[RahulNagaraj]

Ford is said to have filed a patent application for roof-mounted airbags.

As the name suggests, the airbags will deploy from the vehicle's headliner, adding an extra layer of crash protection. The patent application is said to have been filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) in April 2021 and was published on the 13th of October, 2022.



As per patent filing images, the airbags will be mounted in ring-like housings above each seat. However, as seen from these images the "airbags" are slightly different from the conventional ones used in other vehicles. Ford's patent drawings show an ovoid element with inflatable cylinders that encircle each occupant and absorb the impact during a crash.



The new roof-mounted airbags are said to have been designed to work for all kinds of vehicles, including sedans, coupes, SUVs, minivans and pickup trucks. It can also be used on commercial vehicles as well. However, considering the design of the airbags, it seems to be more suited for body styles with plenty of headroom. A few drawings showcased two rows of seats facing each other, indicating its use on an autonomous vehicle as well.



Having said that, whether roof-mounted airbags will make it into production cars is yet to be confirmed, as a patent filing doesn't always guarantee a market entry.

Source: CarBuzz

Link to Team-BHP news

[Pr4mod]

Airbags get opened with a great force. What happens to drivers/passengers who are tall and when their heads are almost touching the roof/headliners?

[arijitkanrar]

Originally Posted by Pr4mod

Airbags get opened with a great force. What happens to drivers/passengers who are tall and when their heads are almost touching the roof/headliners?

Well its a patent at this stage.
Patent filing is just a means to ensure that no one can copy the concept for free.
An actual implementation will have far more engineering invloved to ensure performance and safety in real world use.
If and when this comes into an actual vehicle, all these questions will have been answered.

[RedTerrano]

For now, I do not see any upside to this, as the risks outweigh the benefit (based on my understanding)
Time will tell how it actually evovles.

Originally Posted by arijitkanrar

Patent filing is just a means to ensure that no one can copy the concept for free.

Beg to differ. Patent is granted for an implementation of a concept, not the concept itself.