IP Library Granted Patent US 11,529,923
Granted Patent B2
US 11,529,923 · App. 17/233,923 · Granted Dec 20, 2022

Seatback-mounted overhead airbag

Inventors: Dean M. Jaradi (Macomb, MI); Mohammad Omar Faruque (Ann Arbor, MI); S. M. Iskander Farooq (Novi, MI)
Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
B60R21/207B60R21/233B60R21/2338B60R21/264B60R2021/0053B60R2021/2076B60R2021/23107B60R2021/23153B60R2021/23386
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,529,923
App. No.
17/233,923
Granted
Dec 20, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An assembly for a vehicle includes a seat having a seat bottom and a seatback supported by the seat bottom. The seat bottom and the seatback define an occupant seating area. The seat includes an airbag supported by an upper end of the seatback. The airbag is inflatable downwardly from the upper end of the seatback enclosing the occupant seating area between the airbag and the seatback. The seat includes a pyrotechnic device fixed to the seat below the airbag. The pyrotechnic device is connected to the airbag.

Claims (24)

1. An assembly comprising:

a seat including a seat bottom and a seatback supported by the seat bottom and defining an occupant seating area;

an airbag supported by an upper end of the seatback and inflatable downwardly from the upper end enclosing the occupant seating area between the airbag and the seatback;

a pyrotechnic device fixed to the seatback below the airbag and connected to the airbag and;

a tether retractably connected to the pyrotechnic device and extending from the pyrotechnic device to a lower end of the airbag.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag includes a plurality of inflation chambers spaced from each other along a direction from the upper end of the seatback to a lower end of the airbag when inflated.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inflation chambers are tubular and elongated circumferentially about the occupant seating area.

4. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the airbag includes a plurality of uninflatable panels in alternating arrangement with the inflation chambers.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the airbag includes inflatable tubes extending along the uninflatable panels and in fluid communication with the inflation chambers.

6. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the airbag includes inflatable tubes extending between and in fluid communication with the inflation chambers.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seatback includes a frame and upholstery, the tether being concealed by the upholstery when the airbag is in an uninflated position.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the upholstery includes a tear seam aligned with the tether.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the seat includes a guide supported by the frame and aligned with the tear seam, the tether being slidably coupled to the guide.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the seatback includes a frame, and further comprising a guide supported by the frame of the seatback frame of the seatback, the tether being slidably coupled to the guide.

11. The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the guide is elongated in a direction from an upper end to a lower end of the seatback.

12. A vehicle seat comprising:

a seatback defining an occupant seating area;

an airbag supported by an upper end of the seatback and inflatable downwardly from the upper end enclosing the occupant seating area between the airbag and the seatback;

the airbag including a plurality of inflation chambers spaced from each other along a direction from the upper end of the seatback to a lower end of the airbag when inflated; and

the airbag including a plurality of uninflatable panels in alternating arrangement with the inflation chambers and;

the airbag includes inflatable tubes extending along the uninflatable panels and in fluid communication with the inflation chambers.

13. The vehicle seat of claim 12 , wherein the inflation chambers are tubular and elongated circumferentially about the occupant seating area.

14. The vehicle seat of claim 13 , further comprising a seat bottom supporting the seatback and defining an occupant leg area, the airbag extending from the upper end of the seatback to the occupant leg area when inflated.

15. The vehicle seat of claim 12 , further comprising a seat bottom supporting the seatback and defining an occupant leg area, the airbag extending from the upper end of the seatback to the occupant leg area when inflated.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 19, 2021
From: JARADI, DEAN M.; FARUQUE, MOHAMMAD OMAR; FAROOQ, S.M. ISKANDER
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 055958/0383 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220332268A1 · Oct 20, 2022