# US 10,501,041 B2 · Vehicle airbag system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,041 B2 - Document ID: US10501041B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/675,007 - Filed: 2017-08-11 - Published: 2019-02-14 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-11 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque; S. M. Iskander Farooq; Dean M. Jaradi; Mark A. Cuddihy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501041B2 ## CPC - B60R 21/207: in vehicle seats - B60N 2/22: the back-rest being adjustable {(B60N2/2878 takes precedence)} - B60R 21/01554: {Seat position sensors} - B60R 21/217: Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together - B60N 2/20: the back-rest being tiltable, e.g. to permit easy access (B60N2/04, B60N2/22 {, B60N2/3002} take precedence) - B60R 2021/0032: {Position of passenger} - B60R 2021/01211: {Expansion of air bags} - B60R 2021/0273: {automatically movable to an operative position, e.g. in case of collision or impending collision} - B60R 2021/2173: {the module or part thereof being movably mounted on the vehicle} - B60R 2021/23153: {specially adapted for rear seat passengers} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An airbag system includes a seat back having a first location and a second location spaced from the first location. The airbag system includes a housing pivotally supported by the seat back at the first location. The airbag system includes a linear actuator including a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end is fixed to the seat back at the second location. The second end is fixed to the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An airbag system comprising: a seat back having a first location and a second location spaced from the first location; a housing pivotally supported by the seat back at the first location; and a linear actuator including a base and an extending portion slidably received by the base, one of the base and the extending portion including a first end and the other of the base and the extending portion including a second end opposite the first end, the first end fixed to the seat back at the second location, the second end fixed to the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a flange and the second end is fixed to the flange. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The airbag system of claim 2, wherein the housing includes a main body and a hinge connecting the flange to the main body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a slot and the linear actuator is slideably engaged with the slot. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, further comprising a cable connecting the second end of the linear actuator and the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the housing defines an airbag deployment direction and the linear actuator is operable to move the housing to change the airbag deployment direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the base is immovably fixed to the seat back. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator is self-locking. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the base has a rotatable threaded shaft, and the extending portion has a threaded hole engaged with the threaded shaft. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, further comprising a computer programmed to detect a seat angle and to actuate the linear actuator based on the seat angle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The airbag system of claim 10, further comprising a seat bottom, wherein the seat bottom and the seat back define the seat angle. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the seat back includes a frame pivotally supporting the housing and the first end is fixed to the frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first location is at the first end of the housing, and the second end of the linear actuator is fixed to the second end of the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, further comprising an airbag disposed within the housing and an inflator in communication with the airbag. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The airbag system of claim 1, wherein the linear actuator is disposed beneath the housing. ### Claim 16 A vehicle comprising: a seat back having a first location and a second location spaced from the first location; a housing pivotally supported by the seat back at the first location; and a linear actuator including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end fixed to the seat back at the second location, the second end fixed to the housing; wherein the linear actuator includes a base and an extending portion, the base having a rotatable threaded shaft, the extending portion having a threaded hole engaged with the threaded shaft. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a second seat back spaced from the seat back, wherein the housing defines an airbag deployment direction that is toward the second seat back. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a second seat back spaced from the seat back, wherein the linear actuator is operable to change an airbag deployment direction relative to the second seat back. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the housing pivots about an axis that extends in a cross-vehicle direction. ### Claim 20 An airbag system comprising: a seat back having a first location and a second location spaced from the first location; a housing pivotally supported by the seat back at the first location, the housing including a flange, a main body and a hinge connecting the flange to the main body; and a linear actuator including a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the first end fixed to the seat back at the second location, the second end fixed to the flange of the housing.