Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Yi-pen Cheng

Chin-Hsu Lin

Paul Edward Krajewski

Louis D Thole

Scott David Thomas

Gary Lee Jones

David Acosta

Wonhee Michael Kim

Mark O Neal

A sleeping occupant crash protection system includes an occupant sleeping compartment positioned within an autonomous vehicle. A substantially flat platform of the occupant sleeping compartment supports an occupant reclining in a horizontal sleep position. An elastic bedsheet is positioned in direct contact with an upper surface of the platform positioned between the occupant and the platform. A sensing system is in communication with the occupant sleeping compartment and triggers deployment of a bedsheet displacement system during a vehicle rapid deceleration event.

Sleeping bedsheet crash protection system for lie-flat sleeping passenger

A one-way multiple cushions and chambers vehicle airbag assembly includes an airbag body having a primary airbag chamber and a secondary airbag chamber. At least one one-way vent valve provides a gas interconnection passage between the primary airbag chamber and the secondary airbag chamber.

One-way multiple chambers and cushions airbag

An automobile vehicle deployable cocoon airbag system includes an airbag cushion having a first side oriented in a vertical configuration in a non-deployed condition and a second side oriented substantially ninety degrees from the first side in the non-deployed condition and adapted to receive an occupant on the second side providing an occupant sleeping position. At least one retracting tether is connected to the first side and the second side and is retracted using a retraction mechanism. The retraction mechanism acts upon receipt of a signal to retract the at least one retracting tether and pull the second side toward the first side thereby enclosing the occupant between the first side and the second side in a deployed condition of the airbag cushion. At least one energy absorbing (EA) element is connected to the airbag cushion acting to restrict a fore-aft motion of the airbag cushion.

Cocoon airbag to protect a sleeping occupant

An adjustable seat for a vehicle including a first seat section configured to support a lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a second seat section configured to support an upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and a torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a third seat section configured to support the torso and head portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the first direction and the upper leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction. The adjustable seat also comprising a fourth seat section configured to support the lower leg portion of the passenger when the passenger is sitting facing the second direction.

Reversible v sleeping seat

A vehicle safety seat system comprises: i) a vehicle seat configured to move to a substantially reclining position, the vehicle seat comprising a seat back and a seat bottom; and ii) a first support arm associated with the seat back, the first support arm including a first airbag on a lower surface of the first support arm, the first support arm holding the first airbag in a position above the thorax of a passenger reclining in the vehicle seat. The first airbag inflates in the event of a collision and provides protection between the first support arm and the thorax of the passenger.

Thorax and thigh airbag system for reclined passengers

A vehicle seat safety system. The vehicle safety seat system comprises a vehicle seat configured to move between a substantially reclining position and a substantially sitting position. The vehicle seat comprises at least a seat back and a seat bottom. The system also includes an enclosure configured to store a blanket airbag in an undeployed position prior to a collision, wherein the enclosure is disposed near the head of a passenger in the vehicle seat, and wherein the blanket airbag is ejected from the enclosure to an intermediate position in the event of a collision. The system further comprises a first electromechanical restraint system associated with the seat back and coupled to the blanket airbag by a first physical coupling and a second electromechanical restraint system associated with the seat bottom and coupled to the blanket airbag by a second physical coupling. The first and second electromechanical restraint systems pull the blanket airbag from the intermediate position to a deployed position in which the blanket airbag substantially covers the passenger.

Blanket airbag with integrated seat belt system

A deployable headrest airbag includes an airbag chamber configured to be coupled to a headrest of a vehicle seat. The airbag chamber has a stowed position and a deployed position. In stowed position, the airbag chamber is disposed inside the headrest. In the deployed position, the deployable headrest airbag is disposed outside of the headrest to protect a head and a neck of a vehicle occupant.

Deployable headrest airbag

A seat assembly includes a seat frame and a seat cushion coupled to the seat frame. The seat frame includes a seatback frame, a base frame coupled to the seatback frame, a first armrest frame coupled to the seatback frame, and a second armrest frame coupled to the seatback frame. The seat cushion covers the seat frame and is spaced apart from the seat frame to define a cavity therebetween. The seat assembly further includes an airbag coupled between the seat frame and the seat cushion. The airbag has a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the airbag is disposed in the cavity between the seat frame and the seat cushion. In the deployed position, the airbag is partly disposed outside the cavity between the seat frame and the seat cushion to absorb energy.

Seat assembly including airbags integrated into a tulip armchair

An airbag assembly including an airbag configured to be coupled to a vehicle floor of a vehicle. The airbag is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position. In the stowed position, the airbag is deflated. In the deployed position, the airbag is inflated and spaced apart from the vehicle floor to define an aperture between the airbag and the vehicle floor. The aperture is sized to receive feet or lower leg of a vehicle occupant, thereby limiting movement of the legs of the vehicle occupant when an external force is exerted on the vehicle.

Lower leg airbag assembly for a vehicle

An inflatable cushion for a side-impact airbag includes first and second fabric panels forming an expandable chamber. The first fabric panel forms a tubular shape upon inflation and includes a top end and a bottom end having continuous outer perimeters and an inflator aperture. The second fabric panel joined to the top end of the first fabric panel and having a circumference equal to a circumference of the continuous outer perimeter of the top end of the first fabric panel and including a vent aperture. The second fabric panel is orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the first fabric panel when the inflatable cushion is inflated. The bottom end of the first fabric panel is closed. The longitudinal axis of the tubular-shaped first fabric panel is parallel to a longitudinal axis of a vehicle seat back when the inflatable cushion is deployed.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Yi-pen Cheng