VEHICLE IMPACT-CUSHIONING DEVICE

• US 3,656,791 A
• Filed: 10/12/1970
• Issued: 04/18/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert E. Truesdell
• Original Assignee: Robert E. Truesdell
• Inventors: Truesdell, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): La Point, Arthur L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saifer, Robert
• Application Number:
  US05/079,996
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 293/1,71P 280/15AB
• US Class Current: 293/107
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/205 inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01

Abstract

An inflatable vehicle front end impact-cushioning device mounted on its forward end within a rupturable container securing an inflatable bag in compact form, in combination with a valved cylinder containing gas under pressure. Upon impact of the container with a resistant object, and at a substantially low speed of from about 3 miles to about 10 miles per hour, the forward portion of the device ruptures, triggering the gas valve and allowing the inflatable bag to promptly expand and inflate with gas, and to overlie and protect the forward-facing portion of the vehicle and the facing surface or surfaces of the object struck by the vehicle, whereby the inflated bag is positioned between the impacted object and the forward-facing portion of the vehicle to cushion the latter against substantial damage. The inflatable bag is designed, when expanded, to cover, overlie and protect the forward-facing portion of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An impact-cushioning device adapted to be mounted at an impact position on a vehicle, comprising in combination a base member adapted to be secured to said vehicle and having a body portion and an annular flange projecting therefrom, a cover member having a crown portion and an annular extension integrally formed therewith and sealingly secured to said base member annular flange, said crown portion being subject to facile rupture upon impact with a resistant object, an inflatable expandable bag having a body portion compactly folded within said crown portion and a tubular end disposed within said annular extension and adjacent the inner surface thereof to form a gas receiving chamber defined by said base member body portion and said bag tubular end, a triggering pin partially disposed in said inflatable bag and having a head within said bag closely adjacent the crown peak of said cover member, and a stem connected to said head and extending through said compactly folded bag body portion, said gas chamber and said base member body portion, a valve controlled cylinder charged with gas under pressure connected to said base member and communicating with said chamber for discharge of said gas thereinto and into said bag, said cylinder being operatively connected to valve means communicating with said gas chamber, the distal end of said pin stem being disposed in said valve means for actuation thereof upon impulsion of said pin, whereby said bag upon inflation provides an impact-cushioning element between said vehicle to which said device is secured and a resistant object impacted by the crown portion of said device.

2. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said base member and said cover member are secured together in gas sealing relationship.

3. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said base member is formed as an integral unit of a plastic material suitable for fusion-welding with said cover member.

4. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said base member is formed as an integral unit of a plastic material suitable for adhesive sealing with said cover member.

5. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said base member is provided with flange portions adapted to be engaged for mounting said device at an impact position on said vehicle.

6. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said base member is formed as an integral unit of a metallic material.

7. The device defined in claim 6, and wherein said base member is mechanically secured to said cover member in gas sealing relationship.

8. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said base member annular flange is substantially cylindrical and projects from said body portion substantially normal to the plane of said body portion.

9. The device defined in claim 8, and wherein said base member annular flange and said cover member annular extension are concentrically arranged and secured togethEr.

10. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said cover member is formed as an integral unit of a plastic material suitable for fusion-welding with said base member.

11. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said cover member is formed as an integral unit of a plastic material suitable for adhesive sealing with said base member.

12. The device defined in claim 6, and wherein said cover member is formed as an integral unit of a plastic material suitable for mechanical securement to said metallic base member in gas sealing relationship.

13. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said cover member crown portion is provided with radial grooves conjoined at and extending from the crown peak to said annular extension.

14. The device defined in claim 13, wherein said radial grooves are provided in the inner surface of said crown portion.

15. The device defined in claim 13, wherein said radial grooves are provided in the outer surface of said crown portion.

16. The device defined in claim 13, wherein said radial grooves are proved in the innner and outer surfaces of said crown portion.

17. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said cover member crown portion is provided with an annular groove adjacent the distal end of said annular flange.

18. The device defined in claim 17, and wherein said annular groove is provided in the inner surface of said crown portion.

19. The device defined in claim 17, wherein said annular groove is provided in the outer surface of said crown portion.

20. The device defined in claim 17, wherein said annular groove is provided in the inner and outer surfaces of said crown portion.

21. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said cover member crown portion is provided with radial grooves conjoined at and extending from the crown peak and an annular groove adjacent the distal end of said annular flange, the distal ends of said radial grooves terminating in the plane of said annular groove.

22. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said inflatable bag is formed of a polyester resin material.

23. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said inflatable bag is formed of a woven nylon material.

24. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said inflatable bag is formed of a woven dacron material.

25. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said inflatable bag is formed of a relatively gas impervious material.

26. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said inflatable bag is initially compactly folded in said crown portion for facile inflation and expansion upon rupture of said crown portion.

27. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said inflatable bag tubular end is secured by the assembly of said base member and cover member.

28. The device defined in claim 27, and wherein the distal end of said tubular end is disposed over the distal edge of said annular extension and about the outer surface thereof, said distal end being secured between said distal edge and said base member body portion, and between said annular flange and said annular extension.

29. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said gas receiving chamber is provided substantially in the area defined by said annular extension.

30. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said gas receiving chamber is formed by said base member body portion and the interior surface of said inflatable bag.

31. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said gas cylinder is charged with said gas to a pressure adapted to sufficiently inflate and expand said inflatable bag whereby said bag becomes a protective impact-cushioning element for said vehicle.

32. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said valve means comprises a one-way valve adapted to discharge gas from said cylinder into said chamber and inflatable bag upon actuation of said valve by said pin stem.

33. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said valve means comprises a one-way gas valve, and a tubular fitting secured to said base member body portion in gas sealing relationship and securing said valve controlled gas cylinder to said base member, said fitting having an opening therethrough to pass said pin stem to said valve and said gas to said chamber.

34. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said device is secured to said vehicle by bracket members engageable with said base member and a portion or portions of said vehicle at an impact position thereof.

35. The device defined in claim 1, and wherein said vehicle device is secured to said vehicle by directly mounting said base member upon a portion or portions of said vehicle at an impact position thereof.