SAFETY VEHICLE SEAT SYSTEM AND TRIGGER MEANS FOR THE SAME

• US 3,858,930 A
• Filed: 07/11/1972
• Issued: 01/07/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deceased Vallone, Donald A. Calandra, Vincent Dirubbio
• Original Assignee: Deceased Vallone, Donald A. Calandra, Vincent Dirubbio
• Inventors: Calandra, Donald A., Dirubbio, Vincent, Vallone, deceased
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Application Number:
  US05/270,699
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65A 180/91 297/216 280/15AB
• US Class Current: 296/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42781 mechanical triggering

Abstract

A seat is mounted in a vehicle for movement from a normal position to a passenger restraining or protective position, in particular the seat is guided for movement of the seat bottom portion in a generally horizontal direction and then in a generally upwardly inclined direction. The seat is moved by a motive power means in the form of a pneumatic cylinder and a gas generating means which releases gas with an explosive force when activated to move the piston rapidly along the cylinder. The motive power means is activated in response to impact with the vehicle at or above a predetermined magnitude by a trigger means comprising an actuator means, for example a first spring-biased member, movable from an inactive position to an active position causing operation of the motive power means, control means, for example a second spring-biased member, normally holding or engaging the actuator means in the inactive position and operative to release the actuator means for movement to the active position, and means for operating the control means in response to impact with the vehicle. The operating means preferably comprises an impact-responsive bumper on the vehicle operatively connected to an hydraulic circuit which, in turn, causes movement of the control means in response to impact.

Claims

1. In a vehicle passive restraint system, trigger means comprising:

a. actuator means comprising an actuator member movable from an inactive position wherein said actuator member is spaced out of contact with means for operating said passive restraint system to an active position wherein said actuator member operatively contacts said operating means in a manner causing operation of the passive restraint system and biasing means normally urging said actuator member toward said active position;

b. control means normally mechanically holding said actuator member in said inactive position spaced out of contact with said operating means and operative to release said actuator member and allow said actuator member to be moved to said active position operatively contacting said operating means; and

c. means for operating said control means to release said actuator member in response to impact with the vehicle, said operating means comprising force sensing means said fluid circuit means coupled to said control means whereby in response to an impact with the vehicle said force sensing means causes a change in pressure in said fluid circuit means for operating said control means to release said actuator member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluid circuit means comprises hydraulic circuit means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fluid circuit means includes adjustment means for controlling the magnitudes of the changes in pressure resulting from corresponding impact forces whereby said control means is operated only in response to impact forces at or above a predetermined magnitude.

4. In a vehicle passive restraint system, trigger means comprising:

a. actuator means comprising an actuator member movable from an inactive position to an active position wherein said actuator member engages means causing operation of the passive restraint system and biasing means normally urging said actuator member toward said active position;

b. control means normally mechanically holding said actuator member in said inactive position and operative to release said actuator member for movement to said active position, said control means comprising a control member movable into and out of engagement with said actuator member and second biasing means urging said control member into engagement with said actuator member to hold said actuator member in said inactive position; and

c. means for operating said control means in response to impact with the vehicle.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuator member extends through an opening in said control member having a shape and size whereby in the normal position of said control member said actuator member is held in said inactive position and when said control member is moved against the force of said second biasing means said actuator member is released for movement through said opening in said control member to said active position.

6. A vehicle passive restraint system comprising:

a. protective means movable from a normal position to a passenger restraining position;

b. motive power means operatively connected to said protective means for moving said protective means to said passenger restraining position; and

c. impact responsive triggering means causing operation of said motive power means and comprising force sensing means, coupling circuit means operatively connected to said force sensing means and connected in controlling relation to trigger means having an inactive state and an active state causing operation of said motive power means whereby in response to an impact with the vehicle said force sensing means causes a change in a flow parameter in said coupling circuit means to move said trigger means to the active state to operate said motive power means, and adjustable valve means in said coupling circuit means for controlling the magnitudes of the changes in the circuit flow parameter resulting from impact forces whereby said trigger means is operated only in response to impact forces at or above a predetermined magnitude.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said protective means comprises a passenger seat having a bottom portion and a back portion and means mounting said seat in the vehicle for movement from said normal position to said passenger restraining position.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said mounting means comprises means guiding said seat for movement of said bottom portion in a generally horizontal direction and guiding said seat for movement of said bottom portion in a generally upwardly inclined direction.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said guiding means includes means for adjusting the amount of movement in a horizontal direction prior to movement in an upwardly inclined direction.

10. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said motive power means comprises pneumatic cylinder means connected to said protective means and gas generating means activated by said triggering means for introducing gas into said cylinder means at a high pressure.

11. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said coupling circuit means comprises hydraulic circuit means and said force sensing means causes a change in pressure in said hydraulic circuit means to move said trigger means to the active state and wherein said adjustable valve means controls the magnitudes of the changes in pressure resulting from impact forces.