Apple Inc.

Jesse T Buehler

Adam J Golman

Arturo Llamazares Domper

Nathaniel J Dennis

David E Kingman

Donald R Monroe

Derek C Scott

Mark Rober

Alexander M Zoellner

Nicholas A White

Tommaso P Rivellini

Rikard Fredriksson

Erik Mikael Fermer

Alice C Watts

Bryce A Woollard

John Raff

Ibuki Kamei

Samuel G Fowle

Paul D Yeomans

Juan A Lazaro

Christian Schermaier

Stephen Brian Lynch

Christopher D Jones

John J Baker

Philipp J Wolf

Lukas Satas

Jorge C Fialho

Mikael P Sedlacek

Jonathan O Sive

Ronald A Bowers

Anthony Sagala Montevirgen

Sung Hoon Kim

Joel Frederic Jensen

Russell C Mead, Jr

Ronald Jack Smith

Donald J Parr

Kevin P Makowski

Daniel E Rivera

David Jennings Dostal

Todd Elliot Lewis

Robert R Mayer

A positioning system for a reaction surface is usable with a support having a rearward position spaced from the reaction surface and a forward position proximate to the reaction surface. A controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of an event, receive a signal indicative of the support being in the rearward position, and send a command configured to move the support from the rearward position to the forward position based on the signal indicative of the event and based on the signal indicative of the support being in the rearward position.

Safety systems for modular seating

A deployable restraint system includes an inflatable structure and a tether. The inflatable structure comprises a main chamber and a pair of auxiliary chambers coupled to the main chamber and sealed with respect to the main chamber. The tether is coupled to the inflatable structure via an anchor and configured to guide the anchor.

Deployable restraints with tensioning mechanisms

A device includes a body structure, a seat assembly that is connected to the body structure, and an inflatable structure. The inflatable structure includes one or more surfaces that are configured to react forces by engaging with a first feature to control motion of a second feature.

Deployable structure with reaction features

A deployable restraint system including a panel, a tether coupled to the panel, and an actuator that moves the tether to deploy the panel. The panel and the tether are placed in tension between one of two sides of a compartment and a top of the compartment when the tether is moved by the actuator.

Restraint system

A support surface includes a support back, a housing defined within the support back, a restraint having a stowed position disposed within the housing, and a panel or a rail having a stowed position disposed within the housing. The support surface includes an anchor that couples an outer edge of the restraint to an outer edge of the panel or the rail. The panel or the rail is configured to guide the anchor and the restraint in traveling from the stowed positions to a deployed position spaced apart from the housing and the support back.

Deployable panel or rail with reaction surface

An apparatus for resisting entry of objects through a panel. The apparatus includes a weakened portion that extends laterally across a width dimension of the panel. The apparatus includes a stop structure spaced from the weakened portion that extends laterally across the width dimension of the panel to limit deformation. A bottom edge of the panel is configured to rotate about an axis extending along the weakened portion to abut the stop structure.

Panel intrusion control

A system includes a body structure, an assembly that is connected to the body structure, an airbag assembly that includes a housing that is located behind a first portion of the body structure and a deployable structure. The deployable structure is located in the housing in a stowed position and extends outward relative to the housing in an inflated position. The deployable structure includes a main chamber that is located adjacent to the seat assembly in the inflated position, and a reaction chamber that is spaced from the seat assembly by the main chamber in the inflated position. The deployable structure is configured so that forces that are applied to the main chamber of the deployable structure in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle cause the reaction chamber to move in a lateral direction so that the reaction chamber engages the body structure.

Deployable structure with main chamber and reaction chamber

A safety system includes an airbag configured to deploy from a rail and restrain motion of an occupant, a tether configured to deploy from a pillar, and an anchor coupling the tether and the airbag. The anchor is configured to travel from a stowed position proximate to the rail to a deployed position spaced apart from the rail and spaced apart from the pillar in unison with deployment of the airbag. The safety system includes a tensioning mechanism configured to apply force to the tether. Motion of the anchor is controlled by the force applied by the tensioning mechanism.

An attenuation system is connected to a structural portion and includes a first portion, a second portion, and an actuator. The actuator is configured to move the attenuation system between a retracted position and an extended position. The first portion is moved outward relative to the second portion during movement of the attenuation system from the retracted position to the extended position.

Extendable bumpers for vehicles

A restraint system includes a restraint configured to deploy from an interior surface and restrain motion of an occupant and a support including a door coupled to an upper portion of the restraint. The door is configured to rotate about a pivot. The door includes a telescoping panel configured to telescopically extend from a stowed position behind the interior surface to a deployed position spaced apart from the interior surface in unison with deployment of the restraint so that the anchor reaches the deployed position after the door rotates about the pivot. The support is configured to orient the upper portion of the restraint in respect to motion of the occupant.

Telescoping panel with reaction surface

A deployable restraint system comprising a reaction panel, a panel actuator that deploys the reaction panel, a cushion, and a cushion actuator that deploys the cushion. When both the reaction panel and the cushion are deployed, the reaction panel is configured to transfer force from the cushion to a roof and only one of two sides of a compartment. A lower end of the reaction panel is configured to couple to the one of the two sides with a tether that is moved by the panel actuator.

A safety system for a vehicle includes a work table, an airbag, and a controller that includes a processor. The work table is disposed in an extended position and is movable to a reaction position and a stowed position. The processor is configured to receive information indicative of a vehicle event. The processor is further configured to send a command to deploy the airbag based on the information indicative of the vehicle event. When deployed, the airbag expands to abut a bottom surface of the work table and move the work table from the extended position to the reaction position such that the bottom surface of the work table in the reaction position serves as a reaction surface for the airbag.

Occupant safety systems suitable for use in both traditional and opposed seating systems include various combinations of passive safety components: sensors that provides an output signal indicative of an imminent collision, seats selectively moveable relative to seat support structures in response to the output signal, inflatable restraints deployable from lap portions of a tensioned restraint based on the output signal, airbags deployable from a roof of a vehicle based on the output signal, cabin dividers deployable from a side of a cabin of the vehicle or the roof of the vehicle based on the output signal, and curtain airbags deployable between an occupant and the side of the cabin of the vehicle based on the output signal.

Occupant safety systems

An apparatus for resisting entry of objects through a windshield of a vehicle that has a passenger cabin. The apparatus includes an instrument panel that is located between the windshield and the passenger cabin, and an airbag that is deployable into an area above the instrument panel to resist entry of objects into the passenger cabin.

Windshield area intrusion control

A vehicle includes a body portion, an opening defined by the body portion, and an extendable bumper that is positioned in the opening and is moveable with respect to the body portions between an extended position and a retracted position. The extendable bumper includes an inflatable structure that causes movement of the extendable bumper between the retracted position and the extended position in response to inflation and deflation of the inflatable structure.

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Jesse T Buehler