Patent Description:
Protection systems have been installed in vehicles to protect an occupant during a collision event. Some protection systems include inflatable side airbags. Some protection systems suffer from one or more drawbacks, or may perform less than optimally in one or more respects. Certain embodiments disclosed herein can address one or more of these issues.

<CIT> discloses an airbag arrangement for a motor vehicle which is configured to be installed in the side of a seat.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cover for an airbag assembly according to claim <NUM>.

The present embodiments will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that the accompanying drawings depict only typical embodiments and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of the scope of the disclosure, the embodiments will be described and explained with specificity and detail in reference to the accompanying drawings.

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, as claimed, but is merely representative of various embodiments.

Occupant protection systems, such as inflatable airbag assemblies, may be installed at various locations within a vehicle to reduce or minimize occupant injury during a collision event. Inflatable airbag assemblies are widely used to reduce or minimize occupant injury during a collision event. Airbag modules have been installed at various locations within a vehicle, including, but not limited to, in the steering wheel, in the dashboard and/or instrument panel, within the side doors, within or adjacent to seats, adjacent to a roof rail of the vehicle, in an overhead position, or at the knee or leg position. An enclosure for an inflatable airbag assembly may dictate, or limit, installation locations within a vehicle, as well as impacting costs for production of the inflatable airbag assembly, or installation of the inflatable airbag assembly, or both. In the following disclosure, "airbag" generally refers to an inflatable airbag that deploys to protect an occupant during a collision event.

The present disclosure is directed to side airbag assemblies that are configured to deploy to protect an occupant during a side collision event, including an oblique side collision event. More particularly, the present invention is directed toward covering, or enclosing, side airbag assemblies in a packaged state and mounting side airbag assemblies to a vehicle. An enclosure or cover for a side airbag assembly may significantly affect where the side airbag assembly may be installed to a vehicle, or may require particular consideration in designing overlying or adjacent components of the vehicle to ensure proper function of the side airbag assembly during a side collision event or an oblique side collision event.

During installation, airbags are typically disposed at an interior of a housing in a packaged state (e.g., are rolled, folded, and/or otherwise compressed) or a compact configuration and may be retained in the packaged state behind a cover. During a collision event, an inflator is triggered, which rapidly fills the airbag with inflation gas. The airbag can rapidly transition from a packaged state (e.g., a compact configuration) to a deployed state or an expanded configuration. For example, the expanding airbag can open an airbag cover (e.g., by tearing through a burst seam or opening a door-like structure) to exit the housing. The inflator may be triggered by any suitable device or system, and the triggering may be in response to and/or influenced by one or more vehicle sensors. An airbag assembly can mitigate injury to an occupant of a vehicle during a collision event by reducing the effect of impact of the occupant against structures (body-structure impact) within the vehicle (such as, e.g., a dashboard or door column).

Some embodiments disclosed herein can provide improved positioning, cushioning, and/or safety to occupants involved in particular types of collisions. Examples of types of collisions in which certain embodiments may prove advantageous include one or more of (<NUM>) collisions where the struck object fails to engage the structural longitudinal components and/or engine block of the occupant's vehicle, (<NUM>) collisions where the impact forces act primarily outside of either the left or right longitudinal beams of the occupant's vehicle, (<NUM>) collisions classified under the Collision Deformation Classification scheme as FLEE or FREE, (<NUM>) front-impact collisions where the occupant's vehicle strikes no more than <NUM>% of the vehicle width, (<NUM>) collisions as specified for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) small overlap frontal crash test, or (<NUM>) collisions as specified for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) oblique impact test. The conditions for the IIHS small overlap frontal crash test and the NHTSA oblique impact test are disclosed in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Small Overlap Frontal Crashworthiness Evaluation Crash Test Protocol (Version II) (Dec. <NUM>); and <NPL>). As used herein, the term "oblique" when used to describe a collision (crash, impact, etc.) is intended to encompass any of the foregoing described collisions and any other collisions in which an occupant's direction of travel as a result of the impact includes both a forward direction or component and a lateral direction or component. In the present disclosure, the longitudinal component of an occupant's post-collision trajectory during or after an oblique collision may be oriented in the car-forward direction.

