IP Library Granted Patent US 12,240,408
Granted Patent B2
US 12,240,408 · App. 18/207,325 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Leg impact protection assembly for a vehicle

Inventors: Johan Rosenberg (Gothenburg, SE); Sebastian Rutelin (Gothenburg, SE); Venti Saslecov (Gothenburg, SE)
Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
B60R21/2338B60N3/06B60R21/0134B60R21/0136B60R2021/0004B60R2021/0053B60R2021/23153B60R2021/23386
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,240,408
App. No.
18/207,325
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A collision protection system for a vehicle, the collision protection system including a seat having a seat bottom attached to a floor of the vehicle. The collision protection system also includes a foot rest disposed adjacent to, attached to, or integrally formed with the floor of the vehicle. The collision protection system also includes an airbag that deploys from, adjacent to, or around the foot rest. The airbag deploys over a portion of legs of a user occupying the seat to protect the legs of the user during a collision.

Claims (27)

1. A collision protection system for a vehicle, the collision protection system comprising:

a seat having a seat bottom attached to a floor of the vehicle;

a foot rest disposed adjacent to, attached to, or integrally formed with the floor of the vehicle and separated from the seat bottom; and

an airbag that deploys from, adjacent to, or around the foot rest, wherein the airbag is configured to deploy over a portion of legs of a user occupying the seat to protect the legs of the user during a collision, wherein the airbag is tethered to the seat bottom itself during the collision.

2. The collision protection system of claim 1 , wherein the airbag is configured to restrain the legs of the user during the collision.

3. The collision protection system of claim 1 , wherein the airbag is tethered to the seat bottom itself during the collision by one or more tethers attached to one or more sides of the seat bottom itself.

4. The collision protection system of claim 1 , wherein the airbag is configured to be positioned over the legs of the user based on one or more characteristics of the user.

5. The collision protection system of claim 1 , wherein the airbag deploys based on one or more collision policies.

6. The collision protection system of claim 1 , wherein the airbag deploys based on one or more collision policies, and wherein at least one collision policy of the one or more collision policies causes the airbag to deploy in response to a pre-crash warning signal.

7. The collision protection system of claim 1 , wherein the airbag deploys based on one or more collision policies, and wherein at least one collision policy of the one or more collision policies causes the airbag to deploy in response to a crash detection signal.

8. A frontal-impact protection assembly for a vehicle, the frontal-impact protection assembly comprising:

a foot rest disposed adjacent to, attached to, or integrally formed with a floor of the vehicle and separated from a seat bottom of a seat attached to the floor of the vehicle; and

an airbag that deploys from, adjacent to, or around the foot rest, wherein the airbag is configured to deploy over a portion of legs of a user occupying the seat of the vehicle to protect the legs of the user during a collision, wherein the airbag is tethered to the seat bottom itself during the collision.

9. The frontal-impact protection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the airbag is configured to restrain the legs of the user during the collision.

10. The frontal-impact protection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the airbag is tethered to the seat bottom itself during the collision by one or more tethers attached to one or more sides of the seat bottom itself.

11. The frontal-impact protection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the airbag is configured to be positioned over the legs of the user based on one or more characteristics of the user.

12. The frontal-impact protection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the airbag deploys based on one or more collision policies.

13. The frontal-impact protection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the airbag deploys based on one or more collision policies, and wherein at least one collision policy of the one or more collision policies causes the airbag to deploy in response to a pre-crash warning signal.

14. The frontal-impact protection assembly of claim 8 , wherein the airbag deploys based on one or more collision policies, and wherein at least one collision policy of the one or more collision policies causes the airbag to deploy in response to a crash detection signal.

15. A method comprising:

detecting a collision indication signal in association with a vehicle; and

deploying an airbag from, adjacent to, or around a foot rest positioned in front of a seat of the vehicle, wherein the foot rest is disposed adjacent to, attached to, or integrally formed with a floor of the vehicle and separated from a seat bottom of the seat of the vehicle attached to the floor of the vehicle, wherein the airbag is configured to deploy over a portion of legs of a user occupying the seat to protect the legs of the user during a collision, wherein the airbag is tethered to the seat bottom itself during the collision.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the airbag is configured to restrain the legs of the user during the collision.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the airbag is tethered to the seat bottom itself during the collision by one or more tethers attached to one or more sides of the seat bottom itself.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the airbag is configured to be positioned over the legs of the user based on one or more characteristics of the user.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the airbag deploys based on one or more collision policies.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the airbag deploys based on one or more collision policies, and wherein at least one collision policy of the one or more collision policies causes the airbag to deploy in response to a pre-crash warning signal.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2023
From: ROSENBERG, JOHAN; RUTELIN, SEBASTIAN; SASLECOV, VENTI
To: VOLVO CAR CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063897/0364 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240409058A1 · Dec 12, 2024
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