Motorcycle safety system

• US 4,299,406 A
• Filed: 01/21/1980
• Issued: 11/10/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Warren R. Thomas
• Original Assignee: Warren R. Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Warren R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAR, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US06/114,003
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 280/748, 280/751, 280/733, 297/464, 297/465, 297/469, 297/487, 297/488, 244/122 AG
• US Class Current: 280/733
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/18 the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 27/20 Airbags specially adapted for motorcycles or the like

Abstract

A system for preventing injury to a motorcyclist in the event of a crash employs a rigid framework surrounding the upper body of the cyclist and inflatable air bags which both surround the cyclist with the ballooning air cushion and also serve to draw the cyclist'"'"'s legs upwardly to prevent injury during the crash. A rigid body shell may be employed to encase the torso of the cyclist, or a space frame formed of a plurality of rigid elements may be utilized to protect the cyclist in the crash. A specialized seat can be employed which serves to eject the cyclist from the cycle when a crash is either imminent or is actually occurring.

Claims

1. A device for protecting an occupant of a motor vehicle, said device comprising:

a rigid element mounted on the motor vehicle and being vertically arranged for protecting the spine of the occupant and extending up over the head of the occupant;

a rigid chest protection means attached to said rigid element and being of a size to envelope the upper torso of the occupant, and having apertures therein to permit the occupant'"'"'s arms to extend therethrough;

a first inflatable air bag means arranged in the front of said chest protection means;

a second inflatable air bag means arranged in the back of said chest protection means;

means for inflating said first and second air bag means;

means for actuating the inflating means; and

strap means extending around said second inflatable air bag means for drawing the legs of the occupant upwardly towards said rigid chest protection means upon inflation of said second inflatable air bag means, said air-bags being disposed so that when said first and second air bag means are inflated, said first air bag means protects the front of the occupant and said second air bag means protects the rear of the occupant.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said rigid element includes an occupant seat means affixed to the lower end of said rigid element and detachably affixed to a frame member of the vehicle and a third inflatable air bag arranged beneath said occupant seat means and being connected to be inflated by said means for inflating, whereby upon inflation said third air bag means protects the lower body portion of the occupant.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising pelvis and hip protection means attached to the lower end of said rigid element and arranged to substantially encompass the pelvic area of the occupant.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising locating means affixed to said rigid element at a level approximately at the location of the head of the occupant for receiving and protecting the head of the occupant during a mishap involving the vehicle.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said occupant seat means includes means pivotally attached to the lower end of said rigid element so as to permit said rigid element to tilt and to accommodate the movements of the occupant.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said rigid chest protection means includes a rigid shell which is formed in at least two sections relatively movable to permit the occupant to gain access to said shell.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said rigid chest protection means includes a space frame formed of a plurality of elements rigidly fastened one to another.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising shoulder protection bars affixed to said rigid element at a level proximate the shoulder level of the occupant and extending substantially horizontally outwardly from said vertically arranged rigid element.

9. The device of claim 2, further comprising leg struts pivotally attached to said occupant seat means and extending outwardly therefrom toward the front of the vehicle and each having a guide loop through which said strap means passes for locating said strap means.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising means for limiting the upward travel of said leg struts.

11. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for limiting the upward travel of said leg struts.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising leg struts pivotally attached to said seat means and extending outwardly therefrom toward the front of the vehicle, and a trough-like member affixed to each of said leg struts and arranged opening toward the head of the occupant for receiving the thighs of the occupant.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said means for actuating the inflating means includes an automatic crash sensor means.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising stop means for limiting the extent of travel of said chest protection means about a vertical axis.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein said stop means comprises a plate attached to said rigid element.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said plate is positioned on said rigid element so as to protect the kidneys of the occupant.

17. The device of claim 3, wherein said hip protection means includes a plurality of resilient elements for absorbing impacts applied thereto.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a releasable seat means including a seat pan mounted on the frame of the motor vehicle, an inflatable air bag arranged in said seat pan and connected to the inflating means, and a cushioned seat means arranged on said inflatable air bag and having a frame to which said elongate element is pivotally attached.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein said seat pan is attached to the frame of the motor vehicle by slide means which permits relative sliding motion between the seat pan and the motor vehicle.

20. The device of claim 19 further comprising means to selectively prevent said relative sliding motion between said seat pan and the motor vehicle.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein said inflatable air bag means includes a first inflatable air bag arranged on the front of the torso enclosure and a second inflatable air bag arranged on the back of the torso enclosure, both first and second air bags being connected to said means for inflating said air bags.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein said torso enclosure includes a rigid shell enclosing at least a portion of the torso of the operator, being formed of at least two segments, relatively movable and having a plurality of apertures to permit the head and arms of the rider to protrude therethrough.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein said torso enclosure includes a space frame formed of a plurality of elements rigidly attached to each other to form a frame.

27. The system of claim 17, further comprising a releasable seat means including a seat pan mounted on the frame of the motorcycle, an inflatable air bag arranged in said seat pan and connected to the inflating means, and a cushioned seat means arranged on said inflatable air bag and having a frame to which said elongate element is pivotally attached.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein said seat pan is attached to the frame of the motorcycle by slide means which permits relative sliding motion between the seat pan and the motorcycle.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising means to selectively prevent said relative sliding motion between said seat pan and the motorcycle.

21. A safety system for protecting the rider of a motorcycle in the event of a mishap, comprising:

an elongate element pivotally attached to the motorcycle at the rear of the rider seat and being arranged vertically to extend at least as high as the head of the rider;

a rigid torso enclosure attached to said elongate element for protecting the torso of the rider;

inflatable air bag means arranged on the exterior of said rigid torso enclosure;

means for inflating said air bag means;

means for actuating said means for inflating said air bag means; and

means attached to said inflatable air bag means and to the legs of the rider including strap means extending around said inflatable air bag means for drawing the legs of the rider upwardly into a folded position upon inflation of said inflatable air bag means, said air-bag means cooperating to protect the rider from injury.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said means attached to said air bag means includes two rigid leg struts pivotally attached to the rider seat, and said strap means extending through guide means on said leg struts, from the legs of the rider to said inflatable air bag means.

23. The system of claim 22, further including trough means affixed to each of said leg struts for receiving the back portion of the thighs of the rider.

30. The system of claim 21, further comprising means for movably attaching said rigid torso enclosure to said elongate element.