<FIG> is a plan view of at least a portion of an inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM>, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and in a partially assembled state. The inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> comprises an inflator <NUM>, an inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>, and a cover (hereafter, "subtotal enclosure") <NUM>. One or more of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> and the inflator <NUM> may, at least partially define, an inflatable airbag module <NUM> to be enclosed by the subtotal enclosure <NUM>. The subtotal enclosure <NUM> comprises a lateral panel <NUM>, a rear panel <NUM>, a mounting panel <NUM>, and a closure <NUM>. The subtotal enclosure <NUM> is illustrated in a plan view, with the lateral panel <NUM>, the rear panel <NUM>, and the mounting panel <NUM> laid flat (e.g., in the same plane) to show a relative interrelation of these elements, whereas <FIG> discussed below depict more fully an orientation of these elements relative to each other. A first coupling <NUM> couples between the lateral panel <NUM> and the rear panel <NUM>. A second coupling <NUM> couples between the rear panel <NUM> and the mounting panel <NUM>. A third coupling <NUM> couples between the lateral panel <NUM> and the closure <NUM>.

The closure <NUM>, in the present embodiment, is defined by a panel having a shape generally like a "U" (comprising a counter 123a opposite a bowl 123b) on its side. The bowl 123b of the "U" shape defines a distal end <NUM> of the closure <NUM>. In one embodiment, the distal end <NUM> may be further defined by a tab 132t that may be used to facilitate assembling together the subtotal enclosure <NUM>, the inflator <NUM>, and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>. The third coupling <NUM> couples a first end <NUM> (defined by the counter 123a (open portion) of the "U" shape) to the lateral panel <NUM> such that the counter 123a abuts the lateral panel <NUM> and the bowl 123b is distal to the lateral panel <NUM>. In one embodiment, the closure <NUM> may be a panel without the counter 123a and having a first end <NUM> opposite the distal end <NUM>. In one embodiment, the distal end <NUM> may be more or less rounded than the bowl 123b shown in <FIG>. The closure <NUM> can comprise a sacrificial fail point <NUM> that is configured to burst, rupture, or otherwise separate the closure <NUM> from the lateral panel <NUM> at or near the third coupling <NUM> during deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>. By way of example without limitation, the sacrificial fail point <NUM> may be formed of a row of perforations, application of a weakening impressment, use of a particular fabric bias, or any other appropriate means. The sacrificial fail point <NUM> may be disposed at or proximal to the third coupling <NUM> and is generally parallel to the third coupling <NUM>. The sacrificial fail point <NUM> generally spans that portion (or portions) of the closure <NUM> where the sacrificial fail point <NUM> is disposed.

The closure <NUM> may function as a flexible wrapper about at least a portion of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> in a packaged state. The closure <NUM> may be configured to releasably secure the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> to at least one of the lateral panel <NUM> and the mounting panel <NUM>. Said otherwise, the closure <NUM> may close about the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> to retain the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> at and at least partially between the lateral panel <NUM> and the mounting panel <NUM> until the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> is deployed. The closure <NUM> may be configured to decouple at the sacrificial fail point <NUM> to permit deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>. The first coupling <NUM> and/or the second coupling <NUM> may comprise a flexible fold configured to permit the lateral panel <NUM> to articulate outward away from the mounting panel <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the lateral panel <NUM>, the rear panel <NUM>, the mounting panel <NUM>, and the closure <NUM> may be formed as a unitary component from a contiguous material. In such an embodiment, the first, second, and third coupling <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed by folding, bending, impressing, or any other suitable manner. In one embodiment, one or more of the panels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or the closure <NUM> may be formed of a first material and one or more of the panels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or the closure <NUM> formed of a second material. For example, the lateral panel <NUM>, rear panel <NUM>, and mounting panel <NUM> may be formed of a first material, and the closure <NUM> may be formed of a second material. In such an embodiment, the first and second couplings <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed by folding, bending, impressing, etc., and the third coupling <NUM> may be formed by sewing, adhesive, radio-frequency (RF) welding, or another appropriate method. In another embodiment, the lateral panel <NUM> and the closure <NUM> may be formed of a first material, and the rear panel <NUM> and the mounting panel <NUM> may be formed of a second material. In yet other embodiments, other combinations of first and second material sourcing for each of the lateral panel <NUM>, rear panel <NUM>, mounting panel <NUM>, and the closure <NUM> are anticipated by the present disclosure. Furthermore, each of the first, second, and third couplings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be formed by cutting, sewing, adhesive, RF welding, or another suitable method, regardless of whether the two panels/closure coupled by the particular coupling <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are formed of the same material or disparate materials. Additionally, material may be selected for each panel <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the closure <NUM> to provide a preferred degree of rigidity, flexibility, or pliability. In other words, each panel <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, may have distinctive qualities of rigidity, flexibility, and pliability; and the closure <NUM> may have a degree of rigidity, flexibility, and pliability similar to that of any of the panels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or may be more flexible or pliant, or both. In one embodiment, for example, the mounting panel <NUM> may be more rigid than one or more of the rear panel <NUM>, the lateral panel <NUM>, and the closure <NUM>. In one embodiment, the closure <NUM> may be more rigid than one or more of the panels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

