Passenger restraint safety system

• US 4,552,381 A
• Filed: 02/13/1984
• Issued: 11/12/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samuel L. Schlanger
• Original Assignee: Samuel L. Schlanger
• Inventors: Schlanger, Samuel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weaver, Ross
• Application Number:
  US06/579,689
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 280/748, 280/751, 280/752, 296/65 R, 296/65 A
• US Class Current: 280/752
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/02 Occupant safety arrangements or fittings , e.g. crash pads seat belts with crash pads B60R22/14; removable children's seats having a front guard or barrier B60N2/2839

Abstract

There is provided a passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile having a chassis, a passenger seat and a door providing access to said passenger seat. The seat is mounted for free unrestrained forward movement on a track system which includes locking means to maintain said seat in a predetermined position. Forward of said seat is a safety cushion contoured to the body of a passenger in the seated position. Release means, which are activated by a collision of said automobile with another object, release the locking means positioning said seat allowing the seat to move forward thereby restraining the passenger between said seat and said safety cushion. To allow the passenger easy access to the interior of the automobile and to be seated therein, provision is made to collapse the safety cushion when the door is opened. Alternatively, to allow easy ingress and egress, the seat may be adapted to move rearwardly by electro-mechanical means upon the opening of the automobile door and, upon the closing of the door, the seat is returned to a predetermined position, or the passenger may activate the return to a desired position.

Claims

1. A passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile, said automobile having a chassis, a passenger seat including a frame, and a door hingedly connected to said chassis providing access to said passenger seat, said safety system including:

(a) a guide track system for said passenger seat and frame permitting unrestrained movement of said seat and frame on said guide track system in the longitudinal direction of said chassis;

(b) a safety cushion in front of said passenger seat contoured to the body of a passenger in the seated position to provide a large body contact area having an upper body portion and a leg portion;

(c) locking means for locking said passenger seat and frame in a position at a pre-determined distance from said safety cushion to allow free and unrestricted movement to a passenger seated thereon;

(d) means for releasing said locking means triggered by a collision of said automobile with another object such that said seat and frame are released for unrestrained free movement on said track system whereby the forward momentum of said passenger and said seat cause said seat to move instantaneously toward said safety cushion to restrain said passenger in a seated position therebetween; and

(e) means for collapsing said safety cushion from a first safety position to a second position farther away from said seat when said door is opened and returning said safety cushion to said first safety position when said door is closed so that a passenger may enter said automobile and be seated therein, said means comprising a plunger located within said safety cushion adapted for movement in a direction away from said seat, means operatively connecting said plunger to the outer fabric of said safety cushion, means for biasing said plunger so that said safety cushion is normally maintained in its first safety position, and means operatively connecting said plunger to said door so that said plunger collapses against said biasing means when said door is opened and is repositioned by said biasing means when said door is closed.

2. The passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 1, which further includes means to control the return movement of said plunger when said door is closed so that said safety cushion does not return to its first safety position abruptly.

3. The safety system for passenger type automobile as defined in claim 2, wherein said control means includes:

(a) a hermetically sealed chamber within which said plunger operates fixedly connected to a bulkhead of said chassis;

(b) an air check valve in said chamber;

(c) biasing means for biasing said valve to a normally closed position, said biasing means adapted to be overcome by the air pressure within said chamber acting on said valve when said door is opened; and

(d) means for throttling the air returning to said chamber when said valve is closed so that the return movement of said plunger is controlled.

4. The passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 3, wherein said throttling means includes at least one air bleed valve in said chamber.

5. The passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 4, wherein said means operatively connecting said plunger to said door includes a cable, a first end of which is connected to said door at a location such that the opening of said door imparts sufficient movement to said cable to move said plunger and said safety cushion to allow easy access to said automobile by a passenger, the second end of said cable being connected to said plunger, and a plurality of pulleys fixedly connected to said chassis through which said cable is guided so that movement of said plunger occurs upon the opening of said door.

6. The passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 1 wherein the means operatively connecting said plunger to the outer fabric of said safety cushion includes a channel member transversely positioned in said safety cushion fixedly connected to said plunger and means connecting the length thereof to the outer fabric of said safety cushion.

7. The passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 6, which further includes means for preventing rotational movement of said plunger and said channel member.

8. A passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile having a passenger seat and at least one door, including:

(a) a safety cushion in front of said passenger seat contoured to the body of a passenger in the seated position having an upper body portion and a leg portion; and

(b) means for collapsing said safety cushion from a first safety position to a second position farther away from said seat when said door is opened and returning said safety cushion to said first safety position when said door is closed so that a passenger may enter said automobile and be seated therein, said means comprising a plunger located within said safety cushion adapted for movement in a direction away from said seat, means operatively connecting said plunger to the outer fabric of said safety cushion, means for biasing said plunger so that said safety cushion is normally maintained in its first safety position, and means operatively connecting said plunger to said door so that said plunger collapses against said biasing means when said door is opened and is repositioned by said biasing means when said door is closed.

9. The passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 8, which further includes means to control the return movement of said plunger when said door is closed so that said safety cushion does not return to its first safety position abruptly.

10. The safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 9, wherein said control means includes:

(a) a hermetically sealed chamber within which said plunger operates fixedly connected to a bulkhead of said chassis;

(b) an air check valve in said chamber;

(c) biasing means for biasing said valve to a normally closed position, said biasing means adapted to be overcome by the air pressure within said chamber acting on said valve when said door is opened; and

(d) means for throttling the air returning to said chamber when said valve is closed so that the return movement of said plunger is controlled.

11. The passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 10, wherein said throttling means includes at least one air bleed valve in said chamber.

12. The passenger restraint safety system for a passenger type automobile as defined in claim 11, wherein said means operatively connecting said plunger to said door includes a cable, a first end of which is connected to said door at a location such that the opening of said door imparts sufficient movement to said cable to move said plunger and said safety cushion to allow entrance to said automobile by a passenger, the second end of said cable being connected to said plunger, and a plurality of pulleys fixedly connected to said chassis through which said cable is guided so that movement of said plunger occurs upon the opening of said door.