DEVICE FOR REGULATING PRESSURE IN THE INSIDE OF A CAR

• US 3,738,681 A
• Filed: 07/09/1971
• Issued: 06/12/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Akihiro Wada, Yuichi Sorimachi
• Original Assignee: Akihiro Wada, Yuichi Sorimachi
• Inventors: Sorimachi, Yuichi, Wada, Akihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US05/161,217
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 180/112,113 296/76 292/DIG.65,201 137/525,525.3 78/2.18 280/15AB 49/141
• US Class Current: 280/728.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/164 combined with vehicle venting means for reducing or avoiding the passenger compartment overpressure during inflation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/65 Emergency or safety

Abstract

A device for regulating pressure in the inside of a car comprising means for unlocking the door of the trunk of the car upon receipt of a signal from collision sensing means or collision predicting means, and communication means for establishing communication between the inside of the car and the trunk.

Claims

1. In a device for regulating pressure in the inside of the passenger compartment of a car which is equipped with means to produce an electrical signal at least as soon as an accident is imminent and air bags which are inflated in order to restrain the passengers in response to said signal from said means, said passenger compartment being separated by a partition wall from a trunk compartment, the improvement comprising:

a solenoid electrically connected to said means, said solenoid being energized by said signal;

a lock for locking a door of said trunk compartment; and

an actuator operatively associated with said solenoid for unlocking said lock;

said partition wall having an aperture for establishing an air path between said passenger compartment and said trunk compartment;

said door being normally biased to open position whereby when the lock is unlocked the bias will cause the door to open.

2. The system defined in claim 1, further comprising an air valve of resilient material provided for said aperture, said valve being formed as a plate with a substantially H-shaped breaking portion to open in response to increased air pressure in said passenger compartment.

3. The system defined in claim 2, further comprising a strip superimposed on said partition wall over said air valve, said strip having a plurality of perforations thereon cooperating with said air valve to provide said air path.