Active bolster

Abstract

An active bolster for a vehicle is provided, wherein the bolster includes a hollow main body that is inflatable and is self-supporting in both an inflated and in an uninflated position.

1 . An inflatable side bolster for mounting on a side of a vehicle, the inflatable side bolster comprising:
 an expansible hollow interior;   an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior;   an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior; and,   an outer wall located between the expansible hollow interior and the side, the outer wall having i) an attachment portion comprising at least one attachment for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle, and ii) a peripheral portion bordering the attachment portion;   wherein the outer wall is mountable to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment such that the outer wall remains attached to the portion of the side by the at least one attachment during inflation, and the peripheral portion of the outer wall is free to move relative to the portion of the side of the vehicle to facilitate expansion of the expansible hollow interior during inflation.   
     
     
         2 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 1  wherein the peripheral portion comprises a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, the attachment portion being located between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion. 
     
     
         3 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 2  wherein the peripheral portion
 is operable to move into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle during inflation of the expansible hollow interior.   
     
     
         4 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 3  wherein
 the peripheral portion comprises frangible fasteners for attaching the peripheral portion to the side of the vehicle, and   the frangible fasteners are released by inflation of the expansible hollow interior.   
     
     
         5 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 3  wherein the peripheral portion is pleated to facilitate movement of the peripheral portion relative to the side of the vehicle, and expansion of the expansible hollow interior. 
     
     
         6 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 2  wherein the hollow interior comprises a first expansible chamber adjoining the first peripheral portion and a second expansible chamber adjoining the second peripheral portion. 
     
     
         7 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 6  wherein
 the hollow interior further comprises i) a first supply conduit for connecting the inflator module to the first expansible chamber, and ii) a second supply conduit for connecting the inflator module to the second expansible chamber; and,   the inflator module comprises a shared inflator for inflating both the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber, the shared inflator being located outside of the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 7  wherein the hollow interior further comprises a V-shaped junction for receiving an inflation gas from the shared inflator, and for directing a first selected proportion of the inflation gas to the first supply conduit and a second selected proportion of the inflation gas to the second supply conduit. 
     
     
         9 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 7  further comprising a relatively non-expansible component between the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 9  wherein
 the relatively non-expansible component is part of the expansible hollow interior, and   the inner wall resists stretching at the relatively non-expansible component more than the inner wall resists stretching at the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 10  wherein the inner wall is thicker at the relatively non-expansible component than at the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 10  wherein the outer wall adjoining the relatively non-expansible component comprises the attachment portion. 
     
     
         13 . A vehicle door comprising:
 a window;   a door body adjacent to the window portion;   an armrest attached to the door body;   an inflatable bolster having i) an expansible hollow portion; ii) an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow portion; iii) an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the door on inflation of the expansible hollow portion; iv) an outer wall located between the expansible hollow portion and the door body, the outer wall having an attachment portion comprising at least one attachment for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the door, and a peripheral portion bordering the attachment portion,   wherein the outer wall is mountable to the door body by the at least one attachment such that the outer wall remains attached to the door body by the at least one attachment during inflation, and the peripheral portion of the outer wall is free to move relative to the door body to facilitate expansion of the expansible hollow portion during inflation.   
     
     
         14 . The vehicle door as defined in  claim 13  wherein the peripheral portion comprises a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, the attachment portion being located between the first peripheral portion and the second peripheral portion. 
     
     
         15 . The vehicle door as defined in  claim 14  wherein
 the first peripheral portion spans most of a first distance between the armrest and the window, and   the second peripheral portion spans most of a second distance between the armrest and an bottom edge of the base.   
     
     
         16 . The vehicle door as defined in  claim 15  wherein the hollow interior comprises a first expansible chamber adjoining the first peripheral portion and a second expansible chamber adjoining the second peripheral portion. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle door as defined in  claim 16  wherein
 the hollow interior further comprises i) a first supply conduit for connecting the inflator module to the first expansible chamber, and ii) a second supply conduit for connecting the inflator module to the second expansible chamber; and,   the inflator module comprises a shared inflator for inflating both the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber,   
     
     
         18 . The vehicle door as defined in  claim 17  wherein inflatable bolster further comprises a relatively non-expansible component between the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The vehicle door as defined in  claim 18  wherein
 the relatively non-expansible component is part of the expansible hollow interior, and   the inner wall resists stretching at the relatively non-expansible component more than the inner wall resists stretching at the first expansible chamber and the second expansible chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The inflatable side bolster as defined in  claim 19  wherein
 the outer wall adjoining the relatively non-expansible component comprises the attachment portion, and   the relatively non-expansible component is located behind the armrest.   
     
