IP Library Granted Patent US 9,290,147
Granted Patent B2
US 9,290,147 · App. 14/577,127 · Granted Mar 22, 2016

Airbag control assembly

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,290,147
App. No.
14/577,127
Granted
Mar 22, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

An airbag control assembly for an adjustable vehicle seat in a vehicle may include electrical wiring and an airbag mechanism. The electrical wiring may be configured to transmit electricity from a vehicle power supply of the vehicle to an airbag. The airbag mechanism may be configured to cause enabling and disabling of the airbag. The airbag mechanism may be configured to cause enabling of the airbag if the seat is in a usable position and may be configured to cause disabling of the airbag if the seat is in an unusable position.

Claims (25)

1. An airbag control assembly for an adjustable vehicle seat in a vehicle, comprising:

electrical wiring forming at least a portion of a circuit configured to transmit electricity from a vehicle power supply of the vehicle to an airbag;

an airbag mechanism configured to cause enabling and disabling of the airbag,

wherein the airbag mechanism is configured to cause enabling of the airbag if the seat is in a usable position,

wherein the airbag mechanism is configured to cause disabling of the airbag if the seat is in an unusable position,

wherein the airbag mechanism includes a switch that controls the flow of electricity to the airbag,

wherein moving the seat to the usable position moves the switch to close the circuit such that electricity can flow to the airbag,

wherein moving the seat to the unusable position moves the switch to open the circuit such that electricity cannot flow to the airbag.

2. The airbag control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag mechanism includes a position sensor that causes a processor to enable or disable the airbag.

3. The airbag control assembly of claim 2 , wherein the position sensor detects a current position of the seat and whether or not the seat is locked.

4. The airbag control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the usable position is when a seat back of the seat is at least partially reclined or upright, the seat is locked to a floor of a vehicle, and the seat back and a seat cushion are locked.

5. The airbag control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the unusable position is when at least a portion of the seat is at least one of at least partially collapsed, at least partially folded, at least partially stowed, unattached from a floor of the vehicle, or unlocked.

6. The airbag control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the electrical wiring includes seat electrical wiring to connect the airbag mechanism to vehicle electrical wiring through an electrical connector.

7. The airbag control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag mechanism is located on or within the seat.

8. The airbag control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag is located within the seat.

9. The airbag control assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag is located on a body of the vehicle near the seat such that the airbag is configured to protect an occupant within the seat.

10. A method of controlling an airbag for a vehicle seat in a vehicle comprising:

providing electrical wiring that forms at least a portion of a circuit and an airbag mechanism configured to cause enabling and disabling of the airbag, wherein the airbag mechanism includes a switch that controls the flow of electricity to the airbag;

detecting whether the seat is locked and a current position of the seat;

enabling the airbag if the seat is in a usable position; and

disabling the airbag if the seat is in an unusable position,

wherein moving the seat to the usable position moves the switch to close the circuit such that electricity can flow to the airbag,

wherein moving the seat to the unusable position moves the switch to open the circuit such that electricity cannot flow to the airbag.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising providing a position sensor in the airbag mechanism that causes a processor to enable or disable the airbag, wherein the position sensor detects a current position of the seat and whether or not the seat is locked.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting a signal from a vehicle processor to an airbag mechanism when a vehicle accident has been detected and deploying the airbag if the seat is in the usable position.

Assignments (6)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2023
From: CNI ENTERPRISES, INC.; ADIENT US LLC
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063085/0391 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN IP Recorded Nov 17, 2022
From: ADIENT US LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061956/0301 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2022
From: ADIENT GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.
To: ADIENT US LLC
Reel/Frame 059086/0636 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 17, 2022
From: ADIENT LUXEMBOURG HOLDING S.A.R.L.
To: ADIENT GLOBAL HOLDINGS LTD.
Reel/Frame 058751/0678 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2017
From: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
To: ADIENT LUXEMBOURG HOLDING S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 044531/0375 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2015
From: MAZUR, WILLIAM A.; RUS, LIVIU
To: JOHNSON CONTROLS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY
Reel/Frame 035042/0590 →