Inflatable vehicle safety device

• US 3,888,505 A
• Filed: 09/13/1971
• Issued: 06/10/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Iwao Shibamoto
• Original Assignee: Iwao Shibamoto
• Inventors: Shibamoto, Iwao
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Application Number:
  US05/179,973
• Time in Patent Office: 1,366 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB 244/138R 5/348,345 52/2
• US Class Current: 280/738
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0004 Frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0011 Rear collision or recoiling bounce after frontal collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23115 with inflatable support compartments creating an internal suction volume
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23153 specially adapted for rear seat passengers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/207 in vehicle seats

Abstract

A safety device comprises a bag, means provided on the bag and adapted to be inflated by fluid introduced therein under pressure to expand said bag from a folded state to its original form, openings through which the ambient air flows into the bag when said bag is expanded by virtue of the pressure differential between the interior and the exterior of said bag, means for closing said openings to seal the air introduced into said bag and means for supplying the fluid under pressure into said bag to build up the internal pressure of the bag to a level higher than the atmospheric pressure.

Claims

1. A safety device comprising a bag having folded and expanded positions, a tubular frame secured to said bag, means for introducing a pressurized gas into said tubular frame, said tubular frame being inflatable by said gas to expand said bag from its folded state to its expanded state when the pressurized gas is introduced into said tubular frame, the expansion of said bag producing a pressure differential between the inside and outside of said bag, said bag having a wall with air passage openings for introducing ambient air into the expanded bag under said pressure differential, and check valves on said bag for closing said air passage openings to trap the thus introduced air in said bag, said tubular frame having a wall with weakened portions therein adapted to be ruptured under the pressure of the gas introduced into said tubular frame, the rupture of said weakened portions causing the pressurized gas in said inflated tubular frame to flow into said bag to build up the internal preSsure of the bag to a level higher than atmospheric pressure and close said check valves to isolate the interior of the bag from the ambient atmosphere.