# US 2021/0276506 A1 · Torso stabilization restraint > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0276506 A1 - Document ID: US20210276506A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/809,877 - Filed: 2020-03-05 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-05 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Craig A. Markusic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276506A1 ## CPC - B60R 21/18: the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement - B60R 22/14: incorporating enlarged restraint areas, e.g. vests, nets {, crash pads, optionally for children (crash pads for occupants' safety on vehicles in general B60R21/02)} - B60R 21/207: in vehicle seats - B60R 21/231: characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration - B60R 21/233: comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other (B60R21/232 takes precedence) - B60R 21/23138: {specially adapted for side protection (B60R21/23184, B60R21/232 take precedence)} - B60R 2021/0044: {Chest} - B60R 2021/23107: {the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system} - B60R 2021/23316: {Inner seams, e.g. creating separate compartments or used as tethering means} - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A torso stabilization restraint configured to restrain a user in a seat, includes an inflatable first module, an inflatable second module, an inflatable third module, and connectors arranged on one or more of the modules. The connectors are configured to reversibly connect a) the first module and the second module, and b) the second module and the third module when the first, second, and third modules are inflated. When the first, second, and third modules are inflated and connected, the torso stabilization restraint and the seat combine to exert radially inward directed pressure on a torso of the user. The first and second modules are deployable from a seat. The second module is deployable from a seat belt, is arranged between the first and second modules, and is configured to couple to the first and second modules when the modules are inflated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A torso stabilization restraint including: an inflatable first module; an inflatable second module; an inflatable third module; and connectors arranged on one or more of the modules and configured to reversibly connect a) the first module and the second module, and b) the second module and the third module when the first, second, and third modules are inflated; wherein the torso stabilization restraint is configured to restrain a user in a seat; and wherein when the first, second, and third modules are inflated and connected, the torso stabilization restraint and the seat combine to exert radially inward directed pressure on a torso of the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The torso stabilization restraint according to claim 1, wherein: the first and third modules are deployable from the seat, in which seat each of the first and third modules are stored while deflated; and the second module is deployable from a seat belt associated with the seat, in which seat belt the second module is stored while deflated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The torso stabilization restraint according to claim 2, wherein: the first module is anchored on an inboard side of the seat; the second module is anchored on the seat belt; the third module is anchored on an outboard side of the seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The torso stabilization restraint according to claim 1, wherein the second module is arranged between the first and third modules when the modules are inflated and connected. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The torso stabilization restraint according to claim 3, wherein the second module is configured to be in contact with a front of the torso of the user when the second module is inflated. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The torso stabilization restraint according to claim 1, wherein the connectors include reversible interlocking microfibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The torso stabilization restraint according to claim 1, wherein the torso stabilization restraint and the seat combine to form a perimeter around the torso of the user. ### Claim 8 The torso stabilization restraint according to claim, 1 wherein: the modules are connected before the modules are fully inflated, when the modules are connected and at least one of the modules is not fully inflated, the at least one module has a width; and the width decreases as the at least one module is fully inflated. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The torso stabilization restraint according to claim 8, wherein: the modules are configured to be connected along interfaces that are generally vertical; the at least one module comprises a bag including a first side facing away from the user and being connected along seams to a second side of the bag facing the user; and the seams define cells within the bag. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The torso stabilization restraint according to claim 1, wherein the modules connect below a shoulder level and underneath arms of the user. ### Claim 11 A torso stabilizer including: an inflatable inboard module deployable from an inboard side of a seat; an inflatable outboard module deployable from an outboard side of the seat; and an inflatable central module deployable from a seat belt associated with the seat, and configured to couple to the inboard and outboard modules when the modules are inflated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The torso stabilizer according to claim 11, wherein the modules are reversibly coupled via interlocking microfibers arranged on an edge of each of the modules. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The torso stabilizer according to claim 11, wherein the central module is arranged between the inboard and outboard modules when the modules are inflated and coupled. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The torso stabilizer according to claim 11, wherein the torso stabilizer and a seat back of the seat combine to form a perimeter around the torso. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The torso stabilizer according to claim 14, wherein the seat back and the torso stabilize combine to exert a radially inward directed pressure against the torso. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The torso stabilizer according to claim 11, wherein the inboard and outboard modules are anchored to the seat when inflated and coupled to the central module. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The torso stabilizer according to claim 11, wherein before being inflated: the modules are stored while deflated; the inboard and outboard modules are stored in the seat; and the central module is stored in the seat belt. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The torso stabilizer according to claim 11, wherein: the modules are connected before the modules are fully inflated, when the modules are connected and not fully inflated, the modules have a collective width; and the collective width decreases as the modules are fully inflated. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The torso stabilizer according to claim 11, wherein: the torso stabilizer is arranged in a vehicle; the modules deploy upon the vehicle experiencing a collision; the modules connect via connectors and are decouplable at the connectors. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The torso stabilizer according to claim 11, wherein the inboard, outboard, and central modules each comprise a bag including vertical stitching connecting a front or the bag with a back of the bag to thereby define vertical cells within the bag.