IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,043,197
Granted Patent B1
US 12,043,197 · App. 18/180,895 · Granted Jul 23, 2024

Airbag assembly for liftgate

Inventors: Zhibing Deng (Northville, MI); Joseph E. Abramczyk (Farmington Hills, MI); Deepak Patel (Canton, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R21/214B60R21/233B60J5/102B60R2021/23153B60R2021/23308
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,043,197
App. No.
18/180,895
Granted
Jul 23, 2024
Kind
B1
Abstract

A vehicle includes a vehicle roof and a liftgate. The liftgate has a first end elongated along and adjacent to the vehicle roof and rotatably connected to the vehicle roof. The liftgate has a second end and a third end spaced from each other. The second end and the third end each extend from the first end away from the vehicle roof. An airbag is supported by the liftgate. The airbag includes a first segment and a second segment. The first segment is elongated along the first end and the second segment is elongated along the second end.

Claims (32)

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle roof;

a liftgate having a first end elongated along and adjacent to the vehicle roof and rotatably connected to the vehicle roof, the liftgate having a second end and a third end spaced from each other and each extending from the first end away from the vehicle roof; and

an airbag supported by the liftgate, the airbag having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being elongated along the first end and the second segment being elongated along the second end;

the second segment being elongated vehicle-rearward from the first segment.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the airbag includes a third segment elongated along the third end of the liftgate.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the first segment has an inflation chamber, the second segment has an inflation chamber open to the inflation chamber of the first segment, and the third segment has an inflation chamber open to the inflation chamber of the first segment.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a seat having a seatback, the seatback being vehicle-rearward of the first segment.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the liftgate is above the seat.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a seat having a seatback, the second segment is above the seatback when the second segment is in an inflated position.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the seat includes a head restraint, the second segment is adjacent the head restraint in the inflated position.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the airbag extends from the liftgate to a lowermost end of the airbag lower than the head restraint in the inflated position.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an inflator supported by the liftgate.

10. The vehicle of claim 1 , further including a body side, the second segment of the airbag abutting the body side in an inflated position.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising a seat having a seatback, the second segment is above the seatback when the second segment is in the inflated position.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the seat includes a head restraint, the second segment is between the head restraint and the body side in the inflated position.

13. A liftgate assembly comprising;

a liftgate having a first end;

a hinge on the first end of the liftgate;

the liftgate having a second end and a third end spaced from each other and each extending away from the first end; and

an airbag supported by the liftgate, the airbag having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being elongated along the first end and the second segment being elongated along the second end;

the second segment being elongated vehicle-rearward from the first segment when the liftgate is on a vehicle.

14. The assembly of claim 13 , wherein the airbag includes a third segment elongated along the third end of the liftgate.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first segment has an inflation chamber, the second segment has an inflation chamber open to the inflation chamber of the first segment, and the third segment has an inflation chamber open to the inflation chamber of the first segment.

16. The assembly of claim 13 , further comprising an inflator supported by the liftgate.

17. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle roof;

a liftgate having a first end elongated along and adjacent to the vehicle roof and rotatably connected to the vehicle roof, the liftgate having a second end and a third end spaced from each other and each extending from the first end away from the vehicle roof;

an airbag supported by the liftgate, the airbag having a first segment and a second segment, the first segment being elongated along the first end and the second segment being elongated along the second end; and

a seat having a seatback, the seatback being vehicle-rearward of the first segment in an inflated position.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the liftgate is above the seat.

19. The vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the airbag includes a third segment elongated along the third end of the liftgate.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 9, 2023
From: DENG, ZHIBING; ABRAMCZYK, JOSEPH E.; PATEL, DEEPAK
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 062927/0838 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,337,785