CRASH PROTECTION SYSTEM

• US 20140230135A1
• Filed: 01/29/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andras Fenyves
• Original Assignee: Andras Fenyves
• Inventors: Fenyves, Andras
• Granted Patent: US 9,622,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/455
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/018 inflatable automatically
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/102 Motorcycling
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 35/0012 Sit harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0088 Cycles, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration

Abstract

A crash protection system includes a base connectable to a support on an open vehicle or an animal. The base includes a front airbag module arranged proximate a front end of the base and a rear airbag module arranged proximate a rear end of the base. The front airbag module has a front airbag, and the rear airbag module has a rear airbag. The system further includes a belt system having a first belt connectable around a waist of a rider and at least one strap connecting the first belt to the base. A control system includes sensors that are monitored to determine whether a crash situation is present and the control system actuates the front airbag module and the rear airbag module and releases the base from the support when the crash situation is present.

Claims

1. A crash protection system, comprising:

a base connectable to a support;

a front airbag module arranged proximate a front end of said base and comprising a front airbag;

a rear airbag module arranged proximate a rear end of said base and comprising a rear airbag;

a belt system including a first belt connectable around a waist of a rider and at least one strap connecting said first belt to said base;

a control system including sensors, said control system monitoring said sensors to determine whether a crash situation is present and said control system actuating said front airbag module and said rear airbag module and releasing said base from said support when the crash situation is present.

2. The crash protection system of claim 1, wherein said front airbag is deployed upward from said base and in front of the rider when said front airbag module is actuated, and said rear airbag is deployed upward from said base and in back of the rider when said front airbag is actuated.

3. The crash protection system of claim 1, wherein said first belt includes a front first belt portion and a rear first belt portion that are connectable by a right fastener and a left fastener, wherein said front first belt portion is connected to said base by a right front strap and a left front strap, and said rear portion is connected to said base by a right rear strap and a left rear strap, said right fastener arranged between said right front strap and said right rear strap on the right side of said base and said left fastener arranged between said left front strap and said left rear strap on the left side of said base.

4. The crash protection system of claim 3, further comprising an upper outer belt comprising a front left upper outer belt connected to a left side of said front airbag and said left fastener, a front right upper outer belt connected to a right side of said front airbag and said right fastener, a rear left upper outer belt connected to a left side of said rear airbag and said left fastener, and a rear right upper outer belt connected to a right side of said rear airbag and said right fastener.

5. The crash protection system of claim 4, wherein said upper outer belt is separable from said first belt at said right fastener and said left fastener during deployment of said front airbag and said rear airbag while maintaining an integrity of said upper outer belt and said first belt.

6. The crash protection system of claim 4, wherein each of said right fastener and said left fastener each include a first portion connecting said inner belt and a second portion connecting said upper outer belt, said first portion being connected to said second portion by a frangible connection that breaks away in response to a deployment force of said airbags.

7. The crash protection system of claim 2, further comprising an upper outer belt comprising a left upper outer belt connected between a left side of said front airbag and a left side of said rear airbag, and a right upper outer belt connected between a right side of said front airbag and a left side of said rear airbag, said upper outer belt retaining said front airbag and rear airbag proximate a front and rear of the rider.

8. The crash protection system of claim 1, wherein said front airbag module is an upper front airbag module with an upper airbag and said rear airbag module is an upper rear airbag module with an upper rear airbag, said crash protection system further comprising:

a lower front airbag module arranged proximate a front end of said base and comprising a lower front airbag; and

a lower rear airbag module arranged proximate a rear end of said base and comprising a lower rear airbag.

9. The crash protection system of claim 8, wherein said upper front airbag is deployed upward from said base and in front of the rider when said upper front airbag module is actuated, said upper rear airbag is deployed upward from said base and in back of the rider when said upper rear airbag module is actuated, said lower front airbag is deployed downward from said base and in front of said rider when said lower front airbag module is actuated, and said lower rear airbag is deployed downward from said base and in back of the rider when said lower rear airbag module is actuated.

10. The crash protection system of claim 1, wherein said front airbag is deployed downward from said base and in front of the rider when said front airbag module is actuated, and said rear airbag is deployed downward from said base and in back of the rider when said rear airbag module is actuated.

11. The crash protection system of claim 1, wherein said base comprises at least a portion of a motorcycle seat.

12. The crash protection system of claim 1, further comprising an ejector that pushes said base away from the support upon release of said base from the support.

13. The crash protection system of claim 1, wherein said belt system includes a front right strap connected to a front right side of said base, a rear right strap connected to a rear right side of said base, a front left strap connected to a front left side of said base, and a rear left strap connected to a rear left side of said base.

14. The crash protection system of claim 13, wherein said front right strap is reeved through a front right pulley and connected to a portion of a right fastener, said rear right strap is reeved through a rear right pulley and connected to another portion of said right fastener, said front left strap is reeved through a front left pulley and connected to a portion of a left fastener, and said rear left strap is reeved through a rear left pulley and connected to another portion of said left fastener;

said front right pulley is connected to said front left pulley by a front portion of said first belt; and

said rear right pulley is connected to said rear left pulley by a rear portion of said first belt.

15. The crash protection system of claim 13, wherein at least one of said front right strap, said front left strap, said rear right strap, and said rear left strap is connected to said base by a retractor mechanism.

16. The crash protection system of claim 13, wherein said sensors of said control system include a tension sensor on said at least one of said front right strap, said front left strap, said rear right strap, and said rear left strap.