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Means for expandable objects, preferably shock-absorbing protective means for passengers in vehicles

  • US 3,960,386 A
  • Filed: 07/20/1973
  • Issued: 06/01/1976
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/12/1973
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Expandable means adapted for use as shock-absorbing protective means and the like for passengers in vehicles, said means comprising:

  • a normally folded compact enclosure adapted to be expanded to a predetermined three-dimensional configuration from its folded state and having a similarly folded and expandable system of branched gas receiving channels interconnected and communicating with each other and extending along the walls of the enclosure, in which the enclosure is expanded by supplying compressed gas to said channels so that the ambient air at least partially fills the hollow interior of the expanded enclosure, said channels comprising an inflatable inner space whose inflation is limited by a thin, flexible, elastic and substantially gastight inner wall, said inner wall comprising a pair of branched continuous flat strips of material arranged one upon the other and joined along their long sides, said inner wall being surrounded by a flexible outer wall arranged, when the inner space is inflated, to entirely surround the inner wall and limit its expansion, and which becomes relatively stiff and assumes a substantially circular cross section upon expansion, said outer wall being a material which is strong enough to withstand the pressure prevailing in the inner space;

    said outer wall comprising two strips of material arranged one upon the other and joined along their long sides, joining means between the strips of material being sufficiently strong to withstand the pressure prevailing in the inner space and thereby limit the expansion of the inner wall.

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