Seat-centric airbag system with pelvis restraint chamber
Seat centric airbag restraint systems having pelvis restraint features, along with related methods. In some implementations, a first seat-mounted airbag cushion may be deployed along a first side of a vehicle occupant and a second seat-mounted airbag cushion may be deployed along a second side of the vehicle occupant. A first pelvis restraint chamber may be deployed below the first seat-mounted airbag cushion at an angle relative to the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and towards a first upper thigh of the vehicle occupant. The first pelvis restraint chamber may inhibit forward translation of the vehicle occupant within a vehicle seat by tensioning the pelvis region of the occupant.
1. A method for restraining forward translation of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the method comprising the steps of:
deploying a first seat-mounted airbag cushion along a first side of a vehicle occupant;
deploying a second seat-mounted airbag cushion along a second side of the vehicle occupant; and
deploying a first pelvis restraint chamber below the first seat-mounted airbag cushion at an angle relative to the first seat-mounted airbag cushion towards a centerline of a seat in which the vehicle occupant is sitting and towards a first upper thigh of the vehicle occupant in front of the vehicle occupant, wherein the first pelvis restraint chamber contacts the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and inhibits forward translation of the vehicle occupant within a vehicle seat.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deploying a second pelvis restraint chamber below the second seat-mounted airbag cushion at an angle relative to the second seat-mounted airbag cushion and towards a second upper thigh of the vehicle occupant.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first and second pelvis restraint chambers deploy towards one another and towards a respective thigh of the vehicle occupant.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a single inflator is used to inflate both the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and the first pelvis restraint chamber.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of deploying the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and deploying the second seat-mounted airbag cushion are performed prior to deploying the first pelvis restraint chamber.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the second pelvis restraint chamber contacts the second seat-mounted airbag cushion and inhibits forward translation of the vehicle occupant within the vehicle seat.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pelvis restraint chamber is fluidly coupled with at least one of the first and second seat-mounted airbag cushions.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein an external tether is coupled between the first pelvis restraint chamber and the first seat-mounted airbag cushion.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the external tether is configured to direct deployment of the first pelvis restraint chamber at the angle relative to the first seat-mounted airbag cushion.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first seat-mounted airbag cushion is deployed against a wrap-around belt.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second seat-mounted airbag cushion is deployed against a wrap-around belt.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the wrap-around belt against which the first seat-mounted airbag cushion is deployed is distinct from the wrap-around belt against which the second seat-mounted airbag cushion is deployed.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein an internal tether is configured to direct deployment of the first pelvis restraint chamber at the angle relative to the first seat-mounted airbag cushion.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more pleats formed along a region joining the first pelvis restraint chamber and the first seat-mounted airbag cushion is used to direct deployment of the first pelvis restraint chamber at the angle relative to the first seat-mounted airbag cushion.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the one or more pleats are part of a pleated elbow region formed between the first pelvis restraint chamber and the first seat-mounted airbag cushion.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first pelvis restraint chamber comprises an inflation chamber of the first seat-mounted airbag cushion.
17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deploying a second pelvis restraint chamber.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the first pelvis restraint chamber comprises a first tether coupled between the first pelvis restraint chamber and the first seat-mounted airbag cushion.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the second pelvis restraint chamber comprises a second tether coupled between the second pelvis restraint chamber and the second seat-mounted airbag cushion.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the first tether and the second tether each comprises an external tether.