Energy absorbing devices to be used on vehicles to protect the vehicle from damage (or reduce damage) and protect the passengers from fatality and/or injury

• US 4,170,380 A
• Filed: 02/20/1973
• Issued: 10/09/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eli Raitport
• Original Assignee: Eli Raitport
• Inventors: Raitport, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Winston H.
• Application Number:
  US05/334,153
• Time in Patent Office: 2,422 Days
• Field of Search: 267/159, 267/139, 267/140, 267/153, 280/150 B, 280/748, 280/750, 280/751, 280/752, 296/35 B, 296/28 R, 296/28 E, 296/65 R, 296/65 A, 188/1 B, 188/1 C, 74/110, 293/60, 293/64, 293/65, 293/69 R, 293/69 V, 293/71 R, 293/71 P, 293/1, 293/62, 61/48, 297/216, 114/219, 405/212
• US Class Current: 296/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/4221 due to impact coming from the front
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42727 involving substantially rigid displacement
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/42736 of the whole seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/00 Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions reinforcement elements for side doors B60J5/0412; mudguards B62D
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/19 incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 39/00 Vehicle bodies not otherwise provided for , e.g. safety vehicles safety equipment B60R21/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/12 using plastic deformation of members F16F9/30 takes precedence; yieldable means for mounting bumpers on vehicles B60R19/26; yieldable or collapsible steering columns B62D1/192

Abstract

1. Heavy duty energy absorbing devices and energy absorbing bumpers for cars; how to mount them to existing cars and accommodate in the structure various shapes and sizes of existing bumpers on the cars.

2. Collapsible steering columns and collapsible tables for passengers.

3. Seats moving forward in event of collision and keeping the passengers and driver constantly restrained between the seat and collapsible steering column or table, without action by the passengers.

4. A safe car in which the chassis is extremely rigid and shatters in the event of an accident; and the passengers'"'"' module propels in top of the front end of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An energy absorbing, elastically deforming device comprising a hollow cone at one end and a hollow cup being joined to the cone at the other end, said cone having one end of a larger diameter than the other end, both capable of deforming elastically whereas the larger diameter of said cone is connected to said cup by a relief portion, and whereas said cup encircles the joint line formed by said relief portion between said cone and said cup, and whereas the outside perimeter of said cone is within the inner perimeter of said cup, and whereas the longitudinal distance between the inner walls of said cup and the outside edge of said larger diameter of said cone is relatively short when compared to the respective lengths of the cone and the cup, said joint line being substantially thinner than the walls of said cone and cup, whereby force applied to said device biases the smaller diameter of said cone to move toward said cup and the outer edges of said larger diameter of said cone to bear against the inner walls of said cup, whereby said cone and said cup are elastically compressed and stretched, respectively.

2. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1 further comprising two members connected to each end of said device, respectively, wherein at least one said member is free to move upon the application of thrust on that member, whereby application of the thrust upon that said member causes said member to move and thereby subject said energy abosrbing device to compression.

3. An energy abosrbing device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a hollow stem integrally joined to the smaller diameter of said cone.

4. An energy aborbing device as defined in claim 1 further comprising reinforcement ribs on the walls of said device.

5. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1 wherein the thickness of the walls of said cone is gradually reduced toward its smaller diameter.

6. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a flange connected to said cup, whereas the surface of the flange is substantially perpendicular to the walls of the cup.

7. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a combination of a member subject to vibration whereby said energy absorbing device dampens the vibration of said member.

8. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1 in combination with a vehicle having a seat mounted on a slidable frame wherein said energy absorbing device is so fixed to restrict the sliding of said frame, said frame sliding forward transmits its kinetic energy to said energy absorbing device whereby upon collision of the said vehicle the seat will slide forward after the vehicle comes to a halt and thereby transfer its kinetic energy to the energy absorbing device which causes the seat to decelerate substantially less abruptly.

9. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1 in combination with a movable vehicle, said movable vehicle including at least two parts so constructed that either of said parts can move independently with respect to other of said parts whereby said energy absorbing device is located between said parts so as to absorb the momentum of the moving part.

10. An energy absorbing device as defined in claim 1 further comprising one member connected to either of the ends of said energy absorbing device such that said energy absorbing device serves as a protector for said member.