US 6,923,483 B2 · Bumper airbag and system

Abstract

An airbag (10) for mounting in the bumper (18) of a motor vehicle (12) is provided. The airbag can have an up-side-down “L” shape or a cylindrical shape. Further, multiple bags can be combined within one system. The airbag is configured to cover substantially the width of the vehicle upon deployment and also provide protection to the occupant of a struck vehicle (36) in the event the occupant is partially expelled from the struck vehicle in the direction of the bag. The airbag is combined with an inflation (23), collision sensor (34) and an electronic control unit (38) to form the airbag system.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A bumper airbag system comprising:

a housing disposed in the bumper of a vehicle and having a frangible door;
a sensor for determining a pending collision between the first vehicle and another object and generating a signal thereof;
at least one inflator for dispensing inflation fluid in response to the signal;
and
an airbag stored in the housing in a folded condition, the airbag operatively connected to the inflator, whereby upon the firing of the inflator, the airbag inflates opening the frangible door and expanding out from and over the bumper to cover a substantial portion of the width of the vehicle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/250,602Filed 10 Jan 2002 · us provisional application

Priority

11 Jan 2001

Published

US 2005/0087998 A128 Apr 2005

Granted

2 Aug 2005

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B60R 21/2338
Expansion control features: tethers
B60R 19/205
Containing mainly gas or liquid, e.g. inflatable: inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
B61F 19/04
Wheel guards; Bumpers; Obstruction removers or the like: bumpers or like collision guards
B60R 21/239
Inflatable members: characterised by their venting means

Bumper airbag and system

Life of this patent

Bumper airbag and system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24