IP Library Granted Patent US 11,273,785
Granted Patent B1
US 11,273,785 · App. 17/019,500 · Granted Mar 15, 2022

Vehicle lap bar with airbag

Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque (Ann Arbor, MI); S. M. Iskander Farooq (Novi, MI); Dean M. Jaradi (Macomb, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B60R21/232B60N3/001B60R21/01512B60R21/20B60R21/207B60R21/2165B60R21/231B60R2021/022B60R2021/0273B60R2021/161B60R2021/2173B60R2021/23107B60R2021/23146
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,273,785
App. No.
17/019,500
Granted
Mar 15, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

A seat includes a seatback that defines a first axis extending between a top and a bottom of the seatback. The seatback defines a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The seat includes a lap bar supported by the seatback. The lap bar is translatable along the first axis and rotatable about the second axis. The seat includes an airbag supported by the lap bar.

Claims (22)

1. A seat, comprising:

a seatback that defines a first axis extending between a top and a bottom of the seatback, the seatback defining a second axis perpendicular to the first axis;

a lap bar supported by the seatback, the lap bar translatable along the first axis and rotatable about the second axis; and

an airbag supported by the lap bar.

2. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the seatback includes a track elongated along the first axis, the lap bar slidable along the track.

3. The seat of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to rotate the lap bar about the second axis.

4. The seat of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to translate the lap bar along the first axis.

5. The seat of claim 4 , further comprising a computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to command the actuator to move the lap bar along the first axis in response to receiving data from an occupancy sensor indicating that the seat is occupied.

6. The seat of claim 4 , further comprising a computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to command the actuator to move the lap bar along the first axis in response to receiving data from a sensor that indicates rotation of the lap bar about the second axis.

7. The seat of claim 4 , further comprising a computer having a processor and memory storing instructions executable by the processor to command the actuator to move the lap bar along the first axis in response to receiving data from a user interface.

8. The seat of claim 1 , further comprising a second airbag supported by the lap bar, and wherein the airbag is inflatable to an inflated position that extends upward from the lap bar and the second airbag is inflatable to a second inflated position that extends downward from the lap bar.

9. The seat of claim 8 , wherein the lap bar includes a covering having a top tear seam at the airbag and a bottom tear seam at the second airbag.

10. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the lap bar includes a beam, and further comprising an inflator inside the beam.

11. The seat of claim 1 , further comprising a lock that selectively inhibits rotation of the lap bar about the second axis.

12. The seat of claim 11 , wherein the lock includes an inertia locking mechanism.

13. The seat of claim 1 , further comprising a lock that selectively inhibits translation of the lap bar along the first axis.

14. The seat of claim 13 , wherein the lock includes an inertia locking mechanism.

15. The seat of claim 1 , further comprising a table supported by the lap bar.

16. The seat of claim 15 , wherein the table is movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

17. The seat of claim 16 , wherein the table in the extended position extends from the lap bar toward the seatback.

18. The seat of claim 1 , wherein the lap bar is supported at a right side of the seatback and a left side of the seatback.

19. The seat of claim 18 , wherein the airbag extends from the right side of the seatback along the lap bar to the left side of the seatback.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2020
From: FARUQUE, MOHAMMAD OMAR; FAROOQ, S.M. ISKANDER; JARADI, DEAN M.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 053756/0975 →
Cited By (5)
US 12,208,763 US 12,227,138 US 12,337,781 US 12,358,456 US 12,365,307