AUTOMATIC VACUUM RESTRAINT APPARATUS

• US 3,732,944 A
• Filed: 04/12/1971
• Issued: 05/15/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Menasco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Giles A. Kendall
• Inventors: Kendall, Giles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/133,013
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B 296/65A 297/216,384,390,353,DIG.3,DIG.8
• US Class Current: 180/274
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4279 electric or electronic triggering
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/914 Hydro-pneumatic adjustments of the shape

Abstract

An automatic vacuum restraint apparatus to restrain the passengers of a vehicle wherein sensors are employed around the periphery of the vehicle structure to be capable of denoting an unstable condition, the sensors effecting actuation of the vacuum system within the vehicle to draw a vacuum between the body of each passenger and its respective passenger seat.

Claims

1. A restraint system for the passengers of a vehicle comprising:

first means located within the body structure of the vehicle to be capable of sensing an abnormal condition of the vehicle;

second means connected to an occupant seat within the vehicle to be capable of forming a fluid tight chamber means with a portion of the body of an occupant of said seat;

third means actuatable by said first means to connect a vacuum source with said chamber means; and

said chamber means comprises an active layer formed into a plurality of individual chambers open at the side adjacent said body portion of the occupant, a plenum chamber located adjacent said active layer and connecting each of said individual chambers through an orifice arrangement, said plenum chamber having a biasing means located throughout to prevent closing of said plenum chamber, said third means comprising means for connecting said plenum chamber to said vacuum source for pulling the body portion of the occupant against said active layer and substantially closing the open side of at least some of said individual chambers.

2. A system as defined within claim 1 wherein:

therebeing a plurality of individual occupant seats within said vehicle, therebeing a separate vacuum source for each of said individual occupant seats.

3. A system as defined within claim 1 wherein:

said third means comprises means for sensing the magnitude of said signal and applying said vacuum source upon said signal reaching a predetermined magnitude.

4. A system as defined within claim 3 wherein:

said third means comprises an electrical signal operated solenoid valve, said solenoid valve upon being actuated by said first means connecting said vacuum source to said chamber means.

5. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of individual chambers comprises at least a first chamber and a second chamber, said second chamber being located entirely about said first chamber.

6. A restraint system for the passengers of a vehicle comprising:

first means located within the body structure of the vehicle to be capable of sensing an abnormal condition of the vehicle;

second means connected to an occupant seat within the vehicle to be capable of forming a fluid tight chamber means with a portion of the body of an occupant of said seat;

third means actuatable by said first means to connect a vacuum source with said chamber means;

said first means transmits a signal to said third means in response to an impact force upon said vehicle causing said vehicle to change speed or direction; and

fourth means connected with said seat to permit movement of said seat upon said impact force exceeding a predetermined level.

7. A system as defined within claim 6 wherein:

said fourth means comprises a first damping unit connected to the bottom portion of said Seat and a second damping unit connected to the back portion of said seat, said first and second damping units being connected to said body structure of said vehicle.

8. A restraint system for the passengers of a vehicle comprising:

first means located within the body structure of the vehicle to be capable of sensing an abnormal condition of the vehicle;

second means connected to an occupant seat within the vehicle to be capable of forming a fluid tight chamber means with a portion of the body of an occupant of said seat;

third means actuatable by said first means to connect a vacuum source with said chamber means; and

said vehicle having a braking system to be selectively operated by an operator to stop or slow said vehicle, said first means being actuatable by operation of said braking system to obtain a predetermined degree of braking.

9. A system as defined within claim 8 wherein said third means comprising comparator means for comparing in a single instance the desired level of vacuum within said chamber means with the existing level of vacuum within said chamber means, said comparator means closing said connection to said vacuum source when said two levels are substantially the same.