Seat-centric airbag system with pelvis restraint chamber

A seat-mounted airbag assembly, comprising:

• a first lateral cushion configured to deploy from a first side of a vehicle seat;
• a second lateral cushion configured to deploy from a second side of the vehicle seat opposite the first side;
• a first pelvis restraint cushion configured to deploy from the first side of the vehicle seat, wherein the first pelvis restraint cushion is operably coupled with the first lateral cushion, and wherein the first pelvis restraint cushion is configured to inhibit forward translation of a vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engagement with a first of the vehicle occupant's upper thighs and/or pelvis region;
• and
• a second pelvis restraint cushion configured to deploy from the second side of the vehicle seat, wherein the second pelvis restraint cushion is operably coupled with the second lateral cushion, and wherein the second pelvis restraint cushion is configured to inhibit forward translation of the vehicle occupant within the vehicle by engagement with a second of the vehicle occupant's upper thighs and/or pelvis region.

A method for restraining forward translation of a vehicle occupant during an impact event, the method comprising the steps of:

• deploying a first seat-mounted airbag cushion along a first side of a vehicle occupant;
• deploying a second seat-mounted airbag cushion along a second side of the vehicle occupant;
• and
• deploying a first pelvis restraint chamber below the first seat-mounted airbag cushion at an angle relative to the first seat-mounted airbag cushion and towards a first upper thigh of the vehicle occupant, wherein the first pelvis restraint chamber inhibits forward translation of the vehicle occupant within a vehicle seat.