Furthermore, a thickness of material may vary as among the panels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the closure <NUM>. In one embodiment all the panels <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the closure <NUM> are formed of the same material and one or more panels may employ a thicker instance of the material. By way of example without limitation, the mounting panel <NUM> and the rear panel <NUM> may be formed of material A having a thickness of X, the lateral panel <NUM> and the closure <NUM> may be likewise formed of material A but having a thickness of Y; or the material A of the closure <NUM> may have a thickness of Z. Similarly, and without limitation, the mounting panel <NUM> may be formed of material A having a thickness of M, with the rear panel <NUM> formed of material A having a thickness of N, the lateral panel <NUM> formed of material B having a thickness of P, and the closure <NUM> formed of material B having a thickness of Q. Other combinations of materials and thicknesses are anticipated by the present disclosure. Each such combination may serve to provide a particular degree of rigidity for the particular panel <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the closure <NUM> while employing a minimal amount of material to accomplish the purpose of each panel <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and the closure <NUM>, as may be appropriate in the particular application.

In the embodiment of <FIG>, the inflator <NUM> comprises a first inflator stud <NUM> and a second inflator stud <NUM>. The inflator studs <NUM>, <NUM> may be referred to or known as a mounting component. The first and second inflator studs <NUM>, <NUM> may be configured to mount the inflator <NUM> to a vehicle (e.g., the vehicle <NUM> of <FIG>). The mounting panel <NUM> comprises a first inflator stud aperture <NUM> and a second inflator stud aperture <NUM>. The closure <NUM> also comprises a first inflator stud aperture <NUM> and a second inflator stud aperture <NUM>. The inflator <NUM> may be mated <NUM> to the subtotal enclosure <NUM> by coupling the inflator stud <NUM> through the first inflator stud aperture <NUM>, and the inflator stud <NUM> through the second inflator stud aperture <NUM> of the mounting panel <NUM>. The mounting panel <NUM> further comprises a spacer <NUM> that is configured to abut against a portion of the inflator <NUM> to assist in proper disposition of the inflator <NUM> and the mounting panel <NUM> relative to one another.

Assembly of the subtotal enclosure <NUM> with the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> may be accomplished by coupling the inflator <NUM> to the mounting panel <NUM> as previously described, and with the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> disposed adjacently as shown in <FIG>, or similarly disposed. The subtotal enclosure <NUM> may be articulated at the second coupling <NUM> upward (out of the page toward the viewer of <FIG>) whereby the rear panel <NUM> is substantially orthogonal to the mounting panel <NUM>. The subtotal enclosure <NUM> may be further articulated at the first coupling <NUM> whereby the lateral panel <NUM> is substantially orthogonal to the rear panel <NUM> and substantially parallel to the mounting panel <NUM> while overlying the coupled inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>. The subtotal enclosure <NUM> may be further articulated at the third coupling <NUM> whereby the closure <NUM> is drawn across an outboard lateral portion 108a of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>, wrapped around a forward portion 108b of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>, then drawn across an inboard lateral portion 108c of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> and the inflator <NUM> to permit coupling of the two inflator stud apertures <NUM>, <NUM> at the inflator studs <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively. With respect to mating <NUM> the closure <NUM> with the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>, "outboard lateral portion" refers to a portion of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> disposed in a direction of deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>, and "inboard lateral portion" refers to a portion of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> opposite the "outboard lateral portion. " With the inflator <NUM>, the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>, and the subtotal enclosure <NUM> mated <NUM> together, the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> may be substantially ready for mounting to a vehicle.

