A method of assessing performance of a seat is provided. The method comprises identifying a number of critical seats for testing from a layout of passenger accommodation and building a computer simulation model, following a building block approach, for each identified critical seat. A number of loads are tested on each simulation model. Critical seats are selected for physical testing from simulation model test results according to a specified criteria assessment matrix.

An electronic module assembly (EMA) for use in controlling one or more personal restraint systems. A programmed processor within the EMA is configured to determine when a personal restraint system associated with each seat in a vehicle should be deployed. In addition, the programmed processor is configured to perform a diagnostic self-test to determine if the EMA and the personal restraint systems are operational. In one embodiment, results of the diagnostic self-test routine are displayed on a display included on the electronic module assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the results of the diagnostic self-test routine are transmitted via a wireless transceiver to a remote device. The remote device can include a wireless interrogator or can be a remote computer system such as a cabin management computer system.

A seat control system of an air vehicle for urban air mobility (UAM)UAM is provided. When the air vehicle turns strongly to one side during rotor failure of the air vehicle for UAM, side pads and air cells prevent the head and the body of a passenger seated on a seat in the air vehicle from being sharply tilted to the one side. Additionally, air bags of the side pads prevent and cushion impact energy applied to the head of the passenger at the moment when the air vehicle lands on the ground.

A side-facing aircraft passenger seat having a head rest, seat back, seat bottom and leg rest moveable between an upright seating position and a lie flat sleeping position, and including a plurality of air bags positioned in at least partially surrounding orientation in relation to the seat and inflatable to provide comfort and protection to a seat occupant while in the lie flat sleeping position. The seat may be oriented obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.

A monument mounted airbag system includes an airbag assembly including at least an airbag mounted directly forward of a passenger, and configured to deploy away from the passenger along an intercepting course with a predetermined path of travel of the passenger. Additionally, the airbag may be configured to substantially conform to a monument disposed in proximity thereto, and may include side support, lower support, and active vents.

A protection device having a set of inflatable protection members including a neck airbag, a left lower airbag, a left upper airbag, a right lower airbag, and a right upper airbag. The protection device has a lower pocket provided with a lower base forming the neck airbag and two lower lateral branches forming the left lower airbag and the right lower airbag. An upper pocket at least partially secured to the lower pocket is provided with an upper base forming a head airbag and two upper lateral branches forming the left upper airbag and the right upper airbag. At least one longitudinal internal wall provide at least two “tubes” in each upper airbag, the upper pocket being in fluid flow communication with the lower pocket.

An airplane seat device includes at least one airplane seat, and with at least one console arranged, viewed in a flight direction, in front of the airplane seat, and with at least one airbag element which is configured to protect in a crash event a passenger sitting in the airplane seat from crashing onto the console. At least one airbag element features, in a fully deployed state, at least in a head-impact zone, a thickness which is smaller than a thickness in at least one shoulder-impact zone.

Multi-chamber airbag systems for use in aircraft and other vehicles are described herein. In some embodiments, an occupant restraint system includes a multi-chamber airbag that deploys from an occupant restraint (e.g., a lap seat belt) in an aircraft. The multi-chamber airbag can include a first portion that inflates generally upward in front of the occupant's torso, and a second portion that inflates in front of the first portion. The first portion and/or the second portion can include multiple chambers (e.g., generally cylindrical-shaped chambers) that, when inflated, provide the airbag with a shape and/or contact surfaces which can help to maintain the position of the airbag between the occupant and a strike object or hazard. In other embodiments, multi-chamber airbags configured in accordance with the present disclosure can me mounted to a structure (e.g., a monument, console, seat back, etc.) positioned generally in front of the occupant. The structure-mounted airbag can deploy generally toward the occupant in the event of a vehicle impact or other potentially harmful event to protect the occupant from impact injury.

A method of making a flame resistant airbag suitable for use in aviation applications is discussed. A flame resistant fabric for the use in the construction of aviation airbags is woven from a high tenacity continuous polyester fiber substrate. A polyurethane coating is applied to the woven fabric, which has been treated with a flame retardant, to impart high pressure permeability resistance to the flame resistant fabric. The resulting fabric complies with Federal Aviation Requirement 25.853 as well as exhibits sufficient high pressure permeability resistance which is measured as a pressure of not less than about 198 kPa after five seconds from an initial inflation and pressurization to about 200 kPa, such as may be encountered in and during an inflation of aviation airbag assemblies.

A lap expanding reactionary airbag apparatus includes separate expanding lap and chest portions of the airbag. When loaded in a frontal or oblique crash event, the two portions act as a reactionary surface against each other, reducing the chest velocity of a vehicle occupant, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupant. This restriction in forward movement results in reduced lumbar injuries.