend can be positioned at or around the pelvic region of the adjacent occupant 10.

[0037] In some embodiments, as another example of a means for angling the secondary chamber away from the main chamber of the airbag cushion and / or for providing a reaction chamber that deploys against the adjacent seat occupant's thigh / femur and / or pelvic region to provide pelvic restraint and / or to provide a secondary airbag reaction surface for coupling to the inflation of the main chamber of a reaction / secondary airbag, a pleat and / or internal tether can be formed along the elbow or bend region 112 formed between the main chamber 110 and the secondary chamber 120.

[0038] Thus, for example, as Figure 2 ​As shown, a curved region 112A is formed between the primary chamber 110A and the secondary chamber 120A, and a similar curved region 112B is formed on the opposite side between the primary chamber 110B and the secondary chamber 120B. This can create a curvature that can allow deployment against the pelvis region and / or upper thighs of the occupant 10 during inflation to provide enhanced restraint, particularly when the occupant 10 is not wearing a seat belt. The curved regions 112A and 112B can also or alternatively include one or more internal tethers to provide the desired curvature and ensure proper deployment and restraint against the occupant's thighs and / or pelvis region.

[0039] As shown, during deployment, the primary chambers 110A and 110B deploy along both sides of the chest of the adjacent occupant 10. The wraparound belts 114 and 116 can be used to provide a reaction surface to ensure that the adjacent airbag cushion has sufficient tension in the chest region. Examples of wraparound belts that can be used in one or more embodiments disclosed herein can be found in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0259774, entitled "Vehicle Occupant Restraint Device," the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Figure 3

[0040] More specifically, on either side of the centerline of the occupant 10 and the seat 15, there is a pair of belts for facilitating deployment of the primary chambers 110A / 110B of the system 100. Thus, on the right side of the occupant 10 (from the perspective of this figure), a rear / bottom belt 114A extends around an outer / rear portion of the cushion 110A and a front / top belt 116A extends around an inner / front portion of the cushion 110A. Similarly, on the opposite side of the occupant 10, another pair of belts is provided to maintain a surface for providing tension between the occupant 10 and the adjacent cushion 110B, namely another rear / bottom belt 114B and another front / top belt 116B.

[0041] The belts 114A / 116A and 114B / 116B can be mounted at opposite ends of the upper rear portion and the lower portion of the seat 15, respectively. In some embodiments, the two belts on either side can be mounted at the same or adjacent locations on the seat 15. The belts can be retractably mounted at the top and / or bottom and can include various pretensioners, load limiters, etc. to ensure that they provide sufficient length to allow proper deployment while inhibiting further retraction to ensure that they maintain tension on the adjacent cushion 110A / 110B. Additionally, it should be appreciated that any of the belts 114 / 116 can be coupled to a portion of its respective cushion 110 in order to ensure proper deployment. This coupling can be rigid or can be achieved through a slidable coupling, such as through a loop of fabric or webbing, a slidable clip, etc. ​

[0042] However, in order to provide a reaction surface between the occupant 10 and the main chambers 110A / 110B, and more specifically between the upper thigh / pelvic region of the occupant 10 and the adjacent main chambers 110A / 110B, the secondary chambers / pelvic chambers 120A / 120B preferably deploy in a downward and rearward direction to provide increased pelvic restraint to the occupant 10. In a preferred embodiment, the initial stage of inflation results in the inflation of the main chambers 110A and 110B, after which the secondary chambers / pelvic chambers 120A and 120B rotate downward from their initial position, each secondary chamber / pelvic chamber folding against its corresponding main chamber before inflation.

[0043] When the two accessory chambers / pelvic chambers 120A / 120B are inflated in a direction generally toward each other and downward against the upper thigh / pelvic region of the occupant 10, the tether 115 prevents excessive rotation of the accessory chambers / pelvic chambers 120A / 120B and guides their respective general inflation direction.

[0044] Figure 4 This is a side perspective view of the deployed airbag system 100. As shown by the dashed lines in the figure, before inflation, the pelvic chamber 120A' is located on the inner / medial side and the outer / lateral side (in... Figure 4 The image shows only one side of the pelvic chamber 120A abutting against the occupant's thigh and pelvic region. The pelvic chamber 120A is also shown after deployment, having contacted the occupant's pelvic region to provide tension and reaction surfaces to prevent the occupant from sliding forward between the two main chambers 110. Also... Figure 4 As shown, tether 115 extends between the main chamber 110A and the pelvic chamber 120A. Although not shown in this figure, similar tethers may also be present on the opposite side to guide the opening of the other pelvic chamber.

[0045] The foregoing description has been described with reference to various embodiments and specific implementations. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, various operational steps and components performing operational steps can be implemented in various ways, depending on a particular application or considering any number of cost functions associated with the operation of the system. Therefore, any one or more steps can be deleted, modified, or combined with other steps. Furthermore, this disclosure should be considered illustrative rather than restrictive, and all such modifications are intended to be included within its scope. Similarly, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with reference to various embodiments. However, benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more significant should not be construed as critical, necessary, or essential features or elements.

[0046] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that many modifications can be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the present application. The scope of the present application should, therefore, be determined only from the following claims.

Claims

1. A seat-mounted airbag assembly (100) comprising a first side cushion (110A) configured to deploy from a first side of a vehicle seat and a second side cushion (110B) configured to deploy from a second side of the vehicle seat opposite the first side, characterized in that, The assembly (100) further includes: a first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) configured to deploy from the first side of the vehicle seat, wherein the first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) is operably coupled with a bottom portion of the first side cushion (110A), and wherein the first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) is configured to deploy at a downward angle relative to the first side cushion (110A) to inhibit forward translation of a vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engaging a first one of an upper thigh and / or a pelvic region of the vehicle occupant; and a second pelvis restraint cushion (120B) configured to deploy from the second side of the vehicle seat, wherein the second pelvis restraint cushion is operably coupled with a bottom portion of the second side cushion (110B), and wherein the second pelvis restraint cushion (120B) is configured to deploy at a downward angle relative to the second side cushion (110B) to inhibit forward translation of the vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engaging a second one of the upper thigh and / or the pelvic region of the vehicle occupant.

2. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) comprises an inflatable chamber of the first side cushion (110A).

3. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the second pelvis restraint cushion (120B) comprises an inflatable chamber of the second side cushion (110B).

4. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising means for angling a pelvis restraint cushion relative to a side cushion.

5. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of claim 4, wherein the means for angling comprises at least one of one or more pleats and a tether, the tether and one or more pleats being formed along a region (112) that connects the first and second pelvis restraint cushions (120) with the first and second side cushions (110).

6. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a first tether (115) coupled between the first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) and the first side cushion (110A); and a second tether (115) coupled between the second pelvis restraint cushion (120B) and the second side cushion (110B).

7. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of claim 1, wherein the first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) is fluidly coupled with the first side cushion (110A).

8. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of claim 6, wherein the first tether (115) is an external tether configured to guide deployment of the first pelvis restraint cushion (120A) at an angle relative to the first side cushion (110A). ​ 9. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of any of claims 1-8, further comprising a first strap (114A) coupled with the first side cushion (110A) and configured to tension the first side cushion (110A) during deployment.

10. The seat-mounted airbag assembly of claim 9, further comprising a second strap (116A) coupled with the first side cushion (110A) and configured to tension the first side cushion (110A) during deployment.

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