<FIG> is a side view of the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> of <FIG> in a substantially assembled state. The inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> are in a packaged state within the cover or subtotal enclosure <NUM>. As viewed in <FIG>, the mounting panel <NUM> is in the same position as seen in <FIG>. The subtotal enclosure <NUM> is shown mated <NUM> with the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> as in the manner previously described. The lateral panel <NUM> is visible, and a portion of the closure <NUM> and the distal end <NUM> of the closure <NUM> are shown. The first inflator stud <NUM> is disposed through the first inflator stud aperture <NUM> of the mounting panel <NUM> and the first inflator stud aperture <NUM> of the closure <NUM>. The second inflator stud <NUM> is disposed through the second inflator stud aperture <NUM> of the mounting panel <NUM> and the second inflator stud aperture <NUM> of the closure <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> may be in a state ready for installation to a vehicle, packaged and/or protected by the cover or subtotal enclosure <NUM>.

The side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>, may be in a state substantially ready for installation (e.g. mounting) to a seat of a vehicle. The inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> are within the subtotal enclosure <NUM>. With the subtotal enclosure <NUM> fully mated <NUM> (see <FIG>) to the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>, both the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> are only partially covered; however the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> may be fixedly coupled to each other by the subtotal enclosure <NUM> during installation to a vehicle and during operation of the vehicle until occurrence of an event, such as a collision event, initiates deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> from the subtotal enclosure <NUM>.

<FIG> is a top view of the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> mounted to a portion of a vehicle. The inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> are shown for reference and are within a cover or subtotal enclosure <NUM>. The subtotal enclosure <NUM> is shown with the lateral panel <NUM>, the rear panel <NUM>, the mounting panel <NUM>, and the closure <NUM> wrapped about the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag assembly <NUM>. The sacrificial fail point <NUM> is disposed near an edge of the lateral panel <NUM>. That is, sacrificial fail point <NUM> is adjacent the third coupling <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the first coupling <NUM> may define a flexible fold 114f that is a bend or fold that disposes the lateral panel <NUM> and the rear panel <NUM> orthogonally (or near orthogonally) to each other. In the embodiment of <FIG>, during mating of the inflator <NUM> to the subtotal enclosure <NUM>, the first inflator stud <NUM> was mated first to the mounting panel <NUM>, and the closure <NUM> was then mated to the first inflator stud <NUM>. The second inflator stud (see the second inflator stud <NUM> in <FIG>) was also mated to, respectively, the mounting panel <NUM> and the closure <NUM>. The side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> may then be mounted to a portion of a vehicle. In the present instance, the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> may be mounted to a frame <NUM> of a seat of a vehicle (see the seat <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM> in <FIG>) by passing a portion of the first inflator stud <NUM> and the second inflator stud <NUM> through corresponding apertures of the frame <NUM>. A mounting nut <NUM> is applied to each of the first and second inflator studs <NUM>, <NUM> to secure the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> to the vehicle <NUM>. Reciting in order from the inflator <NUM> to the mounting nut <NUM>, the order of components is first the inflator <NUM> with the spacer <NUM>, the mounting panel <NUM>, the closure <NUM>, the frame <NUM>, and the mounting nut <NUM>.

The rear panel <NUM> and the lateral panel <NUM> may be configured to remain coupled to each other during deployment, with the rear panel <NUM> configured to remain coupled at the frame <NUM> throughout deployment of the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM>. The closure <NUM> may be configured to separate at the sacrificial fail point <NUM> during deployment, with a first portion of closure <NUM> remaining coupled to the lateral panel <NUM> and a second portion of the closure <NUM> remaining coupled to inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> via the inflator stud apertures of the closure <NUM> engaged upon the studs of the inflator <NUM> (see the inflator stud apertures <NUM>, <NUM> and inflator studs <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>).

