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SAFETY DEVICE FOR VEHICLE OCCUPANTS

  • US 3,747,953 A
  • Filed: 11/01/1971
  • Issued: 07/24/1973
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1970
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A safety device for protecting vehicle occupants against injury resulting from collisions, comprising:

  • a. an inflatable bag adapted to absorb the impact of an occupant when the bag is inflated;

    b. a solid fuel element adapted to generate gas for inflating the bag upon ignition of the fuel element;

    c. means for igniting the solid fuel element upon the occurrence of a collision; and

    d. means defining a vent, having an inlet end in communication with the bag interior and an outlet end, for controllably venting at least a portion of the inflation gases from the bag in such a way as to allow the bag to be rapidly inflated following a collision and thereafter to gradually collapse to provide a dampened cushioning action to protect the occupant during the collision and to afford continued protection for the occupant against injury from secondary accidents, the initiation of the gradual collapse being controlled by placement of the solid fuel element in sealing relation to the inlet end of the vent to prevent gas flow through the vent until the combustion of at least a portion of the solid fuel element has occurred.

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