RIDER'S BODY PROTECTING DEVICE FOR A HIGH SPEED VEHICLE OPERABLE IN A COLLISION THEREOF

• US 3,778,083 A
• Filed: 05/17/1971
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Masafumi Hamasaki
• Original Assignee: Masafumi Hamasaki
• Inventors: Hamasaki, Masafumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/143,921
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 181/46 138/41,40 98/2 137/67,68
• US Class Current: 280/739
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23169 specially adapted for knee protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2615 for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
• 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

In a rider'"'"''"'"'s body protecting device for a high speed vehicle of the type including gas producing means and an inflatable bag adapted to be filled and inflated with gases from the gas producing means to support the rider'"'"''"'"'s body, gas exhaust pipe means are provided which are so sized in pipe diameter as not to have any adverse effect on the inflation of the bag and allow a part of the gases fed in the bag to be released to the exterior of the vehicle. This advantageously serves to suppress any excessive rise of the gas pressure in the bag which may otherwise occur at the instant when the rider'"'"''"'"'s body moving forward by inertia hits on the bag. Also, an auxiliary shock absorbing bag is employed in combination with the main bag in order to improve the stability of inflation of the bag means and the cushioning effect of the whole device.

Claims

1. A rider'"'"''"'"'s body protecting device for a high speed vehicle operable in a collision thereof, comprising an inflatable bag operable to support the rider'"'"''"'"'s body, gas producing means for feeding gases into said bag, and a gas exhaust pipe so sized in inner diameter as not to affect the inflation of said bag, said gas exhaust pipe being in communication at one end with the interior of said bag and terminating at the other end exteriorly of the vehicle to allow the gases within said bag to be released to the exterior of the vehicle, and an auxiliary bag which is substantially similar in structure to said inflatable bag and operable to support the lower part of the rider'"'"''"'"'s body, said auxiliary bag being provided with a gas exhaust pipe for releasing the gases therefrom in common with the one provided for said main or inflatable bag.

2. A rider'"'"''"'"'s body protecting device for a high speed vehicle operable in a collision thereof, comprising an inflatable bag operable to support the rider'"'"''"'"'s body, gas producing means for feeding gases into said bag, and a gas exhaust pipe so sized in inner diameter as not to affect the inflation of said bag, said gas exhaust pipe being in communication at one end with the interior of said bag and terminating at the other end exteriorly of the vehicle to allow the gases within said bag to be released to the exterior of the vehicle, and an auxiliary inflatable bag which is substantially similar in structure to said inflatable bag and operable to support the lower part of the rider'"'"''"'"'s body, gas producing means in said auxiliary bag, said auxilIary bag being provided with a gas exhaust pipe for releasing the gas therefrom in common with the one provided for said first inflatable bag.

3. A rider'"'"''"'"'s body protecting device for a high speed vehicle operable in a collision thereof, as claimed in claim 2 in which said first-named gas exhaust pipe is provided in a portion thereof with a flow resistance means for controlling the rate of flow of the exhaust gas through said pipe.

4. A rider'"'"''"'"'s body protecting device for a high speed vehicle operable in a collision thereof, comprising a main inflatable bag operable to support the rider'"'"''"'"'s body, gas producing means for feeding gases into said bag, and a gas exhaust pipe so sized in inner diameter as not to affect the inflation of said bag, said gas exhaust pipe being in communication at one end with the interior of said bag and terminating at the other end with an auxiliary inflatable bag which is substantially similar in structure to said main inflatable bag, said auxiliary bag being provided with another gas exhaust pipe for releasing the gases therefrom to allow the gases within said bag to release to the exterior of the vehicle.

5. A rider'"'"''"'"'s body protecting device for a high speed vehicle operable in a collision thereof, as claimed in claim 4 in which said first-named gas exhaust pipe is provided in a portion thereof with a flow resistance means for controlling the rate of flow of the exhaust gas through said pipe.