Occupant restraint systems for use on aircraft
OwnerMichael Shawn Haycraft, Bradley Scott Walkerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Occupant restraint systems for use in aircraft and other vehicles are described herein. In some embodiments, the occupant restraint systems include an under-seat airbag positioned below a seat cushion having a separation feature extending laterally therethrough. The separation feature enables a front cushion portion to move upwardly and away from a seat pan by a greater distance than a rear cushion portion upon inflation of the under-seat airbag, thereby favorably positioning the seat occupant's thighs relative to the seat occupant's torso.
Claims20
A system for use with a seat on an aircraft, the system comprising:
- a seat cushion configured to be positioned on a seat pan, wherein the seat cushion includes:
- a front cushion portion positionable adjacent a front portion of the seat pan,
- a rear cushion portion positionable adjacent a rear portion of the seat pan, and
- a separation feature configured to extend transverse to the seat pan, wherein the front cushion portion is at least partially separated or separable from the rear cushion portion along the separation feature;
- and
- an airbag configured to be operably positioned between the seat pan and the seat cushion, wherein the airbag is further configured to inflate in response to a dynamic event and move the front cushion portion upwardly and away from the seat pan a greater distance than the rear cushion portion moves away from the seat pan.
A system for use with a seat on an aircraft, the system comprising:
- a seat cushion configured to be positioned on a seat pan, wherein the seat cushion includes:
- a compressible inner portion including (i) a front cushion portion positionable adjacent a front portion of the seat pan, and (ii) a rear cushion portion positionable adjacent a rear portion of the seat pan and at least partially separated or separable from the front cushion portion, and
- a cover at least partially encasing the compressible inner portion;
- an airbag configured to be operably positioned to inflate between the seat pan and the seat cushion,
- wherein inflation of the airbag drives the front cushion portion upwardly and further away from the seat pan than the rear cushion portion.
A seat cushion for use with an under-seat airbag on an aircraft, the seat cushion comprising:
- a front cushion portion positionable adjacent a front portion of the seat pan, wherein the front cushion portion has an upper surface and a lower surface;
- a rear cushion portion positionable adjacent a rear portion of the seat pan, wherein the rear cushion portion has an upper surface and a lower surface;
- and
- a separation feature extending laterally through the seat cushion, wherein the front cushion portion lower surface is separated or separable from the rear cushion portion lower surface at the separation feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.