Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. An arrangement (100) for safety of an occupant in a vehicle, said arrangement (100) comprising:
• an arcuate holding bracket (20) secured to a head rest bar (10) of a vehicle seat, said holding bracket (20) defining an arcuate slot (22);
• an inflatable airbag (40) mounted on said holding bracket (20) on the passenger facing surface of said holding bracket (20);
• an arcuate restraint plate (30) configured to be angularly guided in said arcuate slot (22);
• a connector pin (50) having two ends, wherein a first end (52) is secured to said airbag (40) and a second end (54) is slidably connected to a first end (32) of said restraint plate (30);
said arrangement (100) being such that in an inoperative position, said airbag (40) and said restraint plate (30) rest with said airbag (40) in a deflated state, and said second end (54) of said connector (50), said first end (32) of said arcuate restraint plate (30) and said airbag (40) are proximal to each other, and in an operative position said airbag (40) is inflated and said second end (54) of said connector (50) is displaced along an inner surface of said arcuate restraint plate (30) and said arcuate restraint plate (30) is slidably angularly guided by said arcuate slot (22), to restrict the backward movement of the head (70) and the neck as well as upward movement of the shoulders (60) of the occupant.
2. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of said airbag (40) corresponds to the shape of said arcuate restraint plate (30) in the deployed configuration.
3. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inflator (not shown in figures) is configured inside the vehicle to inflate said airbag (40) with a gas to attain the operative position.
4. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sensor is configured inside the vehicle to sense the magnitude of jerk experienced by the vehicle and compare to a threshold value.
5. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein an electronic control unit is configured inside the vehicle, said electronic control unit being communicatively coupled to said sensor and said inflator.
6. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said holding bracket (20) are adjustable.
7. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said arcuate slot (22) are adjustable.
8. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said arcuate restraint plate (30) are adjustable.
9. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the range of displacement of said arcuate restraint plate (30) is adjustable.
10. The arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape of said holding bracket (20), said arcuate slot (22) and said arcuate restraint plate (30) is curved.

Dated this 20th day of January, 2022

___________________________________
MOHAN RAJKUMAR DEWAN, IN/PA – 25
of R.K.DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant

