PNEUMATICALLY REINFORCED VEHICLE BODY STRUCTURE
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pneumatic reinforcement system (14) (“system”) for a body structure (12) of a vehicle (10) includes an air bladder (28), an inflator device (30), a sensor (32), and one or more mounting members (34a, 34b, 34c). The sensor (32) detects a crash condition and actuates the inflator device (30) to inflate the air bladder (28). The air bladder (28) is attached to the body structure (12) by mounting members (34a, 34b, 34c), with the inflated air bladder (28) and mounting member (34a, 34b, 34c) strengthening the body structure (12) during a crash condition.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. (canceled)
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4. A roof for a vehicle, comprising:
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a pair of opposing side rails; a series of cross members extending between said pair of opposing side rails; an outer roof panel attached to said opposing side rails and said cross members; an inner liner panel attached to said opposing side rails and said cross members; said outer roof panel and said inner liner panel defining a cavity with a predetermined height; a pneumatic reinforcement system, comprising; an air bladder; an inflator device inflating said air bladder; at least one sensor detecting a crash condition and actuating said inflator device; and a mounting member attaching said air bladder to the body structure of the vehicle; said mounting member and said inflated air bladder strengthening the body structure; said air bladder sized for inflating within said cavity up to said predetermined height of said cavity; said mounting member and said air bladder strengthening at least one of said outer roof panel, said opposing side rails, and said cross members; said inner liner panel separating said cavity from a passenger cabin of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
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8-9. -9. (canceled)
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11. A roof for a vehicle, comprising:
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a pair of opposing side rails; a series of cross members extending between said pair of opposing side rails; an outer roof panel attached to said opposing side rails and said cross members; an inner liner panel attached to said opposing side rails and said cross members; said outer roof panel and said inner liner panel defining a cavity with a predetermined height; a pneumatic reinforcement system, comprising;
comprising;an air bladder; an inflator device inflating said air bladder; at least one sensor detecting a crash condition and actuating said inflator device; and a mounting member attaching said air bladder to the roof of the vehicle; said mounting member and said inflated air bladder strengthening the roof; said mounting member including a first housing portion and a second housing portion; said first housing portion and said second housing portion defining at least one chamber containing said air bladder; said air bladder sized for inflating within said cavity up to said predetermined height of said cavity; said mounting member and said air bladder strengthening at least one of said outer roof panel, said opposing side rails, and said cross members; said inner liner panel separating said cavity from a passenger cabin of the vehicle; said at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of an angular rate sensor and an accelerometer. - View Dependent Claims (10, 12, 13)
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14-20. -20. (canceled)
Specification