In-expensive head and upper torso restraint with U-shaped air bag

• US 20080246264A1
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sten R. Gerfast
• Original Assignee: Sten R. Gerfast
• Inventors: Gerfast, Sten R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,445,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/801.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4235 transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42745 of the back-rest B60N2/433 takes precedence; higher part of the back-rest moving together with the headrest B60N2/888
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/888 with arrangements for protecting against abnormal g-forces, e.g. by displacement of the head-rest
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0048 Head
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/214 in roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

This invention relates to a vehicle having a pivoted head rest and a pivoted seat back that follows a human head and torso forward during the accident of the vehicle, but prevent backwards motion. A U-shaped air bag, the head rest, and seat back prevent whip-lash and also side-impact-whip-lash by immobilizing the head and torso during a frontal or side impact crash.

Claims

1. A four part immobilizing restraint for a human head and upper torso comprising:

a) a V-shaped vehicular head rest pivoting and ratcheting solely forward,

b) connected with a pivot to a seat back in a vehicle, said seat back also pivoting and ratcheting solely forward,

c) a seat belt anchored and latched to said seat back securely restraining said head and upper torso,

d) on the left and right side of said head a rapidly deployable U-shaped airbag, with said head rest, said seat back, said seat belt, and said U-shaped air bag providing an immobilizing cradle for both the inertia-moving said head and upper torso, moving together in unison with the inertia of said head rest and said seat back, during the first seconds of a front or side impact collision of said vehicle.

4. A restraint according to claim 1 wherein said pivoting forward motion is limited to 25 degrees.

8. A restraint according to claim 1 wherein said head rest and said seat back are free to move backwards after said seat belt release.

12. A restraint according to claim 1 wherein said head rest is pivoted and is having a ratchet assembly, and said seat back is pivoted and is having a ratchet assembly, providing for said head rest and said seat back to move forward separately or move forward together.

2. In-expensive head and upper torso restraint having a head-liner mounted air bag comprising:

vehicular seat backs and head rests mechanically arranged to follow the forward motion of a human head and upper torso, but preventing the snap-back of said head and torso in a vehicular frontal or sideways collision, seat belts attached and anchored in said seat backs,

a U-shaped air bag contained in a cavity in the head liner of said vehicle,

said seat belts and said airbag mounted around each said seat back,

and pyro-technic cartridges rapidly actuating said air bag when said collisions occur.

5. A restraint according to claim 2 wherein said airbag, said head rest and said seat belt is cradling and immobilizes said head during the fist seconds of said collisions.

6. A restraint according to claim 2 wherein said cartridge actuation is occurring at vehicle speed above 18 miles per hour.

7. A restraint according to claim 5 wherein a sideways collision retards the forward vehicle speed at least 10 miles per hour with said retardation actuating said cartridge.

15. A restraint according to claim 2 wherein said airbag is U-shaped to allow sight through the center section of said U, and said center section avoids hitting eye glasses worn by a person seated in said each seat back.

18. A restraint according to claim 2 wherein the replacement of two standard airbags with said U-shaped air bag makes the present invention less expensive.

3. In-expensive head and upper torso restraint having head-liner mounted air bags comprising:

vehicular seat backs and head rests mechanically pivoted with ratchets to follow the forward motion of a human head and upper torso, but preventing the snap-back of said head and torso in a vehicular frontal or sideways collision, seat belts attached and anchored in said seat backs,

a rapidly deployable air bag or airbags contained in cavities in the head liner of said vehicle,

said head rest, said seat belt and said airbag or airbags mounted around each said seat back,

providing substantially head and upper torso immobilization for persons seated in said seat backs when said collision occurs.

9. A restraint according to claim 3 wherein said two head-liner mounted airbags are positioned as an open V around said head.

10. A restraint according to claim 3 wherein said two head-liner mounted airbags are positioned as an open V around said head with one said airbag mounted close to the center of a wind-shield.

11. A restraint according to claim 3 wherein said two airbags are connected pneumatically forming substantially a U-shaped airbags inflated by a single pyro-technic cartridge.

13. A restraint according to claim 11 wherein said motions are actuated by a pyro technic cartridge.

14. A restraint according to claim 3 wherein said air bag or airbags are actuated by one or more pyro technic cartridges that in turn are actuated by a micro controller.

16. A restraint according to claim 3 wherein said air bag or airbags is cradling said head on both sides preventing sideways-snap-back during said sideways collision as well as preventing front to back snap-back during said frontal collision.

17. A restraint according to claim 3 wherein said cavities makes it un-necessary to cosmetically hide said airbags.