The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 24, 2023
Filed:
Oct. 28, 2020
Applicant:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Inventor:
Joseph T. Conners, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Assignee:
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Plano, TX (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60R 21/36 (2011.01); B60R 21/0134 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60R 21/36 (2013.01); B60R 21/0134 (2013.01);
Abstract
A vehicle is provided that includes an airbag stored within an onboard compartment and inflatable by an onboard inflator. When inflated, the airbag extends from an outer surface of the vehicle, and has a shape that is recognizable, to a sensor on an approaching second vehicle, as at least a portion of a solid structure of the vehicle. The airbag is also configured to absorb at least some energy from a collision between the vehicle and the approaching second vehicle.