INFLATABLE SAFETY BALLOON WITH INERTIAL MEANS OF ACTUATION

• US 3,706,463 A
• Filed: 02/24/1970
• Issued: 12/19/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martin Lipkin
• Original Assignee: Martin Lipkin
• Inventors: Lipkin, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/013,270
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B,15SB 180/90 244/122 137/38,68 222/3,5 73/488 116/114AH 9/316
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/33 Arrangements for non-electric triggering of inflation electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements B60R21/01
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0753 Control by change of position or inertia of system

Abstract

An inflatable safety balloon made of a flexible material is folded and mounted within a compartment on an elastic attachment cord which is mounted inside of a car in a manner resembling a shoulder harness so as to position the compartment in front of a wearer'"'"''"'"'s chest. A gas release mechanism and a source of pressurized gas which inflates the balloon in an area between a wearer'"'"''"'"'s chest and the dashboard or front seat when activated. The gas release mechanism may be inertially activated or manually activated.

Claims

1. A system for preventing injuries to the occupants of a vehicle upon severe deceleration thereof, said system consisting of an inflatable balloon pack, an inflating hose connected to said pack, a pneumatic pressure means remote from said pack and connected to the other end of said inflating hose for inflating said balloon upon severe deceleration of said vehicle once armed, and balloon support means attachable to said vehicle at at least two points for positioning said balloon pack across the chest of an occupant of said vehicle, said pneumatic pressure means being armed by placing said balloon support means across the chest of said occupant.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said pneumatic pressure means comprises an inertial weight means and a gas storage means, said inertial weight means adapted to effect the release of gas from said gas storage means upon severe deceleration of said vehicle to inflate said balloon.

3. A system as in claim 2 wherein said gas storage means is sealed by a rupturable diaphragm and said inertial weight means is adapted to slide and puncture said diaphragm upon severe deceleration.

4. A system as in claim 3 wherein said inertial weight is normally biased against movement by a spring, said biasing being of a force sufficient to prevent sliding movement of said weight upon ordinary vehicle deceleration but not sufficient to prevent such movement upon severe deceleration.

5. A system as in claim 2 wherein a safety pin is provided to prevent said inertial weight means from accidentally or when undesired effecting release of Said gas means, said pin connected to said balloon support means so that attachment of said support means arms said pneumatic pressure means.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said pneumatic means is adapted to be positioned on the floorpan or seat of said vehicle.

7. A system as in claim 1 wherein said pneumatic means is adapted to be positioned on the firewall of said vehicle.

8. A system as in claim 1 wherein said balloon support means is an elastic strap at least one end of which is adapted to be attached to the top or side of the inside of the vehicle.

9. A system as in claim 8 wherein said pneumatic pressure means comprises an inertial weight means and a gas storage means, said inertial weight means adapted to effect the release of gas from said gas storage means upon severe deceleration of said vehicle to inflate said balloon, a safety pin means normally biased into a position to prevent said inertial weight means from effecting release of said gas, said pin means being operatively connected to said elastic strap means so that attachment of said elastic strap means arms said pneumatic pressure means by repositioning said pin means.

10. A system as in claim 8 wherein said balloon pack is slidably mounted on said elastic strap means.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said balloon support means is a nonelastic shoulder harness and is adapted to be attached to the top or side of the inside of a vehicle and the other end is adapted to be secured to a lap belt.

12. A system as in claim 11 wherein said pneumatic pressure means comprises an inertial weight means and a gas storage means, said inertial weight means adapted to effect the release of gas from said storage means upon severe deceleration of said vehicle to inflate said balloon, a safety pin means normally biased into a position to prevent said inertial weight means from effecting release of said gas, said pin means being operatively connected to said balloon pack so that deployment of said balloon pack arms said pneumatic pressure means by repositioning said pin means.

13. A system as in claim 11 wherein said balloon pack is slidably mounted on said shoulder harness.

14. A system as in claim 1 wherein said balloon support means comprises a two section elastic strap means connected together by a buckle, the other ends of said strap means being adapted to be attached to the top and bottom of the inside structure of said vehicle respectively.

15. A system as in claim 14 wherein said pneumatic pressure means comprises an inertial weight means and a gas storage means, said inertial weight means adapted to effect the release of gas from said gas storage means upon severe deceleration of said vehicle to inflate said balloon, a safety pin means normally biased into a position to prevent said inertial weight means from effecting release of said gas, said pin means being operatively connected to said elastic strap means so that deployment of said elastic strap means arms said pneumatic means.

16. A system as in claim 14 wherein said pneumatic pressure means comprises an inertial weight means and a gas storage means, said inertial weight means adapted to effect the release of gas from said gas storage means upon severe deceleration of said vehicle to inflate said balloon, a safety pin means normally biased into a position to prevent said inertial weight means from effecting release of said gas, said pin means being operatively connected to said elastic strap means so that deployment of said elastic strap means repositions said pin means and arms said pneumatic means.

17. In combination with a vehicle having at least a front seat, a roof with accompanying upper structure and floor, a system for perventing injuries to the occupants of said vehicle, said system comprising an inflatable balloon pack, a balloon support means attachable to at least two points on said vehicle for positioning said balloon pack on the chest of an occupant of said vehicle, a pneumatic pressure means mounted on said vehicle for inflating said balloon upon severe deceleration of said vehicle once armed, and an inflating hose connecting said pneumatic pressure means with said balloon, said pneumatic pressure means being armed by placing said balloon support means across the chest of said occupant.

18. A combination as in claim 17 wherein said balloon support means comprises an elastic strap at least one end of which is secured to the upper structure of said vehicle.

19. A combination as in claim 17 wherein said balloon support means comprises a nonelastic shoulder harness, one end of which is attached to the upper structure of said vehicle and the other end of which is adapted to be connected to a lap belt.

20. A combination as in claim 17 wherein said inflatable hose is normally flattened.

21. In combination with a seat, a system for preventing injuries to the occupants of an aircraft, said system including an inflatable balloon pack, an air valve whose operativeness is controlled by a plug, an inflating hose operatively connecting said balloon pack with said air valve, an elastic cord extending from said balloon pack, a keyed plug on the end of said elastic cord adapted to be inserted into said air valve to actuate same, pressure source means connected to said air valve, and means on said seat to mount said system so that when said system is utilized and said plug is inserted into said air valve, the balloon pack is mounted across the chest of the user.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said system mounting means are located in the seat and the valve is located in the arm rest.

23. The system of claim 21 where said inflating hose is normally in a flattened state.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein said system mounting means are located in the seat and the valve is located in the seat.

25. A system for preventing injury to an occupant or occupants of a vehicle upon severe deceleration thereof, said system consisting of a pneumatic pressure release unit and an inflatable balloon pack, said pneumatic pressure means being adapted to inflate said balloon upon severe deceleration of said vehicle;

said pneumatic pressure release unit being actuated by a passive inertial weight free to slide against a calibrated opposing spring, said inertial weight being free to puncture the diaphragm seal of a pressure storage container when the resistance of said spring is overcome; and

mechanical interference means comprising a slidable obstruction;

said obstruction being controllable by external means to prevent any motion of the inertial weight from its initial position.