SAFETY BELTS

• US 3,682,498 A
• Filed: 09/18/1970
• Issued: 08/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nee Wilke Edith Rutzki
• Original Assignee: Nee Wilke Edith Rutzki
• Inventors: Rutzki, nee Wilke Edith
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/073,558
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 180/82 9/316 297/385-389 244/122
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement

Abstract

A vehicle safety base is provided with an inflatable protective device. Inflation occurs when the safety belt has a tension stress applied to it. The safety belt is constructed in the form of a tube or hose so that its large internal volume can serve for supply of the pressure medium to the protective device.

Claims

1. A safety belt for vehicles and aircraft comprising, a belt having an inflatable portion therein, a pressure medium source, control means for selectively releasing pressure from said source into said belt and means for actuating said control means including means for maintaining a fold in said belt and for releasing said fold when a predetermined tension is applied to said belt, said control means being operatively connected to said belt to release air from said source when said fold is released.

2. A safety belt in accordance with claim 1 wherein said belt is formed of tubular webbing.

3. A safety belt in accordance with claim 1 in which a substantial portion of the cross-section of the tubular belt is arranged to be acted upon by the pressure medium.

4. A safety belt in accordance with claim 1, in which the valve comprises two flat parts telescoped inside each other.

5. A safety belt in accordance with claim 1, in which a storage container for the pressure medium is arranged alongside the seat of the driver in the vehicle.

6. A safety belt in accordance with claim 1, in which said inflatable portion comprises a folded sack attached to said belt, which sack is unfolded on supply of the pressure medium and is inflated.

7. A safety belt in accordance with claim 6, which at a position at which the sack is attached comprises a frangible fold which can be torn open and by tearing open of the fold when an accident occurs unfolding of the sack is promoted.

8. A safety belt in accordance with claim 1, wherein said belt comprises shoulder and stomach belt parts, both of which are provided with communicating inflatable portions.

9. A safety belt in accordance with claim 1 in which said belt has a breadth of over 8 cm.

10. A safety belt as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a valve having a pair of cooperating telescoping components respectively secured on opposite sides of said fold and moved apart when said fold is released to permit passage of air therethrough.

11. A safety belt as defined in claim 1 wherein said pressure source comPrises an explosively burning chemical mixture and said control means comprises a detonator for said mixture operatively connected to said fold for actuation upon release thereof.

12. A safety belt for vehicles and aircraft comprising an inflatable protective device, which is arranged on the safety belt, a pressure medium source and a connecting device, which is normally closed, between the pressure medium source and the protective device, said connecting means being arranged to open when an excessive tension load is applied to the safety belt and includes a valve located between the pressure medium source and the protective device and a frangible fold formed in the belt, which fold is adapted to be torn open when an accident occurs and excessive load is applied to the belt to open the valve to release pressure from the pressure medium into the protective device.