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Inflatable head protector

  • US 3,953,049 A
  • Filed: 03/07/1974
  • Issued: 04/27/1976
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1973
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A device for the protection of the head on an occupant in a motor vehicle in the case of impact forces on the vehicle, said device comprising a protective strip having an extended operative position and a retracted inoperative position, said strip including a plurality of inflatable members, a casing retaining said strip folded on itself in said retracted position, said strip in said inoperative position extending along a substantially U-shaped line and having opposite ends with means attaching said ends to a structure which is integral with the vehicle at two points situated on a horizontal axis extending transversely of the vehicle at a position behind and on opposite sides of the head of an occupant seated in said vehicle for unfurling said strip in its operative position to extend essentially along a surface generated by rotation of said U-shaped line around said axis, said inflatable members of the strip including lateral sectors which in operative inflated position are disposed in front of the head of the occupant to be contacted thereby and produce tensile stresses in said sectors passing substantially through said axis, the line of action of the resultant of said tensile stresses substantially coinciding with the center of gravity of the occupant'"'"'s head, and means responsive to a preselected deceleration magnitude of the vehicle for inflating said inflatable members to expel said strip from said folded inoperative position in said casing to said unfurled operative position, said inflatable members during inflation undergoing rapid transition to the inflated condition while the strip is restrained at said ends.

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