SAFETY DEVICE FOR VEHICLES

• US 3,655,217 A
• Filed: 09/18/1969
• Issued: 04/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James T. Johnson
• Original Assignee: James T. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hersh, Benjamin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pekar, John A.
• Application Number:
  US04/858,978
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 9/321
• US Class Current: 280/737
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/80 Head-rests
• 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 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/272 with means for increasing the pressure of the gas just before or during liberation, e.g. hybrid inflators

Abstract

A safety device for protecting the occupant of a vehicle including an inflatable bag member and a container for storing fluid under pressure. A propellant charge is also included for producing a hot gas upon the ignition thereof to raise the pressure in the container to rupture a rupturable disc to permit the propellant gas and fluid to escape into the bag member and cause the inflation thereof.

Claims

1. A safety device for protecting the occupant of a vehicle comprising:

a. an inflatable bag member;

b. container means for storing a fluid under pressure;

c. means providing communication between the interior of said bag member and the interior of said container means;

d. rupturable means closing said means providing communication for preventing passage of the fluid from the interior of the container means to the bag member; and

e. storage means for storing a propellant charge means;

f. a propellant charge means in said storage means for producing a hot gas;

g. means providing communication between said storage means and said container means when said propellant means is ignited for causing the rupturing of said rupturable means to permit the hot gas and fluid from the container to escape into the bag member and cause the inflation thereof;

h. said propellant charge and said fluid under pressure being present in respective amounts so that the propellant charge contributes at least 50 percent of the energy needed for inflating the bag and that the resultant temperature of the external bag surface upon inflation is below 200* F.

2. The safety device of claim 1 wherein said rupturable means has a rupturing point 50 percent above the pressure of the fluid in the container means.

3. The safety device of claim 2 wherein air is stored in said container means.

4. A safety device for protecting the occupant of a vehicle comprising:

a. an inflatable bag member;

b. a storage container for storing a fluid under pressure;

c. manifold means for connecting the interior of said storage container to the interior of said bag;

d. a rupturable member sealing the interior of said container from the interior of said bag and having a predetermined rupturing point above the pressure of said fluid;

e. diffusion means between said container and said manifold to prevent the rupturable member from passing into the bag after rupture and diffuse the fluid exiting from said compartment;

f. storage means for storing a propellant charge;

g. a propellant charge in said storage means;

h. means providing communication between said storage means and said container when said propellant is ignited;

i. a second rupturable member between said storage means and said container, and having a predetermined rupturing point; and

j. second diffusion means between said second rupturable member and said compartment for preventing said second rupturable means from passing into said compartment after it ruptures and to diffuse the gas generated by the propellant upon the ignition thereof so that the generated gas and fluid mix.

5. The safety device of claim 4 wherein said second diffusion means comprises a hollow body, the interior of which is in communication with said storage compartment when said second rupturable member ruptures, said body having a plurality of apertures through its wall providing communication between the interior of said body and said compartment.