B60R21/231

Roof airbag for a vehicle

A roof airbag for a vehicle longitudinally extends along a length between first and second longitudinal ends and laterally extends along a width between first and second lateral sides. An inlet for receiving inflation gases is provided at the first longitudinal end. A plenum is in fluid communication with the inlet for receiving the inflation gases from the inlet. The roof airbag includes a plurality of primary inflatable chambers, each primary inflatable chamber in fluid communication with the plenum to receive inflation gases from the plenum. A plurality of secondary inflatable chambers is in indirect fluid communication with the plenum to receive inflation gases indirectly from the plenum through the plurality of primary inflatable chambers. The primary inflatable chambers of the plurality of primary inflatable chambers are arranged to first drive deployment of the airbag and subsequently inflate the second inflatable chambers of the plurality of second inflatable chambers to tension the airbag in the lateral direction. The primary and secondary inflatable chambers cooperate to provide a barrier between occupants of the vehicle and the roof frame.

Roof airbag for a vehicle

A roof airbag for a vehicle longitudinally extends along a length between first and second longitudinal ends and laterally extends along a width between first and second lateral sides. An inlet for receiving inflation gases is provided at the first longitudinal end. A plenum is in fluid communication with the inlet for receiving the inflation gases from the inlet. The roof airbag includes a plurality of primary inflatable chambers, each primary inflatable chamber in fluid communication with the plenum to receive inflation gases from the plenum. A plurality of secondary inflatable chambers is in indirect fluid communication with the plenum to receive inflation gases indirectly from the plenum through the plurality of primary inflatable chambers. The primary inflatable chambers of the plurality of primary inflatable chambers are arranged to first drive deployment of the airbag and subsequently inflate the second inflatable chambers of the plurality of second inflatable chambers to tension the airbag in the lateral direction. The primary and secondary inflatable chambers cooperate to provide a barrier between occupants of the vehicle and the roof frame.

Techniques for deploying vehicle airbag systems with primary and auxiliary airbags

Airbag systems for use in a vehicle that is operable in a manual-steering mode or an automated-steering mode are provided. In one embodiment, an airbag system includes a primary airbag installed in a dashboard of a vehicle. The primary airbag is configured to be deployed when a collision event is detected, and, when deployed, the primary airbag is configured to protect a person seated in a driver seat of the vehicle. the airbag system also includes an auxiliary airbag configured to be deployed when the collision event is detected. During operation of the vehicle in a manual-steering mode, the deployment of the auxiliary airbag is configured to reduce contact between the primary airbag and a steering wheel of the vehicle when the primary airbag is deployed from the dashboard.

ROOF-MOUNTED OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

A restraint system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag mounted to the vehicle roof. The airbag has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition having a front-facing occupant receiving portion and an opposite rear-facing portion facing away from the occupant. The airbag has one or more connections with the vehicle roof, with the airbag and the connections being configured such that the roof serves as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to a forward moving occupant impacting the occupant receiving portion. The system is non-reliant on the rear-facing portion of the airbag engaging and using vehicle structure as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to the impacting occupant.

ROOF-MOUNTED OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

A restraint system for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle having a roof and a cabin with a seat for the occupant includes an airbag mounted to the vehicle roof. The airbag has a stored condition and is inflatable to a deployed condition having a front-facing occupant receiving portion and an opposite rear-facing portion facing away from the occupant. The airbag has one or more connections with the vehicle roof, with the airbag and the connections being configured such that the roof serves as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to a forward moving occupant impacting the occupant receiving portion. The system is non-reliant on the rear-facing portion of the airbag engaging and using vehicle structure as a reaction surface for supporting the airbag against movement in response to the impacting occupant.

FRONTAL OCCUPANT PROTECTION FROM DISPLAY SCREEN
20230234530 · 2023-07-27 ·

An apparatus helps to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle including an instrument panel and a display screen that is positioned rearward of an occupant facing surface of the instrument panel and that extends vertically above an upper surface of the instrument panel. The apparatus includes an airbag configured to have a stored condition in which the airbag is rolled and/or folded and positioned within the instrument panel at a location below the display screen. The airbag is configured to inflate and deploy from the instrument panel in response to receiving inflation fluid from an inflation fluid source. The airbag is configured to deploy in an upward direction through a space between the occupant and the instrument panel to a position in which the airbag is positioned between the display screen and the occupant.

FRONTAL OCCUPANT PROTECTION FROM DISPLAY SCREEN
20230234530 · 2023-07-27 ·

An apparatus helps to protect an occupant of a seat of a vehicle including an instrument panel and a display screen that is positioned rearward of an occupant facing surface of the instrument panel and that extends vertically above an upper surface of the instrument panel. The apparatus includes an airbag configured to have a stored condition in which the airbag is rolled and/or folded and positioned within the instrument panel at a location below the display screen. The airbag is configured to inflate and deploy from the instrument panel in response to receiving inflation fluid from an inflation fluid source. The airbag is configured to deploy in an upward direction through a space between the occupant and the instrument panel to a position in which the airbag is positioned between the display screen and the occupant.

Airbag device

An airbag device configured to be disposed in front of an occupant in a vehicle includes: an inflator configured to generate gas; an airbag that is folded and housed, the airbag being configured to be inflated and deployed by the gas generated by the inflator; and a holding member including an attachment portion to which the inflator is attached, and holding the folded airbag capable of being inflated and deployed from an occupant side opposite the attachment portion. The holding member includes an inhibiting portion that covers a part of the folded airbag from the occupant side and that is configured to partially inhibit initial inflation and deployment of the airbag. The inhibiting portion has a first region and a second region where inhibiting forces that inhibit the initial inflation and deployment are different from each other.

Airbag device

An airbag device configured to be disposed in front of an occupant in a vehicle includes: an inflator configured to generate gas; an airbag that is folded and housed, the airbag being configured to be inflated and deployed by the gas generated by the inflator; and a holding member including an attachment portion to which the inflator is attached, and holding the folded airbag capable of being inflated and deployed from an occupant side opposite the attachment portion. The holding member includes an inhibiting portion that covers a part of the folded airbag from the occupant side and that is configured to partially inhibit initial inflation and deployment of the airbag. The inhibiting portion has a first region and a second region where inhibiting forces that inhibit the initial inflation and deployment are different from each other.

Guide assembly for guiding an airbag of a roof airbag arrangement of a vehicle

A guide assembly for a roof airbag arrangement of a vehicle includes a guide member, at least a first sliding member and a locking member. The first sliding member is carried by the guide member and translatable relative to the guide member along a translation axis. The locking member is carried by the guide member and is operable in a first position to permit the first sliding member to translate past the locking member in a first direction and operable in a second position to prevent translation of the first sliding member past the locking member in a second direction. The second direction being opposite to the first direction.