Motorcycle safety device

• US 4,227,717 A
• Filed: 04/04/1979
• Issued: 10/14/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Julien J. Bouvier
• Original Assignee: Julien J. Bouvier
• Inventors: Bouvier, Julien J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Underwood, D. W.
• Application Number:
  US06/026,596
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728, 280/730, 280/743, 280/290, 280/289 G, 280/289 E, 280/753, 296/71
• US Class Current: 280/753
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0088 Cycles, e.g. motorcycles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/16 Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags protective garments with automatically inflatable shock-absorbing means A41D13/018; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 23/00 Other protectors specially adapted for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/20 Airbags specially adapted for motorcycles or the like

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a safety apparatus for use with a motorcycle to aid the rider in avoiding serious injuries due to collisions. An inflatable upwardly extending cocoon envelops the rider either upon impact, or upon his actuation thereof, and dissociates from the motorcycle to travel with the rider should he be thrown off. A housing is provided which unobtrusively rides on the motorcycle and nests the inflatable shroud so that a rider can be protected without having to don any supplemental gear.

Claims

1. A safety device for a motorcycle comprising, in combination, a frame having releasably interconnected portions mounted on the motorcycle, said frame completely surrounding a rider seated on the motorcycle, an inflatable cocoon disposed within said frame, a source of pressurized air connected to said cocoon, means for activating said source of pressurized air to inflate said cocoon and release said interconnected portions of said frame whereby said cocoon in the inflated condition completely surrounds said rider for protection against injuries.

2. A safety device for a motorcycle comprising, in combination, frame means disposed on the motorcycle, said frame means including a splayed U-shaped structure disposed on opposed sides of the motorcycle and an interconnecting cross bar at a front and rear portion thereof and spring clip elements to retain top and bottom portions of said frame means, inflatable means disposed within said frame means which when actuated envelops a motorcyclist and protects him from injuries, said inflatable means including an inflatable cocoon which when initialized resides within said frame means and which when activated extends up and around the motorcyclist, at least one air cannister affixed to said frame means and oriented so as to inflate said cocoon whereby when said air cannister is energized, said spring clip elements pop off said frame means and the top portion of said frame means is disassociated therefrom and said cocoon is allowed to expand.

3. The device of claim 2 in which said cocoon is comprised of a plurality of elongate rectanguloid cells juxtaposed so as to define a rectangular periphery having a central void within which the rider is contained.

4. The device of claim 2 including tether means connecting a rider to said inflatable means to assure that the rider will remain within the inflatable means once it is energized.