US 6,203,105 · Granted 2001-03-20
The Airbag Seat That Morphs From Comfort to Crash Protection
Imagine a car seat with invisible air pockets built into the backrest and headrest that you can adjust to feel more comfortable on a long drive. But here's the clever part: if the car gets hit, those same air pockets instantly inflate to cushion your body and protect you from slamming into the seat during impact.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a seat design with strategically placed inflatable air cells (bladders) that serve dual purposes. What's protected here is the method of controlling these cells through valves so they can be adjusted for user comfort during normal driving, and then automatically pressurize to protective levels when vehicle impact sensors trigger them. The patent specifically locks down the combination of comfort-level pressurization and impact-responsive valve control in a single integrated system.
Why it matters
This patent represents an early approach to merging automotive safety with ergonomic comfort—two features automakers typically treat separately. By embedding impact-sensing logic directly into seat hardware, it created a way to protect occupants during crashes without requiring separate airbag modules. The technology sits at the intersection of textile engineering and automotive safety, reducing the number of distinct systems needed to achieve both goals.
Real-world use
When you settle into a luxury car seat and adjust the lumbar support to feel just right, you might be touching pneumatic controls descended from this design; if that car brakes hard or collides, those same pockets could inflate to protect your spine.
Original USPTO abstract
A system of inflatable air cells ( 3,10 ) is constructed and installed in a seat ( 2 ) at locations that are strategic to the comfort of the user. The air cells are selectively pressurized to a desired comfort level and in addition, in response to a vehicle impact, are controlled by valves ( 62, 80 ) to have a occupant impact protection pressure therein for protecting the occupant against impact with the vehicle seat.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 6,203,105
- Filing date
- 1999-08-20
- Grant date
- 2001-03-20
- Assignee
- Mccord Winn Textron Inc.
- Inventor(s)
- RHODES, JR. RICHARD D.
- CPC class
- B60N2/42763
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