Safety cushion attachable to belt-type restraints

• US 4,348,037 A
• Filed: 06/03/1980
• Issued: 09/07/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autoliv ASP Incorporated (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Thiokol Corporation (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Adams, Gary V., Kirchoff, George F., Law, Bliss W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Milton L.
• Application Number:
  US06/152,922
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 280/733, 280/730, 280/729, 280/728, 280/743, 280/801, 280/802, 280/805, 280/808, 280/731, 280/732, 244/122 B, 244/122 R, 180/268, 297/468, 297/469, 297/470, 297/471, 297/483, 297/488
• 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

Abstract

A safety cushion apparatus having a very short reaction time is attachable to automotive vehicle belt-type restraints for softening the shock of sudden constraint against the user'"'"'s body and to maintain the belt restraints with an appropriate degree of tautness. The apparatus includes an inflatable cushion that is longitudinally folded to a compact, strap-like configuration conforming to the shape of the belt restraint, a flat, slim inflator being enclosed within and surrounded by the folded cushion. The folded cushion is releasably enclosed within an outer cover to which it is attached, the outer cover being attached to the underside of the belt restraint and fastened over the folded cushion by a long zipper. Velcro hook and hoop fastening material is utilized for attaching the cover to the belt restraint and the zipper. The inflator is actuatable by a crash impact sensor mounted on the vehicle and is operable to generate an innocuous gas for inflating the cushion, the cover being automatically opened upon such inflation of the cushion.

Claims

1. Safety cushion apparatus attachable to belt-type restraints for protecting vehicle occupants including,

an elongated inflatable cushion folded and compacted to conform to the shape of a belt-type restraint to which it is to be attached, and

releasable means to fasten said folded and compacted inflatable cushion to the belt-type restraint in conforming relationship therewith and for support thereby,

wherein the material of which the inflatable cushion is made is selected to allow leakage of gas from the interior thereof thereby to impede hardening of the exterior surface of said inflatable cushion upon inflation thereof, and

wherein said inflatable cushion is made of neoprene coated rib stock nylon sheet and includes seams that are sealed with silicone rubber, said seams providing said leakage.

2. Safety cushion apparatus attachable to belt-type restraints for protecting vehicle occupants including,

an elongated inflatable cushion folded and compacted to conform to the shape of a belt-type restraint to which it is to be attached,

releasable means to fasten said folded and compacted inflatable cushion to the belt-type restraint in conforming relationship therewith and for support thereby, and

a tubular cover to enclose said folded and compacted inflatable cushion, said cover including longitudinally disposed releasable means to allow opening thereof and expansion of said inflatable cushion upon inflation thereof,

wherein said cover and inflatable cushion are fixedly attached along longitudinal contiguous surfaces with flap portions of said cover extending to opposite sides of said cushion, and

wherein said releasable means to allow opening of said cover comprises hook and loop fastening means having a first component attached to one flap portion of said cover and a second component attached to the other flap portion thereof.

3. Safety cushion apparatus as specified in claim 2 including an elongated strip of webbing that is attached to said cover exterior thereof proximate said longitudinal contiguous surfaces of said cover and said inflatable cushion, and wherein said releasable means to fasten said cushion to the belt-type restraint comprises hook and loop fastening means having a first component attached to the belt-type restraint and a second component attached to said webbing.

4. Safety cushion apparatus attachable to belt-type restraints for protecting vehicle occupants including,

an elongated inflatable cushion folded and compacted to conform to the shape of a belt-type restraint to which it is to be attached,

releasable means to fasten said folded and compacted inflatable cushion to the belt-type restraint in conforming relationship therewith and for support thereby,

a gas generator positioned internally of said inflatable cushion,

wherein said gas generator is attached to said inflatable cushion at a position such that support therefor is directly provided by the belt-type restraint, and

a tubular cover to enclose said folded and compacted inflatable cushion, said cover including longitudinally disposed releasable means to allow opening thereof and expansion of said inflatable cushion upon inflation thereof, said cover and inflatable cushion being fixedly attached along longitudinal contiguous surfaces with flap portions of said cover extending to opposite sides of said cushion, and wherein said releasable means to allow opening of said cover comprises hook and loop fastening means having a first component attached to one flap portion of said cover and a second component attached to the other flap portion thereof.

5. Safety cushion apparatus as specified in claim 4 including an elongated strip of webbing that is attached to said cover exterior thereof proximate said longitudinal contiguous surfaces of said cover and said inflatable cushion, and wherein said releasable means to fasten said cushion to the belt-type restraint comprises hook and loop fastening means having a first component of said hook and loop attached to the belt-type restraint and a second component attached to said webbing.

6. Safety cushion apparatus as specified in claim 5 wherein said gas generator is attached to said inflatable cushion at a position therein proximate said longitudinal contiguous surfaces of said cover and inflatable cushion whereby said gas generator is supported by said cover, said webbing, said hook and loop fastening means and the belt-type restraint.

7. Safety cushion apparatus as specified in claim 6 wherein said inflatable cushion is made of neoprene coated rib stock nylon sheet and includes seams that are sealed with silicone rubber, said seams allowing leakage of gas from the interior of said inflatable cushion upon actuation of said gas generator and the generation of gas thereby, whereby hardening of the exterior surface of the inflatable cushion, upon inflation thereof, is precluded and said surface is effective to soften, for the vehicle occupant, the shock of the sudden impact of a crash and to maintain the belt-type restraint with an appropriate degree of tautness.

8. Safety cushion apparatus attachable to belt-type restraints for protecting vehicle occupants including,

an elongated inflatable cushion folded and compacted to conform to the shape of a belt-type restraint to which it is to be attached,

releasable means to fasten said folded and compacted inflatable cushion to the belt-type restraint in conforming relationship therewith and for support thereby, and

a gas generator positioned internally of said inflatable cushion,

wherein said gas generator is attached to said inflatable cushion at a position therein such that the belt-type restraint provides support directly therefor,

wherein said releasable means comprises hook and loop fastening means having a first component attached to the side of the belt-type restraint that is nearest to the body of the vehicle occupant to be protected and a second component attached to said inflatable cushion,

wherein said inflatable cushion is made of neoprene coated rib nylon sheet and includes seams that are sealed with silicone rubber, leakage through said seams of gas from the interior of said cushion upon actuation of said gas generator and the generation of gas thereby being such that hardening of the exterior surface of said inflatable cushion upon inflation thereof is impeded and said cushion is effective to soften, for the vehicle occupant, the shock of the sudden impact of a crash and to maintain the belt-type restraint with an appropriate degree of tautness.