CONCEALED PNEUMATIC SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 3,778,085 A
• Filed: 10/06/1971
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Martin Lipkin
• Original Assignee: Martin Lipkin
• Inventors: Lipkin, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/187,056
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 137/67,68,69,45 222/5
• US Class Current: 280/734
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/205 in dashboards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0923 By pendulum or swinging member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1692 Rupture disc

Abstract

A concealed inertially operated pneumatic safety system including a box having an opening with diaphragm means therein, a collapsed balloon within said box fastened by gas-tight attachment, pressurized gas storage means and inertially powered gas release means, said gas release means being adapted to cause release of gas from said pressurized gas storage means in response to a predetermined deceleration or shock to said box, the released gas causing said balloon means to inflate sufficiently to force said diaphragm means aside and to fully inflate externally of said box means.

Claims

1. A cOncealed inertially operated pneumatic safety system, said system comprising a box means having an opening with diaphragm means therein, a collapsed balloon means within said box means, said balloon means being fastened by gas-tight attachment means to the interior of said box means to define an enclosure means, a gas storage means having an opening directly communicating with said enclosure means, a rupturable membrane covering said gas storage means opening and maintaining said gas in said gas storage means, an inertial weight secured to said rupturable membrane and adapted to angularly move and thereby rupture said membrane along the cross-sectional periphery of said inertial weight in response to a predetermined deceleration or shock to said box and release the gas in said gas storage means, causing said balloon means to inflate sufficiently to force said diaphragm means aside and to fully inflate externally of said box means.

2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said inertial weight comprises a rod of circular cross-section secured to said membrane to facilitate rupture of said membrane along the cross-sectional periphery of said rod and weight at the opposite end of said rod.

3. A system as in claim 1 wherein said inertial weight comprises a rod or rectangular cross-section secured to said membrane to facilitate rupture of said membrane along the cross-sectional periphery of said rod and a weight at the opposite end of said rod.

4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said inertial weight comprises a rod of triangular cross-section secured to said membrane to facilitate rupture of said membrane along the cross-sectional periphery of said rod and a weight at the opposite end of said rod.

5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said inertial weight comprises a rod of diamond cross-section secured to said membrane to facilitate rupture of said membrane along the cross-sectional periphery of said rod and a weight at the opposite end of said rod.

6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said gas storage means comprises a bottle having an opening therein, said rupturable membrane sealing said bottle'"'"''"'"'s opening, said inertial weight comprises a rod secured to said membrane and a weight at the opposite end of said rod, a perforated guard means surrounding said weight and rod, and a distensible guard means adapted to be inserted between said perforated guard means and said weight to prevent angular movement of said inertial weight up to a certain level of inertial force, said inertial weight being exterior of said bottle.

7. A system as in claim 6 wherein said perforated means comprises a hollow cylindrical member coaxial with said rod, said member having an enlarged circumferential area adjacent the inertial weight.

8. A system as in claim 6 wherein said distensible guard means is adapted to be crushable above said level of inertial force.

9. A system as in claim 1 wherein said box means comprises two portions, said gas-tight attachment means comprising interlocking flange means on each of said portions, said flange means clamping the edge of said balloon means therebetween to form a gas-tight attachment.

10. A system as in claim 1, wherein said diaphragm means comprises two flaps, one flap substantially overlying the other to provide an easily displaced cover for inflation of said balloon means.

11. A system as in claim 1 wherein said enclosure means has a gas pressure limiting valve means therein.

12. A system as claim 1 wherein said diaphragm means comprises two overlying flaps and a rupturable cosmetic cover sheet adjacent said flaps and external of said box means.

13. A system as in claim 1 wherein said inertial weight comprises a rod attached to said membrane having puncturing means thereon adjacent its point of attachment to said membrane and a weight at the opposite end of said rod, said puncturing means adapted to puncture said membrane upon a predetermined angular motion or bending of said rod about its locus of attachment to said rupturable memBrane.

14. A concealed inertially operated pneumatic safety system, said system comprising a box means having an opening with diaphragm means therein, a collapsed balloon means within said box means, said balloon means being fastened by gas-tight attachment means to the interior of said box means to define an enclosure means, a gas storage means having an opening directly communicating with said enclosure means, a rupturable membrane covering said gas storage means opening and maintaining said gas in said gas storage means, an inertial weight secured to said rupturable membrane inside said gas storage means and adapted to rupture said membrane in response to a predetermined deceleration or shock to said box and release the gas in said gas storage means, causing said balloon means to inflate sufficiently to force said diaphragm means aside and to fully inflate externally of said box means, and a distensible guard means between said inertial weight and the interior of said gas storage means for preventing movement of said inertial weight below said predetermined deceleration or shock.

15. A system as in claim 14 wherein said rupturable membrane includes stress concentrating indentations.

16. A system as in claim 14 wherein said distensible guard means surrounds said inertial weight, said distensible guard means adapted to be crushed above said predetermined deceleration or shock level of inertial force.