17932372. CABLE SUPPORTED AIRBAG INFLATABLE ACROSS DOOR OPENING simplified abstract (Ford Global Technologies, LLC)

From WikiPatents
Jump to navigation Jump to search

CABLE SUPPORTED AIRBAG INFLATABLE ACROSS DOOR OPENING

Organization Name

Ford Global Technologies, LLC

Inventor(s)

Dean M. Jaradi of Macomb MI (US)

S.M. Iskander Farooq of Novi MI (US)

Mohammad Omar Faruque of Ann Arbor MI (US)

Rahul Arora of Birmingham MI (US)

Saeed D. Barbat of Novi MI (US)

CABLE SUPPORTED AIRBAG INFLATABLE ACROSS DOOR OPENING - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 17932372 titled 'CABLE SUPPORTED AIRBAG INFLATABLE ACROSS DOOR OPENING

Simplified Explanation

The patent application describes a vehicle with a unique airbag deployment system involving cables and tracks on the front and rear pillars of the vehicle.

  • The vehicle includes a front pillar and a rear pillar that create a door opening between them.
  • A cable is connected to tracks on the front and rear pillars, allowing it to move from an undeployed position to a raised position across the door opening.
  • An airbag is attached to the cable and moves with it from the undeployed to the raised position, providing support for the airbag in the raised position.

Potential Applications

This technology could be applied to various types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs, to improve the safety and effectiveness of airbag deployment systems.

Problems Solved

This innovation addresses the challenge of efficiently deploying airbags in vehicles with limited space, ensuring that the airbags are properly positioned to protect occupants in the event of a collision.

Benefits

The use of cables and tracks in this airbag deployment system allows for a more controlled and precise deployment of the airbag, potentially reducing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Potential Commercial Applications

This technology could be of interest to automotive manufacturers looking to enhance the safety features of their vehicles and differentiate their products in a competitive market.

Possible Prior Art

One potential prior art for this technology could be the use of similar cable and track systems in other types of vehicle safety mechanisms, such as seatbelt retractors or sunroof mechanisms.

Unanswered Questions

How does this technology impact the overall weight of the vehicle?

The patent application does not provide information on whether the addition of this airbag deployment system affects the weight of the vehicle and its implications for fuel efficiency and performance.

What are the maintenance requirements for this system?

It is not clear from the patent application how often the cables and tracks need to be inspected or replaced to ensure the proper functioning of the airbag deployment system.


Original Abstract Submitted

A vehicle includes a front pillar and a rear pillar spaced along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The front pillar and the rear pillar define a door opening therebetween. The vehicle includes a first track on the front pillar and a second track on the rear pillar. A cable is moveably engaged with the first track and the second track from an undeployed position to a raised position. The cable extends across the door opening from the first track to the second track in the raised position. An airbag is moveable with the cable from the undeployed position to the raised position. The airbag is supported by the cable in the raised position.