TWO-WHEELER AIRBAG SYSTEM

• US 20150353047A1
• Filed: 06/09/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nitin Govind Ram
• Original Assignee: Nitin Govind Ram
• Inventors: RAM, Nitin Govind
• Granted Patent: US 9,862,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0088 Cycles, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01306 monitoring vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23176 specially adapted for foot protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0132 responsive to vehicle motion parameters , e.g. to vehicle longitudinal or transversal deceleration or speed value
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/20 Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/20 Airbags specially adapted for motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/4151 for sensing lateral inclination of the cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/04 characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels

Abstract

The present invention provides an airbag apparatus for a two-wheeler vehicle. The airbag apparatus includes at least one front airbag mounted near each leg of a rider of the two-wheeler vehicle, the at least one front airbag to be deployed and inflated for protecting the knees, legs and feet of the rider during emergency conditions. Further, the airbag apparatus includes at least one rear airbag mounted near each leg of a pillion rider of the two-wheeler vehicle, the at least one rear airbag to be deployed and inflated for protecting the knees, legs and feet of the pillion rider during emergency conditions. Yet further, the airbag apparatus includes at least one inflator configured to supply inflation gas to the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag when activated. Finally, the airbag apparatus includes at least one sensor configured to track at least one safety parameter of the two-wheeler vehicle and activate the inflator, when a predetermined threshold of the at least one safety parameter is reached.

Claims

1. An airbag apparatus for a two-wheeler vehicle, the airbag apparatus comprising:

a. at least one front airbag mounted near each leg of a rider of the two-wheeler vehicle, the at least one front airbag to be deployed and inflated for protecting the knees, legs and feet of the rider during emergency conditions;

b. at least one rear airbag mounted near each leg of a pillion rider of the two-wheeler vehicle, the at least one rear airbag to be deployed and inflated for protecting the knees, legs and feet of the pillion rider during emergency conditions;

c. at least one inflator configured to supply inflation gas to the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag when activated; and

d. at least one sensor configured to track at least one safety parameter of the two-wheeler vehicle and activate the inflator, when a predetermined threshold of the at least one safety parameter is reached.

2. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one front airbag is mounted on either sides of the two-wheeler vehicle next to the rider'"'"'s shin.

3. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one rear airbag is mounted on either sides of the two-wheeler vehicle next to the pillion rider'"'"'s shin.

4. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag is mounted on the frame of the two-wheeler vehicle.

5. The airbag apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag is shaped and sized such that a fully inflated airbag shields the knees, legs and feet of one of the rider and the pillion rider.

6. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one inflator includes a trigger mechanism and one of a gas cartridge storing compressed gas and a chemical cartridge storing one or more chemicals capable of generating gas through a chemical reaction.

7. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, the at least one sensor is a tilt sensor that activates the at least one inflator, when a tilt of the two-wheeler vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold.

8. The airbag apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag is inflated based on the direction of tilt determined by the tilt sensor.

9. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, the at least one sensor includes an impact sensor that detects a collision and activates the at least one inflator, when a detection value of the impact sensor is greater than a predetermined threshold.

10. The airbag apparatus of claim 9, wherein all airbags in the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag are inflated when the impact sensor detects a collision.

11. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor activates the at least one inflator by sending a trigger signal, wherein the trigger signal is an electric signal used to ignite a chemical reaction in a chemical cartridge to generate gas or to release compressed gas in a gas cartridge that inflates at least one of the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag.

12. The airbag apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one inflator is deactivated to prevent any accidental activation during vehicle servicing.

13. A method to deploy an airbag for a two-wheeler vehicle, the two-wheeler vehicle includes at least one front airbag mounted near each leg of a rider of the two-wheeler vehicle and at least one rear airbag mounted near each leg of a pillion rider of the two-wheeler vehicle, the method comprising:

a. detecting an emergency condition, using at least one sensor configured to track at least one safety parameter of the two-wheeler vehicle;

b. sending a trigger signal, when a predetermined threshold of the at least one safety parameter is reached;

c. activating at least one inflator configured to supply inflation gas to the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag when the trigger signal is received; and

d. deploying at least one of the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag;

wherein the at least one rear airbag to be deployed and inflated for protecting the knees, legs and feet of the pillion rider during emergency conditions, wherein the at least one front airbag to be deployed and inflated for protecting the knees, legs and feet of the rider during emergency conditions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag is mounted on the frame of the two-wheeler vehicle, wherein the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag is shaped and sized so that a fully inflated airbag shields the knees, legs and feet of one of the rider and the pillion rider.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one inflator includes a trigger mechanism and one of a gas cartridge storing compressed gas and a chemical cartridge storing one or more chemicals capable of generating gas through a chemical reaction.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor is a tilt sensor that activates the at least one inflator, when a tilt of the two-wheeler vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag is inflated based on the direction of tilt determined by the tilt sensor.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor includes an impact sensor that detects a collision and activates the at least one inflator, when a detection value of the impact sensor is greater than a predetermined threshold, wherein all airbags in the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag are inflated when the impact sensor detects a collision.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one sensor activates the at least one inflator by sending a trigger signal, wherein the trigger signal is an electric signal used to ignite a chemical reaction in a chemical cartridge to generate gas or to release compressed gas in a gas cartridge that inflates at least one of the at least one front airbag and the at least one rear airbag.