GM Files Patent For Under-Thigh Side-Impact Airbags

GM has filed a patent application for an under-thigh side-impact airbag system for a vehicle. The application was assigned patent number US 2025/0065838 A1 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and was published on February 27^th, 2025. The GM patent application was originally submitted on August 22^nd, 2023, and lists Michigan-based engineer Marcelo Ferreira Gomes as the inventor.

The patent describes an airbag system designed to enhance passenger safety by preventing the passenger from sliding towards the center of the vehicle in an impact. Unlike traditional side airbags that deploy from the door or roof to protect the upper body, this system is integrated into the seat cushion and center console area to provide protection to the lower body during a collision.

The system consists of an airbag wrap stored inside the seat cushion side bolster and an airbag cushion that inflates in the event of a crash. When deployed, the airbag extends from the bolster towards the center console, creating a cushion between the passenger’s lower body and the console. The airbag includes several cushion panels for structural support and to ensure that the airbag is properly deployed. Additionally, it is integrated with the center console for better stabilization and impact absorption.

This airbag system addresses a gap in the current array of airbag systems by preventing the lateral movement of the lower body during a side impact. In conventional setups, seat belts and upper-body airbags help to reduce injuries to the head and torso, but the legs and lower body remain vulnerable to being pushed toward the center of the vehicle. By cushioning this movement, the system helps reduce stress on the hips, knees, and legs, potentially preventing serious lower-body injuries.

“Shifting out of the seat towards the center of the vehicle may place undesirable stresses on the occupant,” the GM patent application states.