TO,
THE CONTROLLER OF PATENTS
THE PATENT OFFICE, AT CHENNAI
, Description:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of arrangements in a vehicle for the safety of occupants.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
During roll over crash the passenger inside the car though belted tends to slide vertically toward vehicle roof, due to which the passenger’s head comes in contact with interior of the roof. Due the roof and passenger head contact the passenger experiences diving. During diving the head after coming in contact with roof is stopped for any further movement, but the neck continues to movie vertically towards the vehicle roof. The neck due to diving suffers injury in compression and flexion mode. Additionally, the passenger during roll over crash hits the body-in-white (BIW) and rebounds with velocity high enough to cause neck injury in flexion. As, during rebound phase of passenger no rigid support for an airbag is available between passenger and driver seat, the restraint airbag bends and twists. Restraint in above case is unable to give better protection to passenger head and chest due to lack of support. Thus, the airbag is unable to provide optimum protection to the occupant which results in casualties and permanent disabilities to the occupant.
There is therefore, felt a need for, an arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle, which alleviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the system of the present disclosure which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle that eliminates probability of severe injuries to the head and neck of occupant.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle that eliminates probability of the occupant being collided with the roof and vehicle body.
Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle that eliminates unwanted deformation of the airbag in the deployed configuration.
Other objects and advantages of the system of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, which are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure discloses an arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle comprising an arcuate holding bracket configured to be attached to the head rest bar of a vehicle seat. An arcuate slot is configured inside the holding bracket and an arcuate restraint plate is angularly guided inside the arcuate slot. An inflatable airbag is mounted on the passenger facing surface of the holding bracket and coupled to the arcuate restraint plate. A connector pin having two ends, with a first end is secured to the airbag and a second end is slidably connected to a first end of the arcuate restraint plate. The arrangement is such that in an inoperative position, the airbag and the arcuate restraint plate rest with the airbag in a deflated state, and the second end of the connector, the first end of the arcuate restraint plate and the airbag are proximal to each other. In an operative position the airbag is inflated and the second end of the connector is displaced along an inner surface of the arcuate restraint plate and the arcuate restraint plate is slidably angularly guided by the slot. This restricts the backward movement of the head and the neck as well as upward movement of the shoulders of the occupant.
In a preferred embodiment, an inflator not shown in figures is configured inside the vehicle to inflate the airbag in the deployed configuration.
In a preferred embodiment a sensor is configured inside the vehicle to sense the magnitude of jerk experienced by the vehicle and compare to a threshold value.
In a preferred embodiment, an electronic control unit is configured inside the vehicle, the electronic control unit being communicatively coupled to the sensor and the inflator.
In another embodiment, the dimensions of the holding bracket are adjustable.
In another embodiment, the dimensions of the slot are adjustable.
In another embodiment, the dimensions of the arcuate restraint plate are adjustable.
In yet another embodiment, the range of displacement of the arcuate restraint plate is adjustable.
In still another embodiment, the shape of the holding bracket, the slot and the arcuate restraint plate is curved.
In a preferred embodiment the shape of the airbag corresponds to the shape of the arcuate restraint plate in the deployed configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
An arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a vehicle occupant seat.
Figure 2 shows a side view of the figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a front view of the figure 1;
Figure 4 shows a top view of the figure 1;
Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle;
Figure 6 shows another isometric view of the arrangement;
Figure 7 shows a top view of the figure 5;
Figure 8 shows a rear view of the figure 5;
Figure 9 shows a top view of the figure 5 in an inoperative position of the arrangement; and
Figure 10 shows a top view of the figure 5 in an operative position of the arrangement.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 – head rest bar
20 – arcuate holding bracket
22 – arcuate slot
30 – arcuate restraint plate
32 – first end of arcuate restraint plate
40 – airbag
50 – connector pin
52 – first end of connector pin
54 – second end of connector pin
60 – shoulder
70 – head
100 – arrangement
H – operative horizontal plane
V – operative vertical direction
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being "mounted on," “engaged to,” "connected to," or "coupled to" another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
Terms such as “inner,” “outer,” "beneath," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
The present disclosure discloses an arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle (hereinafter referred to as “the arrangement”) for a vehicle that eliminates possibility of severe injuries to the occupant. The arrangement facilitates preventing the occupant from being collided with the vehicle structure thereby reducing chances of head and neck injuries. Additionally, the occupant is prevented from being dived from the vehicle seat.
Referring to the figures 1-10 the arrangement 100 is shown. A vehicle seat is shown in the figures 1-4. A seat head rest bar 10 is shown which facilitates resting of the head 70 of an occupant. The arrangement 100 comprises an arcuate holding bracket 20 configured to be attached to the head rest bar 10 of the vehicle seat. An arcuate slot 22 is configured inside the arcuate holding bracket 20. An arcuate restraint plate 30 is configured to be slidably disposed inside the arcuate slot 22 in an operative horizontal plane H. The operative horizontal plane H corresponds to the direction parallel to the ground floor. An operative vertical direction V corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the operative horizontal plane H. An inflatable airbag 40 is mounted on the passenger facing surface of the arcuate holding bracket 20. A connector pin 50 connects the arcuate restraint plate 30 with the airbag 40. The airbag 40 is inflated in an operative position. In an inoperative position, the airbag 40 stays deflated. The connector pin 50 has two ends, a first end 52 secured to the airbag 40 and a second end 54 is slidably connected to a first end 32 of the arcuate restraint plate 30.
An inflator (not shown in figures) is configured inside the vehicle to inflate the airbag 40 to attain the deployed configuration. A sensor (not shown in figures) is configured inside the vehicle to sense the magnitude of jerk experienced by the vehicle. An electronic control unit is configured inside the vehicle. The electronic control unit is communicatively coupled to the sensor and the inflator.
The working of the arrangement 100 will now be described with the help of the figures 1-10. The inoperative position of the arrangement 100 is shown in the figure 9. The airbag 40 remains in deflated state and the arcuate restraint plate 30 rests in the arcuate slot 22 in the inoperative position. In the inoperative position, the second end 54 of the connector pin 50, the first end 32 of the arcuate restraint plate 30 and the airbag 40 are proximal to each other. In the event the vehicle experiences a crash, a side impact or a roll over, the sensor provided senses the jerk incident on the vehicle seat. The sensor communicates to the electronic control unit based on a threshold value of the magnitude of jerk. The electronic control unit further communicates with the inflator to inflate the airbag 40 with a gas. As the airbag 40 inflates, the arcuate restraint plate 30 slides in the arcuate slot 22 provided on the holding bracket 20. The shape of the airbag 40 corresponds to the shape of the arcuate restraint plate 30. Figure 10 shows the operative position of the arrangement 100, in which the shoulders 60 of the occupant are obstructed in the operative vertical direction V towards the roof. In the operative position, said airbag 40 is inflated and the second end 54 of the connector pin 50 is displaced along an inner surface of the arcuate restraint plate 30 and the arcuate restraint plate 30 is slidably angularly guided by the arcuate slot 22, to restrict the backward movement of the head 70 and the neck as well as upward movement of the shoulders 60 of the occupant. The head 70 and the neck of the occupant is cushioned by the airbag 40. Moreover, during a roll over event of the vehicle, the head 70 and the neck of the occupant is prevented from being collided with the body-in-white (BIW) in the operative horizontal plane H. Hence, the probability of the occupant being severely injured is eliminated.
In another embodiment, the dimensions of the arcuate holding bracket 20 are adjustable.
In yet another embodiment, the dimensions of the arcuate slot 22 are adjustable.
In still another embodiment, the dimensions of the arcuate restraint plate 30 are adjustable.
In another embodiment, the range of displacement of the arcuate restraint plate 30 is adjustable.
In still another embodiment, the shape of the arcuate holding bracket 20, the arcuate slot 22 and the arcuate restraint plate 30 is curved.
The arrangement 100 offers increased protection to the head 70 and the neck of the occupant from the posterior side of the occupant, contrary to the conventional arrangements in which the airbag is deployed from the anterior side of the occupant. Moreover, unwanted deformation of the airbag 40 after complete deployment is prevented by the arrangement 100 of the present disclosure, as the arcuate restraint plate 30 offers increased support for the airbag 40 in the deployed configuration (as shown in the figure 10). Additionally, risk of severe injury to the occupant is mitigated as the airbag offers cushioning effect during side impact or roll over event of the vehicle. The airbag 40 provides cushion to head when passenger after hitting the body-in-white of the vehicle or when the vehicle changes the direction. The possibility of whiplash injuries and hyper-flexion of the neck is prevented.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of an arrangement for safety of an occupant in a vehicle, which:
• offers increased safety in the event of a side impact or a roll over;
• prevents the occupant from being dived due to jerk;
• offers increased support for the airbag post deployment; and
• reduces probability of hyper-flexion of neck and whiplash injuries to the occupant.
The embodiments herein, the various features, and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure, as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.