<FIG> is a top view of the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG> mounted to a portion of a vehicle. The inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> are shown for reference and are within the cover or the subtotal enclosure <NUM>. The subtotal enclosure <NUM> is shown, with the lateral panel <NUM>, the rear panel <NUM>, the mounting panel <NUM>, and the closure <NUM> wrapped about the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the inflator <NUM> is mated <NUM> to the subtotal enclosure <NUM> in a similar fashion as described in conjunction with <FIG> with the exception that the inflator <NUM> is first mated <NUM> to the closure <NUM>, then the mounting panel <NUM> before being mounted to the frame <NUM> of the seat <NUM>. Thus, reciting from the inflator <NUM> to the mounting nut <NUM>, the order of components is the inflator <NUM> with the spacer <NUM>, then the closure <NUM>, the mounting panel <NUM>, and the mounting nut <NUM>. The mounting nut <NUM> may be attached to the first inflator stud <NUM> to mount the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> to the frame <NUM> of a seat <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the sacrificial fail point <NUM> of the closure <NUM> is disposed a distance away from the third coupling <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of a portion of a vehicle <NUM> having a side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The vehicle <NUM> comprises a vehicle occupant position <NUM> that is defined by a seat <NUM>. The vehicle occupant position <NUM> may be configured to accommodate an occupant <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> during normal operation (e.g., traveling, parked, etc.) of the vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle occupant position <NUM> may be configured to accommodate an occupant <NUM> seated in the seat <NUM> that defines the vehicle occupant position <NUM>. The seat <NUM>, for example, comprises a seat base <NUM> and a seat back <NUM> configured to accommodate the occupant <NUM>. The seat back <NUM> may comprise a void <NUM> to receive an inflatable side airbag assembly such as the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> of <FIG>. At the right in <FIG>, an enlarged side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> is shown for ease of reference and orientation, and corresponding to the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> shown installed to the seat <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM>. The subtotal enclosure <NUM>, with the lateral panel <NUM> toward the viewer, as well as the inflator <NUM> and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> in a packaged state are shown. Arrows indicate positioning of the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> to the seat <NUM>. The lateral panel <NUM> may be configured to define or provide an outward facing surface comprising a material with a degree of rigidity and a degree of elasticity (as discussed in conjunction with <FIG>). In other words, the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> may be disposed at the seat <NUM> with the lateral panel <NUM> facing outward (toward the viewer of <FIG>).

The seat <NUM> is shown in a cutaway illustration for convenience of the present description. The installed side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> is shown, with inflator <NUM>, the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> in a packaged state, and the subtotal enclosure <NUM> (in particular, the lateral panel <NUM>) shown for reference. The seat back <NUM> may comprise a foam filler <NUM>, or a filler <NUM> of another material. The filler <NUM> may define or otherwise comprise a void <NUM> disposed adjacent to a portion of the frame <NUM> to accommodate the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM>. The seat back <NUM> further comprises a seat back spring <NUM> that may be configured to support the occupant <NUM>. The seat back <NUM> also comprises the frame <NUM> to support the seat back <NUM>, various components of the seat back <NUM>, and the occupant <NUM>. The seat back <NUM> may be covered with a seat cover <NUM> suitable to the purpose. For <FIG>, the seat cover <NUM> is omitted from a portion of the seat back <NUM> toward the viewer. With the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> mounted or otherwise installed to the seat back <NUM>, the lateral panel <NUM> may be disposed facing an outer lateral surface of the seat <NUM> and to cover the void <NUM> in the seat <NUM>. In other words, the lateral panel <NUM> faces and supports an inner surface of a portion of the seat cover <NUM> whereby visual detection of the presence the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> is mitigated, reduced, or eliminated. Furthermore, the lateral panel <NUM> may be configured to at least partially articulate outwardly away from the mounting panel (see the mounting panel <NUM> in <FIG>) to deploy permit the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> to deploy from the void <NUM> in the seat back <NUM>.

While the description in conjunction with <FIG> is directed toward a left-side seat <NUM> (and a driver seat <NUM>) of the vehicle <NUM>, the present disclosure anticipates that the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> herein described may be similarly used with a right-side seat. More particularly, the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> may be disposed at either a right side of a seat <NUM> or at a left side of a seat <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of the portion of the vehicle <NUM> and the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> of <FIG>. The occupant <NUM> is seated in the seat <NUM> that defines the vehicle occupant position <NUM>. The seat base <NUM> is shown for reference. In <FIG>, the seat cover <NUM> covers the seat back <NUM>. The side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> is installed to a void <NUM> of the seat back <NUM> by mounting to the frame (see the frame <NUM> in <FIG>) as described above. The seat cover <NUM> comprises an overlying portion <NUM> that overlies the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM>. The overlying portion <NUM> may comprise or be circumscribed by a sacrificial fail zone <NUM>. The sacrificial fail zone <NUM> may be configured to permit deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion (see the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> in <FIG>). By way of example without limitation, the overlying portion <NUM> may be configured to burst, separate, or otherwise expose the underlying side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM>. The overlying portion <NUM> may, for example, be formed of a material biased or configured with perforations in such a way as to burst, or by another means known in the art to permit the overlying portion <NUM> to burst or rupture whereby the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> may deploy. The overlying portion <NUM> may be circumscribed or partially circumscribed by a sacrificial fail zone <NUM>. The sacrificial fail zone <NUM> may be configured with a tear seam, a series of perforations, a fabric bias, or another means known in the art whereby the sacrificial fail zone <NUM> may separate when the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> exerts an appropriate degree of force to the underside of the overlying portion <NUM> whereby the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> is permitted to deploy through the seat cover <NUM>.

