Dual-chambered side and front airbag

A restraint system includes an A pillar, a dash extending in a cross-vehicle direction from the A pillar, a door extending in a vehicle-rearward direction from the A pillar, and an airbag mounted to the A pillar and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag includes a side chamber and a front chamber. The side chamber is elongated along the door when the airbag is in the inflated position, and the front chamber is elongated along the dash when the airbag is in the inflated position.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles are typically equipped with airbags. In the event of an impact, inflators activate and provide inflation medium to the airbags, and the airbags pressurize and act as supplemental restraints for occupants during the impact. The airbags are located at various fixed positions in passenger cabins of vehicles. Vehicles typically include a driver airbag mounted in the steering wheel, a passenger airbag mounted in the top of the dash in a vehicle-forward direction from the front passenger seat, and side curtain airbags mounted in the roof rails above the doors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A restraint system includes an A pillar, a dash extending in a cross-vehicle direction from the A pillar, a door extending in a vehicle-rearward direction from the A pillar, and an airbag mounted to the A pillar and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag includes a side chamber and a front chamber. The side chamber is elongated along the door when the airbag is in the inflated position, and the front chamber is elongated along the dash when the airbag is in the inflated position.

The airbag may be inflatable from an uninflated position, the side chamber may be rolled into a roll extending along the A pillar when the airbag is in the uninflated position, and the front chamber may be rolled into a roll extending along the A pillar when the airbag is in the uninflated position.

The restraint system may further include an inflator fixed relative to the A pillar, and a manifold fluidly coupling the inflator to the side chamber and to the front chamber. The front chamber and the side chamber may be fluidly isolated from each other except via the manifold.

The restraint system may further include a controller communicatively coupled to the inflator and programmed to actuate the inflator in response to a front impact, actuate the inflator in response to a side impact, and actuate the inflator in response to an oblique impact.

The door may define a beltline, and the side chamber may extend both above and below the beltline when the airbag is in the inflated position.

The restraint system may further include a windshield extending upward from the dash, and the front chamber may extend along both the dash and the windshield when the airbag is in the inflated position.

The front chamber and the side chamber may abut each other when the airbag is in the inflated position.

The airbag may include stitching sealing the side chamber and the front chamber from each other. The stitching may be fixed relative to the A pillar.

The front chamber may have an indentation when the airbag is in the inflated position. The restraint system may further include a seat having a midline, and the indentation may be positioned along the midline of the seat when the airbag is in the inflated position.

The indentation may be positioned to receive a head of an occupant in the event of a front impact when the airbag is in the inflated position.

The dash may include a bottom edge at a bottom of the dash and a top edge at a top of the dash, and the dash may extend substantially straight from the bottom edge to the top edge. The restraint system may further include a windshield extending upward from the top edge of the dash, and a floor extending horizontally from the bottom edge of the dash.

The dash may be a structural member of a frame of a vehicle including the restraint system.

The dash may lack a steering wheel.

With reference to the Figures, a restraint system32for a vehicle30includes at least one A pillar34, a dash36extending in a cross-vehicle direction from the A pillar34, a front door38extending in a vehicle-rearward direction from the A pillar34, and an airbag40mounted to the A pillar34and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag40includes a side chamber42and a front chamber44. The side chamber42is elongated along the front door38when the airbag40is in the inflated position, and the front chamber44is elongated along the dash36when the airbag40is in the inflated position.

The restraint system32can provide protection for an occupant in a wide variety of impact angles to the vehicle30. The restraint system32provides efficient packaging of components. The restraint system32can take advantage of a vehicle30in which the dash36is flat rather than protruding rearward into a passenger cabin46.

With reference toFIG. 1, the vehicle30may be any passenger or commercial automobile such as a car, a truck, a sport utility vehicle, a crossover, a van, a minivan, a taxi, a bus, etc.

The vehicle30includes a frame48. The vehicle30may be of a unibody construction, in which the frame48and a body of the vehicle30are a single component, as shown in the Figures. The vehicle30may, alternatively, be of a body-on-frame construction, in which the frame48supports the body that is a separate component from the frame48. The frame48and body may be formed of any suitable material, for example, steel, aluminum, etc.

The frame48of the vehicle30may include the A pillars34, B pillars50, C pillars52, and roof rails54. The A pillars34may extend between a windshield56and the front doors38. The B pillars50may extend between the front doors38and rear doors58. The C pillars52may extend between the rear doors58and a backlite60. The frame48may also include D pillars (not shown) if the vehicle30is, e.g., an SUV, crossover, minivan, or station wagon, in which case the C pillars52extend between the rear doors58and rear left and right windows (not shown), and the D pillars extend between the rear right and left windows and the backlite60. The roof rails54extend along tops of the doors38,58in a vehicle-rearward direction from the A pillar34to the B pillar50to the C pillar52.

