INFLATABLE DASH-PANEL CONSTRUCTION

• US 3,767,229 A
• Filed: 12/30/1971
• Issued: 10/23/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert H. Cain
• Original Assignee: Robert H. Cain
• Inventors: Cain, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/214,220
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B 180/90
• US Class Current: 280/732
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/165 reusable, e.g. in case of multiple collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21525 the lid being fixed on the bag, or forming part of the bag wall, or the bag itself being used as wall liner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• 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

An inflatable dash-panel construction adapted to be mounted on a conventional automobile dash-panel and occupy a non-obstructing position when deflated, but which will respond to emergency conditions to be inflated and form a monoplanar screen between the occupants and the dash-panel without, however, pinning the occupants in place, to protect them against collision with the dash-panel windshield group.

Claims

1. Inflatable means for a vehicle dash-panel construction comprising a hollow inflatable bag, said bag including a cover part overlying and secured to said dash;

a laterally elongated skirt depending from the rear of said cover part secured to said dash and positioned rearward of the instrument panel below the dash;

a resilient padding normally folded into L-shape to loosely overlie said cover part and skirt;

a lower portion of said padding being secured to said skirt; and

a reverse folded webbing element normally overlying said cover part with one end connected to a forward portion of the cover part and with its other end connected to the forward end of said padding;

said cover part, said webbing and a portion of said padding normally lying on the dash below the windshield;

means controlled by emergency impact only for inflating the bag to expand and unfold said webbing element to a planar position and said padding to a substantially upright position between the dash panel windshield grouping and the occupants of the vehicle;

said padding forming a substantially monoplanar screen reaching from the vehicle header to the panel below the dash; and

releasable fastening means interconnecting the outer forward ends of said reverse folded webbing.

2. Inflatable means for a vehicle dash-panel construction comprising a hollow inflatable bag, said bag including a cover part overlying and secured to said dash;

a laterally elongated skirt depending from the rear of said cover part secured to said dash and positioned rearward of the instrument panel below the dash;

a resilient padding normally folded into L-shape to loosely overlie said cover part and skirt;

a lower portion of said padding being secured to said skirt; and

a reverse folded webbing element normally overlying said cover part with one end connected to a forward portion of the cover part and with its other end connected to the forward end of said padding;

said cover part, said webbing and a portion of said padding normally lying on the dash below the windshield;

means controlled by emergency impact only for inflating the bag to expand and unfold said webbing element to a planar position and said padding to a substantially upright position between the dash panel windshield grouping and the occupants of the vehicle;

said padding forming a substantially monoplanar screen reaching from the vehicle header to the panel below the dash;

a tubular deflating line at one end extending into said bag; and

a pressure release valve on the other end of said deflating line, whereby on actuating of said valve, the parts of said bag will collapse to its original position.

3. Inflatable means for a vehicle dash-panel construction comprising a hollow inflatable bag, said bag including a cover part overlying and secured to said dash;

a laterally elongated skirt depending from the rear of said cover part secured to said dash and positioned rearward of the instrument panel below the dash;

a resilient padding normally folded into L-shape to loosely overlie said cover part and skirt;

a lower portion of said padding being secured to said skirt; and

a reverse folded webbing element normally overlying said cover part with one end connected to a forward portion of the cover part and with its other end connected to the forward end of said padding;

said cover part, said webbing and a portion of said padding normally lying on the dash below the windshield;

means controlled by emergency impact only for inflating the bag to expand and unfold said webbing element to a planar position and said padding to a substantially upright position between the dash panel windshield grouping and the occupants of the vehicle;

said padding forming a substantially monoplanar screen rEaching from the vehicle header to the panel below the dash.