OCCUPANT RESTRAINT SYSTEM

• US 3,687,485 A
• Filed: 01/11/1971
• Issued: 08/29/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David D. Campbell
• Original Assignee: David D. Campbell
• Inventors: Campbell, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/105,222
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B 296/84K
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0006 Lateral collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/08 automatically movable from an inoperative to an operative position, e.g. in a collision electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/213 in vehicle roof frames or pillars
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/232 Curtain-type airbags deploying mainly in a vertical direction from their top edge

Abstract

A deployable trapezoidal shaped net of flexible material is provided for each side window opening of a vehicle body. Each net has a forward edge portion and an upper edge portion respectively secured to the front pillar and roof rail of a respective window opening. Normally the nets are stored in a folded condition above the headlining and adjacent a respective pillar and roof rail. An inflatable cushion is transversely mounted on the roof structure of the vehicle body. Normally the cushion is stored above the headlining. A continuous loop cable is located at each side of the cushion adjacent each roof rail. The cables are stored above the headlining. Each cable is secured at one point to a respective side of the cushion adjacent the lower edge thereof and extends around a pulley secured to a respective roof rail and a one-way pulley secured to a respective rear quarter structure of the body. The lower rear corner of each net is secured to a respective cable at the same point as the respective side of the inflatable cushion. Upon inflation of the cushion from a pressure source located in the roof structure, the cushion is projected downwardly and rearwardly of the body as the cables move around the pulleys. The cables fix the inflated position of the cushion and limit forward movement of the cushion. The cables also deploy the nets over the window openings. The inflatable cushion, the cables, and the nets tear through the headlining along predetermined tear lines when the cushion and nets are deployed.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle body including a side rail structure and a pillar structure respectively defining the upper and side edges of a body side window opening, an occupant restraint comprising, a net of flexible material, means securing the upper edge portion of the net to the body side rail and pillar structures, the net being normally stored in a folded condition adjacent the body side rail and pillar structures and upwardly of the window opening, means for sensing an impact condition of the body, endless cable means fixedly secured at one point to the lower edge portion of the net, means movably securing the cable means at a plurality of other points to the body for movement in one direction relative thereto, and means controlled by the sensing means for moving the cable means in the one direction relative to the movable securing means to locate the one point in a predetermined location and thereby deploy the net over the window opening.

2. In combination with a vehicle body including a side rail structure and a pillar structure respectively defining the upper and side edges of a body side window opening and rupturable means covering the side rail and pillar structures, an occupant restraint comprising, a net of flexible material, means securing the upper edge portion of the net to the body side rail and pillar structures, the net being normally stored in a folded condition adjacent the body side rail and pillar structures and upwardly of the window opening and of the rupturable means, means for sensing an impact condition of the body, endless cable means fixedly secured at one point to the lower edge portion of the net, means movably securing the cable means at a plurality of other points to the body for movement in one direction relative thereto, and means controlled by the sensing means for moving the cable means relative to the movable securing means to locate the one point in a predetermined location and thereby move the net throUgh the rupturable means and deploy the net over the window opening.

3. In a vehicle body including side rail and pillar structures defining a body side window opening, a roof structure, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated inflatable member extending transversely of the body and secured to the roof structure for projection therefrom transversely of the window opening upon inflation by the pressure fluid source, and means interconnecting the member and the body to locate the inflated member in a predetermined position, the combination comprising, a net of flexible material and of a size sufficient to cover the portion of the window opening bounded by the side rail and pillar structures and the inflated member, means securing an upper edge portion of the net to the side rail and pillar structures, the net being normally stored in a folded condition adjacent the portion of the window opening and being deployable over the window opening from its secured upper edge portion, and means securing a lower edge portion of the net to the inflatable member for deployment of the net across the portion of the window opening upon inflation of the member.

4. In a vehicle body including side rail and pillar structures defining a body side window opening, a roof structure, rupturable means covering the side rail, pillar, and roof structures, a source of pressure fluid, an elongated inflatable member extending transversely of the body and secured to the roof structure for projection therefrom transversely of the window opening upon inflation by the pressure fluid source, and means interconnecting the member and the body to locate the inflated member in a predetermined position, the combination comprising, a net of flexible material and of a size sufficient to cover the portion of the window opening bounded by the side rail and pillar structures and the inflated member, means securing an upper edge portion of the net to the side rail and pillar structures, the net being normally stored in a folded condition above the rupturable means adjacent the portion of the window opening and being deployable over the window opening from its secured upper edge portion, and means securing a lower edge portion of the net to the inflatable member for deployment of the net through the rupturable means upon inflation of the member.