The doors38,58extend downward from the roof rails54to rocker bars62. The front doors38extend in a vehicle-rearward direction from the A pillars34to the B pillars50. The front doors38can be hingedly connected to the frame48at the A pillars34. The rear doors58extend in a vehicle-rearward direction from the B pillars50to the C pillars52. The rear doors58can be hingedly connected to the frame48at the B pillars50.

The doors38,58each include a side window64and a door body66. The side window64can be fully or partially retractable inside the respective door body66. The door body66extends downward from a visible portion of the respective side window64. The doors38,58define part of a beltline68around the vehicle30. For the purposes of this disclosure, a “beltline” is defined as a bottom edge of visible glass panels of the vehicle30. For the vehicle30as shown inFIG. 1, the beltline68is the bottom edge of the visible portions of the windshield56, the side windows64, and the backlite60. For the doors38,58, the beltline68is the top edge of the door bodies66.

With reference toFIG. 2, the vehicle30includes the passenger cabin46to house occupants, if any, of the vehicle30. The passenger cabin46includes one or more front seats70disposed at a front of the passenger cabin46and one or more rear seats72disposed behind the front seats70. The passenger cabin46may also include third-row seats (not shown) at a rear of the passenger cabin46. The seats70,72are indirectly attached to the frame48of the vehicle30, e.g., to the A pillar34, by a floor74of the passenger cabin46.

The seats70,72are oriented to face in a vehicle-forward direction, i.e., an occupant sitting in the seat70,72is facing in the vehicle-forward direction. Each seat70,72defines a midline, i.e., a plane extending in the vehicle-forward and upward directions and bisecting the seat70,72into generally symmetrical halves. Each seat70,72is generally symmetrical across the midline. InFIG. 2, the front seats70are shown to be bucket seats, but the seats70,72may be other types. The position and orientation of the seats70,72and components thereof may be adjustable by an occupant.

With reference toFIG. 3, the dash36is disposed at a forward end of the passenger cabin46and faces toward the front seats70. The dash36extends in a cross-vehicle direction from one of the A pillars34to the other of the A pillars34. The dash36includes a bottom edge76and a top edge78, and the dash36extends substantially straight from the bottom edge76to the top edge78. The windshield56extends upward from the top edge78of the dash36, and the floor74extends horizontally from the bottom edge76of the dash36.

The dash36is a structural member of the frame48. For the purposes of this disclosure, a “structural member” is defined as a portion of a frame of a vehicle that resists static and dynamic forces from operation of the vehicle without undue deflection or distortion. Examples of forces include a weight of other vehicle components, passengers, and cargo; twisting forces caused by driving over uneven surfaces; torque from a transmission; longitudinal and lateral forces from driving; and possibly forces from impacts with other vehicles or impactors.

The dash36may include vehicle controls, such as gauges, dials, screens, and information displays; heating and ventilation equipment; a radio and other electronics; etc. The dash36, as well as the rest of the vehicle30, lacks a steering wheel and lacks pedals for accelerating and braking. In other words, no steering wheel or pedals for accelerating and braking are supported by or adjacent to the dash36. More specifically, the vehicle30does not include a steering wheel or pedals for accelerating and braking, e.g., is an autonomous vehicle.

With reference toFIGS. 3-7, the vehicle30can include two of the airbags40, each corresponding to one of the A pillars34. The description below of one of the airbags40applies to the other airbag40as well. The airbag40includes the front chamber44and the side chamber42. The airbag40includes stitching80. The stitching80separates the front chamber44and the side chamber42. The front chamber44and the side chamber42are only connected to each other at the stitching80. The stitching80isolates the front chamber44and the side chamber42; i.e., the stitching80prevents gas from flowing from the front chamber44to the side chamber42and vice versa. The front chamber44and the side chamber42are fluidly isolated from each other except via a manifold82, described below.

The airbag40may be formed of any suitable airbag material, for example, a woven polymer. For example, the airbag40may be formed of woven nylon yarn, for example, nylon 6-6. Other suitable examples include polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyester, or any other suitable polymer. The woven polymer may include a coating, such as silicone, neoprene, urethane, and so on. For example, the coating may be polyorgano siloxane.

With reference toFIG. 3, the airbag40is mounted to the A pillar34. The stitching80is fixed relative to the A pillar34. The stitching80is elongated along the A pillar34. The stitching80is located below, e.g., fully below, the beltline68of the vehicle30.

With reference toFIG. 4, an inflator84for each airbag40is fixed relative to the respective A pillar34. The inflator84can be mounted, e.g., to the dash36or to the A pillar34. Upon receiving a signal from, e.g., a controller88, the inflator84may inflate the airbag40with an inflation medium, such as a gas. The inflator84may be, for example, a pyrotechnic inflator that uses a chemical reaction to drive inflation medium to the airbag40. The inflator84may be of any suitable type, for example, a cold-gas inflator.