     
         21 . An inflatable side bolster for a side of a vehicle, the inflatable side bolster comprising:
 an expansible hollow interior;   an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior;   an inner wall for projecting inwardly into the vehicle and away from the side of the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow interior; and,   an outer wall located between the expansible hollow interior and the side, the outer wall having at least one attachment for attaching the outer wall to a portion of the side of the vehicle.   
     
     
         22 . A vehicle seat comprising:
 a body-supporting surface;   a back surface opposite to the body-supporting surface;   an inflatable bolster having i) an expansible hollow portion; ii) an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow portion; iii) an occupant-side wall for projecting away from the seat on inflation of the expansible hollow portion to displace at least one of the body-supporting surface and the back surface.   
     
     
         23 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 22  wherein the body-supporting surface is supported by a first side of the occupant-side wall such that the first side of the occupant-side wall is operable to support an occupant before inflation. 
     
     
         24 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 22  wherein the body-supporting surface is a first side of the occupant-side wall, such that the first side of the occupant-side wall is operable to support an occupant before inflation. 
     
     
         25 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 22  wherein
 the body-supporting surface comprises i) an upper portion for supporting a back of an occupant, and ii) a lower portion for supporting a pair of upper legs of the occupant,   the inflatable bolster is operable to displace at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion of the body-supporting surface on inflation of the expansible hollow portion.   
     
     
         26 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 25  wherein the inflatable bolster is operable to displace both the upper portion and the lower portion of the body-supporting surface to fold the occupant around a seat belt. 
     
     
         27 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 22  further comprising a headrest, the inflatable bolster being located in the headrest. 
     
     
         28 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 27  wherein the inflatable bolster further comprises two peripheral portions on either side of a substantially non-expansible central portion of the headrest, and the two peripheral portions are operable to project forward to provide side support to a head of the occupant on inflation of the expansible hollow portion. 
     
     
         29 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 27  wherein
 the body-supporting surface comprises a neck-supporting portion; and,   the inflatable bolster is operable to move the neck-supporting portion forward on inflation of the expansible hollow portion.   
     
     
         30 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 27  wherein
 the headrest comprises a rear side; and   the inflatable bolster is operable to move the rear side rearward on inflation of the expansible hollow portion.   
     
     
         31 . The vehicle seat as defined in  claim 21  wherein the inflatable bolster is operable to move the back surface rearward on inflation of the expansible hollow portion. 
     
     
         32 . A vehicle floor bolster comprising:
 an expansible hollow portion;   an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow portion; and,   a foot-supporting surface for supporting a pair f feet before inflation and for projecting upward on inflation of the expansible hollow portion to raise the pair of feet.   
     
     
         33 . A vehicle rollover bar bolster for mounting on a vehicle rollover bar, the vehicle roll-over bar bolster comprising:
 an expansible hollow interior;   an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow interior;   a radially outer wall for projecting outwardly away from the vehicle roll-over bar on inflation of the expansible hollow interior; and,   a radially inner wall for attachment to the vehicle rollover bar, the radially inner wall being located between the expansible hollow interior and the vehicle rollover bar.   
     
     
         34 . The vehicle rollover bar bolster as defined in  claim 32  wherein the radially outer wall is pleated to facilitate expansion of the expansible hollow interior and the outward projection of the radially outer wall. 
     
     
         35 . A vehicle roof bolster comprising:
 an expansible hollow portion;   an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow portion; and,   a roof surface for projecting away from a vehicle roof on inflation of the expansible hollow portion.   
     
     
         36 . A vehicle pillar bolster comprising:
 an expansible hollow portion;   an inflator module for inflating the expansible hollow portion; and,   a pillar surface for projecting into the vehicle on inflation of the expansible hollow portion.