Neck-protecting device on a seat in an automobile

• US 20070145725A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tsai-Sun Chen
• Original Assignee: Tsai-Sun Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Tsai-Sun
• Application Number:
  US11/487,491
• Publication Number:
  US 20070145725A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/730.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2074 in head rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A neck-protecting device includes an expansible gasbag attached to a headrest on a seat of an automobile, a container for storing pressurized gas, a normally closed valve having one port in fluid communication with the expansible gasbag and the other port in fluid communication with the container, and a valve-opening means for opening the normally closed valve in response to a collision.

Claims

1. A neck-protecting device on a seat in an automobile comprising:

an expansible gasbag attached to a headrest on a seat of said automobile;

a container for storing pressurized gas;

a normally closed valve having one port in fluid communication with said inflatable gasbag and the other port in fluid communication with said container; and

a valve-opening means for opening said normally closed valve in response to a collision of said automobile.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said normally closed valve comprises:

a tubular member having an inner passage ending in said ports;

a lateral shaft extending across said tubular member and having a through-hole defined in a location at said inner passage between said ports; and

said lateral shaft being capable of being turned relative to said tubular member between the first angular position in which said through-hole is misaligned with said inner passage of said tubular member to such an extend that said normally closed valve is closed, and the second angular position in which said through-hole is substantially aligned with said inner passage of said tubular member to such an extend that said normally closed valve is opened;

wherein said lateral shaft is normally in said first angular position, thereby making said valve to be normally closed.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valve-opening means for opening have at least one crank attached to said lateral shaft in such a way that said at least one crank may turn said lateral shaft from said first angular position to said second angular position under the action of the inertial force resulted from said collision.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pressurized gas is noncombustible.