<FIG> is a side view of the portion of the vehicle <NUM> having the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM> of <FIG> with the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> deployed and at least partially inflated. The vehicle occupant position <NUM>, the seat <NUM>, the seat base <NUM>, the seat back <NUM>, and the occupant <NUM> are shown for reference. The inflator (see the inflator <NUM> in <FIG>) has been triggered by an event, such as, e.g., a collision event, and has caused the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> to at least partially inflate and deploy. As a result of the introduction of inflation gas from the inflator <NUM> into the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>, the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> has expanded to exert a sufficient force against the subtotal enclosure to cause the sacrificial fail point (see the subtotal enclosure <NUM>, the sacrificial fail point <NUM> in <FIG>) to fail; and to exert a sufficient force against the overlying portion <NUM> of the seat cover <NUM> to cause the sacrificial fail zone <NUM> to fail; and to occupy an area between the occupant <NUM> and side portions (e.g., door, door post, etc.) of the vehicle <NUM> so as to prevent or mitigate injury to the occupant <NUM>.

An event, such as a collision event, may trigger deployment of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> from the side inflatable airbag assembly <NUM>. More particularly, an event may trigger the inflator (see the inflator <NUM> in <FIG>) to inflate the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>. The inflator may deliver inflation gas to the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> to cause the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> to deploy and inflate to protect, at least partially, the occupant <NUM> from injury resulting from the triggering event. As the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> begins to inflate, the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> may exert a force against the subtotal enclosure (see the subtotal enclosure <NUM> in <FIG>). The force exerted against the subtotal enclosure may cause the sacrificial fail point of the closure (see the sacrificial fail point <NUM> in <FIG>, and the closure <NUM> of <FIG> and <FIG>) to fail. As the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> continues to inflate, the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> may exert force against an inward surface of the overlying portion <NUM> of the seat cover <NUM>. In some embodiments, the force exerted against the overlying portion <NUM> by the inflating inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> may cause the sacrificial fail zone <NUM> to fail or separate from the seat cover <NUM> to permit the overlying portion <NUM> of the seat cover <NUM> to at least partially expose the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> whereby the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> is permitted to deploy through the seat cover <NUM>. In some embodiments, the force exerted against the overlying portion <NUM> of the seat cover may cause the overlying portion <NUM> of the seat cover <NUM> to rupture, fail, or otherwise separate to at least partially expose the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> whereby the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> is permitted to deploy through the seat cover <NUM>.

<FIG> depicts an embodiment of an inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> that resembles the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> described above in certain respects. Accordingly, like features are designated with like reference numerals, with the leading digits incremented to "<NUM>. " For example, the embodiment depicted in <FIG> includes an inflator <NUM> that may, in some respects, resemble the inflator <NUM> of <FIG>. Relevant disclosure set forth above regarding similarly identified features thus may not be repeated hereafter. Moreover, specific features of the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> and related components shown in <FIG> may not be shown or identified by a reference numeral in the drawings or specifically discussed in the written description that follows. However, such features may clearly be the same, or substantially the same, as features depicted in another embodiment and/or described with respect to such embodiment. Accordingly, the relevant description of such features applies equally to the features of the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> and related components depicted in <FIG>. Any suitable combination of the features, and variations of the same, described with respect to the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> can be employed with the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> and related components in <FIG>, and vice versa. This pattern of disclosure applies equally to further embodiments depicted in subsequent figures and described hereafter, wherein the leading digits may be further incremented.

