Ford Motor has been granted a patent for an assembly that includes a deployable panel on a dash, an airbag, and a tether. The panel moves from an undeployed to a deployed position, with the airbag inflating to abut the panel. A track and spring-loaded pin mechanism secure the panel in place. GlobalData’s report on Ford Motor gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Ford Motor, Hydrogen fuel cells was a key innovation area identified from patents. Ford Motor's grant share as of May 2024 was 53%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Deployable panel system with airbag for vehicle safety
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US12012064B2) discloses an assembly designed for vehicle safety, comprising a deployable panel supported by a dash that can move from an undeployed to a deployed position. The deployable panel interacts with an inflatable airbag, supported by the dash, which abuts the panel when deployed. A tether connects the airbag to the panel, allowing for the transmission of upward force to raise the panel as the airbag inflates. The assembly includes a track for the panel to slide along, with a locking mechanism to secure the panel in the deployed position.
Additionally, the patent claims detail the flexibility of the tether, the positioning of the tether to transmit force effectively, and the rigidity of the panel in the deployed position relative to the inflated airbag. The assembly is designed to limit the movement of the deployable panel to translation along the track, ensuring controlled deployment. Furthermore, the deployable panel is positioned between the airbag and the windshield, enhancing the safety features of the assembly. These innovative features aim to improve vehicle safety by providing a reliable and efficient mechanism for deploying the panel in coordination with the airbag during a collision event.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
