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

• Current Assignee: Dieter Hinzmann, Friedrich Goes, Gunnar Borenius, Ulrich Seiffert
• Original Assignee: Dieter Hinzmann, Friedrich Goes, Gunnar Borenius, Ulrich Seiffert
• Inventors: Seiffert, Ulrich, Goes, Friedrich, Hinzmann, Dieter, Borenius, Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/194,717
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 23/281 98/2.01 138/40 222/3,4,5
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/276 with means to vent the inflation fluid source, e.g. in case of overpressure B60R21/30 takes precedence; venting means on inflatable member walls B60R21/239

Abstract

A safety device for preventing injury to vehicle occupants upon the occurrence of a collision. The device includes an inflatable bag, a source of gas for rapidly inflating the bag, a triggering mechanism for actuating the gas source and an exhaust vent in communication with the bag interior for venting inflation gases from the bag in a controlled manner. Venting may be concurrent with the inflation process, or may be delayed by use of a valve openable at a predetermined pressure or by initially sealing the vent inlet with a combustible, solid fuel element that allows gas to escape through the vent after a period of combustion. The same fuel element also constitutes the gas source of the device.

Claims

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.

2. A safety device according to claim 1 wherein:

the solid fuel element is located in overlying relation to the inlet end of the vent; and

the portion of the fuel element overlying the inlet end is sized to allow the escape of gas therethrough after a predetermined time of combustion and inflation.

3. A safety device according to claim 2 wherein:

the solid fuel element is hollowed out on the side thereof away from the vent inlet end so that the portion thereof overlying the vent inlet end is of reduced cross sectional thickness.

4. A safety device according to claim 1 wherein:

the solid fuel element is disposed across the inlet end of the vent in sealing relation thereto, whereby gas flow through the vent is prevented by the fuel element until the combustion of at least a portion thereof.

5. A safety device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a frangible housing enclosing the bag and the gas source defining means, the housing being rupturable bY the bag upon the inflation thereof.

6. A safety device according to claim 1 in which the outlet end of the vent defining means discharges the gas to the exterior of the vehicle.