Safety device used in case a vehicle rolls over

• US 20060001248A1
• Filed: 01/18/2005
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Heuliez Co.
• Original Assignee: Heuliez Co.
• Inventors: Guillez, Jean-Marc, Queveau, Paul, Queveau, Gerard
• Application Number:
  US11/037,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20060001248A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/756
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/135 automatically during an accident
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/13 Roll-over protection electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety device used in case a vehicle rolls over, said safety device comprising at least two curved bars (1, 1′), each curved bar having a first end and a second end, a first portion of the bar extending from the first end (5), and a second portion (7) of the bar extending from the second end (8), which second portion is substantially rectilinear, and the device further comprising two guide boxes (10), each box being provided with an elongate orifice (18) for receiving said second portion (7), said orifice (18) extending substantially transversely relative to said second portion (7), said box being designed to be secured to a structural portion of the vehicle. The invention also relates to a vehicle including such a device, and to a method for assembling said vehicle.

Claims

1. A safety device used in case a vehicle rolls over, said safety device comprising at least two curved bars, each curved bar having a first end and a second end, a first portion of the bar extending from the first end, and a second portion of the bar extending from the second end, said bars being movable from a retracted position to a deployed position in case the vehicle rolls over, the first ends of said bars being hinged to a support, said safety device being characterized in that the second portion of each bar is substantially rectilinear, in that said device further comprises two guide boxes, each box being provided with an elongate orifice for receiving said second portion, said orifice extending substantially transversely relative to said second portion, said box being designed to be secured to a structural portion of the vehicle.

2. A safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least two anti-reverse lock systems, each of which is disposed between the second end of each bar and a structural portion of the vehicle in order to prevent the bar from retracting when said bar is in the deployed position.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises:

a pre-stressed system for deploying each bar;

a trigger system that is activated in case the vehicle rolls over;

at least one locking member that maintains the pre-stress and that is released by means of the trigger system, thereby releasing each bar from its retracted position; and

at least two anti-reverse lock systems, each of which is disposed between the second end of each bar and a structural portion of the vehicle in order to prevent the bar from retracting when said bar is in the deployed position.

4. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that each anti-reverse lock system is a ratchet system.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that each ratchet system is disposed inside the corresponding bar, in the vicinity of the second end of said bar, each ratchet system being arranged to co-operate with elements of complementary shape integral with or secured to a structural portion of the vehicle.

6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that each ratchet system comprises two ratchets hinged relative to each other about a pin, each ratchet having one end provided with teeth and one end arranged to be inserted into a blade spring, said spring assisting movement of the two ratchets.

7. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that said elements of complementary shape are formed on pads fixed inside the guide box.

8. A device according to claim 7, characterized in that said elements of complementary shape are constituted by notches arranged to co-operate with the teeth formed on the ratchets.

9. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first end of each bar is hinged to a common central plate so that each of said two bars extends on a respective side of said plate, from a common face of said plate, and substantially symmetrically about a plane, a control device for locking and releasing each bar being provided on the same face of said plate, said hinging of each bar being achieved by means of a bearing comprising a stationary portion secured to the plate, and a moving part secured to the first end of the bar, the plate being designed to be fixed to a structural element of the vehicle.

10. A device according to claim 9, characterized in that the moving portion of the bearing is provided with a shape element which co-operates with the locking member of the locking system, such as:

firstly to hold the bars stationary in their retracted and pre-stressed position by means of the locking member engaging with the shape element; and

secondly to release the curved bars by means of the locking member disengaging from the shape element.

11. A motor vehicle including a structural element and at least one safety device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device further comprises two guide boxes, each box being situated on a respective one of the sides of the vehicle and being secured to a portion of said structural element.

12. A motor vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that the two guide boxes are interconnected via a link element that also supports the plate.

13. A motor vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the assembly comprising the safety device and the link element is fixed to the structural element.

14. A motor vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that the common central plate for the two bars is secured to said structural element of the vehicle.

15. A vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that it has a roof made up of one or more elements that are retractable into a stowage position behind the seats, and in that one or more of the roof elements are received in part under said structural element when in the retracted position.

16. A method of assembling a vehicle according to claim 11, said method being characterized in that it includes a first step for assembling an assembly comprising the safety device and the link element, and then a second step for mounting said assembly onto said structural element.