Whiplash protection structure
View Patent ↗A whiplash protection structure for a vehicle includes a vehicle seat back and an airbag. The vehicle seat back is configured to be mounted in a vehicle in a substantially upright position to support an occupant's back. The air bag is arranged in the seat back to deploy from an uppermost end along an upward deployment path to form a head restraint above the uppermost end of the seat back when inflated upwardly. The seat back can be absent a headrest that projects upwardly. Alternatively, the seat back can include a headrest that projects upwardly with the airbag arranged in the headrest.
1. A whiplash protection structure for a vehicle comprising: a vehicle seat back configured to be mounted in a vehicle in a substantially upright position to support an occupant's back;
an air bag arranged in the seat back to deploy from an uppermost end of the vehicle seat back along an upward deployment path to form a head restraint above the uppermost end of the seat back when inflated upwardly; and
an air bag anti-rotation structure arranged between the airbag and a frame portion of the seat back in order to limit rearward movement of the airbag when inflated,
the air bag anti-rotation structure including at least one connecting member coupled between a front side of the airbag and the frame portion of the seat back to limit rearward movement of the airbag when inflated.
2. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the seat back includes an airbag opening that is closed using a bursting seam that is broken during deployment of the airbag.
3. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the airbag includes a plurality of airbag chambers that extend vertically when the airbag is deployed.
4. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 3 , wherein
the airbag chambers are arranged in a laterally spaced side by side configuration in a non-overlapping manner when the airbag is inflated.
5. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the connecting member includes a flexible strap.
6. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the air bag anti-rotation structure includes an airbag support member that is configured and arranged to engage and support a bottom rear end of the airbag to limit rearward movement of the airbag when inflated.
7. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the uppermost end of the seat back is absent a headrest coupled thereto.
8. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 7 , wherein
the air bag is configured and arranged such that the deployment path of the air bag is inclined forwardly relative to a center plane of the seat back.
9. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 1 , wherein
the seat back includes a back support portion with a headrest arranged at an upper end of the back support portion, and the airbag is arranged in the headrest.
10. The whiplash protection structure according to claim 9 , wherein
the headrest is adjustably coupled to the back support portion.