<FIG> is a top view of an inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and having a parabolic panel <NUM>. The frame <NUM> of a seat back (see the seat back <NUM> in <FIG>), the inflator <NUM>, and the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM> in a packaged state are shown for reference. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the subtotal enclosure <NUM> comprises a parabolic panel <NUM>, the mounting panel <NUM>, and the closure <NUM>. The sacrificial fail point <NUM> of the closure <NUM> is shown for reference. The parabolic panel <NUM> comprises a lateral portion <NUM> and a rear portion <NUM>. The lateral portion <NUM> may be in many respects similar to the lateral panel <NUM> of <FIG>. The rear portion <NUM> may be in many respects similar to the rear panel <NUM> of <FIG>. The parabolic panel <NUM> further comprises a curved portion <NUM> disposed between the rear portion <NUM> and the lateral portion <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the parabolic panel <NUM> may be formed as a single contiguous component having a generally uniform degree of elasticity and/or plasticity throughout. In one embodiment, the parabolic panel <NUM> may be formed of multiple materials and may have generally uniform or varying degrees of elasticity and/or plasticity. The curved portion <NUM> of the parabolic panel <NUM> may allow a degree plasticity whereby, upon activation of the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM>, failure of the sacrificial fail point <NUM> (caused by expansion of the inflatable airbag cushion <NUM>), may allow the lateral portion <NUM> to at least partially articulate outward in a somewhat spring-like manner. Furthermore, the parabolic panel <NUM> may be configured to provide a degree of support of the overlying portion of the seat cover to avoid visible indicators of the presence of the inflatable side airbag assembly <NUM> (sometimes called "read-through") (see the overlying portion <NUM>, seat cover <NUM> in <FIG>).

In the present disclosure, reference is made to an inflatable side airbag assembly; however, this is for convenience of the disclosure and not by way of limitation. An embodiment of the disclosed subtotal enclosure may be employed with an inflatable airbag system installed to various locations of a vehicle and has particular utility when the inflatable airbag system is installed behind or beneath a generally soft or pliant covering generally similar to a seat cover. For example, an embodiment may be suitable for use with an inflatable frontal airbag system installed behind a seat cover of a seat of a vehicle occupant position disposed forward of another vehicle occupant position (e.g., an inflatable frontal airbag system installed in a rearward portion of a front seat for protection of an occupant of a rear seat); etc..

Throughout this specification, the phrase "coupled to" refers to any form of interaction between two or more entities, including mechanical, electrical, magnetic, electromagnetic, fluid, and thermal interaction. Two components may be coupled to each other even though they are not in direct contact with each other.

The terms "a" and "an" can be described as one, but not limited to one. For example, although the disclosure may recite a tab having "a line of stitches," the disclosure also contemplates that the tab can have two or more lines of stitches.

The term "opposite" is a relational term used herein to refer to a placement of a particular feature or component in a position corresponding to another related feature or component wherein the corresponding features or components are positionally juxtaposed to each other. By way of example, a person's right hand is opposite the person's left hand.

Unless otherwise stated, all ranges include both endpoints and all numbers between the endpoints.

The "vehicle occupant position" refers to a location in which an occupant is generally disposed while in a vehicle that is not in a collision condition (e.g., while parked or traveling normally). The vehicle occupant position may comprise or be defined by a seat and a footwell, etc. The term "occupant" refers to a person or crash test dummy within a vehicle.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of embodiments, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any claim require more features than those expressly recited in that claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in a combination of fewer than all features of any single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

Claim 1:
A cover (<NUM>) of an inflatable airbag assembly (<NUM>) to be mounted at a seat (<NUM>) of a vehicle (<NUM>), the cover (<NUM>) comprising:
a mounting panel (<NUM>) to mount the inflatable airbag assembly (<NUM>) at a seat frame (<NUM>) of the seat (<NUM>) of the vehicle (<NUM>); and
a lateral panel (<NUM>) coupled to the mounting panel (<NUM>), the lateral panel (<NUM>) to be disposed facing an outer lateral surface of the seat (<NUM>) of the vehicle (<NUM>) and to cover a void (<NUM>) in the seat (<NUM>), the void (<NUM>) to accommodate an inflatable airbag (<NUM>) in a packaged state, the lateral panel (<NUM>) providing an outward facing surface comprising a material with a degree of rigidity and a degree of elasticity,
the cover (<NUM>) being configured to support the inflatable airbag (<NUM>) in the packaged state within the seat (<NUM>) and the lateral panel (<NUM>) is configured to at least partially articulate outwardly away from the mounting panel (<NUM>) to allow the inflatable airbag (<NUM>) to deploy from the void (<NUM>) in the seat (<NUM>),
characterized in that the cover (<NUM>) further comprises a closure (<NUM>) to releasably secure the inflatable airbag (<NUM>) to at least one of the lateral panel (<NUM>) and the mounting panel (<NUM>), the closure (<NUM>) being defined by a panel having a shape generally like a "U", and, in the packaged state, the inflatable airbag assembly (<NUM>) is only partially covered by the cover (<NUM>).