Radar Deployed Fender Air Bag

• US 20090218157A1
• Filed: 02/28/2008
• Published: 09/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Rammer
• Original Assignee: David Rammer
• Inventors: Rammer, David
• Application Number:
  US12/039,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20090218157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/271
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems

Abstract

An air bag deployment system incorporated within a vehicles bumpers that may be deployed prior to impact of a static or dynamic object as determined by radar based proximity and velocity sensors.

Claims

1. A pre-impact external air bag deployment system incorporated in the bumper of a motor vehicles comprising:

a) a bumper on a motor vehicle, said bumper having a rear surface, a front surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface, said front surface having a convex outer portion adjacent said top surface, said convex outer portion curving downwardly to a reduced thickness of said bumper in a lower portion thereof;

b) at least one compartment integral with said bumper located behind said convex outer portion;

c) an air bag disposed within said compartment;

d) a breakaway panel in said bumper corresponding with said air bag compartment, said breakaway panel formed in a leading edge of said convex outer portion;

e) a gas cartridge for said air bag to provide inflation means when deployment is required, said gas cartridge being located directly behind said air bag;

f) at least one proximity sensor transceiver to send and receive a radar signal to provide data regarding the distance of a static or dynamic object;

g) at least one velocity sensor transceiver to send and receive a radar signal to provide data regarding the speed of travel of a static or dynamic object;

h) a vehicle speedometer; and

i) a control module in communication with said proximity sensor, said velocity sensor, said speedometer and said gas cartridge.

2. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 1, wherein said bumper contains a plurality of air bags including one in each corner.

3. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 2, wherein said velocity sensors and said proximity sensors collect data regarding the distance and speed of an approaching object and send said data to said control module.

4. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 3, wherein said control module analyzes said data against the recorded speed from said speedometer to determine if the distance and speed of the approaching object is within a pre-defined threshold of safety.

5. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 4, wherein determination of a breach of the threshold of safety is detected, said control module activates said gas cartridges.

6. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 5, wherein activation of said gas cartridges inflates the corresponding air bags.

7. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 6, wherein inflation of said air bags compromises and knocks out said breakaway panels and said air bag is deployed therethrough from said compartment.

8. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 7, wherein said air bags, proximity sensors and velocity sensors are disposed in both front and rear bumpers.

9. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 4, wherein said threshold of safety is determined by a plurality of user defined independent variables.

10. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 9, wherein said user defined independent variables include:

a) coefficient of friction between tire and road surface;

b) vehicle mass;

c) driver reaction time; and

d) minimum velocity of deployment.

11. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 7, wherein deployment of said air bags absorb impact of the imminent collision thereby reducing damage to said vehicle and risk of injury to and occupants therein.

12. The pre-impact external air bag deployment system recited in claim 1, wherein said system can be retrofit to existing standard motor vehicles.