Patent Application
20130026803
The invention relates to airbags for passenger seats or the like.
In various modes of transportation, many passenger seats are at least partially surrounded by walls or monuments or may be placed behind other passenger seats where items are mounted to the seat back, such as video displays, telephones, shrouds, or other items.
During a minor crash landing, a passenger may be thrown forward so that the passenger's head and/or body strikes these structures due to inertial loads from the event. Typically, these structures are rigid in nature, so as not to provide any energy absorbing or deflecting features. As a result, passengers may experience head injuries due to impact with these conventional seat back or structural designs.
Thus, it may be desirable to provide structures with airbag modules within a potential strike zone to provide a surface with energy absorbing features so as to reduce the severity of potential head injuries that passengers may experience during a minor crash.
Embodiments of the present invention include an airbag module for a passenger seat comprising a seat back, a container coupled to the seat back, wherein the container comprises at least one airbag, and a structure positioned aft of the seat back, wherein the structure comprises a recess configured to receive the at least one airbag in a deployed state. The container may further comprise a cover having a breakable line, and the structure further comprises a breakable area positioned aft of the recess, wherein the breakable line is configured to form an opening in the cover and the breakable area is configured to form an opening in the aft surface when a force is applied by the at least one airbag in a deployed state.
In certain embodiments, the breakable area may be pivotally coupled to a portion of an aft surface of the structure, and the recess may comprise a stop to prevent the breakable area from rotating forward past the stop.
The structure may further comprise a film that is positioned to cover at least the breakable area. The breakable area may comprise a decorative pattern on an aft surface of the structure. The recess may be configured to guide the at least one airbag in the deployed state through the structure.
The described embodiments of the invention provide airbag modules for passenger seats. While the airbag modules are discussed for use with aircraft seats, they are by no means so limited. Rather, embodiments of the active seat backs may be used in passenger seats or other seats of any type or otherwise as desired.
The airbag 12 may be formed of a thin, nylon fabric or other suitable flexible materials. In some embodiments, the airbag 12 may include a rectilinear, oval, circular, or other overall deployed shape as needed for the location where the airbag module 10 is mounted. The airbag 12 may further comprise vent locations to assist with airbag deflation.
As best illustrated in
A cover 28 may positioned over the container 20 opposite the back surface 22. The cover 28 may include tabs 30 that may extend forward to attach to the sides 24 of the container 20 to secure the cover 28 to the container 20. The cover 28 may be formed of composite materials, glass fibers, fabric, Kevlar with resin, paper, or other suitable materials. The cover 28 may comprise a breakable line 32 to allow the airbag 12 to deploy through the cover 28. The breakable line 32 may be formed by partially cutting or otherwise weakening an area of the cover 28 in a shape that allows the airbag 12 to correctly deploy. The breakable line 32 may have any position on the cover 28 relative to the container 20 and may have a T-shape, H-shape, I-shape, C-shape, U-shape, or any other suitable shape.
As illustrated in
The inflator 14 may further comprise a canister 40. The canister 40 may be a high pressure gas vessel or other suitable container designed to withstand application of pressure up to 600 bar. The canister 40 may further comprise helium gas or any inert gas to rapidly inflate the airbag 12. However, one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that any suitable chemical composition may be included within the canister 40 that produces a gas that rapidly inflates the airbag 12 within the required time period. A firing module 42 may be coupled to the inflator 14. The firing module 42 may include a pyrotechnic squib that will break a membrane in order to release the pressurized gas.
In certain embodiments, the sensing circuit 16 may comprise integrated logic to monitor for crash scenarios and to transmit a signal to the inflator 14 when such a scenario is detected. When the inflator 14 receives the signal from the sensing circuit 16, the inflator 14 deploys the airbag 12. The sensing circuit 16 may include a battery for reserve power and inflator firing charge capability. The sensing circuit 16 may be electrically connected to the firing module 42 of the inflator 14. For example, the sensing circuit 16 may be an electronics module assembly (“EMA”) or other suitable electronics control module.
In some embodiments, as illustrated in
In certain embodiments, such as those illustrated in
In certain embodiments, the airbag module 10 may be configured to be positioned within a space 54 located between the seat back 18 and the structure 44. The space 54 may be included between the seat back 18 and the structure 44 so that the structure 44 does not interfere with a reclined position of the seat back 18. By locating the airbag module 10 within the space 54, as opposed to within the structure 44, the structure 44 may have a thinner shape than would otherwise be needed to house the airbag module 10. In certain embodiments, to prevent the position of the airbag module 10 from interfering with the reclined position of the seat back 18, the recess 52 may be shaped so that the airbag module 10 is received at least partially within the recess 52 when the seat back 18 is in the reclined position.
In some cases, the aft surface 50 adjacent the recess 52 may be configured to include a breakable area 56 to allow the airbag 12 to deploy from the airbag module 10 through the recess 52 and through the aft surface 50. As best illustrated in
In some embodiments, the breakable area 56 may be formed by partially cutting or otherwise weakening the aft surface 50 locally in a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of the recess 52, a T-shape, H-shape, I-shape, C-shape, U-shape, or any other suitable shape that allows the airbag 12 to correctly deploy. The breakable area 56 may retain sufficient strength to withstand ordinary wear and tear usage, while also being configured to break quickly when the airbag 12 is deployed. For example, the breakable area 56 may be formed of composite materials, glass fibers, fabric, Kevlar with resin, or other suitable materials.
In these embodiments, as illustrated in
Conversely, the second end 62 of the breakable area 56 may be pivotally coupled to the lower portion 64 of the aft surface 50. In certain embodiments, the second end 62 of the breakable area 56 may be adhered, bonded, sewn, mechanically coupled, or otherwise joined to the lower portion 64. The first end 58 of the breakable area 56 may be positioned adjacent the upper portion 60 of the aft surface 50. The stop 66 may be positioned within the recess 52 adjacent the upper portion 60 so as to prevent the first end 58 of the breakable area 56 from rotating forward past the stop 66 under typical cabin usage conditions.
In certain embodiments, the first end 58 and/or the second end 62 of the breakable area 56 may be adhered, bonded, sewn, mechanically coupled, or otherwise joined to the upper portion 60, the lower portion 64, or any other suitable location on the aft surface 50. In other embodiments, both the first end 58 and the second end 62 (and/or one or both sides 68) of the breakable area 56 may be pivotally or otherwise coupled to the upper portion 60 and/or the lower portion 64 (and/or sides 70) of the aft surface 50, and the breakable area 56 may include a weakened area centrally located between the ends 58, 62 (and/or sides 68) of the breakable area 56. However, one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will understand that the breakable area 56 may have any suitable design and/or position that allows the airbag 12 to deploy without interference.
In certain embodiments, as illustrated in
In additional embodiments, such as those illustrated in
The foregoing is provided for purposes of illustrating, explaining, and describing embodiments of the present invention. Further modifications and adaptations to these embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
This application is related to and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/512,070, filed on Jul. 27, 2011, entitled AIRBAG MODULE INTEGRATE ON SEAT BACK THAT DEPLOYED THROUGH STRUCTURE (the “'070 application”). The '070 application is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61512070 | Jul 2011 | US |
