Ford has filed a second patent software for roof-mounted airbags aimed toward providing added crash safety to automobile occupants.
The automaker filed a patent software with america Patent and Trademark Workplace (USPTO) in 2021 (it was printed in late 2022) displaying roof-mounted airbags that deploy from a automobile’s headliner and encompass the occupants. Now a second software has appeared displaying an identical idea.
Ford roof-mounted airbag patent picture (from second software)
Printed on Jan. 26, 2023, this second patent software focuses on airbags that might cowl the area between the entrance seats and dashboard. In contrast to the earlier software, which described elaborate spherical enclosures that will drop down from the headliner and blanket occupants, this model exhibits a less complicated curtain-like airbag that will deploy in entrance of the motive force and front-seat occupant.
Whereas the applying appears to give attention to a front-row use case, it looks as if this design might be used within the second- and third rows as nicely. Ford even exhibits the inside of a three-row automobile in one of many accompanying drawings.
Ford roof-mounted airbag patent picture (from second software)
In contrast to the earlier model, although, this design appears much less particularly aimed toward autonomous autos, one thing Ford talked about within the first patent software. That software additionally depicted roof-mounted airbags in a automobile with inboard-facing seats, one thing we’re not seeing right here. Ford has curtailed its autonomous-driving analysis considerably for the reason that first software was printed, together with ending funding in Argo AI.
This second software would possibly symbolize an try and re-tool the know-how for standard autos, then. Ford remains to be engaged on this, having additionally filed a patent software for an exterior airbag system that will deploy from behind a automobile’s grille throughout collisions. It stays to be seen if any of those novel airbag methods will attain manufacturing, nevertheless.