One manifold82fluidly couples each inflator84to each airbag40. Specifically, the manifold82fluidly couples the inflator84to the side chamber42and to the front chamber44. The manifold82is positioned and shaped to receive the inflation medium from the inflator84and direct the inflation medium simultaneously to both the front chamber44and to the side chamber42. The manifold82includes a single inlet and a branching structure to two outlets.

With reference toFIG. 5, the airbag40is inflatable from an uninflated position. When the airbag40is in the uninflated position, the side chamber42is rolled into a roll extending along the A pillar34, i.e., a centerline of the roll of the side chamber42extends along the A pillar34, and the front chamber44is rolled into a roll extending along the A pillar34, i.e., a centerline of the roll of the front chamber44extends along the A pillar34.

With reference toFIG. 6, the airbag40is inflatable to an inflated position. The front chamber44of the airbag40inflates in a mostly cross-vehicle direction. When the airbag40is in the inflated position, the front chamber44is elongated along the dash36. In other words, the longest dimension of the front chamber44is along the dash36, i.e., in a cross-vehicle direction. When the airbag40is in the inflated position, the front chamber44extends from the A pillar34in a cross-vehicle direction at least halfway to, e.g., more than 90% of the distance to, a midline of the vehicle30. When the airbag40is in the inflated position, the front chamber44extends along both the dash36and the windshield56; in other words, the front chamber44extends above and below the beltline68.

When the airbag40is in the inflated position, the front chamber44has an indentation86. In the event of a front impact, the indentation86is positioned to receive a head of an occupant sitting in the front seat70that is positioned in a directly vehicle-rearward direction from the front chamber44. The indentation86is positioned along the midline defined by that front seat70, i.e., the indentation86is positioned in a directly vehicle-forward direction from a cross-vehicle middle of that front seat70.

With reference toFIG. 7, the side chamber42of the airbag40inflates in a mostly vehicle-rearward direction. When the airbag40is in the inflated position, the side chamber42is elongated along the front door38. In other words, the longest dimension of the side chamber42is along the front door38, i.e., in a vehicle-rearward direction. When the airbag40is in the inflated position, the side chamber42extends from the A pillar34in a vehicle-rearward direction more than halfway to the B pillar50; the side chamber42extends from the A pillar34in a vehicle-rearward direction past a position that would be occupied by a head of an occupant sitting in the front seat70. When the airbag40is in the inflated position, the side chamber42extends along both the door body66and the side window64of the front door38; in other words, the side chamber42extends both above and below the beltline68. When the airbag40is in the inflated position, the front chamber44and the side chamber42abut each other, as shown inFIG. 6.

With reference toFIG. 8, the vehicle30includes the controller88. The controller88is a microprocessor-based controller. The controller88includes a processor, a memory, etc. The memory of the controller88includes media for storing instructions executable by the processor as well as for electronically storing data and/or databases.

The controller88may transmit and receive data through a communications network90such as a controller area network (CAN) bus, Ethernet, WiFi, Local Interconnect Network (LIN), onboard diagnostics connector (OBD-II), and/or by any other wired or wireless communications network. The controller88may be communicatively coupled to at least one impact sensor92, the inflators84, and other components via the communications network90.

The impact sensors92are adapted to detect an impact to the vehicle30. The impact sensors92may be of any suitable type, for example, post-contact sensors such as linear or angular accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, and contact switches; and pre-impact sensors such as radar, lidar, and vision-sensing systems. The vision systems may include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors, etc. The impact sensors92may be located at numerous points in or on the vehicle30.

The controller88is programmed to actuate the inflators84in response to a front impact, actuate the inflators84in response to a side impact, and actuate the inflators84in response to an oblique impact. The controller88can be programmed to actuate the inflators84in response to an impact to the vehicle30regardless of the direction of the impact. The programming can be stored in the memory of the controller88.

In the event of an impact, the impact sensors92may detect the impact and transmit a signal through the communications network90to the controller88. The controller88may transmit a signal through the communications network90to the inflators84. The inflators84may discharge and inflate the airbags40. The front chamber44for each airbag40inflates along the dash36, and the side chamber42for each airbag40inflates along the front doors38. The inflation of the airbag40causes the front chamber44and the side chamber42to abut each other. Depending on the direction of the impact, the momentum of the occupant of the front seat70carries a head and torso into the front chamber44, into the side chamber42, or into both the front chamber44and the side chamber42at the point at which the front chamber44and side chamber42abut each other. The airbag40can provide supplemental restraint to the occupant.

The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. “Substantially” as used herein means that a dimension, time duration, shape, or other adjective may vary slightly from what is described due to physical imperfections, power interruptions, variations in machining or other manufacturing, etc. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings, and the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.