VEHICLE OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 3,642,303 A
• Filed: 02/13/1970
• Issued: 02/15/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fred J. Irish, Robert F. Mclean
• Original Assignee: Fred J. Irish, Robert F. Mclean
• Inventors: Irish, Fred J., McLean, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/011,148
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B 244/121,122
• US Class Current: 280/730.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23107 the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26094 characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/239 characterised by their venting means

Abstract

A vehicle occupant restraint system having a plurality of bags which are inflated on vehicle impact with a stationary or moving object. One of the bags receives the impact of the occupant'"'"''"'"'s torso and on such impact, has controlled pressure relief to prevent excessive rebounding of the occupant. Another bag receives the impact of the occupant'"'"''"'"'s head and has controlled pressure relief to prevent excessive relative movement between the occupant'"'"''"'"'s head and torso. A third bag receives the impact of the occupant'"'"''"'"'s legs and remains inflated on impact by the occupant to maintain the occupant in the normal seated position.

Claims

1. In a vehicle occupant restraint system the combination of first inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pressure assumes a position to receive impact of a vehicle occupant'"'"''"'"'s torso;

second inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pressure assumes a position to receive impact of the occupant'"'"''"'"'s legs to maintain the occupant in a seated position;

fluid delivery means for delivering fluid under pressure simultaneously to said first and second inflatable bag means;

said fluid delivery means comprising a manifold continuously open to said first inflatable bag means and one-way valve means for opening said manifold to said second inflatable bag means; and

said first inflatable bag means including flow restriction means for relieving pressure in said first inflatable bag means by restricting flow therefrom when said first inflatable bag means is impacted by the occupant'"'"''"'"'s torso while pressure is maintained in said second inflatable bag means.

2. In a vehicle occupant restraint system the combination of first inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pressure assumes a position to receive impact of a vehicle occupant'"'"''"'"'s torso;

second inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pressure assumes a position to receive impact of the occupant'"'"''"'"'s legs to maintain the occupant in a seated position;

manifold means for delivering fluid under pressure simultaneously to said first and second inflatable bag means;

said manifold means including one-way valve means for opening said manifold means to said second inflatable bag means;

third inflatable bag means that on inflation by fluid pressure assumes a position to receive the impact of the occupant'"'"''"'"'s head;

said first inflatable bag means including flow restriction means for delivering fluid from said manifold means to said third inflatable bag means and also for relieving pressure in said first inflatable bag means by restricting flow from said first inflatable bag means to said third inflatable bag means when said first inflatable bag means is impacted by the occupant'"'"''"'"'s torso; and

said third inflatable bag means including flow restriction means for relieving pressure in said third inflatable bag means by restricting flow from said third inflatable bag means to the atmosphere when said third inflatable bag means is impacted by the occupant'"'"''"'"'s head.

3. In combination with a vehicle including a seat for supporting an occupant in seated position and a source of pressure fluid, an occupant restraint system comprising, first inflatable cushion means engageable by the torso of the seated occupant, second inflatable cushion means engageable by the legs of the seated occupant, means communicating the first and second cushion means with the pressure fluid source for inflation thereof, means communicating the first cushion means with the atmosphere to exhaust pressure fluid from the first cushion means upon the pressure therein exceeding a predetermined level, and means maintaining the pressure fluid within the second cushion means upon inflation thereof, the first and second cushion means cooperating to maintain the occupant in a seated position upon engagement thereof by the occupant.

4. The combination recited in claim 3 including third inflatable cushion means engageable by the head of the seated occupant, and means communicating the third cushion means with the pressure fluid source for inflation thereof.

5. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the first cushion means is continuously open to the pressure fluid source, the means maintaining the pressure fluid within the second cushion means upon inflation thereof including means limiting the flow of pressure fluid only from the second cushion means to the source

6. The combination recited in claim 3 wherein the means communicating the first and second cushion means with the pressure fluid source include a manifold open continuously to the first cushion means, the means maIntaining the pressure fluid within the second cushion means upon inflation thereof including means permitting flow of pressure fluid from the manifold to the second cushion means and restricting flow of pressure fluid from the second cushion means to the manifold.

7. In combination with a vehicle including a seat for supporting an occupant in seated position and a source of pressure fluid, an occupant restraint system comprising, first inflatable cushion means engageable by the torso of the seated occupant, second inflatable cushion means engageable by the legs of the seated occupant, common fluid delivery means simultaneously communicating the first and second cushion means with the pressure fluid source for inflation thereof, means communicating the first cushion means with the atmosphere to exhaust pressure fluid from the first cushion means upon the pressure therein exceeding a predetermined level, and means maintaining the pressure fluid within the second cushion means upon inflation thereof, the first and second cushion means cooperating to maintain the occupant in a seated position upon engagement thereof by the occupant.

8. The combination recited in claim 7 including third inflatable cushion means engageable by the head of the seated occupant, and means communicating the third inflatable cushion means with the second inflatable cushion means for inflation thereof from the pressure fluid source.